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CHARTER ONE BANK - CITIZENS BANK CHARGED FEES FOR "NO FEES CHECKING" ripoff Dansville New York
Charter One what a crock! Things went well until I tried to close my acct. I was extremely careful and diligent about keeping track of my acct and not relying on the ATM to give me an accurate printout of available funds.
IT ALL started when I tried to close my acct, the teller/associate/manager refused to close my account until I made an appointment with her to "discuss it" I was livid and walk away before things got ugly.
A few days later I called CHARTER ONE and spoke to the same woman and made an appt to discuss the closing of MY ACCT with HER!
THE APPT she argues with me about not closing my acct and that I would have to go through some waiting period before they would close it anyway, and suggests that I should keep the acct open.
Now on the verge of reaching across the desk and choking the **** out of her, I get up, tell her that I absolutely want this acct closed and she better do it now! There is nothing to discuss! NO MEANS NO! Then I say "I have important things to do goodbye,oh and did I mention CLOSE MY ACCT!and send me a check in the mail for the remaining balance" and walked out!
TRUST me everyone waiting to do their business not to mention all the customers near the registers in Tops Markets HEARD the entire conversation!
FEELING now that I was done with this bank I proceeded to wash my memory of the rude encounter with that woman, only to have it rush back in 3 months later when I received a statement that my acct was charged a maintainence fee for inactivity! PLUS "OVERDRAFT" FEES AND "INSUFFICIENT FUNDS" FEES all at once!
So now I had over $100 dollars in fees attached to an acct that I told them to close! I called these people and went round and round with them again, they then agreed to close the acct- but I would still have to pay all their trumped up fees! I said "no way that acct was already closed once and anyway since when is there a fee on a no fees checking acct? It's not mentioned in any of the agreements I received when I first opened the acct"- they said nothing.
Finally I receive confirmation in the mail that the acct was closed, they still insisted I owed the fraudulent fees- and I refused to REWARD their BAD BUSINESS, I did not give them a dime.
A YEAR LATER I receive a notice from CITIZENS BANK that I owe them the same FEES PLUS what they tacked on when they assumed CHARTER ONE, I called them and told them the same thing, they replied "we don't see where it was closed" (DUH?) cause Charter One Still didn't close the acct- YET the acct didn't accrue any more fees while they were "maintaining it" (how is that possible?) UNTIL CITIZENS BANK TOOK OVER!
I told CITIZENS BANK to close it and they did-over the phone! Wow Charter One couldn't even do that in person! However, Citizens Bank still insisted I owed them all those fees, I told them they weren't getting a dime to which they said "if you don't pay it your credit could be ruined because we would have no choice but to report it", I laughed and said "what credit I have no credit I filed bankruptcy just a few years ago and that will be with me for quite a few more. I owe you people nothing! Get your heads out of your as*** and do the right thing, goodbye!
ONE MONTH later I get a notice that my acct was finally closed, as for the fees, I'm sure they added them to my "permanent record", but they're still not getting anything, I refuse to reward their BAD BUSINESS!
Cheri
Dansville, New York
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Pamela
Rochester,New York,
U.S.A.
I tried to close my accounts for the same reason. They ended up opening 2 new
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, September 10, 2007
I agree with you totally and have had the same trouble with Citizens bank. How dare people try to tell her she was in the wrong. We live in America, and should have the right to open or close a account when we want to. I have several unauthorized charges come through my account that cost huge fees. I told Citizens bank I too wanted my accounts closed. There suggestion was to open two others before they closed them. They still never closed the accounts and one of the reasons for closures is too many un authorized charges are going through.
I have three accounts with them I have been trying to close. I see that I am not alone in this. I am going to take it to the attorney general. I have had my accounts for years so there should be no reason not to close the accounts. One company I have canceled service with 7 months ago still tap the accounts twice a month. I have sent letters and even sat down with the bank managers. I did open a new account at another bank. In the end I will have to file bankruptsy just to get these closed once and for all.
I think more people should complain to the attorny general. As far as reading all knowing all the bank policies, tell me did your citizens explain for show you anything. They didn't me. In fact they don't even give you time to read anything. The shove a pen in your hand and tell you to sign at the X. It is tereible to think we might have to take a checking account appliaction or forms to our attorney for advise now before we open a simple checking account.
Rebecca
Southfield,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Take responsibility for your own actions
#6UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 20, 2007
Probably the reason your account could not be closed is as per company policy (which was provided at account opening) an account must be opened for 120 days before you may close it free of charge, meaning you are able to close it prior to the 120 days, but for a fee. I believe that what the manager was trying to explain to you is how to avoid the fee, however it sounds like you could have been a little irrational (although if you are irritated, perhaps you felt you had reason).
Where your responsibility comes in: when you have an account it is up to you to make sure it is closed properly. If you waited a year to come back that means that you were receiving statements for a full year, so you knew the account wasn't closed. The closest example would be getting a mortgage statement month after month and then claiming ignorance when the eviction notice comes because no payment was received. A word of advice would be to take responsibility for yourself and your accounts.
Cheri
Dansville,New York,
U.S.A.
Thanks for the suggestions but
#6Author of original report
Sun, January 28, 2007
To the people whom replied on this, thanks for the ideas but WHEN I tried to close the acct it been 3 months since I used it! So waiting for checks to clear was not an issue.
AND I did go in calmly with agreement papers in hand and showed them that, to which they claimed that terms can change "AT WILL" and insisted that I would have already received notice of that- NOT!
ONLY after I tried to close it pleasantly (regardless of what their new terms were)and they refused did I get angry with them and I think it was appropriate to do so.
REMEMBER these people refused (to my face) to close the acct period! I could care less about the "waiting period" I WANTED IT CLOSED! They could have waited 3 more months to close it for all I cared as long as they didn't try to add more maintainence fees.
I WISH people would not assume that things were handled in an uncivilized manner the first time around and say to themselves "that explains why she got poor service and why no wanted do close the acct for her".
I did everything short of getting a "Presidental Pardon" to get these people to just close my acct, BEFORE I became angry with them.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
It may help for future dealings with customer service reps..
#6Consumer Comment
Sun, January 28, 2007
to expand your vocabulary a little bit and control your anger a lot. If you go in breathing fire, you end up getting little or no help. Go in with a calm logical argument and documentation to back you up (in this case a copy of the account terms) and you usually get what you are looking for.
Good luck.
Nikki
Coconut Creek,Florida,
U.S.A.
Banking rules have changed.
#6Consumer Suggestion
Sun, January 28, 2007
As we all know, banking rules have changed these days, and not for the better. Banks have changed their rules because they want those fees from us.
Back in the good old days, we used to be able to close an account, and any checks or charges that came in after that were returned "account closed". Banks are no longer doing this. If you close your account, but a check or charge comes in after closing, the bank re-opens your account, bounces your check or charges, then charges you the fees. Banks are doing this because people would write checks, then close their accounts when they didn't have the money to cover them.
Before closing your account, make sure ALL checks you have written have cleared. Make sure you have paid all bounced checks to the merchants and get your checks back. This way they don't try to cash your previously bounced check months later and re-open your bank account you hate. Also, make sure all your direct debits have been redirected to your new account and you have filed the necessary paperwork with your closed account to no longer allow these companies to direct debit. It really takes about 2 months to change your bank account with creditors that are directly debiting so, unfortunately, you will have keep enough money in both accounts in case the creditor erred and did not change the bank account.
Since they have now closed your account, probably with a zero balance, they may have reported the balance to Chex Systems. If you get mad at your new bank (which you probably will due to all the new rules), make sure you can open another account because closing that one. You may not be able to if Citizens listed you in Chex Systems.