Consumer complaint received 2025-02-15 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed
Company: TRUIST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I applied to part time jobs to make money while looking for a permanent job. I found XXXX through XXXX that was for a data clerk remote position. It was with XXXX XXXX, XXXX. They sent me the proper paperwork asking for stuff my W2, I9, direct deposit, etc. I only communicated with them through the application, XXXX ( the entire conversation is stored on my phone ), which I felt a little strange at the time. They said to pay for the office supplies they sent me a check to put into my bank account ( XXXX ) for XXXX. Then I would use that money to pay the equipment guy for the equipment. So they then had me XXXX pay XXXX ( XXXX was a signing bonus I kept ) to XXXX ( equipment guy ), This was all on a Friday. The following day, the check that I cashed in my account was returned deposit or voided by Truist for not being a real check I believe. This left me with a XXXX balance in account XXXX. I tried the number of XXXX XXXX that I found on the internet, and they told me it was all a scam. Thus, i quickly told Truist that my account had been scammed and to close the account. Apparently, since was a scam and not fraud, they left the account open to receive funds, but closed it for it outgoing funds ( still this way today, cant get them fully close it ). 
I found out on XX/XX/XXXX, with XXXX payment from my father which went into the XXXX account that Truist since it was a scam would try to recoup the funds from me until my account got to a XXXX balance, or charge off the amount after 60 days which ever comes through first. Thus they, will not release your {$200.00} XXXX payment, to be transferred from closed scam account XXXX to my newly opened account with Truist ( XXXX ). Truist then on Tuesday of this week took it a step farther, and apparently in the agreement we have with Truist, they can recoup funds from XXXX a client 's accounts to pay off a negative balance of another client 's accounts without their permission. So when I deposited mom 's XXXX of {$1000.00}, Truist went into to my account without my knowledge or consent and moved {$830.00} from my open account XXXX ( which I use to pay all bills with ) to my closed account XXXX. The reason is for the variance is {$160.00} health insurance premium that was paid by my open account during this time. However, after taking out the {$830.00}, my open account is now negative due to some of my bills being paid through the open account. This is leaving me now with my XXXX checking accounts with negative balances. 

Yesterday ( XX/XX/XXXX ), when I discovered all this stuff that Truist had done, I called them about it and their Collections/Claim department told me about since it was a scam where I was actively involved and not fraud ( where I had no knowledge of what was going on ) that they could recoup funds from me. I argued this was not right, and was able to contact the fraud department of Truist where they opened up a claim for me related to the scam, XXXX. According to Truist, they are unwilling to tell me how long it could be until the investigation is over and they ruling on if in fact I was scammed/fraud ( in which case they will put the {$200.00}, and {$830.00} back into my open account, XXXX, or if they don't then they will keep the funds and charge off the rest of the negative balance within 60 days. I also was able file a claim/ misconduct notice against Truist Collections for taking the funds without my knowledge an

d paying off one account somewhat and making both my accounts have negative balances even though since I am unemployed ( Truist knows this ) and on a fixed income.

Truist would not tell me why they waited till now to start taking money without my consent, even though until last week I was getting {$320.00} from unemployment. Also, since I already filed my taxes and awaiting refunds, I can not change from direct deposit for those refunds from Truist, so Truist could potentially take the additional {$1400.00} out of my open account and put to it to the close negative balance account without my consent. I tried to get the deposit changed through XXXX & XXXX XXXX but can not do this once the returns have been accepted by federal and state.

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 explanation