Print the value of index0
Chelsea Groton Bank ripoff, illegal banking practices, fraud, nondisclosure of account information, theft Pawcatuck Connecticut
I had opened an account with Chelsea Groton 3 months ago. At this time, all of my contact information was given, and put on file with them. 4 weeks later I moved out of state to Colorado, but kept this account with them open for the time being to cover any incoming bills to be covered via auto pay.
About a month ago, I signed up for the online banking feature and was approved and verified for this. Two days later my PIN number mysteriously changed on me and I was no longer able to log in or get a balance transfer. I called the customer service line and learned that they had closed early. So I tried the automated bank by phone, and sure enough "Your PIN number has changed."
I called the next day and got ahold of a bank rep and was informed that my account was closed on me, as it had apparently hit a zero balance TWO DAYS PRIOR. No one from the bank attempted to contact me in any way, even though ALL of my contact information has been on file since day one.
I requested that a print statement of all account activity be mailed to the address in Colorado. This was 4 weeks ago and still, after 4 requests, nothing has ever arrived from them. To this day, when I call the branch, I am told that all of the reps have already left (sometimes an hour early?) or am placed on hold for an excess of 20 minutes until I get fed up and hang up.
Here's the kicker... today I get an email from Verizon telling me that my cell bill for this month has cleared the very same account. I'm wondering how is it that an account that has supposedly been "closed" for a month paid out, via electronic auto pay, a $67 bill? If this account were actually closed, the cell company would have advised me that it did not go through.
Today I sent my 5th email to them, demanding a print statement. I have informed them that if I don't hear anything (via email, phone, what have you) by close of business Friday I will be contacting the authorities and the BBB. I KNOW it is illegal for any financial institution to withhold account statements from any clientele. I feel that 4 weeks has been more than adequate time to sit around and wait to hear from them, let alone see any account history.
On top of all this, my checks arrived and my name was misspelled, even though it was correct, and in 20 point bold type on my marriage liscence. Ha!
I would seriously urge anyone to find a different bank. Chelsea Groton has shown me nothing but ineptitude and poor, slovenly customer "service".
Melissa
North Stonington, Connecticut
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Melissa
North Stonington,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Source of frustration...
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2005
Thanks for the back-up, people. LOL.
Yeah, I never closed the account myself. I know there was money in the account when the bank supposedly closed it on me. I did purposely leave it open to deal with the bills and make sure my rent check cleared. Here I go trying to be responsible LOL.
The source of my frustration is that the bank refuses to send me an account statement or any type of history of what has gone through the account. I have absolutely no access to any record of my account. It IS the bank's duty to provide this upon request. Still waiting. Still no available reps on the phone to talk to me, still nothing in the mailbox, still no reply to any of the emails I have sent to the bank. I have never dealt with a bank that operates in this fashion. I'm opening an account with Wells Fargo out here and tranferring the cell and everything else to that, and I guess that's that with Chelsea Groton.
Just be careful if you're out in CT and looking for a bank. This one seems to not know what they're doing. LOL.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Here's the direct quote.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2005
"Here's the kicker... today I get an email from Verizon telling me that my cell bill for this month has cleared the very same account. I'm wondering how is it that an account that has supposedly been "closed" for a month paid out, via electronic auto pay, a $67 bill? If this account were actually closed, the cell company would have advised me that it did not go through."
The way I have interpreted this is that the Verizon bill for "this month" was debited against her old account ("closed for a month"). How would anyone else read this to mean? To me this means she didn't have enough in the old account to cover the Verizon bill (this month) to start with since it was closed when it went to a zero balance (a month ago) or she did not change her account information with Verizon. If I have mis-interpreted this statement, I stand corrected.
Charles
Pearland,Texas,
U.S.A.
Robert, you need to read the posting before you reply
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2005
This is to Robert - Wallingford, Connecticut.
Robert you need to go back and re-read the original posting.
Melissa stated that she kept this account open to cover some auto debit payments (sounds like good planning to me).
Your response: First, why are you still paying a Verizon account using a closed or about to close or about to be empty account? Isn't that fraudulent?
Melissa stated that the account had been closed on her (at no point did she say that she had closed the account) and that the bank paid a Verizon invoice that arrived after they claim that the account was closed.
Your response: You claimed that the bill for Verizon was paid from the account you had closed.
You also stated: Writing checks or debits against a closed account is considered fraud.
Again Melissa stated that she kept the account open to pay outstanding invoices and that the bank closed the account without notifying her and the bank paid an invoice that came in after they claim the account was closed which implies that there was money in the account (otherwise the bank would not have paid the invoice).
Melissa stated that she called the bank and either all of the REP's had gone home early or she was put on hold for 20 min. or more.
Your response: 20 minutes doesn't seem like a very long time to be on hold.
Melissa does not say if she was calling a toll free number or if she was paying for the call but either way being on hold for 20 min. is a very long time. If you do not agree try it some time.
You state you are: Not a bank employee nor a customer of Chesea Groton Bank. Just someone with common sense.
My response: Ya, right.
Dave
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Learn to read Robert
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2005
She didn't close the account... Her BANK closed it. Geesh, she clearly states that she left money in the bank to COVER all her bills. Nowhere did she state that she closed her account.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Wrong again.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2005
Not a bank employee nor a customer of Chesea Groton Bank. Just someone with common sense.
You claimed that the bill for Verizon was paid from the account you had closed. Apparently you didn't change the account information with Verizon to your new account or you didn't leave enough in your old account to cover the bill.
How is that the bank's fault?
Writing checks or debits against a closed account is considered fraud.
Melissa
North Stonington,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Okay Genius...
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, September 07, 2005
I'm guessing you're a bank employee?
You are the only person who has heard this story who has not agreed that what this bank is doing is fully illegal. My mother in law is a tax accountant and confirms this. The bank works for the clientele, not the other way around.
The account was left open (WITH money in it) to cover auto-pay bills and make sure the last month's rent check cleared. How is that fraud on MY part?
The reason I left CT was due to rude beligerent people who run their flaps without having any idea what they are talking about, kinda like you.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Just a bit over reacting.
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, September 07, 2005
First, why are you still paying a Verizon account using a closed or about to close or about to be empty account? Isn't that fraudulent?
Some banks will re-instate the account if a debit is received against it. You are usually also charged an NSF fee if the balance is too low, so don't be surprised if you owe the bank money. I know of no bank that contacts a customer when their account reaches zero. The customer should know what their balance is.
It must have been at a zero balance for some time for them to close it or you would have had to tell them to close it when it reached zero.
I am not totally sure, but I think they are required to send statements at least every quarter (on non active accounts)so 4 weeks is not at all unreasonable to receive a statement if the account is closed. If it's been re-activated due to the debit it will probably be monthly from that time.
20 minutes doen't seem like a very long time to be on hold. I'm sure they aren't just ignoring you. They are probably helping other customers. Surely you can multitask while you wait.
There doesn't seem be to be anything illegal or fruadulent just miscommunications between you and the bank.