ComplaintsforFirst Commonwealth Bank

• Initial Complaint

  12/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  When I signed up for my checking account I requested overdraft protection and was informed that was not an option. On 11/22/22 I accidentally charged my account for a gas bill for $58. I did not have the money in my account and was charged a $35 fee for covering the charge. Beginning on 11/28/22 I began getting charged $8 PER DAY for the overdrawn account. On 12/3/22 I spoke with a branch manager and explained that I just started a new job and would not get my first pay for 2-3 weeks. I asked her to close the account or freeze the account to stop the $8/day, $56/week charges. I also explained my initial request for overdraft protection and the manager informed me they do offer that service. I explained I was told it did not exist. The bank manager said she would request a freeze on the account to stop the daily charges. I also told her to make sure my account had the overdraft protection now to stop this from happening again. On 12/06/2022, I received another charge from Grubhub for $10.59 and was charged ANOTHER $35 "paid item fee," despite having just requested the overdraft protection 3 days prior and the $8 per day charges continue as well. I have explained to numerous people my situation and intention to make the account right once paid without any help or empathy. We are living in a time when the basic costs of living have become near insurmountable and First Commonwealth Bank continues to practice predatorial overdraft policies that could not care less about the plight of their customers. I would like FCB to acknowledge that one of their staff misinformed me and to remove all additional charges on the account, save the money I owe for the gas bill and grubhub charge which should have never went through in the first place. Any other resolution will have to result in FCB turning these ever-growing charges into a collections agency.

  Business response

  12/08/2022

  Thank you for the opportunity to research the concerns shared with the BBB. Your complaint is under review and a direct response will be provided to you on or before December 18, 2022. Due to security and privacy concerns, the details of the resolution cannot be provided in this forum.

  Customer response

  12/09/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]

  FCB informed me that they would reach out to me personally by 12/18/22 to deliver a final decision regarding my BBB complaint.  They added that for privacy they would reach out directly to me rather than address the complaint on the BBB forum.  However, if I accept this response the complaint will disappear before I know whether or not FCB will actually address my concerns.  For that reason I will err on the side of caution and reject this response until I have final word from FCB.  I believe that is fair and understandable. 

  
  Regards,
  
  ****** *****

• Initial Complaint

  10/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I applied for a remote proofreading job and was contacted via email on 8/31/22 to find out my availability for an interview. I was interviewed via Skype later that same day and was advised that I was hired. I completed a 1099 with my name and address only and signed a contract. I was then advised I needed to have a check sent to me which I would sign and deposit to my mobile checking account, then use the funds toward a workstation needed for the job and pay a vendor with it. The $3,000 check from Insight Global from the Santa Cruz County Bank showed as available in my personal checking account on 9/3/22 so I relied on the bank seeing that the funds were available and thought they could be used. I was asked by the vendor to make payments in increments to equal the $3,000. Two were made through Zelle in the amount of $500 each, then one through Venmo in the amount of $1,000. I knew the money from the $3,000 check was not my own, but I thought I could pay the remainder of what was due to the vendor from the check and still have the existing funds that were already in my account. If I knew the funds were not yet available, I never would have made any further transactions. This was all over Labor Day weekend. I received a call from First Commonwealth Bank on 9/6/22 advising me the check was fraudulent and there was a hold placed on the check. In the meantime, my balance had gone in the negative and I was and still am out $2,000 in addition to a $15 handling fee. Therefore, a total of $2,015. I know that I am the one who authorized the funds, but I had no idea I was being scammed at the time. I filed several reports with the authorities and this information was shared with the bank. The PA State Police followed up with me recently and they were surprised to learn that the bank did not reimburse me for the monies I lost. I was also hoping the bank would help me at least this one time. I provided them with all of the correspondence from the fraudsters.

  Business response

  10/31/2022

  Thank you for the opportunity to research the concerns shared with the BBB. The complaint has already been addressed through a direct response provided to the customer on October 17, 2022. Due to security and privacy concerns, the details of the resolution cannot be provided in this forum.

  Customer response

  11/04/2022

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I understand the business does not wish to discuss the matter further using this forum. Therefore, I will seek other means to attempt to resolve the matter.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *******

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This is by far the worst Bank I’ve ever dealt with. Save yourself a world of grief bank elsewhere. These ppl are evil & just want to steal your belongings. I made the unfortunate mistake of going out on a few dates w/ a branch manager when he was single. He & his ex got back together & started harassing, threatening, & slandering me. This girl even tried to ram my car. She followed me out of 2 bars wanting to fight. I never met this woman. He told this mentally unstable woman my private financial information. I reported him & bank retaliated against me. I asked for forbearance 9/29/21 cares act granted 6 mos then another 6 mos up to 18. They granted 2 mos 11/21 & 12/21 then reapply. 1/6/22 tried to repo car & foreclose on home both in error. Demanded $300 +be given to repo man for him to leave . Foreclosure notice was never received. Only amount due was interest. Never updated as satisfied when paid. They kept "losing" papers to extend forbearance from Dec to May then refused to grant anyways. Never relayed to me then got a high powered lawyer to demand lump sum & lawyer fees.Refused $4800cash. Put note not to accept $ unless they okayed it. Refused to validate debt or show note asked multiple x’s . Cut off from $ to railroad into foreclosure. Only accept $ if Sharon C -(special assets) ok’d first.. Documents altered w/o consent or knowledge. Did all this & no right to collect. Asked why forbearance wasn't granted x 6 mos allowed by cares act & was told “we go by our own rules “. Refused to show rules. Now trying to foreclose again. .Never gave reason for refusing $ , denying forbearance, Or freezing account. Absolute retaliation. What bank refuses $ then sues for $ /steal home. Filed bogus neg credit reports. Their actions are unacceptable & their behavior shameful. They all need a class on How not to treat customers 101.. No responsibility. It’s always customers fault. Sold loan & I have proof. Always demand to see the original NOTE!!

  Business response

  10/17/2022

  Thank you for the opportunity to research the concerns shared with the BBB. The complaint was already under review and a direct response will be provided to the customer. Due to security and privacy concerns, the details of the resolution and/or response cannot be provided in this forum.

• Initial Complaint

  08/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was a victim of fraud in my bank account. Money was taken,bad checks were written out,3,from California that they put through and after cashing them told me they were bad checks.Never asking me about them,then ended up charging me fees and to return the money,it came to over 1600 dol. I am 67,i was trying to get a loan online and was frauded. I was told from the police there was nothing they could do. My accounts were closed.But when it came around to the 3rd of the month May the bank kept mySS check. Didn't tell me, i found out when i was looking for my money. But, my account was closed. So then i had no money to pay my rent,bills or food for the month. So bc i couldn't pay the fines,fees, they sent it to collections. Accounts closed. So now i am waiting for my rent rebate check and bc it was listed on the form before i could remove it, the bank got it July 5th, and i find out today on August 11 that they kept it to. Meanwhile i have the IRS looking for my money and they don't know that the bank had it and never told me,emailed me,called me to tell me they kept my check so now it's paid,but it was in collections,my bank accounts were closed! So they told the collection company that it was paid,i called and found out with them it was paid. But no one told me!So here is am waiting to pay up my rent account and my electric,and my car ins, and my comcast,and my car payment and they kept my check,had my check since July 5th. I want to pursue this further. I am on a fixed ,low income, and they kept my checks twice. I have asked for help from St.Vincent Depaul,Salvation Army,Catholic Charities to help me with my bills. I don't have money for scripts,food,gas.

  Business response

  08/24/2022

  Thank you for the opportunity to research the concerns shared with the BBB. The complaint has been reviewed and we've reached out to the customer directly via both the email and phone number provided in the complaint and on file without success. Due to security and privacy concerns, further details of the resolution or outcome cannot be provided in this forum.

  Customer response

  08/25/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** *****

• Initial Complaint

  07/31/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  [The original incident (fraudulent transactions) occurred more than 12 months ago. First Commonwealth being unwilling to help rectify the issue occurred in the previous week] There were unauthorized transfers/purchases made on my account at the start of 2021. I contacted First Commonwealth's online customer support and they told me that the source of the issue was Venmo. There was a lot of back and forth with Venmo's support that took over a year because I was outside of the country. However, now it seems that the transactions did not actually originate from my Venmo account (I decided to look at the statements myself and it does seem like the perpetrators used Venmo transfers as a sort of smokescreen). While I was waiting to hear back from Venmo to confirm to me that they were not the cause, I reached out to First Commonwealth again to rectify this (this was last week). They told me that I needed to have filed a claim disputing the charges at the time and that a dispute can only be filed within 90 days. However, their customer support people did not tell me that disputing the charges was a course of action when I reached out to them initially. They then just said I should fill out a complaint to your bureau, with no further assistance. Finally, and this is somewhat peripheral to my main complaint outlined above, I believe that First Commonwealth did not properly notify me of this abnormal account behavior (even when my account was over-drafted and they closed my account). As mentioned I was outside of the country, but I'm fairly certain I was still able to receive SMS messages at the time; I did not get any SMS messages and they certainly did not email me about the overdrafts and strange account behavior. Poor security and communication practices on their part did not help the situation.

  Business response

  08/22/2022

  Thank you for the opportunity to research the concerns shared with the BBB. The complaint has been reviewed and attempts to reach the customer via phone for more details have not been successful. A final email requesting contact was sent to the address provided in the complaint on 8/22/2022. Due to security and privacy concerns, the details of any resolution cannot be provided in this forum.

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I withdrew money from a first commonwealth bank, the money was never received yet I was charged ATM fees. I have been on the issue since the 25th of April and it still isn’t fixed and I’m out 800 plus fee now. Everyday I call and I get the runaround.

• Initial Complaint

  05/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I wrote a check to a business that banks with them. First Commonwealth admits to making an error and depositing the check for 2200 more dollars than I wrote the check for. They keep telling me they have issued a credit but my bank has not seen any activity. I went down there and was extremely upset. I did use foul language and instead of giving me my money they pressed the robbery alarm. They have still not returned my money. I am starting to suspect the manager Joe Mango is involved in some kind of fraud.

• Initial Complaint

  04/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I opened an account with first Commonwealth Bank on 4/23/22 and received a zelle payment for $475 from my family. I was contacted Monday morning first thing from somebody inquiring about new accounts opened and was interrogated as to why I received money, who It came from, what it was for, I mean I feel like I was on a trial. Then the guy says okay thank you I'll contact you if I need anything else I drive an hour and a half to the branch to go withdraw some money and get a debit card cuz it's a new account I did not have a debit card I opened it online and I get inside the branch and the disrespectful rude inconsiderate miserable lady says to me your account's been closed and the payment was blocked and returned. I was confused so I asked her what she meant and she says what don't you understand about closed and blocked. I call my brother-in-law and said hey did you get your payment back from zelle he says no. So I call a supervisor on the 800 number or whatever and she tells me they close the account because the payment was flagged as fraud and I explained could we call my brother-in-law three-way he'll verify he sent it she said you can go in the branch and open a new account and I said well what about the money I was sent that was sitting in my account for two days she said they sent it back or will send it back via ACH transfer during overnight processing. I explained that I did not authorize this and that my brother-in-law did not request this so why would they do that. I got no answer that was intelligent and now I'm out the money until he receives this so-called ACH transfer back and then he's going to have to resend the money and they could have at least called me and told me the account was closed before I drove an hour and a half each way. This bank is horrendous. I want my 475. They promote zelle on their website and on their app basically enticing you to use it just to close your account & refuse to give you your money & sending an unauthorized ACH

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am refinancing my property with another bank. At the time when I purchased this property First Commonwealth financed the house. I was told at the closing by Sandy and Susan H****** that I would not be penalized if I refinance or pay this loan off early. I am now trying to refinance this loan and First Commonwealth is trying to charge me $1500 to have the house refinanced from another bank. I spoke with another lady from the bank today and she said that it could have been coded wrong.

  Business response

  03/16/2022

  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. In order to maintain the confidentiality of customer information, it is our practice to reach out to the customer and address the reported concerns directly with them. 

  Customer response

  03/17/2022

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have received numerous calls from the party's that are involved from First Commonwealth. Susan Acknowledged that I was misinformed at the time of the closing, she explained to me in detail how I could get out of paying these charges that were told to me would not be included. Brittany at First Commonwealth reached out and apologized for the matter and as well told me a loophole around paying these charges.

   

  I am satisfied that they owned up to their mistakes and gave me steps moving forward.

• Initial Complaint

  02/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My account was hacked using a outside party money app they got my card and there digit code and ill my info and sent themselfs over 2600 dollars and the bank is refuseing to give me my money back they didn't even put a hold on it but they put a hold onto a 100.00 they didn't even try to protect me not one bit that's was money to move now me and my children will be homeless due to them not protect my money please help thank you

  Business response

  03/28/2022

  This complaint was addressed directly with the customer on March 7, 2022 through the local branch. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩