Consumer complaint received 2024-02-26
Product: Checking or savings account — Savings account
Issue: Closing an account — Funds not received from closed account
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (UT)

Hello my name is XXXX and I opened a checking/savings account with Chase Bank on XX/XX/XXXX. Over the span of the month I deposited two checks and had one direct deposit added to my new account. At the beginning of XXXX I had Chase close my account and has refused to return me my funds despite having cleared both checks, and taken the funds from my employers. Here is a time table of the following events and more details : - XX/XX/XXXX : I open the new checking and savings account with Chase - XX/XX/XXXX : I had a check written from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for {$6700.00} deposited into my account. I went in person to my local branch and was helped by XXXX at the XXXX, UT location. The funds were delayed and said to be made available to me XX/XX/XXXX. Also on XX/XX/XXXX, I made a mobile deposit of {$1200.00}, from a check written to me from XXXX XXXX XXXX. These funds were said to also be delayed but available to me on XX/XX/XXXX. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : The check from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was cleared and the funds were shown available for use in my account. I tried to make a payment on my credit card and the transaction was initially approved. This would later be declined on XX/XX/XXXX, which would cause me to receive a penalty for a late payment. 
XX/XX/XXXX : I received a letter in the mail from Chase letting me know my account has been flagged for fraudulent checks, and was asked to give them a call. I make my first call to Chase that day. I was told that, although the check had cleared and the funds were in my account, that Chase had suspended these funds because they were unable to verify with the company on the check. They requested that I give them the number of my contact at the company, but the number had to be one that they already had in their system. After trying the numbers I knew off the top of my head, I end the call with Chase and go directly to my contact who wrote me the check to see if she knew what number they were looking for. 
After collecting numbers from XXXX ( The Program Director ) I went in person to my local branch. I spoke with XXXX again, and he called the corporate office to help me try and resolve this issue. After verifying that I was the person on the account through my government issued ID, they were still telling us that they needed to verify phone numbers for now both XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX. I provided the numbers from the Program Director but Chase was saying that it was still not a number they had in their system. I was told by XXXX that they were calling a Sheriffs office from the town that they organization was located. 
With XXXX  I contacted the Director of Finance, who is my manager and asked her what number I should provide to Chase, which she then provided me the CFO, XXXX XXXX 's number, which they also said was not the number they had in their system. 
I tried to get more information on what numbers they had in their system so I could give more information to my employers, but they denied me any additional information outside of that they had a list of verified numbers that they could contact. 
After running into dead ends and not given any other solutions to the problem from Chase I left and tried to do more digging on my end to figure out what information they needed to get ahold of someone. 
Later that night, I called the number I had contacted earlier, where I was told by the person that the XXXX XXXX check was cleared and did not need further verification, but the XXXX check still did. He then tried calling the number they had on file, and notified me that it was the number for XXXX XXXX who is the CEO/managing partner of XXXX, not the person who wrote me the check, and not in the finance department. After trying to explain this to the person on the phone, I was told this was the only way to verify the check and have the fund released to me. 
XX/XX/XXXX : The next day I go back into my local branch office and again spoke with XXXX. When he opened my account details he notified me that my account was being closed and there was nothing they could do about it. He called the corporate office and they told him that because they were not able to verify the checks that they were closing my account. They first notice that I received from Chase that my checks were needing verification was the letter I had received the day before. I never received a call, an email, a text, or any sort of notice on my Chase account. The day I received the letter I called immediately and tried to resolve the issue with Chase. I was given a day to try to resolve the issue before they closed my account. When I was in the branch with XXXX, he told me that the balances of my checking and savings account would be sent to me in cashier checks to my house in 10 business days. I explicitly asked if the checks would need to be verified in order to receive that cashiers check, he told me no and to expect a check from Chase in 10 business days. So I leave and waited for the cashiers check to arrive. 
XX/XX/XXXX : Since the XXXX business days had passed and I had still not received the cashiers check from Chase I went back into the branch to see if they were able to track the check for me. I spoke to someone at the office and they called the corporate line to see if they could help me. I was then told that my funds were suspended until they were able to verify my checks. So despite being told the opposite 10 business days prior I was still having my funds withheld from me despite my constant corporation. As I try to worked things out with the teller and the lady on the phone, I asked what my other options were if any. I offered to have the person whose name was on the check come and show that they were who they were and confirm they did write the check, and was told that my options were to either have them continue to call or I could tell the writers of the checks to cancel the checks with their banks and have them write me a new check. I felt that this was a hopeless process since I had exhausted all the resources and numbers that I had been given by the people at each respective company, and decided to leave and contact each company to see if they could cancel the checks. 
I first called XXXX XXXX who is the Director of Finance at XXXX to see if they would be able to cancel my check and just rewrite me a new one so I could go to a different bank. She informed me that if the check had already cleared, and the funds had already left their account, then they wouldn't have the option to do that. She then contacted XXXX XXXX the XXXX, who went into their bank account with XXXX XXXX XXXX and confirmed that the funds had already been taken by Chase. XXXX has a XXXX XXXXhat shows that the check cleared on XX/XX/XXXX. They asked if there was a number they could call to contact Chase, but when I had asked Chase if that was an option they said that they would only speak to the number associated with the one they have in their system. This was the same case when I spoke to XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. When they checked their account they also had shown that the check had cleared on XX/XX/XXXX, and that Chase had taken the funds from their account. So the solution provided to me by Chase was not a viable solution. 

I have plans of going into my branch tomorrow to bring this issue to light, but every time I call or go in person I am given the same solution that is not working. I am feeling hopeless as I know that these checks are legit. I have shown that they are both legit businesses that can be searched on states corporate division ( included below ). I have tried to find a legit solution that proves that both checks were written to me, for the amount shown but Chase has been unwilling to help me. 

Here is more details as to what the checks are for and supporting documents to show legitimacy : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : This was for contract work that I did for their nonprofit organization. I spent the last few months creating and designing a website for them and this check was my compensation. It was written to me from XXXX XXXX who is the Administrator for the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 's office. The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is a nonprofit organization that is run under the courts office, which is why XXXX wrote the check. I have included a document from XXXX XXXX who is the legal representative of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, the Chairman of the Board of Directors which outlines a signed letter stating that they did write the check to me. It also includes a XXXX that shows the funds left their account, as well as a receipt that shows the updated contact details of the numbers associated with the bank account that the check was cleared from. On the receipt it clearly shows that the account is for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX as well as the listed contacts for that account that can verify that the check is legitimate. I will also include a copy of the check that shows that XXXX XXXX is the authorized signature and in the memo it includes that it was for my website consulting. 
XXXX XXXX : This check is a scholarship I receive because I am on a XXXX XXXX fund that is managed by XXXX. I will include a screenshot from the XXXX XXXX XXXX official website that lists me as a current student on the fund. I will include a screenshot to show that the company is registered and active on the division of corporations and commercial code website as well as a screenshot of their official website that shows that both XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX are actively on the team. I will also include the image of the check I deposited to show that XXXX XXXX is the authorized signature and the memo states that it is for my Fall XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX