Consumer complaint received 2024-11-15 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
This complaint alleges serious violations of consumer protection laws and regulations, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), by Ally Bank in their handling of my checking XXXX. I am requesting immediate investigation and appropriate action to address the following : 1. Unfair Debt Collection Practices : Obstruction of Repayment : Despite my repeated attempts to bring my account to a positive balance, Ally Bank initially and inexplicably blocked my legitimate ACH transfer from my XXXXXXXX XXXX  account, hindering my ability to cure the alleged debt. They also blocked my debit card which in turn blocked any non-ach transfers, such as a simple XXXX transfer attempt. Both the Ally app and website would not allow the transfer and Ive included documentation proving that, and it was also confirmed over the phone. This constitutes an unfair and unconscionable practice under the FDCPA, as it directly interfered with my ability to resolve the issue. 
Unreasonable Account Restrictions : Ally Bank imposed restrictions on my account without providing a valid justification or reasonable notice. These restrictions prevented me from accessing my funds and resolving the negative balance, causing significant hardship and inconvenience. 
Coercive and Deceptive Tactics : Ally Bank 's representatives, including a supervisor, engaged in deceptive and potentially coercive tactics by threatening account closure without providing adequate opportunity to cure the negative balance and by refusing to offer reasonable solutions. 
2. Retaliation for Consumer Action : Suspect Timing : This occurred 2 weeks after I filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and this strongly suggests retaliatory action for exercising my consumer rights.Futher supporting that is the Ally Bank Executives letter response that instructed me to call the bank and do a fund transfer or face imminent account closure, only to result in harassment and refusal. 
Lack of Justification : Ally Bank offered no valid explanation for their initial refusal to lift the restrictions or for their obstruction of my attempts to bring the account positive. This arbitrary and capricious behavior further supports the claim of retaliation. 
3. Unprofessional Conduct : Abrupt Termination of Call : During a phone conversation seeking resolution, an Ally Bank supervisor XXXX abruptly terminated the call while I was calmly and assertively explaining my situation. This unprofessional conduct demonstrates a disregard for customer service and a lack of commitment to resolving disputes fairly, even to the extent of violating their own directives to achieve that end. 
Pattern of Unsatisfactory Service : My entire experience with Ally Bank has been plagued by problems and subpar customer service. This incident is not an isolated occurrence but rather indicative of a systemic issue within the institution. The last fund transfer I attempted through Ally Bank was botched, resulting in the closure of a decade-old XXXX XXXX credit card tradeline which caused immense damage to my credit.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief