Consumer complaint received 2024-09-19
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: ALLY FINANCIAL INC. (RI)

On XX/XX/XXXX we made a down payment with a project XXXX to finish our basement by XX/XX/XXXX. Prior to this he had presented us with several companies he works with that have licensed electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and contractors. He originally quoted us a price of {$17000.00} and provided us with an estimate outlining all of the work that he was going to do. 

We paid him a deposit of {$9500.00} to finish the basement and based on additions to the project ( specifically, mini-split, a garbage disposal, sump pump, sprinklers ), he requested an additional {$9300.00}. For labor ( electrician, plumber, and XXXX ), we paid him an additional {$5300.00}. All together on this project, we have paid him {$24000.00}. All of these payments were made from my XXXX XXXX and XXXX account. 

This complaint is specifically in regards to the transactions that occurred from my XXXX Account : XXXX. A {$9500.00} transaction on XX/XX/XXXX for a down payment and labor for basement ( Dispute XXXX ) XXXX. A {$2500.00} transaction on XX/XX/XXXX for labor that was incomplete ( Dispute XXXX ) XXXX. A {$2100.00} transaction on XX/XX/XXXX for sprinklers that never arrived nor installed ( Dispute XXXX ) The project XXXX submitted a building permit ( XXXX ) \ on XX/XX/XXXX to begin work ( approved on XX/XX/XXXX ), another building permit ( XXXX ) was submitted on XX/XX/XXXX ( stopped ) and a mechanical permit ( XXXX ) was submitted and approved on XX/XX/XXXX ). On XX/XX/XXXX, he arrived to our home and stated that by the end of the week he would bring all the materials to our home, the plumber would begin work, the electrical permit would be submitted, and he would sign a written contract that is aligned with our verbal contract and exchanged text messages. He did not follow through with the above and during a recorded phone call with me on XX/XX/XXXX, stated " I'll give you all the money back for the entire project '' if the expectations above were not completed by Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX. We have not seen him since this date, though he texted us daily. 

On Saturday, XX/XX/XXXX we told him that we would need a refund for the money that we prepaid him or we would contact the authorities, your office, and the media in hopes of preventing him from defrauding others. To date he has not paid us back. I filed charges with XXXX XXXX Police Department against him for giving false documents to a government official. 

I contacted XXXX customer support on XX/XX/XXXX and disputed the charges listed above ( XXXX ), however they sent me an email on XX/XX/XXXX recommending that I would need to reach out to the recipient for payment. However, I had already done so and the recipients account has been locked on XXXX. 

I reported these disputes to Ally Bank on XX/XX/XXXX, however I received a response on XX/XX/XXXX saying that they have completed their investigation and that the transaction was authorized and is correct. 

I firmly believe that XXXX and Ally Bank are not protecting my interest as a consumer. I no longer authorize the above transactions and have been scammed out of money for goods and services that were not received.