Consumer complaint received 2021-07-18
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (NY)

On XX/XX/2021 I received an email offer from chase and they would give me XXXX dollars if I opened a checking account and deposited XXXX within 30 days. 

I opened the account and did a mobile deposit of 3 checks. Two checks were from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to me for XXXX dollars for a total of XXXX. I also deposited 1 check from XXXX XXXX XXXX for XXXX dollars. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I opened the app to deposit another check. My ability to mobile deposit was removed. The next day I received my debit card from chase in the mail. I also received a separate letter saying my account was being closed to please call this number for more info. I called the number stood on hold for 30 mins to find out because the address on the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX check is different from the address the phone number is listed at chase was unable to verify the validity of these 2 checks and for that reason my account would be closed. 

I asked how I could help them verify the checks. I offered the cell phone to my boss who owns XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I sent a picture of my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  company credit card with my name on it. I was told repeatedly there is no way to verify these checks Chase could only call the company if the address matched the address on the check. They couldnt call any other number for any reason and wouldnt except incoming call for verification. period no if and or butts. This was over the course of several days of phone calls each time waiting on hold each time trying to resolve only to be told the same thing .. I finally gave up on my account being reopened. and asked how do I go about getting this money returned to me. I was told by Chase Support the only way is to have a stop payment placed on the checks and have my employers reissue new checks to me. I reluctantly went to my bosses from both companies explained the situation. Luckily they were both willing to help. Unfortunately when my boss call XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  he was told you cant stop payment on a check that had already cleared. My boss had me call the branch manager myself to explain the situation. The branch manager said that Chase would know that a stop payment couldnt be put on a check that has cleared what I would need would be for XXXX XXXX XXXX to do a reverse of funds or reverse payment. In order for XXXX XXXX XXXX to do this I would need a police report saying that someone cashed a check belonging to me or check fraud. When I went to the precinct I was told they couldnt help me. They couldnt say that chase fraudulently cashed my check because I made the deposit. I called chase back and explained all this info. I asked to have someone just call the branch manager for XXXX XXXX XXXX bank and explain to them what they must do to get this money from chase back to my bosses XXXX XXXX XXXX account so my boss could issue me a check for my pay. 
I was told they couldnt call XXXX XXXX XXXX. I asked if I was using the wrong terminology when asking my boss to put a stop payment. I was told again it is the correct terminology. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX  and the branch manager of the bank whom my boss has a 20 year relationship with said XXXX I would really like to help you and I would do anything I could to get this money back for you. Unfortunately I cant stop payment on a check that has been cashed and I cant do a reverse payment with out the police report. I will see if I can help you or get more info but this is a chase thing and its them that you need to work with to resolve this. I dont know what to do I am at my wits end. My last phone call to chase after being on hold for over 30 mins and explaining my whole story to the lady from chase customer support. She had the nerve to say its a lose lose situation I asked her how chase was losing they have my money Im jumping through every hoop to get it back. I spending hours on hold, my bills were late for the first time in over 7 years because I didnt have access to this XXXX dollars. It feels like a lose lose lose and I am the only loser. her answer was chase is losing a customer. .. I dont know what else to do .. I dont know who to contact for help. When I look online it seems chase does this all the time. The problem is we have no recourse. If someone took a knife and robbed me I could go to the police, if someone scammed me I could have them arrested. But instead this bank gets to do this to hundreds of Americans if not to thousands and we have no recourse for us. Even if we manage to get the money back we suffer all the consequences. 

Please I need help. Im not a rich man. I rent my apartment, I own a XXXX year old car. Im not asking for charity I am only asking for what is mine to be given to me. The sad thing is I have been a XXXX XXXX  customer since Im XXXX years old. But because of the extra abilities of chase like access to XXXX and the offer of XXXX bucks I decided to open this account. But that still doesnt make it OK to just steal my money.