Consumer complaint received 2025-08-15 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION, THE
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I have been given nothing but a run around from Charles Schwab over the last couple of weeks. It is starting to really mess things up for me. At this juncture Im not sure if it is some incompetence or discrimination preventing me from accessing my own money- but I would like a resolution to use my own money as soon as possible.

I deposited a check from my attorney for {$23000.00}. Initially they held it for a week, which is fine. The agents said that it was a month old account and they needed to be sure. Okay, fine. But agents had also explained to me that if I called in and could verify with the firm and their bank that Id receive access.

I was able to do this, so Charles Schwab has on record that the funds availability and the check were both verified by my attorneys law firm and their bank.

Then, once the funds became available the debit card began declining every other transaction. I used XXXX twice ( once while in XXXX because I was picking up a project I ordered- I live 30 minutes from the border in XXXX XXXX ). Then every transaction started getting blocked.

I paid my cell phone bill via ACH because I couldnt get that to work on my debit card. I paid my storage bill, which has my deceased mothers things in it via ACH because the card wouldnt work. Today I got an email with a fee saying the check was bad and they are filing a lien against my storage property.

My mother died unexpectedly. I am XXXX XXXX XXXX trying to keep it together, and all of her things are in that storage while I figure out what to do with it. An ACH that I created where funds were available getting blocked caused this. 

Because I also had expenses I needed to cover, I sent money from this account to XXXX, a payments service, to be able to use my own money because my own bank account wouldnt let me. This is when I lost access to my accounts on the app, XXXX emailed me saying there was an adverse action in my account blocking my ability, and the agents said that I needed to use another source of funds. Why? My money should be available there. 

So then we verify literally every transaction and I confirm they are all me. Then I am asked to bring identification, so I take my passport into the XXXX XXXX branch in XXXX XXXX. That doesnt seemed to have cleared things up. 

Even though that was the only ask, I am now wondering if the color of my skin has brought on an additional request for information ( that Schwab has gotten at least 4 times now ) of verifying where the funds came from. So, even though it is none of their business - to be sure I gave them the settlement contract, I gave them the distribution record from my law firm, and I also gave them the letter the actual check came with.

I feel like they are just playing games with me at this point, and now that it is effecting my ability to buy groceries, now that it is effecting my ability to keep my mothers things, and now that it is effecting my ability to book things I need to back I am filing this complete as I am at my wits end. I am college educated and have two Bachelors degrees. One o
f those Bachelors is a degree in Finance. I am a good person, never been in trouble, and I have done nothing that should set off such a reaction. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX should not block access to my accounts. 

Transferring money elsewhere so that I can pay bills should not block my account.

Im at my wits end.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief