Complaint Review: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARIN - LAS VEGAS Nevada

I received a credit card from FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARIN which I accepted. First National Bank Of Marin started charging me and sending billing statements to me before the card was activated. I called to report this and was told that they charge a monthly fee of $15 for sending positive reports to the major credit Agencies. I did not understand this and so tried to cancel the card.

The person I spoke with concerning cancelling the card convinced me to pay the $15. Although I was not really convinced, I decided to pay the $15 via check by phone. The next billing cycle came and I was charged double the fee plus a $29 late fee for not paying the first bill. I became very angry because, I have not even activated the card. I called again to know why they charged me double and why the late fee since I paid the first bill. I was told that my check did not go through which is false because I called my Bank immidiately to verify this and they told me that First National Bank of Marin did not attempt any withdrawal from my account not to talk of the check not going through and that since I have overdraft protection, there is no way they will not pay a check of $15 on my behalf even if there is no money in my account.

I called First National Bank of Marin and confronted them with this and the person I spoke with finally accepted that they did not really post the check because they copied the account number and routing number wrongly. I demanded to speak with a supervisor and someone came to the phone as a supervisor and apologised to me for their error and told me that they will cancel all the charges so that we can start all over on a fresh note. I thanked him for cancelling the charges and bringing the account to the actual zero balance (since I have not used the card) and requested for the account to be closed. At this time, it was clear to me that First National Bank of Marin is a Fraudlent Financial Institution and that I cannot go any further with them.

When I demanded for the account to be closed with the zero balance on it,the supervisor tried to convince me to keep the account but I refused. I received calls from people who calim to be senior supervisors of the Bank trying to get me to continue to stay with them. I thanked them for their concern but maintained that I want my account as it were closed. The account was then closed on late November of 2001. I received a letter from them in December 2001 which confirmed that the account has been closed. I also received another statement In December 2001 which reflected the adjustment as we agreed but which went ahead to show a fresh bill as if I am still with them.

I called to bring to their notice that I have closed this account and that I am no longer interested in dealing with them. I explained to the person how difficult it was for me before I could get someone to adjust my account to a zero balance and how I insisted that the account should be closed there on and that I dont want to continue to deal but he snapped at me and told me that I cannot close the account without paying off my balance. I asked him what balance because I have not even activated the card and he said that if I want to close the account that I should pay $260.

I was amazed at this. I asked what the $260 is for since I have not even used the card in question, not even activated it and everything happened within two months. He maintained that I must pay $260 and that he is not ready to keep explaining that to me. I insisted that the account has been closed and that it was closed with a zero balance on it and that I am not ready to pay them anything because I did not use their card, moreso, I have a letter which stated that the account has been closed. I hung up and never called them again and they kept sending me bills month after month.

They continued to increrase what they called the purchases I made with the card until it got to $419 sometime in June 2002 and they stopped by themselves. Next I know is that they have reported me to the Credit Agencies as owing them $419 in purchases made with their credit card. When I found out about this development, I called First National Bank of Marin to find out what actually is going on but each time, no one seem to be willing to talk to me. I wrote to them several times but no response came and now I resorted to writing to the Credit Agencies to dispute this. I would rather spend money to fight this noble cause than pay First National Bank of Marin this ripoff fee.

In one of my letters to them I made it clear that a Financial Institution should be reputed for transparency in dealing with customers but they are different, First National Bank of Marin to me is are everything that Ripoff, Scam and Fraud stands for. They qualify for a new S.I.Unit "System Internationale" for Ripoff just an advanced organized robbery institute.

Primus

Nashville, Tennessee
U.S.A.

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