Chime Bank Suspended my account for no good reason, and when I complied with all their requirements they ignore me, kept my money San Francisco CA

I’ve been a customer of Chime Bank’s since August of 2019. I also collect social security benefits as a disabled individual. Chime bank decided, for no good reason, to suspend my account, cutting me off from the small amount that I have to live on each month from the SSA, which is electronically deposited into my Chime account. This happened 4 days ago, (3/28/2020) and you will see by the following correspondence chain, they purposely imposed the suspension with no intent to re-enable my account. I was given requirements to meet to lift the suspension, and as I met each requirement, more were imposed, up to and including my having to hold my id up and take a “selfie” of myself holding them. I met even that ridiculous request, yet my account remains suspended.

 

AVOID CHIME BANK AT ALL COSTS.

 

EVENTUALLY THEY WILL SIMPLY TAKE YOUR MONEY BY SUSPENDING YOUR ACCOUNT, AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RELEASE THE BASELESS HOLD.

 

 1ST Email, and beginning of my nightmare…

 

Account suspended

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:support@chime.com

Sat, Mar 28 at 3:58 PM

why??

 ________________________________________________

THEN I CALLED THEM, ONLY TO FIND OUT AFTER NEARLY AN HOUR ON THE PHONE, THEY COULDN’T HELP ME IN ANY WAY AND THAT MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO EMAIL IDENTIFYING DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT.

________________________________________________

I SEND THE REQUESTED DOCS ON SAT, 3/28.

 

NEED MY ACCOUNT FIXED IMMEDIATELY

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:support@chime.com

Sat, Mar 28 at 4:09 PM

My ID for debit card 4232 2301 xxxx xxxx. I need my account fixed ASAP! This is ridiculous!

________________________________________________

FINALLY, 24 HOURS LATER I AM RECEIVE A RESPONSE GIVING ME A REASON FOR THE SUSPENSION, (PSST… HERE’S WHERE THE FUN STARTS!), AND NO MENTION OF MY PREVIOUSLYSUBMITTED DOCS, SO I RESEND THEM.

 

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

Sun, Mar 29 at 4:51 PM

Hi Michael,

Thank you for contacting Chime Member Services.

Chime has identified unusual activity relating to your bank account(s). A hold has been placed on your account(s) until we can verify this activity.

Please see below for further details, and instructions on how to submit a request to lift this hold.

What Happened
During routine monitoring of accounts on Chime’s platform, some unusual activity was detected regarding the personally-identifying information listed on your account.

What We Did
A hold has been placed on your account.

How This Affects You
This hold will remain in place until your identity can be verified. Unfortunately, you will be unable to use your Chime debit card or sign in to your account on the Chime website or mobile app during this time.

Please note: While this hold on your account is in effect, all direct deposits will automatically be returned to the sender.*

*If a direct deposit is received while a hold is in place on your account, please allow 1-3 business days for the deposit to be returned to your employer. If you anticipate receiving a direct deposit in the near future, please submit your items as soon as possible in order to avoid delays in review. Alternatively, you may wish to reach out to the issuer to coordinate another method of receiving the funds while this hold is in place on your account.

What Is Needed From You
To submit a request to lift the hold on your account, please provide the following items for verification:

·                  Your primary government-issued photo ID (such as a Driver’s License or State ID card). Please send a copy of both the front and the back of your ID.

·                  Phone bill dated within the last 30 days to show ownership of this number

·                  A secondary form of ID (such as a Passport or Social Security card) OR proof of address (such as a utility bill)

Expected Timeline for Review
Review of your request will typically be completed within two business days* of receiving all verification items. An update will be provided on your account status once this review is complete.

*Please note: Additional forms of identification may be requested if those provided initially are determined to be insufficient for verification. The timeline is typically extended by one to two business days for each additional submission.

How to Contact Us
Please reply directly to this message and attach the requested items. All documents must be sent in JPG, JPEG, or PDF format (we do not accept PNG or other document formats.)
If you need clarification on the requested items above, or assistance in submitting your documents in the correct format, please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.

Kind regards,
Fernando | Chime Support.

________________________________________________

 

AT THIS POINT IT IS NOW NEARLY 48 HOURS SINCE I WAS LOCKED OUT OF MY ACCOUNT, SO I SAY THAT I PLAN TO CONTACT CHIME’S CEO, CHRISS BRITT, SO THAT HE IS MADE AWARE OF HIS SUBORDINATE’S INCOMPETENCE.

 

CONTACTING Chriss Britt

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Mon, Mar 30 at 1:31 AM

2 DAYS NOW AND  MY ACCOUNT IS STILL LOCKED FOR NO REASON. I SENT THE GOV'T ID, YET NOOOOOOO HELP.

 

I'M NOW CONTACTING YOUR CEO AS WELL AS CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

________________________________________________

 

CHIME’S RESPONSE WAS SIMPLY ANOTHER TEMPLATE EMAIL. MY PREVIOUS EMAIL AND SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS WENT COMPLETELY UNACKNOWLEDGED. CLEARLY THEIR OWN CEO, CHRISS BRITT’S NAME CARRIES NO WEIGHT!

 

Re: NEED MY ACCOUNT FIXED IMMEDIATELY

Hotmail/Inbox

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

Mon, Mar 30 at 3:59 PM

 

Hi Michael,

We noticed some unusual activity on your Chime account, and have temporarily placed a hold on your account until we can verify this activity. I’m afraid it looks like we have not yet received sufficient documentation for verification.

Please see below for details on what is needed to help you move forward. We will need one item from each group below.

Some of the primary ID documents we accept ( making sure all four corners are visible )
Must be an unexpired photo ID. Please send a copy of both the front and the back of your ID.

·                                          State-issued Driver’s License

·                                          State-issued Identification card

·                                          Federally-issued Military ID card

·                                          Federally-issued Permanent Resident Card

Some of the secondary ID documents we may accept
Must be unexpired. (Note: These are accepted in addition to- not in place of- your primary ID)

·                                          Signed Social Security Card

·                                          US Passport

·                                          Any additional primary ID document (Ie. If you have both a state-issued Driver’s License and a state-issued ID card, you may submit both to satisfy the need for a primary and secondary form of ID)

                                                                                            OR

Some of the documents we may accept as Proof of Address
Dated within 60 days, showing your full name and the address listed on your Chime account outside of the envelope showing all four corners

·                                          Water bill

·                                          Cable and internet bill

·                                          Cell phone bill

·                                          Other Utility bills

·                                          Bank statements

·                                          Insurance statements

·                                          Phone bill dated within the last 30 days to show ownership of this number

Please reply directly to this message and attach requested items. All documents must be sent in JPG, JPEG, or PDF format (we do not accept PNG or other document formats.)

If you need clarification on the requested items above or assistance in submitting your documents in the correct format, please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.

Best,
Fernando | Chime Support.

________________________________________________

 

MY REPLY ALONG WITH A RESUBMISSION OF MY DOCS.

 

Re: NEED MY ACCOUNT FIXED IMMEDIATELY

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Mon, Mar 30 at 425 PM

I've already sent a copy of my license days ago yet the still hasn't been resolved. last night I filed a complaint with the New Jersey and Delaware department of banking and insurance. I've also forward and updated correspondence to Chris Britt your CEO of this. Again I say this is gone beyond ridiculous there is no reason for my account to be suspended for this long especially when I furnished the ID that you've requested. I'm going to continue to update both State department of banking and insurance as well as your CEO Chris Britt on the progress of support's attention to this matter. 

ONCE AGAIN All requested documents attached.

 ________________________________________________

 

HERE’S WHERE THE REAL COMEDY BEGINS…

 

CHIME’S REPLY;

 

Re: NEED MY ACCOUNT FIXED IMMEDIATELY

Hotmail/Inbox

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

Mon, Mar 30 at 4:41 PM 

Hi Michael,

We noticed some unusual activity on your Chime account, and have temporarily placed a hold on your account until we can verify this activity. I’m afraid it looks like we have not yet received sufficient documentation for verification.

Please see below for details on what is needed to help you move forward. We will need one item from each group below.

Some of the primary ID documents we accept ( Must be in a physical picture and making sure all four corners can be seen )
Must be an unexpired photo ID. Please send a copy of both the front and the back of your ID.

·                                          State-issued Driver’s License

·                                          State-issued Identification card

·                                          Federally-issued Military ID card

·                                          Federally-issued Permanent Resident Card

Please reply directly to this message and attach requested items. All documents must be sent in JPG, JPEG, or PDF format (we do not accept PNG or other document formats.)

If you need clarification on the requested items above or assistance in submitting your documents in the correct format, please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.

Best,
Fernando | Chime Support.

________________________________________________

IT IS BECOMING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMAIN CORDIAL.

 

Resubmission of required docs

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Tue, Mar 31 at 6:24 AM

Fernando,

The docs requested are attached, in *.pdf format. How much longer will this take to release my account?\

Thanks,

Michael DAddario

________________________________________________

 

READY TO LAUGH? HERE’S THE REPLY…

 

Re: Additional Items Required to Verify Your Account

Hotmail/Inbox

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

 

Hi Michael,

After review, unfortunately it appears that no further action can be taken on your account unless the items previously requested can be provided.

Please keep in mind that we cannot accept scanned ID documents. Please send photos of the original documents in order to continue with your case.  

Please advise if you are able to provide anything additional for review, otherwise we will not be able to take any further action on your account at this time. (Please note, items provided over five business days out from the original request may not qualify for review.)

All the best,
Arya | Chime Member Services

2020 Chime. All Rights Reserved.

PO Box 417, San Francisco, CA 94104

 

I NOW TAKE PHOTOS OF ALL REQUIRED DOCS AND RESUBMIT.

 

Re: Additional Items Required to Verify Your Account

Hotmail/Sent

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Tue, Mar 31 at 9:41 AM

Requested items updated please release my account as soon as possible thank you. 

 Michael DAddario

________________________________________________

 

ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER, THAT IS NOW NO GOOD ENOUGH!

 

Re: Final Request: Additional Items Required

Hotmail/Inbox

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

Tue, Mar 31 at 9:51 AM

 

Hi Michael,

Unfortunately, the items you have provided thus far are not sufficient to verify the activity on your account. No further action can be taken on your account at this time. Additional documentation will be required in order for any account action to be taken.

If you are able to provide any more of the items previously requested, please respond directly to this email and I will be happy to assist you further.

Please note, items received over 5 business days from the original request may not qualify for review.

Best,
Arya | Chime Member Services

________________________________________________

 

MY REPLY:

 

Re: Final Request: Additional Items Required

Hotmail/Sent

       Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Tue, Mar 31 at 10:12 AM

What else do you want? That's more than you asked for!

________________________________________________

 

THEIR NEWLY ADDED REQUIREMENT, (TAKE A SELFIE WHILE HOLDING MY ID);

 

Re: Final Request: Additional Items Required

Hotmail/Inbox

Support <support@chime.com>

To:Michael Daddario

Tue, Mar 31 at 10:31 AM

 

Hi Michael,

Thank you for providing these documents!

For security purposes, please provide a photo of yourself holding one of your ID documents. The front of your not laminated signed SSN card and please confirm the phone number you would like to have on your account. 

Kind regards,
Jazz | Chime Support 

________________________________________________

 

AGAIN I COMPLY:

 

Re: Final Request: Additional Items Required

Hotmail/Sent

 

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Tue, Mar 31 at 10:56 AM

Attached please find requested photos of me holding IDs. Also please make my phone number 609-456-XXXX. I changed it a couple of weeks ago but for some reason I was unable to update it on the app or online through my account. Thank you

________________________________________________

 

THAT LAST EMAIL WAS SENT AT 10:56 AM, YET MY ACCOUNT REMAINS SUSPENDED AT 11:03 PM, THE TIME OF THIS WRITING.

________________________________________________

MY FINAL EMAIL…

 

Michael Daddario <tcom1@hotmail.com>

To:Support

Tue, Mar 31 at 8:38 PM

 

I just want to let you know that I just spoke with Katrina, on Phil Murphy, New Jersey governor's executive complaint committee, and I informed her that chime bank is withholding my ONLY SOURCE OF MONEY. I'm also going to be taking this to the media as well, if my bank account is not released tomorrow.

 

 

COMPLAIN HERE>>>

Consumers may telephone the compliance staff by calling (302) 739-4235 or (302) 577-6722 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Calls placed outside business hours can be recorded in voice mail. Many concerns can be addressed over the telephone, but complaints requiring investigation must be submitted in writing to:

1110 Forrest Avenue
Dover, DE 19904
Attention: Compliance.

Written complaints can also be faxed to (302) 739-2356, or electronically mailed over the internet to Carole Hoffecker  carole.hoffecker@delaware.gov