Consumer complaint received 2024-03-12
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (NJ)

I recently received a small settlement from an XXXX complaint filed on my behalf. I use Chase bank and had also opened a business checking and savings account in anticipation of the settlement, I am planning on purchasing my own tractor and becoming an owner/operator. I registered the business with NJ, obtained my XXXX and DOT number. I deposited the settlement draft, which was drawn off of a NJ XXXX Account, on Friday XX/XX/2024. I actually wrote out the deposit slip so that I could deposit into XXXX accounts, which i was told that i would be able to do by the woman who opened the business accounts. Unfortunately, that was not true. The teller told me that it could only be deposited into my personal account, at which time I was also informed that a hold was being placed on the deposit but that it would be released before the end of the hold which would be XX/XX/2024. The following week I contacted the bank to inquire about the hold and was told they need to verify that the funds are available. I asked the representative to contact the bank the draft was written on to confirm the funds were available, which i already had the legal office 's bookkeeper confirm for me before the call, and the representative put me on hold then got back on the line to say the bank would not verify to a third party, which i found comical due to the profession of the caller and the receiving party, I would have assumed that was part of the professional courtesies extended or just part of the daily routine so as not to pay on a deposit where funds are not available. I then called the number on the back of my debit card a few days later to ask if they would make available any of the funds, at the very least those in accordance with the XXXX XXXX and was told no. When i responded and said that i was aware that this was of course at the banks discretion, i asked for their reason and was not provided with any rationale as to why. So now it is the day before the hold is to be released and i sign into my account and schedule XXXX transfers for the next day, the day the hold is to be lifted. I set the transfers up and log out. A short time after that I went to log back in to my account, XXXX half hour before the strike of midnight on the eve before the hold is to be lifted, and my account now has been locked and i can not gain entry. I contact the number provided for assistance only to be told that they can not assist me and that i have to call back at XXXX am. I am beyond irritated. They said something about possible fraudulent activity. Since when is scheduling the transfer of money from XXXX of my accounts to another of my accounts considered fraud that i have to be locked out of my account? What is fraudulent about an attorney trust account check? Have they not ever heard of settlements? I have been treated like a criminal. For someone who just opened business accounts with this bank, I am regretful that i did. The deposit was MY money, not theirs to decide when they feel like releasing them, and now the stall tactic of locking me out of my accounts is even more disturbing. And maybe i would not feel this way had i been given a legitimate reason as to why no funds could be made available, or as to why the extended hold. I worked as a paralegal for years and in the XXXX plus year i worked in law firms, never once did a trust account bounce in my experience. So, with that said, what verification process takes 10 days? I was bullied by the bank and their abuse of power and the unfair way that i have been treated when it comes to any explanation regarding MY monies.