Consumer complaint received 2020-09-14
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Funds not received from closed account
Company: Chime Financial Inc (IL)

Opened account - XX/XX/XXXX ACH Deposit - XX/XX/XXXX Suspended account - XX/XX/XXXX Closed account - XX/XX/XXXX Dates of attempts made to resolve issue with the company : XXXX, XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX This account had one deposit made via the SBA, which now I dont have access to and need to return back to them. The only action I ever took with this account was to update my phone number because initially the two step verification wasnt working but I was able to have that resolved with my mobile carrier. So the suspension of the account caught me completely off guard. I was adamant about not sending any documents via an unsecure email address. I value my privacy and my rights. Therefore I did refuse to send them the requested documents. Please keep in mind, this was prior to them closing the account and I made that clear. I would have no issue with it but they couldnt tell me why they were requesting this info or the reason for the account suspension. I believe it to be maniacal to demand something without providing adequate reasoning. I attempted calling but no one over the phone has any info and they say you must go through the chime support email. In doing so, I was told to refer to the member agreement. So I did, and I acted upon it. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, PRIOR to the closure of the account, i sent the following email : You all state the following in your member agreement also, which I have pasted below. You hide behind these clauses and unethical business practices so no formal action can be taken against you. Well the last part states, if you dont agree, do not use the account and get a refund. 

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, DO NOT ACTIVATE OR USE THE CARD OR SPENDING ACCOUNT. XXXX CLOSE THE SPENDING ACCOUNT AND REQUEST A REFUND, IF APPLICABLE. 

I have not used the account. The card was never activated and no transactions were made. If you continue to make this a hassle for me as a consumer, I would like to close the account and have a check mailed to me at my address of choice so that I know I will receive MY money. The postal service has been horrid and unreliable in many areas across the nation in an attempt to suppress voter participation. My mail does not come consistently. I need resolution to this matter. I cant continue to have my funds held up by you all over frivolous nonsense. 

Please not that the paragraph in all caps is within the arbitration clause this company has within their member agreement. I copied it from their site. Therefore I feel since I had not used to card or the account as it states, let alone activate it or make any transactions, they have no right to withold the funds and invade my privacy. But they did not respond to this request, which was sent 3 times by the way. BUT on XX/XX/XXXX emailed me and said the account was closed and isnt eligible for a refund. Again, no details was provided on why this decision was made. And since then I have been fighting to recover what theyve basically stolen from me.