Can a Bank take money out of your account without permission

Submitted by m.tator on Fri, 04/02/2010 - 19:50
Forums

Our bank took $824.06 out of our account without informing us or having permission. They brought the loans from Washington Mutual which went bankrupt. We had a account there four or five years ago in a different state and don't believe we owed the bank anything. When we spoke to our bank they couldn't even tell us anything to prove we actually owed this amount. They brought the loans from Washington Mutual which went bankrupt. We had a account there four or five years ago in a different state and don't believe we owed the bank anything. When we spoke to our bank they couldn't even tell us anything to prove we actually owed this amount. Our money feels like it was just stolen. And all we get is the run around. Our bank said they would send us out a statement and we would need to tally it up and see if the amount was correct. Or even if it was true before we could dispute it. Just because they brought the debt does that give them the right to just take it from our account without notice. Just when we needed to pay our mortgage. And we were both just layed off. And if they are wrong about the debt or the amount, are we just out of luck unless we get a lawyer. Which I'm sure they know will cost more than what they took from us. So is this a lose lose situation because it's a big bank? Is this legal? Can we do anything?

It can be legal if the account is owned by the same bank as the loan.

Is this CHASE? I would report the situation to the Office of the Comptroler of the Currency.

Sat, 04/03/2010 - 14:35 Permalink

this happened to me with BBT bank, I was not able to do anything, after speakin with my attorney i was told i was not able to do anything. in the fine print when you open the acct it says that any debt can be withdrawn from your acct. so they "technacally" did it with your permission b/c you gave them an ok when you agreed to the terms and conditions

Sat, 04/03/2010 - 23:16 Permalink

How can a bank take that MUCH, out of your bank account, without giving you SOME kind of explaination? Is there a Manager, of the bank, you can talk to? Or...did the bank give you some kind of paperwork,..a contract...on what you owe and why you owe it?

Sun, 04/04/2010 - 00:46 Permalink

it might be legal as I have said if the checking and loan are the same bank but that doesn't mean the OCC can't help.

Sun, 04/04/2010 - 14:55 Permalink

I'm unclear about something here. Was the lender at the same bank where your bank account is? Did I mis something in the original post?

Mon, 04/05/2010 - 00:45 Permalink

Hi Oscar,

If you owe money to the same bank where you have an account, the bank can take the money to pay the loan. You shouldn't keep money with the same bank to whom you owe.

Thanks,

Aaron

Mon, 04/05/2010 - 07:48 Permalink
mel (not verified)

Chase states that they have the right to take money from your account if they determine that you owe money from a previous account from Bank One, Washington Mutual, etc that they now own. They claim that this is legal because on one of about 30 something pages of their disclosure policies you agreed to this when you opened your account. However, they do not verify the information nor do they tell you that they are doing this. They claim that they don't have to notify you. I think it should be illegal for them to take money without verifiying and letting you know where your money is going. We had this happen also on an account that was more than five years old and information not verified.

Thu, 04/29/2010 - 19:45 Permalink
highwaymadness (not verified)

they havent taken any money from me but a few years back someone actually used my card and over drafted my account by $947 plus they took like $5900 i put out an investigation so that the money would be returned i never received anything and cant open an account... i went to chace they cant find it i went to a few banks they all soy i dont owe... but i still cant open an account what can i do????

Wed, 07/21/2010 - 04:39 Permalink

Hi highwaymadness,

Pull a copy of your credit report and check the status of this account. Can you give more details on this? More information is needed to help you in your problem. You should also talk to the bank about opening the account.

Thanks,

Aaron

Fri, 07/30/2010 - 12:04 Permalink
Kay25 (not verified)

This actually happen to me today.. I checked my account and it was in the negative I was trying to figure it out because I just got paid yesterday. Chase told me over the phone my money went to another account I owed, I didn't understand so I went to a local branch and the woman told me I owed WuMu back in 2007, I told her I paid it off she said there's no record.. So basically they cleaned my account out and left me in the negatives and there's nothing I can do about it. This should be illegal because I'm one of those who never carry cash and I have no money until next pay day which is two weeks away!

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 22:22 Permalink

Hi Kay,

This is unauthorized withdrawal. You should talk to the bank about this, and request them to give you copy of the withdrawals. This should not be done over the phone. You should go over to the bank, and show them copies of your payments, and request them to put an alert on this account. File complaints with the State Attorney General. You can even sue WaMu for this.

Thanks,

Aaron

Fri, 08/06/2010 - 11:14 Permalink

Generally bank can not do it without your permission. If you made any any agreement then they can. Just check did you sign on any agreement if yes then read it's terms & conditions.

Fri, 08/06/2010 - 20:38 Permalink

This is illegal. No bank can do so. Talk to bank authority if they don't return money then you can take legal action against them.

Sat, 08/07/2010 - 06:35 Permalink
Papa Madd (not verified)

This just happened to me as well yesterday. Chase cleared out my account based on some WaMu account debt they bought that apparently went through 3 different debt collection agencies before chase bought it. They said according the the TOA I gave them permission and it sufficed as notice for them to take out these funds. When I opened the account I actuall asked about this, and the banker told me it had to do with loans through chase itself as well as overdrafting on a chase account. She said nothing about chase being able to by debt that may or may not be valid from debt collectors.

I'm very angry about this whole thing. I mean I have been in very good standing with my bank since I have opened this account. You think they would want to keep their customers instead of robbing them blind. I never even recieved notice of the initial debt the bank is claiming I owed to WaMu. This is completely rediculous and it seems like they are doing this regularly to their customers.

If at all possible I think it would be great for everyone who has had this done to them contact the BBB and OOC. Then possibly see about getting a class action lawsuit against Chase/JP Morgan for unjust and unfair actions it regularly engages in against its customers.

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:55 Permalink

Hi Papa Madd,

I think you should read the terms and conditions of the original contract once again. Moreover, it is better to clear all these kind of confusions before you sign up with a credit company.

Thanks,

Aaron

Thu, 09/02/2010 - 11:26 Permalink
nicki (not verified)

So Today I got a letter from my bank stating they took 250 out of my account and put it towards my car payment with out my permisson when I was only. 85 dlq I'm so pissed right now i where do they think they can just do that!I also had direct tv do the same thing 3 weeks ago for r318 and my bank new this and now they do it is there anything I can do

Mon, 12/13/2010 - 05:28 Permalink
careless (not verified)

I just opening up account with chase bank I'm a single parent with 3 kids homeless and was trying to save money to find me some where to live with my kids 2days ago I deposit cash in my account with chase bank and yesterday I went to the ATM to withdraw money to get my kids something to eat it said my balance was 0.00 so I call the bank they said that I owe wa mu and that why they took my money I don't even remember if I had a wa mu account can somebody please help me and tell me how I could get my money back or what do I have to do or who can I talk to about getting my money back I been crying for 4 days now it hard out here rite now for some bank to just take your money like that they took 526.00 dollars from me without me knowing nothing please somebody tell me what can I do about this

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 16:42 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Chase just did this same thing to me today, they took every dime I had in my account which was $700 based on a Wamu account that I owe on from 3 years ago! I am a single mother & my rent is due which I can barely pay as it is & I have 4 kids with my twins only being 2 years old, my son 5 & daughter being 7! I just got layed off from work 3 days ago! I cannot stop crying! Please someone help me! Can they do this?

Fri, 04/01/2011 - 07:03 Permalink
Jae8888 (not verified)

Bank of America took money out of my account. I authorized a credit card company to take money once. They continued to take money from the account and the bank worker stated that there was nothing they could do. We closed that account and opened another...same thing happened. We finally just closed the account and are never to use that bank again.

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 13:25 Permalink

Sometimes if you explain the situation, to the manager of the bank, they would be willing to 'work with you'. Did your bank have some kind of documentation to allow them to debit money? You may want to find this out.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 23:27 Permalink
crazylady (not verified)

Starting back in Feb I found out Microsoft was taking money out of my account. I contacted the bank and was told to contact Microsoft and make sure accts was closed. I did this. Same thing happened in Mar and April. Contacted bank and in June same thing again. I was never given money back and the back ruled agaisnt me saying since I at one time had let them use my card for my son's account they could take whatever they wanted. They cut up my card and stopped the card but never refunded the overdraft fees attached to the withdrawals I did not okay. Then they started taking out $7. a day for an automatic withdrawal of a loan that my husband and I had co signed for a friend who died in Oct. I had okayed the withdrawal but wanted the date changed when our ssd came in. From Jan till June they did not charge the $7 but in July and Aug they started. I finally got our acct closed after argueing and fighting. We had our ssd direct deposited to another band starting this Sept. How can this be legal for a bank who we are to trust with our money to worry more about Microsoft and others intstead of the client who has the account?

Sat, 08/13/2011 - 00:49 Permalink
jane (not verified)

if you have 2 accounts at the same bank and one of them becomes negative can the bank take the money out of the other account without your permission?

Mon, 01/16/2012 - 17:53 Permalink
CC (not verified)

I think that Chase needs to be sued in there negligence for withdrawing money from your open account and transferring it to a closed account, with no regards for your financial position and/or possible overdraft, which you will then be responsible for. Most financial institutions will not let you open an account with them if you have money owed to them or their subsidiaries. I believe the second chance checking gimmick is one that they use to collect their debt. They point out everything else in their TOA, but they do not point out this fine print. This incident happened to me on today, and I was livid. I asked to speak to a supervisor, because the collection rep stated that they do not do reversal's for collections. After, holding she came back and stated that they would reverse half of the money with payment arrangements for the balance. Which is amazing seeing as prior to...none of the funds could be reveresed. At any rate, once this debt is paid, I will be closing this account and no longer doing business with JP Morgan Chase or any of it's affiliates, they have blatant disregard for customer satisfaction or the welfare of their consumers. I have informed my employer of this incident, and they will be closing their account, as well as my boyfriend and addtnl friends of mine. We need to show them that they need us, more than we need them in this circle of life. Because, I can make money and never put it into an account.

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 00:14 Permalink
PS (not verified)

If a bank involuntarily takes $$ from one's checking account, does the owner of the checking account have any say as to which past due account within the same bank, the money can be applied?

Is the owner of the checking account responsible for accrued fees, interest, ret.d check fees, etc. which occured because of the bank's involuntary account $$ liquidation? thanks,

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 22:09 Permalink
debbiespwen (not verified)

can my bank take my tax refund from my checking they hold my mortgage and I have late payments

Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:22 Permalink
Sherry (not verified)

My daughter has a credit card acct with NFCU but no bank account so when they call for a pmt if she gave me the money I would authorize them taking it out of my acct. I authorized a pmt in January and in February they took annother pmt without my consent, my daughter gave me the money but I called and told them I did not authorize it and not todo it again. They did it again in March which resulted in bouncing my car insurance ck and charged my a return ck fee. Am getting the run around. What can I do?

Wed, 03/21/2012 - 09:36 Permalink
tara livingstone (not verified)

we got behind on credit card but made an arrangement topay each month. wehave now won our PPI claim and the bank has requested that we pay all the monies owed. can they do this?

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 13:16 Permalink
Christine Ybarra (not verified)

If any one would like to get together with me I am going to look into this Chase thing, yesterday they took the last of my money out of my account on an old bank account from 2 years ago, like I told the chase represenitive I would not mind making payment arrangements and have them draft there funky little 200$ out of my account if they would one let me know ahead of time they are going to do this , two when opening the bank account let this be known that this could happen. Basiclly the stole from me. I mean thats what it means right when you take something that belongs to someone else with out notifying them, if this is the way Chase does business I do not want to be an account holder at that bank!!! Christine Ybarra ybarranathan@ymail.com

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 16:52 Permalink
sassy (not verified)

if i open a checking account at charter bank in i get a 500 loan can they get into my other account at a differnt branch

Tue, 07/10/2012 - 16:09 Permalink
KarenJfs (not verified)

I called my mortgage in 8/2 and and 8/6 they took it out of my account 8/7 the bank then had a problem with my daughter bank account and froze her but since she was on mine they froze mine and then 8/8 took back my mortgage money and did it to my car insurance but put that back but not my mortgage payment can they do that?

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 09:04 Permalink
very upset (not verified)

First, the money taken out of my account was not for a loan, but was for a mistake a teller made when she cashed my check. I was give $500.00 over the amount of the check, which I feel I should not be responsible since the teller did not review the check correctly. What is your opinion on this?

Tue, 10/23/2012 - 17:23 Permalink
Mike Lighthart (not verified)

I cash a chase check at chase for 560.00 .I only have 40.00 in my account.A week after I get a notice Im negative 532.00 because the check was NSF .Why would they cash that check.I call and they said I deposited it I did not .I cash it and walk out with 560.00.There weak liars and pretty much suck

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 04:05 Permalink
Ann (not verified)

After recieving a good faith offer on a home mortage, it was not right
We said we were not interested. A month later the mortage lender of the bank took $500.00 with out a word or our permission, what can be done about this

Sat, 11/24/2012 - 19:21 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Anybody know good attorneys in nc?

Sat, 05/04/2013 - 02:39 Permalink
sharron (not verified)

my husband has a chase account n has always had a very good amount in his account just in case a rainy day lol well we just got a notice sayine he owes money the seller wumu and merchant pnb and original creditor pnd anyway my husband has never had a wumu account but has had a chase account for a few years i told him to pullall his money out before they claim they can just do that he say he never had a wumu account its bullshit and they better not touch his money the paper say they wont sue us for debt cause its soo old well how is it old if hes never had an account what should we do?? and mind u hers only one bank for a few ytears and thats chase and hes nver been negative or close to it so were kind of at a lose to this what do we do please help!!!

Sat, 08/30/2014 - 01:22 Permalink
sharron (not verified)

my husband has a chase account n has always had a very good amount in his account just in case a rainy day lol well we just got a notice sayine he owes money the seller wumu and merchant pnb and original creditor pnd anyway my husband has never had a wumu account but has had a chase account for a few years i told him to pullall his money out before they claim they can just do that he say he never had a wumu account its bullshit and they better not touch his money the paper say they wont sue us for debt cause its soo old well how is it old if hes never had an account what should we do?? and mind u hers only one bank for a few ytears and thats chase and hes nver been negative or close to it so were kind of at a lose to this what do we do please help!!!

Sat, 08/30/2014 - 01:22 Permalink
sharron (not verified)

sorry bout all the typos anyway hes never had a wumu account only chase it has never been negative or close to it and all of a sudden they claim he owes 4000 how hes never had wumu or been negative in his chase account wat can we do

Sat, 08/30/2014 - 01:26 Permalink
cant get rite (not verified)

had a WaMu debt back in 2007 that wasnt payed. if i decided to open a checking account with another bank will they try to take my money to pay WaMu old debt

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 16:52 Permalink
eusebio (not verified)

well then banks shouldnt mind THE FEDERAL-TRADE-COMMISSION come in and investigate the peoples complaints and records....with that said...by the way..FTC loves banks,hefty fines...I bet they'll find something to to fine them with!!

Fri, 01/15/2016 - 14:48 Permalink
spencer (not verified)

I am a 17 year old, who recently opened a checking and savings account. I had a job about 6 months ago, and i saved up a couple of thousand dollars. I was forced to quit the job because of a back injury i suffered. Being a minor I couldn't qualify for workmens comp. I was recently forced to spend a majority of the money i had saved on medication and hospital fees. I had $50 dollars left in my savings. The banks monthly service charge was $30. The charge was deducted from my account. This left $20 in my account. Me being 17 and unaware of the banks stipulations, was charged another $25 for having one to many withdrawls. Now I have $-5, and the withdrawl fees the bank charged me over drafted my account. Now I owe the bank over $100 in overdraft fees. Only in America can a Minor work a 50 hour work week for less than minimum wage, pay over %30 in taxes, be forced to pay out of pocket for health care , and finally bankrupt by a bank that does not pay a cent In taxes and has received billions of dollars in bailouts.

Fri, 05/13/2016 - 22:43 Permalink
MoneyFROM? (not verified)

I married a woman that is fraud as fraud can be,she gets by with the help from professional of her own kind,she was or is still married to a stock broker in Peru,Any way I cant find her she took quarter million from me over 11 yrs-looking thur old statements our account shows she took out $50.00 from HSBC RS How can i find out whats going on I HHave the account number=or perhaps i have an account and dont know about it,she is good friends with 2chase manager.

Thu, 09/15/2016 - 17:41 Permalink
Quiose (not verified)

You people are walking dead people. The government can take all of your money from your accounts with no permission. Get ready walking dead people. Your going to wake up one morning with no money in your accounts. As for you people with a retirement nest that you worked so hard for your whole life will soon be wiped out! Very soon! You will see! You people are all clowns parading down the street acting so buffoonish thinking that it won't happen. Hey get ready it's going to happen sooner than you think! Mark my words! Oh I forgot I'm talking to the living dead people.

Sun, 11/27/2016 - 20:46 Permalink
Quiose (not verified)

You people are walking dead people. The government can take all of your money from your accounts with no permission. Get ready walking dead people. Your going to wake up one morning with no money in your accounts. As for you people with a retirement nest that you worked so hard for your whole life will soon be wiped out! Very soon! You will see! You people are all clowns parading down the street acting so buffoonish thinking that it won't happen. Hey get ready it's going to happen sooner than you think! Mark my words! Oh I forgot I'm talking to the living dead people.

Sun, 11/27/2016 - 20:47 Permalink
Brandon (not verified)

My bank took money out of my business account to fix a personal account and now my business checks are not clearing over this is it legal for them to do that with a business account to fix a personal account

Thu, 12/01/2016 - 20:35 Permalink
Brandon (not verified)

My bank took money out of my business account to fix a personal account and now my business checks are not clearing over this is it legal for them to do that with a business account to fix a personal account

Thu, 12/01/2016 - 20:36 Permalink
Dana (not verified)

Capital One took an online (web payment) oit to f husbands checking account...My name is not on his account and his name is not on my Capital One everyone just keeps saying it was "a web payment by Dana" ummmm NOT!

Wed, 12/07/2016 - 02:14 Permalink
Dana (not verified)

Capital One took an online (web payment) oit to f husbands checking account...My name is not on his account and his name is not on my Capital One everyone just keeps saying it was "a web payment by Dana" ummmm NOT!

Wed, 12/07/2016 - 02:14 Permalink
Suman (not verified)

Hi,
The bank took 11k money out of my account against a loan of 4k and after 6years without my permission from a new account opened with the Bank. I am a Single mother who is trying to make ends meet and the money that they took was towards the rent payment of 2 months. And now I am told to evict the house due to non-payment of loan.
I had taken the loan in 2008 and only 2 installments were pending which my ex-husband said would pay and clear it,so, I did not check. But when my PF was deducted from the account I inquired in the bank and was told that it was withdrawn against the outstanding loan payment. So, I thot it has been cleared now and all this happened in 2010. I was told to go to the loan department, and when I asked there they said I do not have any loan account. So I was under the impression that the loan has been cleared altogether.
After so many years this month they deducted 11k from my account and are not even discussing it, as per their statement I am earning well enuf to pay the overcharges.

How can I file a legal complaint against the Bank for doing so.

Wed, 12/21/2016 - 10:04 Permalink