Fifth Third Bank / 53.com review: Failed to cancel credit card and accumulated fees! ( 1 comment)

Created Credit Card Error then Failed to robustly close/cancel credit card - then abuse starts In Oct-2007 Fifth Third bank failed to mail billing payment invoices on a credit card I had just opened. This resulted in late fees. I went to the local branch and the Fifth Third representative canceled the account for me, but the main office failed to execute and complete the closure. Over the next 4 months charges and late fees continued even though the account was canceled.

Fifth Third turned the account over to their internal collections and the calls began. The collections representative refused to hear that their office had created the problem and was working to correct it however the main office failed to close the account and began a run of abuse.

02Feb2008 - three phones calls progressively more abusive. I went to the local 5/3 branch and worked with the representative to get the account resolved one more time - which he did professionally and politely. 4 hours later the 5/3 collections called again and began yelling and cursing me as I attempted to politely explain that their branch office was resolving the issue.

5/3rd collections: [protected] 5/3 collections rep John 04feb08 1155am - he refuses to give his extension number so I can call him back. He also refuses to call the main office or any other 5/3rd representative to check on the problem. He refuses to hear the results of their own branches review of the issue. He is apparently not the person that called Saturday. He did confess, on the phone that they use yelling and cursing and do not apologize for it.

5/3rd main office customer service: Diane ext 65414 at 1147am 04feb08. Gave me the number of the 5/3rd collections. She also refused to assist in resolving the issue. Similarly, would not apologize for the abusive treatment and reported that this is accepted policy of the bank – however 5/3 knowingly partitions the two offices (collections and banking) for efficiency.

Meanwhile the collections continue to call my wife, who has medical problems, and progress the abusive calls.

An email was sent from the customer rep at the local branch, who is attempting to correct the issue, this is ignored by the rest of 5/3 management and collections even though their banking records (Which the rep gave a copy to me) clearly show they have an account error.

Such abuse and unprofessional behavior as never experienced before. And that 5/3 reps and management actually feel that this is appropriate behavior. Furthermore, they refused to help or acknowledge that their system has an error even though their own branch rep demonstrated it clearly. He had to work through their convoluted system by himself. If there were not that ONE person in all of 5/3 who listened, I would be in dire straights.

My lawyer, acknowledging that 5/3 is an unprofessional company, recommended that I move my accounts to another bank to avoid retribution. They are that bad as to try to further abuse me for proving them wrong.