Consumer complaint received 2025-06-03 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Can't close your account
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
Attention : Improper closure of Fifth Third Bank causing multiple Electronic Bill Payment Service errors and default in payment. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, North Carolina XXXX Phone : ( XXXX ) XXXX Fax : ( XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  DOJ General Attorney for Consumer Protection XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX - office RE : Improper closure of Money Market account ending in XXXX causing a ripple of defaults I have attempted to closure my Money Market account ending in XXXX over the phone the last week of XXXX, but the Fifth Third Bank representative was unable to do so and had to come into the branch. I had to come into a local branch on Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX and meet with XXXX XXXX, Personal Banker and XXXX XXXX, Financial Center Manager who assured me that the account was closed, after my withdrawal {$19000.00} to XXXX my balance, with a certified check from Fifth Third Bank. My account was apparently left OPEN causing a ripple of preexisting automatic electronic payments after I had a XXXX balance with my money market account, causing insufficient funds and penalties in the month of XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX before on XX/XX/XXXX due to seeing messages from my XXXX XXXX account that Fifth Third Bank had a return item overdraft in the amount of {$4500.00} from my money market account that I was assured complete closure on Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX after receiving my certified check from Fifth Third bank and closing the account. It was NOT closed. Additional, automatic web initiated payments on XX/XX/XXXX of {$1000.00} were sent from my CLOSED money market account with Fifth Third Bank causing continued insufficient / overdraft returns on debit / credit accounts. I called XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX about this issue of why my Money Market account was NOT closed as previous stated and bank site visit on XX/XX/XXXX. I emailed XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX : XXXX  I wanted to make sure my Money Market account ending in XXXX is closed ( again ) and you are refunding ALL transactions associated with this account closure when I meet you on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX to close this account and ALL associated recurrent transactions to any Payees or Accounts. Please confirm and bring this account balance to XXXX  without additional charges incurred. 
Call if you have any questions or concerns. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX - cell Fax : ( XXXX ) XXXX I had to log back into my Fifth Third Bank Money Market account ( which was not closed as previously stated ) and attempt to delete my recurrent electronic payment series on XX/XX/XXXX. 
Also, I am unable to delete XXXX  from Payees & Accounts > Non 5/3 Accounts > XXXX  XXXX ( Manage ) > RECURRING SERIES XXXX Delete. 
This account should have been CLOSED as previously discussed on XX/XX/XXXX in your branch. 

count Name XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( North Carolina ) Account Number XXXX Routing Number XXXX Account Type Checking Account Nickname Secu Account Status Account Approved Recurring Series {$1000.00} Weekly Delete Several emails went back and forth with excuses, apologies, inconveniences and updates. 

Then on XX/XX/XXXX I get an email from XXXX XXXX stating : Even though I canceled all my transactions, this is still going through. This is nonsense. Please close this account immediately and stop all pending payments from this money market account as discussed months ago.

We did talk on the phone on XX/XX/XXXX regarding these issues.

I received a Debt Collection letter, dated XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( A Debt Collector ), stating that there is an outstanding balance owed to XXXX XXXX. They honored your bill payment request through your Electronic Bill Payment with FIFTH THIRD BANK and your payee, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX was credited for {$4500.00}. However, XXXX XXXX was not successful in collecting the funds to cover this payment from your bank account. This unpaid balance has been referred to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for collection. 

Contrary to the above statement, when I logged into XXXX XXXX, I did not see a credit in the amount of {$4500.00} around the date of XX/XX/XXXX, therefore, this letter is inadequate and false. 

This notice is to inform you that I am disputing any debt ( within 30 days of your letter ) or bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with control number XXXX in the reference to above case after I received your letter ( First Attempt ) dated XX/XX/XXXX based on my Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). See above reference notes. No further communication is needed. I have also advised my attorney of company above sending a fake invoice and making false pretense charges. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX lack any merit and is invalid. North Carolina Chapter 14 : Criminal Laws make it illegal to use fraud, a falsehood, or deceptive statement ( representation ) to obtain a thing of value. N.C.G.S. 14-100 makes offenses of {$100000.00} or more a Class C Felony in North Carolina . According to the GST Act, Section 122 ( 1A ), whoever issues any invoice or bill without the supply of goods or services shall be liable to pay a penalty of an amount equivalent to the tax evaded or the input tax credit availed fraudulently, or the refund obtained fraudulently, whichever is more substantial. Please readmit payment of {$4400.00} to XXXX XXXX immediately. 

Be advised that I am fully aware of my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and other consumer protection statutes. For instance, I know that : because I have disputed this debt in writing within 30 days of receipt of your dunning notice, you must obtain verification of the debt or a copy of the judgment against me and mail these items to me at your expense.

you can not add interest or fees except those allowed by the original contract or state law.

you do not have to respond to this dispute but if you do, any attempt to collect this debt without validating it, violates the FDCPA ; Also be advised that I am keeping fully accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company including recording all phone calls and I will not hesitate to report violations of the law to my State Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and the XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
I have disputed this debt ; therefore, until validated you know your information concerning this debt is inaccurate. Thus, if you have already reported this debt to any credit-reporting agency ( CRA ) or Credit Bureau ( CB ) then, you must immediately inform them of my dispute with this debt. Reporting information that you know to be inaccurate or failing to report information correctly violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act 1681s-2. Should you pursue a judgment without validating this debt, I will inform the judge and request the case be dismissed based on your failure to comply with the FDCPA. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation