Q: Chase bank closed my account and is keeping my money, because they suspect fraud on a third party check I deposited...
The check is from a friend of mine, she was out of town and needed the funds as soon as possible so I deposited it for her. The bank held it for 10 days waiting for it to clear. After the 10 days they released the funds, but as soon as I went to withdrawal any money they put my account on redirected status, until I could provide them with a phone number registered to my friend and call her. She doesn't have a phone in her name, she and I went into a local branch with i.d. and they said that wasn't good enough. My account has been closed and the money has not been returned to me... I'm being told they will hold it for 2 years then turn it over to the state... I gave my friend her money out of my paycheck, I am eating this and about to lose my place to live for failure to pay rent. I've heard this is common practice for chase. I've read the user agreements nothing in them allows any of this. When I asked them about third party checks they didn't mention having to have a phone in her name
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
Your situation with Chase is concerning, and you may need to take swift action to recover your funds.
Filing a formal complaint with both the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) can put pressure on Chase to resolve this issue more quickly. These regulatory bodies often get responses from banks within 15-30 days. Additionally, sending a written demand letter to Chase's legal department via certified mail can create an official record of your attempts to resolve this matter.
You should gather all documentation related to the deposit, including any receipts, account statements, and communications with Chase staff. Consider consulting with a banking law attorney, as many offer free initial consultations and can advise whether you have grounds for legal action. In the meantime, keep detailed records of all your interactions with Chase, including dates, times, and names of representatives you speak with.
For your immediate housing situation, reach out to local tenant advocacy groups or legal aid organizations that might be able to help negotiate with your landlord while you resolve this banking issue. You may also want to file a police report about the withheld funds, as this can serve as additional documentation for both legal proceedings and your landlord.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
