A 24-year-old confronted with this nightmare scenario reaches out to 7 On Your Side, which came to the end of this mystery.
“I felt like I was losing my life savings, and it was very frustrating,” Andrew Alexander said.
First, he lost his job – then all his money, a total of $ 80,000.
The money was set aside for his training and froze during an ordinary bank transfer that Alexander believed.
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“There was a promotion with Citibank that if you open an account with a certain amount of money, I get $ 700. So I was just trying to get the extra bonus,” Alexander said.
He paid $ 50,000 from his online Chime account just before Christmas and then ‘screwed up’.
“The next day, both accounts were frozen, and Chime says my funds could not be repaid,” Alexander said. “I do not yet know why both accounts were frozen.”
Chime wanted Alexander to provide unemployment verification, but Citibank did not ask for any documentation and did not want to disclose why all his money was frozen.
“Every time I contacted them, they gave me no reason,” Alexander said. “They said the block was going beyond their reach to the branch when I went to pick up the branch. They said they were calling me by telephone.”
With rent and bills owed, Alexander was at a loss.
The 24-year-old’s job disappeared when the company where he worked closed due to COVID.
He was moonlight as a personal trainer and re-enrolled at the university. He was therefore desperate to unlock his tuition fees.
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“I had to buy presents. I could not even buy food, my girlfriend took care of me,” Alexander said.
Until he decided to call 7 On Your Side to take a crack, and his fridge.
The 7 On Your Side team asked Chime and Citibank to investigate.
We never found out what caused the freeze, because no bank is allowed to discuss customer accounts. But just 48 hours after we called, the big cold frost on Alexander’s ‘Benjamins’ thawed.
“I was definitely relieved. I was happy and grateful that I really appreciated it,” Alexander said.
Citibank sent a check for $ 50,000 and unblocked Chime $ 30,000.
“If it were not for you (7 on your side), I would not be able to get my money,” Alexander said. “I appreciate 7 On Your Side getting involved. Thank you very much and keep helping people.”
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