Consumer complaint received 2024-01-21 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Unable to open an account
Company: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Hello Sir/ma'am, this issue is in direct relation upon termination or closure of a checking account through contract work involving social media I completed for s client and they mailed a check. Upon becoming aware of the unexpected issue with the deposit, I was immediately consumed with a mix of confusion and concern. At the young age of XXXX, my world was predominantly framed by school, family, occasional job, and occasional freelancing work, with banking intricacies being far from my day-to-day experiences. Being a XXXX my exposure to the broader financial world was limited, and my ability to discern complex financial malfeasance was understandably undeveloped. The individual who provided the fraudulent check was someone I had completed freelance services for, in relation to social media marketing, and the work I undertook was carried out with sincerity and dedication. Given the professional nature of our interaction and the tangible services I rendered, the thought that the compensation could be anything but genuine never crossed my youthful mind. In accepting and depositing the check, I acted in good faith, based on the trust I placed in the person who I believed was compensating me fairly for my efforts. At the time of the incident, I was merely XXXX XXXX XXXX. At such a young age, my understanding of banking and financial transactions was minimal. My age made me vulnerable to such deceit, and I genuinely acted in good faith. I possess a contract between the lady who commited fraud against me, and you, that being XXXX XXXX XXXX and myself. This document outlines the nature of the work, its duration, and the agreed-upon compensation. In addition my association with NFCU is not just personal but familial. My fianc, brother, and mother have all trusted NFCU for their banking. Their enduring and positive relationship with the institution was a significant influence to bank with you. They stand by me in this situation, ready to attest to my character and our collective commitment to NFCU. Recognizing the necessity to bridge my knowledge gaps, I enrolled in financial literacy courses and financial fraud prevention measures. This proactive measure illustrates my dedication to preventing similar misunderstandings in the future and my earnest intent to grow from past experiences. Again, just to re-iterate, this was not a purposeful attempt done on my part, but was done in good faith, and since then I have refused to accept any form of payment as mentioned previously and now utilize Stripe for freelance services, and I have a career in security and tech. Based on the foregoing, I respectfully request Navy Federal Credit Union reconsider the decision in place and vacate the previous decision. See the attached documentation for reference through the government portal. I want to work with NFCU to build a relationship just as my mom, brother, and fianc have.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation