Consumer complaint received 2022-11-03
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: MI
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I XXXX XXXX, XXXX realize that my fifth third account was being depleted due to unauthorized reoccurring deductions being taken out of my account over the course of three years. I reported this to the fifth third Bank at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX. XXXX returned me six months worth of unauthorized charges to my account from the XXXX XXXX app. One of the companies that deducted money out of my bank account was XXXX. XXXX was the only refund I received a return from. l The return was Roughly XXXX dollars. The money showed up in my account, and there was no evidence where it came from or why it was returned. However, it came to my attention that there was a lot more than just XXXX dollars missing out of my account. And more companies with auto refill, signed up to the XXXX XXXX app. It came to light that there was on authorized XXXX XXXX bills being deducted out of my account. I discovered three companies, XXXX, XXXX XXXX and XXXX, a vitamin company. And a couple other companies. All the ducting money out of my account freely over the course of 2 1/2 to 3 years. Most recently its come to light that physical checks had been ordered from the bank. I have never written a check from a checkbook in general or with fifththird. 
When I first opened my account, they gave me an access 360 card until my debit card arrived. I lost the access 360 card and was told by a Fiththird branch member named XXXX, to not worry about it and that I dont need it since I have the debit card the Access 360 card is expired and is longer usable. However a new access 360 card was mailed out to my home address. 
This is alarming because I gave the branch specific instructions not to send important banking mail to my home address. This way it would not be left in the mailbox. I have a po box on file, which is noted the only place to send the mail. This is in light of the unauthorized account activity we spotted. I also canceled the XXXX XXXX app from my phone. I even had my most recent new secured credit card ordered out to the bank on XXXX XXXX XXXX, Fiththird just to avoid it going through the mail process this way I could pick the new cards up directly from the branch. These cards consisted of a new secured credit card, as well as a new debit card for Fiththird. Those were to be the only access is with my account. 
I added a account security word to my account so only I could know that password. To my dismay, they did not ask me for that security word. They quoted me for a phone number that was on the account that was not mine. That is also when I discovered that through the phone number somebody had been logged in to the XXXX XXXX app. The same app I had discontinued in XXXX. This suspicious phone number that was added for my contact information was XXXX. 
This is very disturbing because I definitely updated my contact information with them. Just this summer to XXXX And I never logged back in the XXXX XXXX app after discontinuing it from a prior phone I used. 
When the access 360 card showed up to my physical address I discovered the card had been left active during the three years I banked with Fiththird. This is not what I was told because I was told the access 360 card was only pending until my debit card arrived in the mail. when my debit card arrived in the mail. 
Fiththird has put branch to branch as well as bank to bank notes in my file that I followed me to my new bank, that I feel have directly preventing from being approved for a low interest credit card, to which I qualify for and have spent three years earning. Now instead of moving up in life and in the credit world I have unfairly moved down. I canceled the secure credit card only to open a new one in XXXX of this year, XX/XX/XXXX. I did this so my credit was not negatively affected. Now I am being told this is not what happened. Ive dealt with two different fifth third branches, because I was not happy at the XXXX XXXX XXXX branch, as well as I reached out to the XXXX branch, trying to get this resolved. The situation only got worse and I was treated worse every time I went into a branch. I was told multiple stories of what was going on with my account first that I closed it and authorize the second that for fraud, closed it, and third now the banks, closing it on their terms. It would appear to me that fifth third has done what I wanted to with my accounts, including with my money and that is not just it is not right and it is not legal. I may have been on the wrong side of the lobby for, but I do not deserve this and I did not ask for less unfair treatment. I have been nothing but respectful to them and honest and this bad situation. 
The bank has been biased to me and unhelpful with my account recovery. What ever they have put in my file has directly affected me negatively 100 %. This is not right. 
I paid for identity theft monitoring and account monitoring during the three years that I was with fifth third and I feel misrepresented they have chose to close my accounts even though we talked about it, and I stopped using both the debit and secure credit card as much, however the accounts remained active, so my credit score was not affected negatively. Now I became aware that they no longer wish to bank with me and have closed my accounts without my authorization, dropping my XXXX XXXX XXXX points. This is directly discrimination against me because of the unauthorized charges they are choosing not to bank with me. Now my XXXX XXXX has dropped from a XXXX to a XXXX and still I qualify for a low interest credit card at my new credit union and still I was denied. I feel that the my misfortune with Fiththird has stopped me from the opportunity of further building my credit. When the unauthorized charges were made aware, I took precautions and froze my credit through XXXX. It was not till I remove the credit freeze that my accounts were closed through fifth third. please help me get this situation resolved clearly fifth third. I I believe banking with Fiththird is not an option anymore, and the feeling is mutual, however, I dont think it should have negatively affected my credit score. I think that the situation couldve been handled so much more professionally on their part, and with care, and it was not. I think they shouldve went back more than XXXX months because I paid for the identity theft and account monitoring for three years with fifth third. for this reason, I believe they shouldve refunded me all of the reoccurring bills that were taken from my account over the course of three years. Fifth third was in the process of refunding me the six months worth of XXXX XXXX bills and then they closed my accounts down.These bills were on authorized and started being deducted in XXXX when I didnt even have auto refill for myself. Fifththird tried to make me comfortable with the fact the moneys gone and that I should move on. If they really wanted to help me and a professional way, we wouldve closed all my accounts and reopen them removing any loose ends and attachments as well as the on authorizing in reoccurring auto refill, pills and suspicious activity. I have a record, and I have worked really hard to try to build my life back and be a productive member of society, and they directly played on that fact, and treated me so. I have no reason to lie or not tell you the truth my banking, history speaks for itself. I can provide any documents you need to help the validity of my claim. 
I dont feel I was treated fair. I have been blackballed and discriminated I feel from Fiththird. They had the audacity to have a bank branch security member give me a phone call by the name of XXXX I spoke with him briefly he said he was located out of North Carolina. At the time I was trying to stop fifth third from closing down my accounts and reinstating my secured credit card to repair my credit. I did not realize that he was hired to talk to me as though I was a security threat to the bank. I am so hurt and down right outraged. I have been slandered and unfairly discriminated against by fifththird. I have never in all my life felt so misunderstood and cheated by an establishment that was supposed to entrust my savings. I have been nothing, but considerate to fifth third and light of the situation they let go on for three years. 
Please look into my situation. Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation