Consumer complaint received 2016-05-19
Company: UMPQUA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
State: OR
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Other bank product/service
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I went through a divorce at the time I was an Joint owner on a checking account. I was told the account had been closed by the bank employee. Throughout the discovery process soon realized the account was still open I had just been removed from the account. I looked into the matter further and notice my signature had been forged on an " authorization to delete form ''. I got an attorney to assist with this issues was advised to send a demand letter because of the wrong doing by the bank for not following compliance when verifying signatures. In that demand I requested a dollar amount, I received a denial letter stating that my demand was denied due to several reasons. I then through both email and verbal communication spoke with the attorney handling the case, which an offer of XXXX was initially presented. I did not accept offer. I then got an offer for XXXX I initially was thinking ok but the way they bank made me feel about the case I declined. I explained again the situation and that the denial was indeed not correct. The attorney in the denial letter made a statement that was completely incorrect and false under banking rules. I then proceeded to communicate both again verbally and electronic only to get ignored. I then sent and 2nd demand letter now using the denial letter and reasoning as to why I was denied the amount requested to show based off of the verbiage used by the attorney indeed I should be entitled to that dollar amount but instead of the original amount I lowered it. I gave the attorney 30 days to respond to my letter. I received nothing from the attorney. I then proceeded to call and email asking the attorney if he is no longer over seeing this matter to let me know who is or what I need to do to resolve this matter. I kept trying for weeks with no success in reaching anyone. I then sent an email Tuesday morning letting them know I would be reaching out to the president and other channels and at that point I received a call requesting a face to face meeting. I accepted the short notice and met with the Bank employee. I advised me that he had actually been receiving correspondents the whole time and was fully aware of the situation. He had a piece of paper when some info on it, the only thing I could see was the dollar amount of XXXX. He proceeded to tell me that during the time the account was negative. I reminded him that when I was removed the account did indeed have a positive balance. He then confirmed that yes the account was positive and that he was willing to write me a check for XXXX ( which was the balance at the time of removal ) within XXXX hours if I would accept it. I was also told if I did n't accept that amount I would then be trespassed from the bank. I was shocked that and offer like that would then be followed by a threat. I then start to think why would I be trespassed from an establishment when I was trying to resolve an issue pertaining to me and my signature. I also was now curious because my initial demand letter I was told " I could not have sustained damages give the negative balance that existed '' I am not wanting my initial demand amount. I have tried multiple times to resolve this issue. I had paid an attorney to assist this matter and the time and efforts involved to be completely ignored and then insulted by the extremely low offer followed by a threat. I can provide documentation showing original signature card along with original demand letter followed by the response and then my 2nd demand letter. I was also told the " authorization to delete signer '' was indeed not necessary. I would like to know also if it is not necessary why have it.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation