Consumer complaint received 2022-06-09
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Unable to open an account
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NC)

On XXXX XXXX, 2022, I opened up a checking account with Fifth Third Bank and have been unable to get my debit card sent to me as promised. The first two times my card was ordered by Fifth Third Bank and the card was supposed to have been sent express to the Fifth Third Bank by XXXX  XXXX XXXX. Each time the card did not arrive because something was wrong with their address and each time I received a notice that the card had been " activated '' and if I had not activated the card myself to please notify the bank. Contrary to documentation, I had no idea that the the local Fifth Third Bank at XXXX in XXXX, NC, had actually stopped the card and blocked them. This was incorrect verbiage and notice was not explained to me until I went back to the the location XXXX Fifth Third Bank. Then another card was supposed to have been sent to my home and it was also " activated '' and blocked for some reason. Now last week I called Fifth Third Bank on the phone and representative told me last Thursday, XXXX XXXX, 2022, that the card would be sent to me express within two days and there would not be a charge. 
Once again I got an email notice that this card had been " activated '' which means it is now blocked and once again I have not even received it. When I called to follow up and went to the bank, I was told it had not been activated, but the email sent to me on Wednesday, XXXX XXXX, 2022, from Fifth Third Bank states the " card ending in XXXX '' has been activated. 

It appears that " internally '' " activated '' means something different from the email notices that I have received. This is very confusing and now XXXX  debit cards have been ordered and they all have been " activated '' not by me but " internally '' and " blocked ''. 
I have withdrawn all my money out of my checking account because I do not have access to it via a debit card as I can not get a debit card. The debit card was supposed to have arrived Wednesday, XXXX XXXX, 2022, without charge but now I am being told it was just shipped out Wednesday, XXXX XXXX, 2022. Please pull the call made on XX/XX/XXXX or XXXX. There has been so much chaos and confusion and I do not have my debit card yet. 

I have no idea why the XXXX would lie and state that he told me anything because I have no idea what he looks like and we spoke only one time on the phone on XX/XX/XXXX when he refused to send me my debit card to my address express free of charge. He told me that I would have to wait until 7 days has passed. 

This new branch, XXXX Fifth Third Bank, does not have the best XXXX and for some reason there is so much confusion regarding the address of this location. Even the GPS can not give the correct location of this so called XXXX Fifth Third Bank. 

The bottom line is that I can not get my debit card without stress and aggravation and someone internally within Fifth Third Bank is activating my card and yet I am being asked to call if I did not activate it. I have not activated any of them. 

The terminology is misleading and unethical. The emails are misrepresentation of the truth and very alarming. 

EACH TIME THAT I WOULD CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY REFUSED TO PASS THIS TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE FOR INVESTIGATION.