We are currently victims of a fraudulent credit transaction that was performed by Washington Mutual Bank. The following sequence of events will explain how we have been taken advantage of and have had our credit tarnished with out warning or authorization.
November 23:
We received an offer for a new credit card with a 0% APR for balance transfers.
We went online to complete the required credit application. When our internet connection was lost, we contacted Washington Mutual immediately in fear that the application was not complete and would result in an unauthorized transaction. We spoke to a Washington Mutual representative in the application department named Lionel. I asked Lionel to withdrawal/cancel all credit applications at this time. He reassured me that the applications were canceled and that we would not be receiving a credit card from Washington Mutual.
December 31:
We received a credit card statement from Washington Mutual showing that they have initiated a new credit account with their bank in the amount of $11,000. Washington Mutual also forwarded a balance transfer in the amount of $10,500 to our First USA, (Chase) credit account; of which we did not have a credit balance. The balance transfer that Washington Mutual sent to First USA, (Chase) also resulted in a balance transfer fee/finance charge of $525.00 of which over drafted this unauthorized, new credit account. Currently the credit account is being charged over limit fees and late payment charges of $39.00 for each.
We contacted Washington Mutual and spoke to representative, Jeff, on December 31. We told Jeff that we did not authorize this new credit account with Washington Mutual and that this credit account should not exist. Jeff submitted this transaction into their investigation department and explained that it may take up to 60 days to resolve this matter. We asked for a contact phone to follow up with the investigation department and he explained that they do not have a phone number to give out for the investigation department, that to follow up with this complaint that we would need to contact Washington Mutual through their general customer service phone number, and that there was not a form or further process for the disputed account.
January 15:
We contacted Washington Mutual again to follow up and make sure that the disputed account was being investigated. We spoke to Representative Clarice at this time; she put the contact phone for First USA, (Chase) into the notes for the investigation department.
We contacted First USA, (Chase) and explained that they received this payment in error from Washington Mutual and that the payment would need to be returned to Washington Mutual. First USA, (Chase) explained that they would not return the payment to Washington Mutual with out a balance transfer charge. We currently have a positive credit on our First USA, (Chase) account of $10,538.39 of which $10,500 belongs to Washington Mutual.
January 30:
We received the response from the Washington Mutual balance transfer research representative, S. Phillips. They explained that it was our responsibility to initiate a credit refund from First USA, (Chase) in the amount of $10,500.
We find this resolution completely unacceptable as the Washington Mutual account should not exist. A credit refund from First USA (Chase), will not resolve this issue. We have never authorized the new credit card with Washington Mutual nor the balance transfer that was sent to First USA, (Chase).
This transaction has tarnished our credit and does not make financial sense for anyone involved.
Not only did Washington Mutual create a new credit account with out our authorization but they over drafted the account with the balance transfer that they initiated causing the account to be over limit and the balance to be charged over limit fees. This also resulted in a new APR of 8.03%.
Washington Mutual has created this problem on their own with out our authorization or request. Washington Mutual should be responsible for recovering the funds that they mistakenly sent to First USA, (Chase), in the amount of $10,500 and they should also erase the remaining balance, and expunge all traces of this unauthorized account from our credit.
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