Consumer complaint received 2025-08-15 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Other transaction problem — 
Company: CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX I discovered a financial amount of {$1400.00} was taken out of my bank account at Citizens Bank. I immediately called them to inform them that this was a fraudulent transaction. I talked to the supervising customer service agent who informed me that it was the IRS service that took my money and they refused to do any investigation on it nor let me make a report on it. 

Several phone calls later between the bank, a trip to the bank and IRS I discovered there was no transaction from the IRS authorizing money to be removed from my account. The bank still refused to let me file a fraudulent report. Eventually I initiated a small claims suit against the bank. During this time Citizens Bank admitted they misspoke and it was the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that had contacted them and gave me a copy of the demand letter. Eventually my case was dismissed as the bank broke several federal laws and the court had no jurisdiction over federal laws. 

Upon examination of the demand letter, see attachment, the person who initiated this is XXXX XXXX who is an XXXX  at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. So here is the back story and this is why I am reporting this as a crime because he did commit a crime. Back in year XXXX and XXXX we discussed about process XXXX IRS forms so they can collect their covid relief checks for a fee. They all agreed to this including XXXX XXXX. I went ahead and processed their forms, the money came in and was dispersed according to their wishes and everyone was happy and still are to this day except XXXX XXXX. 

XXXX XXXX needed money to pay for an appelet attorney and needed {$2500.00}. I told him I would only loan him that amount in exchange that I get to keep XXXX of his covid checks, the {$600.00} and {$1400.00}. It was the only way I knew for sure I would get paid back for at least some of it. He agreed to this. Please see attachments. He started to renege on the {$1400.00} because I reminded him that he overdrew his balance from his last check by XXXX cents and had a pretty good temper tantrum. I reminded him that if I did that the bank would fine my account {$33.00} if I so much over drew my account by a penny so he just needs to shut up and accept that hes out of money. Eventually he calmed down and said for me to go ahead and keep the money as payment for the loan. The covid checks came and he got his loan. Everything was just peachy fine until XXXX last year. Doing some investigative work XXXX XXXX lost his appeal and he had an actual worthy appeal too, shame. He apparently contacted the IRS and lied to them that he never got his money. Now that is where the crime comes in. He provided false testimony to a federal agency for which I am the victim of.

18 U.S.C. 1001.. Statements or entries generally ( a ) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully -- ( 1 ) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact ; ( 2 ) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or ( 3 ) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry ; shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

( b ) Subsection ( a ) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party 's counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate judge in that proceeding.

( c ) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection ( a ) shall apply only to -- ( 1 ) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or ( 2 ) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

Well that is not true at all. Upon my multiple discussions with the department for which I do have a recording of and can be provided upon request along with my discussion with a very rude customer service supervisor at the bank this is exactly how it goes. The tax refunds go into whatever account is put onto the forms. It doesnt matter whose name is on the account nor does the tax payers name have to be on the account. If you screw up the IRS is not duty bound to retrieve it. Its only a courtesy they will go find it and try to get it back for you. Surprise! Yes I was shocked by that admission. So to try to get the funds back the IRS will notify the account holder that funds have been accidently deposited into their account and to please sign a preauthorization form and send it back to them. The account holder is not legally obligated to sign the form. If the account holder does not sign it, the IRS can not move forward and seize it as it has no legal basis to do so. It would then be between the tax payer and account holder to fight it out in court in a civil suit. So frankly, if the IRS are bound by these rules and laws so does the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
I have since filed an IRS XXXX XXXX to report fraud and have no idea if that is the proper method as the agent was very rude and short with me on the phone. I am also concerned with all the going ons in XXXX with XXXX kicking XXXX ( Yea go XXXX go! ) I have no idea if and when my little plea for help will ever be noticed and acted upon. I dont know which authority has jurisdiction over such matters, is it the state AG , FBI XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX or the IRS XXXX unit. So here I sit writing this amusing but serious letter of complaint about one of your problem childs being a problem child. Good thing he isnt an XXXX  XXXX. As things stand now nothing has been done. The bank is still being uncooperative, I still dont have my money, finding an attorney has been impossible as to finding out what classification of crime this is has been difficult. 

The bank did violate the following : 15 U.S. Code 1693c - Terms and conditions of transfers ( a ) Disclosures ; time ; form ; contents ( 1 ) the consumers liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers ( 4 ) any charges for electronic fund transfers or for the right to make such transfers ; 15 U.S. Code 1693h - Liability of financial institutions ( 1 ) the financial institutions failure ( 2 ) the financial institutions failure to stop payment 15 U.S. Code 1693e - Preauthorized transfers ( a ) A preauthorized electronic fund transfer from a consumers account may be authorized by the consumer only in writing, 15 U.S. Code 1693f - Error resolution ( b ) Correction of error ; interest If the financial institution determines that an error did occur, it shall promptly, but in no event more than one business day after such determination, correct the error, subject to section 1693g of this title, including the crediting of interest where applicable.

( b ) Provisional recredit of consumers account ( f ) Acts constituting error For the purpose of this section, an error consists of ( 1 ) an unauthorized electronic fund transfer ; 15 U.S. Code 1693m - Civil liability ( 2 ) ( A ) in the case of an individual action, an amount not less than {$100.00} nor greater than {$1000.00} ; or

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation