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Mark of Las Vegas NV (09/05/08)
This morning I went to a Wells Fargo branch to open a new account. Soon I was told that I couldn't open an account there. They said something came up with Chexsystems and Equifax, however they couldn't tell me what it was. The only thing I could think of was an overdrafted account with Bank of America in the past, but that was 7 years ago in 2001 and I had settled that account in early 2002. I had no negative banking experience since.. I furiously called Chexsystems but found an automated service and no live person to talk to.
After a brief google seach under chexsystems customer service I found their customer service number where you can talk to a live rep. I called the number, which connected me to some office probably somewhere in cambodia where the representative was speaking in a clear Asian accent and pretending to be an Amanda. I briefly explained Amanda what my problem was and after a long search, she said I was not on their system and her system was showing nothing in my name. I told her that's not what the bank says, and then she began to constantly read from a script in front of her for everything I tried to say. Realizing this was pointless, I hung up.
Then I called Wells Fargo and spoke to some manager and she said she understood my frustration but there was nothing she could do. What a joke. These people are like mafia! As for equifax part, I immediately pulled out my 3-in-1 credit reports with FICO score and saw a lot of listed collections, which were way old and very inaccurate. So inaccurate that back when I had challenged them the3y had been removed from there immediately years ago. Yet I saw they came back under different accounts by different collectors, and since they were brought up in a recent time, they look like new, but in fact, they are re-aged, which should be illegal. I called all those collectors to see who they are and what they are doing in my credit report.
After a brief investigation as such, I noticed that these people actually knew nothing about nothing other than what writes in front of them. They are simply employees of a company who bought those accounts from a previous collector who was dusted off of my record years ago. When I ask them if they had any proof or evidence that I was actually the one involved in that business transaction, they quickly stall. However it's their final attitude that is the source of frustration: yes but we got you here and what are you gonna do about it! I immediately disputed all of them, but this time, I'm seriously considering hiring an attorney if it comes in an affordable price.
I couldn't open a new account and a secured loan account which I needed! And I didn't even bank with any institution for 6 years! SIX years! I thought this thing stuck with you for 5 years.
Blake of Lafayette IN (08/08/08)
Two days ago, I applied to open a new checking account with my university's credit union. I was denied a checking account because of a previous NSF at a different bank which had been paid in full for two years. I didn't even realize this had been reported against me especially considering how small the amount was and how short a period of time my account was delinquent. I contacted my previous banking institution and asked them why they had made such a report to ChexSystems after being such a good customer for over two years. The lady at the bank apologized and could not give me an answer. She then removed the report from ChexSystems while I was on the phone with her. I wanted to double check that the information had indeed been updated with ChexSystems--the lady at the bank gave me her direct line to give to ChexSystems in case the matter wasn't resolved right away.
I could not speak to anyone at CheckSystems for over an hour while trying to find a number for their customer service department. The information both on the company's website and the information given to me by the bank which declined my account request had the same phone number. Both of these numbers were for requesting a copy of a ChexSystems report. There was no way to speak to a representative. I finally found a number on a third party website while doing a google search. I was directed to a call center in India where I was given at most minimal information. When asked about filing a complaint about the difficulty in contacting the company, I was referred to my state's attorney general's office.
Unable to access my own information held on ChexSystem's files due to the concealment of the company's contact information and the secretive nature of their customer service policy which greatly hinders any semblance of transparency. If not unlawful, this company is certainly unethical.
Lisa of Danville CA (06/18/08)
I went to open a checking account at a Washington Mutual branch in Modesto, CA. I had $9,000 worth of checks for deposit. I was denied the account from WaMu, and told that they couldn't even tell me why--just that ChexSystems had a report for me, and that I needed to call the WaMu 800 number to find out what was wrong. I made the call, where I again was not told what the problem was due to privacy reasons? and that Id have to call ChexSystems, which I did.
First of all, there's no way to talk to a live person: you MUST use the automated prompts or the web site to order a report that will supposedly explain why you have been denied the account. I requested my report. I have Bank of America checking and savings accounts, and have since 1996. I called them to make sure that there was no fraud or problems and was told that they had not reported me to ChexSystems, and that I was a premiere customer and they would never report me. They offered to call ChexSystems with me on the line to see whether they could mitigate the situationbut got the same automated response that I got, despite being members of ChexSystems as well! I subsequently received my reportand there was not one problem on it. In fact, the only mention of anything in any category was the WaMu incident.
When I called ChexSystems to inquire what was in my report that couldnt be verified, I spoke with a representative named Sean.? Sean informed me that there was nothing on my reportand again, that ChexSystems does not make the decision. If there is nothing in my report, then how can WaMu deny me an account based on nothing? And how can I prevent this from adversely affecting me again in the future? Ive done nothing, and theres no evidence of anything, but Im being denied on the basis of nothing. Furthermore, theres not even a place to go to try and rectify this, because WaMu and ChexSystems are both pointing the finger at each other. (I called WaMu after I received the report, and she said there wasnt anything there, and that I shouldve gotten information from the branch!)
I had to remain with Bank of America (at $6.95 per month) instead of receiving the free checking I was clearly eligible for. I feel like I was discriminated against for having nothing on my Checking report.
Patrick of Duluth MN (03/17/08)
Chexsystems solutions bank list guide never provided a list of banks who do not use use chexsystems. I was also Promised a valuable e-book as a free gift just for signing up. Grey Fox document also said I would receive help tip messages weekly.
Paypal collected money for services. I was never told that there would be a charge for using my credit card through paypal. Charge one time fee of $10.00 for receiving instant access to the most current up to date, of bank and credit unions in all 50 states that do not use chexsystems solutions.
Brian Vallario of Bondville VT (08/26/07)
I had a dispute with Ebay over a charge. Despite the dispute they reported me to ChexSystems who prevented me from opening a checking account dispite a perfect credit record otherwise. They would not even let the bank know the dispute was only $33. You can't even get a person on the phone at Chexsystem. They screw you and are unreachable.
Unable to open a checking account. Damage to my credit score. Emotional distress. Embarrassment. I had a perfect credit rating until this.
Pearl of Brooklyn NY (05/23/07)
On May 17, 2007 I went to open a Certificate of Deposit account with the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and was denied the account because when they ran my SSN through Chexsystems they received feedback showing something that was questionable. They gave me a printout of a computer page with this information and showed me the questionable line. This line was included within a box titled ChexSystems and read exactly: FraudChex1: Ravinovich Motel, Hotel/Motel? They gave me a paper with included instructions on how to contact Chexsystems to get a consumer report and which stated that I had a right to dispute the information in the consumer report.
I looked up the Ravinovich Motel, and found that there is no such hotel/motel, that Motel Ravinovich is actually a tenant who lives in my building. There are plenty of websites purportedly listing Hotels/Motels that erroneously include people named Motel. It is a common Yiddish name. Thus, it appears that a check on my address showed that I may have given an address for a motel instead of my home address based on hotel/motel sites that erroneously include private citizens named Motel.
The main problem is that my Consumer Report from Chexsystems does not show this Ravinovich Motel reference. It shows that everything is clean with nothing negative on my record. Thus, I am not able to dispute the erroneous report item re: Ravinovich Motel that Chexsystems is reporting to banks.
I do not know how to get out of this mess. After banking for over 30 years with no problems, I am suddenly treated like a criminal and am afraid of what the future will bring in terms of my ability to bank and access my money. I am retired and depend on my savings. I am thinking of moving to a building where nobody named Motel lives, but even then I am afraid that this association of my SSN with a motel may stay in my record for 5 years.
Mireya of Temecula CA (01/18/07)
I recently attempted to open a checking account with a Washington Mutual branch in my residing city. After sitting there for a few minutes, having a friendly conversation with the representative, I was told I could not open a checking acct with them. I was handed a piece of paper and was told to call the 800 number to inquire and was sent on my way. I realized this was an issue that was obviously still shadowing me from almost 3 years back, due to a very unfriendly divorce! I made several phone calls (lost count). I called the bank that had placed the report to make sure their records were up to date and showing that this acct had been satisfied (surely it was a mistake). Come to find out, yes, indeed their records showed as satisfied and so did ChexSystems'however the information stays for 5 years! My former finacial institute did offer an alternative. They told me to contact a company called Springboard and that all I had to do was take a 5 hour weekend class and upon completion I would receive a certificate (I suppose that would make me much more worthy of opening an account, never mind the fact that it's been paid off for more than 2 years now). The certificate will allow me to open a checking acct. with any participating bank that will take the certificate as assurance that I am in fact a law abiding citizen. As for CHEX-SYSTEMS themselves. Well, I called the 800 number and I basically had 3 choices (talking to a live representative was not one of them), I could receive a copy of the report by #1 internet, #2 fax, #3 mail. Those were my 3 choices. I obviously knew what was in the report since there was no possible way that I could have had another bank report me to CHEX-SYSTEMS since I CANNOT open a checking account.
Nina of Tujunga CA (10/04/00)
I was with washington mutual, and there was a point my account was over drawn. The total was $227.00. For a while I was not able to pay it, so they closed my account. Then I was sent a letter from ChexSystems saying i owed Washington Mutual some money. And i had 30 days to pay it or get in touch with them to make a payment. They never gave a number to call. I then sent the money off with in 2 weeks. So, recently I called Washington Mutual to get my account reinstated. They told me since I went to ChexSystems, I couldnt get a bank account for about 5-7 YEARS! In the letter I got, there was nothing mentioning this at all. If i had any idea that this would happen I would of barrowed the money. I really need help with this. In this day and age there is no way I could live with out it. I feel this is very unfair and I need help.
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