davidheineman/consumer-finance-complaints-large huggingface dataset:
Consumer complaint received 2015-05-04
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Problems caused by my funds being low — 
Company: BANK OF THE WEST (CA)

I am a former customer of Bank of the West ( FDIC # XXXX ), who spent much of XXXX and XXXX attempting to close my personal checking account. I initiated phone communication with Bank of the West on XXXX XXXX, when my bank was in good balance, and was immediately thrust into a bureaucratic nightmare. When I called the XXXX number, I was informed that I had to speak with the branch at which I opened the account. As I have moved away from XXXX XXXX, where the account was opened, I found myself with no recourse but telephonic communication. 

I attempted to call the branch at which I opened the account, and was put off, despite multiple tries, by the manager 's unavailability. Each time, I was promised a return phone call. No call was ever forthcoming. 

The account was in good balance until XXXX XXXX, at which it became overdrawn. I promptly deposited {$30.00} into the account, with the intent of establishing a positive balance, but was immediately swamped with overdraft charges. Simultaneously, a previously scheduled XXXX charge XXXX XXXX/XXXX/15 XXXX went through on the account, despite my attempts to get XXXX to remove the charge. Still, I believed this would be fine, as I had deposited enough money in the account to cover the charge. What I did not realize is that Bank of the West 's egregious grift had all ready eaten in the money that I had deposited. 

While this was happening, I was still making attempts to contact Bank of the West at their XXXX number and at the branch where I had opened the account. There was no traction with the XXXX number, as they insisted I need to speak with the branch as the balance was negative. I found myself caught in a XXXX -- I could n't close the account because the account had a negative balance, to which bank of the west was adding incurred fees each day. The local branch, meanwhile, did not return any attempts at communication. The manager was always " out to lunch. " With XXXX exception, ( a {$0.00} XXXX charge on XXXX/XXXX/15, again unexpected ), the account underwent no use, yet it continued to accrue daily overdraft charges until the XXXX of XXXX, when Bank of the West closed the account and referred it to a collections agency. 

It is my fear that my experience has become a standard business practice of Bank of the West, whereby both the unexpressed and expressed desire of the institution is to refuse the closure of accounts for financial gain, with the threat of ruin to any customer unwilling to participate in its usurious scheme. 

This unscrupulous practice of exploitation and abuse of Bank of the West 's customers must neither be tolerated nor sanctioned by its governing bodies and insurers.
Consumer complaint received 2016-11-10
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Transaction issue — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (GA)

I have recently come to the conclusion that I have been victimized by the work from home online business scam and I would like assistance disputing the charges paid to these fraudulent company. I am requesting all transactions with a company by the name XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX on my Simplicity card be disputed I paid them on XX/XX/2016, after they contacted me by an unsolicited telemarketing phone call.They charged me {$3000.00} for an online at home business. They charged me {$500.00} on my card and they were supposed to charge my bank account a monthly of {$120.00} per month. I cancelled my services with them within the 3 day cancellation period. I have allowed more than enough time to pass so they could refund me. I have come to the realization that they took advantage of me. Also they never provided me any services.
Consumer complaint received 2016-06-10
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (AL)

I signed up for a citigold checking account because of a promotion that they were running for XXXX XXXX XXXX miles. There was nothing that stated it was an invitation only offer and I fulfilled the obligations to the offer. They confirmed that I completed the requirements in XXXX. Now however they refuse to fulfill their obligations. They state that I was not targeted for the promotion.
Consumer complaint received 2016-04-20
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Late fee — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (VA)

My citibank Mastercard had a due date of XXXX XXXX, 2016. This is a Sunday. 
I paid my Mastercard bill, using my online banking, on Monday XXXX XXXX, 2016. 
Citibank charged me a {$27.00} late fee. 
I called and asked them to refund this fee and they refused. The reason they gave is that I had already received a refund of a late fee in calendar year 2016 and that their policy is to forgive only XXXX per year. 
I pointed out that my payment was not late, due to the impossibility of my paying it on Sunday XXXX XXXX.
Consumer complaint received 2015-06-09
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Billing disputes — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (NY)

My Home Depot/Citibank credit card recently warned me of " Interest on Promotional Purchases will be due shortly ''. However I never knowingly made any " deferred interest '' purchases and was NOT made aware of these purchases until now. I tried to resolve this with Citibank though they refused to acknowledge this deception. Please advise. Thanks!
Consumer complaint received 2015-12-09
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Closing/Cancelling account — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (TX)

Due to international travel, had been unable to make payment to Macy 's Credit Card. On finding out on return that it was past due, had called customer service to clear payment. But due to aggressive behavior from customer service representative and my own reaction to it, ended up asking the representative to clear account and close it. It was my impression that after this I was done with the account and dont have to worry about it. But it was suprising that Macy 's continued to send me statements and a balance due was showing up on credit reports that just kept going up. From past experience, had did not expect reasonable reply from Macy 's and hence disputed the charge with experian. Now the result from experian shows a 120 day payment due and no information was provided as to how the fatcts were verified. Having asked Macys to clear the account and close it, donot see any reason why I should be penalized for a mistake made by Macy 's ( represented by XXXX Bank as per dispute result ) who keep charging me long after account had been paid in full and closed. Dispute was submitted to XXXX and Report ID is XXXX.
Consumer complaint received 2017-02-05
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (CA)

Citibank promised me a {$400.00} bonus if I opened a checking account with them, deposited {$15000.00} and maintained that balance for 30 days. They were to have deposited the bonus after 90 days and failed to do so. I called and complained, they acknowledged that I 'd met the necessary requirements and admitted that they were " aware of issues '' regarding the bonus payment generally. I still have n't received my bonus.
Consumer complaint received 2016-11-14
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Problems caused by my funds being low — 
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION (DC)

TRANSACTIONS, NONE. I did this XX/XX/XXXX after M & T bank beat me for {$80.00} on a technicality. Despite having definitively placing my account in a no overdraft protection status. M & T has once again paid something on my account and are attempting to justify charging me nsf fees for the overdraft by claiming this as a recurring payment versus a one time payment. Which it is n't and never has been. I pay this manually based on the months that I want the service, if you notice on the account for this vendor, it 's paid on different dates of the months that I use the service. When I placed my account in a status of declining overdraft protection, M & T bank did n't tell me I needed to specify transaction types in which I wanted no overdraft protection. No overdraft means no overdraft, does n't matter the type of transaction.
Consumer complaint received 2016-09-24
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management — 
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION (NJ)

XXXX merged into M & T Bank XX/XX/XXXX. In XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 's accounts were integrated into M & T 's system. XX/XX/XXXX, M & T cut the interest rate for My Premium Checking Accounts from .25 % from where it had been held during the proposed merger period to .001 % which is unconscionable. My local branch in XXXX, NJ stopped displaying the current interest rates so that customers were not informed until after they received their monthly statement which took up to several weeks after the rate change. M & T Bank is offering bonuses to new customers which appear to be paid for with the reduced funds they are paying to existing depositors. The impact of the interest rate change is greatest on elderly and XXXX customers who live on a fixed income and find it hard to move to another bank.
Consumer complaint received 2015-07-20
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Communication tactics — Threatened to take legal action
Company: Direct Capital (CA)

Received call from ( XXXX ) XXXX and msg indicated call ( XXXX ) XXXX -- person answering did not identify the company I was calling and got testy when I asked what company I was calling ( interestingly, without my telling this person my name, they had my name ) -- I refused to give this person my name and asked at the get-go what company had called me. This person was yelling at me stating that " no one ever calls and not states who they are ... '' -- stated I was being sued for a $ XXXX debt and writing a bad check for over {$1000.00}. I am not the person they wanted : name was my first and last name, date of birth not mine, state of residence at time of " crime '' was in Louisiana. This person was very, very rude, yelled at me, and threatened to send case for me to be arrested. Finally after verifying the above name, date of birth, and state, the said would remove my name and number ; however, I have received several calls from this same number. Please do something about this. When I looked up both telephone numbers on the internet, there are complaints about a man named " XXXX XXXX '' -- I still do not know anything about the company or the company he is " representing ''.
Consumer complaint received 2016-02-27
Product: Student loan — Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer — Received bad information about my loan
Company: ACS Education Services (OH)

I took out federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans when I went to XXXX University. I graduated was accepted at XXXX University XXXX XXXX where I took out the same federal loans, and also XXXX Plus loans. In XXXX 2015 I called XXXX to ask about a PSLF consolidation because I work at a nonprofit. I sent the application in on XXXX XXXX, they said they got it on XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I got a letter from them about the consolidation, but the information was wrong, so I called. None of my loans with my ACS servicer were included in the consolidation, but the rest were. All are eligible, the only difference is the servicer. I spoke with a XXXX worker named XXXX, who told me that ACS is giving XXXX " a hard time, '' and that ACS does n't want me to consolidate those loans. ACS wrongly informed XXXX all my loans had a XXXX balance except the XXXX Plus loan, and they said that loan was ineligible. XXXX asked if ACS is collecting, and they are. None of the loans ACS services are either ineligible or have a XXXX balance, they are exactly the same kind XXXX included in the consolidation. XXXX said, " They ca n't have it both ways, tell us you have a XXXX balance and then collect from you. '' She said I have a legitimate complaint with ACS, but XXXX could do nothing about it. ACS will not give XXXX the information they need, so I had to cancel the consolidation and call ACS. XXXX said I could reinstate the consolidation application when they have the information from ACS. I called XXXX on XXXX, and they said they got XXXX 's request on XX/XX/XXXX, but it would take up to 30 business days to submit the information. I asked for an email confirming that. The said it would take XXXX hours to send it, but they would. On XX/XX/XXXX, I still did not have an email confirming they would send the information to XXXX, so I called ACS again. They said the same thing. I again asked for an email confirming that, and they agreed. It is XX/XX/XXXX, and I still do n't have an email from ACS I tried to file a complaint with the Ohio AG, but their website has been down the last two days. ACS refuses cooperate with me or XXXX, they are not complying with the terms of my loans that allow me to consolidate.
Consumer complaint received 2016-06-07
Product: Mortgage — Conventional fixed mortgage
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (OH)

CitiFinancial in XXXX locked me into a morage loan that I have been paying on for XXXX years and the Balence has not decreased and being XXXX yrs old i feel this company has taken advantage of me by locking me in a loan that I will not ever beable to repay, this loan is hard for me to pay at {$990.00} a month living on a fixed income, Also in XXXX it shows on my statements that the company filed on an insurance policy that was on the loan and the account was paid to a XXXX balance, the company still took payments from my bank acct. So from what i am reading it the statment they are getting paid twice for the loan and in the process putting me in the street.
Consumer complaint received 2015-12-09
Product: Mortgage — FHA mortgage
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account — 
Company: Rocket Mortgage, LLC (CA)

In XX/XX/XXXX we purchased a home in XXXX XXXX, CA my mom and I are retired on a fix income when all things were satisfactory with Quickenloans the lender found everything satisfactory they funded. XXXX mortgage payments later we were told that things have change our home has increase in value by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX each month since we signed the contract and closed, that insurance premiums have increased some as high as two hundred percent that our monthly mortgage payment will be increasing by XXXX XXXX dollars beginning XX/XX/XXXX and they are being slow giving as an answer how they value our home so high to raise our insurance without anyone coming out to look at the home. I live in the XXXX XXXX in California XXXX XXXX no one is flocking to move here. We signed a contract at XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX at the XX/XX/XXXX they plan on raising our mortgage payment by XXXX dollars, which we can not afford,
Consumer complaint received 2017-02-21
Product: Bank account or service — Other bank product/service
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management — 
Company: BB&T CORPORATION (MD)

We have XXXX Business accounts with BB & T and for the most part all has gone well for about 13 years. Two days ago we were hit with what the Police called XXXX. It was a XXXX. My first call after the police was to BB & T. The fraud people were understanding as I was very shakey and upset. I authorized the closing of XXXX of the XXXX accounts but did NOT authorize the closing of the operating account as I had to get to XXXX ASAP to say good bye to my Father who is in XXXX. I already had planr, car and hotel reservations made and would need the debit card when I arrived in XXXX. The XXXX happened on Saturday night of a 3 day weekend and the banks were closed today being Monday. The fraud people were explained that I would have to go in person to the bank to get a new card and since the local branches did n't open until XXXX and I had to be at the airport by XXXX I was given the address and phone number of the branch closest to the XXXX airport. It was agreed that BB & T would keep the account open until I picked up the rental car in XXXX and gor to the Branch to pick up a temporary card. I thought all was well until this morning when I tried to get gas and discovered the account was locked. I have spent the entire day trying to get BB & T to unlock the account. This morning at XXXX I waas told by customer service that he would have to investigate before opening the account but that he would call me no later than XXXX. When he did n't call I tried to call again to discover that he had left for the day. around XXXX I reached someone named XXXX who said he was a supervisor in customer service and that it was his decision not to release the account and that he had notified the fraud department of his decision. He then disconnected the call. In a XXXX, I called the Fraud people back and explained that after multiple calls, always getting different people, being on hold until the call disconnected I was getting desperate. IN the meantime I found out that my Father was worse. I considered delaying the trip one day but without the card I ca n't change the reservations and now realized that if I did n't get there tomorrow afternoon I might not see him alive. The fraud people said their hands were tied. XXXX stayed over an hour after she was due to go home trying to get someone to release the account without succeeding. 
We are XXXX and this is a Business account. We do n't use credit and have no other cards. We have only the money in our pockets. I have no way to get to the branch in XXXX without a car. It is beyond belief that the bank has no one on call with the authority to handle this kind of emergency. I feel like first I was victimized by the XXXX but even worse now I am being victimized bt the bank I trusted. Whose side are they on?
Consumer complaint received 2016-02-29
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Billing disputes — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (TN)

In XXXX of XXXX I was notified by the fraud department of my XXXX XXXX card they had detected some weird activity on my account and did not think it was me, I verified it was not me making the charges, it was only {$47.00}. They immediately closed that card or account #. It is now XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and they still have not taken care of the charges they do however keep adding the late fees to my account and it 's not {$150.00} and I call them every month and get the run around saying they will take care of it and they have n't yet. But they turned me in for negative payment on my credit report, which they should not of done since this is under dispute. I have sent in my statement of Fraud twice, I am at a loss on what to do.
Consumer complaint received 2015-10-04
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Rewards — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (IL)

The Citi Prestige Card -- there 's a benefit that states the forth night is free at any hotel worldwide when booked through their travel service and booking a non-discounted, GDS-avaibale rate. Well that sounds great, but their travel service seems to cherrypick when they 're going to make a hotel available, and the process itself is very cumbersome ( call, make a request, maybe get an e-mail back in 24 hours ... ) I 'm a travel industry/technology insider, so I understand very well how GDS, TMCs, and the hotel booking process works. 

I attempted to book a personally important trip by calling the Citi Prestige Concierge a few times. Finally, I received an e-mail stating both of my preferred hotels were unavailable, even though they were, of course, available. Each time I checked online AND called the property ( in XXXX XXXX ) to confirm, and the availability was there. I asked ( repeatedly ) that the Citi agent just transfer me to the XXXX XXXX agent so that we can resolve it, but I was told new Citi policy forbid this. 

Finally, I gave up and booked the four night stay directly with the property. Citi should honor their customer commitment and provide me with the fourth night free. It 's an expensive hotel, but it 's peak season in a far-away land. That should n't affect Citi 's willingness to honor their promise and core element of marketing the card to it 's intended demographic ( their words ) affluent consumers on a worldwide basis. 

Also, Citi should think seriously about providing an online booking system just as XXXX and XXXX do for their hotel benefits on their top-tier credit card programs. I believe XXXX XXXX provides those services, and it does n't make any sense at all to involve XXXX people ( minimum ) PLUS the customer PLUS 24-48 hours on each request. It 's almost as if the process is designed to be too cumbersome to be used. 

To the regulator : imagine if booking a ticket or hotel room through XXXX took multiple people, multiple phone calls, and 24, 48, 72 hours of waiting before even knowing if the hotel is available ... and this is supposed to be a " high-end '' service on a {$450.00} per year card. 

Again, a simple ask to Citi : that they honor the 4th night free benefit given that I booked directly with the hotel as a non-doscunted " rack rate, '' and I 'm charging the hotel stay to my card. Also, that in the future, they consider how to simplify the process supporting this primary advertised benefit of the card. 


Thanks, XXXX.
Consumer complaint received 2016-10-24
Product: Bank account or service — Checking account
Issue: Deposits and withdrawals — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (NY)

fiance wrote a check from XXXX for XXXX which I deposited in my Citibank account on XXXX/XXXX/16. On Monday XXXX/XXXX/16 I traveled to New Jersey for work and much to my horror when I accessed my Citibank account I was told it was blocked and all funds of XXXX plus were blocked due to suspicious activity. I subsequently was told by fraud dept that there was an advisement on check not to pay. However this is a lie as I also had conversation with XXXX and funds were released on XXXX/XXXX/16. Citibank now states check is good but wanted me to wait until XXXX/XXXX/16 to release funds. When I asked for proof that XXXX ever stated that the check would not be paid the fraud person XXXX became extremely rude and told me the info was proprietary and I was not privy to it and I was also told too bad that I would have to wait until XXXX/XXXX/16 at least until having access to a check that that Citibank knew was good on XXXX/XXXX/16. Needless to say I am extremely frustrated, angry and humiliated by the Citibank 's handling of this matter. The need also to make good on all late fees and penalties that I have incurred.
Consumer complaint received 2016-08-25
Product: Mortgage — Conventional fixed mortgage
Issue: Application, originator, mortgage broker — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (CT)

I contacted Citibank about refinancing my mortgage. I was given a rate which would be locked in for 60 days. I was given a list of documents to submit. I scanned and sent the documents. As these were being reviewed, I would get more requests for various information, which I continued to submit. I paid for a an appraisal of my home which was set up thru the bank. I continued to respond to the requests for more information. Seven days before the end of the rate lock, Citi is still requesting more information. We are are now at day 70 and the staff that was working with me is on vacation. I have no idea if I was approved or not for this loan. This loan should have closed weeks ago.