Consumer complaint received 2024-11-25 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: Chime Financial Inc
State: AK

Complaint narrative:
I was notified via email that Chime would be ending their relationship with me for reasons they would not disclose. I was told to remove any funds from the account prior to the closure date. The following is an account of events since that date : XX/XX/XXXX : An outside ACH transfer was initiated from XXXX for {$4100.00} to my Chime account. This was a payment for services rendered, paid via direct deposit. 

XX/XX/XXXX : Chime reported the funds as available in my account balance. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I authorized XXXX to withdraw the deposited funds from my Chime account, well before the stated closure date of the account ( XX/XX/XXXX ). 

XX/XX/XXXX : My Chime account was closed, and my ability to access the app, website, and any account information was revoked. 

XX/XX/XXXX : XXXX assessed a Payment Returned Fee for the previously authorized amount. This amount was added back to my outstanding credit card balance. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I spoke with Chime customer service over the phone for around an hour. I was told they could not disclose the reason for account closure, stating security risk. I asked why the already pending payment was cancelled, even though it was made in good faith and well before the stated closure date. I was told that a check for the balance would be mailed to me, though no confirmation could be given as to whether it had already been sent or when I could expect it to be sent. I was told that a follow up would be conducted via email. No further correspondence was received. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I followed up with another call lasting XXXX XXXX  and XXXXXXXX XXXX after receiving no response. I was reassured that I would again receive an email resolution and was given a ticket number. Again, no confirmation was able to be provided regarding whether the check had been mailed. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I received an email from Chime stating, An attempted deposit of $ from [ company X ] was returned to the sender on XX/XX/XXXX with no amount specified. I have confirmed with the issuing party that they have not received a returned payment. Chime was also unable to confirm or deny that they had returned that payment. 
This is the first attempt of Chimes to provide details concerning the whereabouts of the {$4100.00} in question, and they were not able to confirm the information given. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I received an email from Chime requesting confirmation of my mailing address so that they could issue a check. I provided my address and requested confirmation that the check had been sent, but my response was ignored. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I again, responded to the email asking for a follow up or some sort of confirmation, and was ignored. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I received an email from Chime stating that they had sent a check to the address on file. I asked if they could provide tracking, and was ignored. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I received a paper check via mail, dated XX/XX/XXXX, for the amount {$4100.00}. I cashed this check in branch at my local XXXX XXXX. The amount cleared to my account. 

XX/XX/XXXX : XXXX XXXX issued a bounced check reversal, and removed the deposit amount from my balance, overdrawing and putting my account into a negative balance. I called XXXX XXXX customer service to find out why the check had bounced. The stated reason was that the check was " fraudulent or tampered with ''. 
I called Chime requesting information as to why the check bounced. The supervisor on the phone asked me if I had cancelled the payment but was unable to explain why it had bounced. She informed me that a new check would need to be reissued, and that it would take XXXX XXXX. No justification was given for the bounced check. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I received an email from Chime again requesting confirmation for an address to send a reissued check to. 

As of XXXX XXXX XXXX  ) I still have no confirmation that the new check was issued, nor any reason to believe my bank ( XXXX XXXX ) will accept the check this time. 

In summary, Chime has withheld my funds for an unreasonable amount of time, during which very little concrete information has be given me regarding where the money was ; at times the information was even conflicted or a flat out lie. Furthermore, they have damaged my relationships with two other real banks through their systemic negligence.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief