Consumer complaint received 2024-08-29
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (IL)

I am a XXXX  with several checking accounts at Chase. My accounting is done using XXXX and handled by an assistant who posts my accounts. On XX/XX/XXXX, doing a survey of expenses, I discovered two unlabeled withdrawals in my personal checking account. When I looked online to see what those withdrawals were for, I discovered two hand-filled out withdrawal slips ( which I will attach here ) made on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX for {$1500.00} and {$1900.00}. The signatures on the withdrawal slips were clear forgeries, because my name was spelled incorrectly. I immediately called Chase and reported the fraud. 

That turned out to be the first time that Chase failed to act responsibly. They took what I thought was a fraud report, asking me many questions about how my checking account number might have been obtained, and so on. I could not think of any time that my personal ID and checkbook might have been linked. I was advised to close my account, which would mean I could not take funds out but I could receive automatic payments ( e.g. Social Security payments ). I transferred all the money out into my savings account, also in my personal name. The person taking the report did not give me any record # for my report or tell me how to find out further information from them. As far as I knew, I had done what was necessary. A few days later, I went into my own local Chase Bank and my own banker, who assigned me new numbers for checking and savings. I asked her to see where the withdrawals had been made, and the bank was in Rhode Island. I'm in Chicago and have never been in Rhode Island. I could not understand how someone could walk into a bank, fill out a withdrawal slip, use the wrong signature and pull out such a large amount of money. I waited then to hear something, expecting to see my money reappear. Finally, in XXXX, I attempted to call and find out. I first called the fraud department of Chase, where I was told they wouldn't handle that, it was a claim, and what was my claim number? I of course had none. I was transferred to the claims department, and was never sure whether they could see the prior report or not but I did get a claim number, supposedly : XXXX. I was told I would hear back within 3-5 business days, but by mail. I questioned that, it seemed a strange way to hear. I communicated the claim number to my banker at the local Chase, and she said she would check on it. Then I waited, and again did not hear anything. I am a XXXX  with some XXXX  issues which occupied my attention, and so I waited nearly the whole month of XXXX before trying again to find out. I called the claims department number, where my claim number seemed to be useless. He did find my claim, and said it had been denied. The reason for denial was that I had not reported it within 30 days of the event. They could not investigate. I think anyone looking at the withdrawal slips can tell immediately it was fraud! I inquired if there was someone more official to whom I could speak, and was told no. there was nothing to be done, no recourse. So now I am out {$3400.00} with no recourse, and completely at the fault of Chase -- a teller who did not check sufficiently the signature or the ID, giving out more money than I have ever taken out in person, ever, and then Chase itself proceeding to not deal with my claims in any kind of responsible way, delaying and making mistakes and never giving me any kind of official response. I was told today that a letter had been mailed out on XX/XX/XXXX, but I never received that letter. I have had other problems with Chase, but this lack of concern/care for a long-time client with 5 accounts ( 2 personal and 3 business ) is unfortunately typical. My plan, if there is no recourse, is to remove all of my money from Chase, because I obviously can not trust them to protect my money.