[update]-citibank Added A Stranger To My Grandmother's Account, Account Got Blocked, And $6000 On Hold. The Stranger In The Account Got Garnished.

Original Post-

https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/s/vhUWAD92Ga

This is an update on this case. It took one year to get this resolved. We eventually got the account unblocked but we had to go to court to do it.

Steps taken

1. We contacted the CFPB, OCC, and reported the issue. Citibank responded and gave two different dates on when they think the person was added to the account and told us it was my grandmother's responsibility to inform them that a stranger was added to her account. (She didn't even know this person was on the account until the account was garnished). Citibank took ZERO responsibility and when asked for signature cards, they refused to give us the information.

2. We went to the police. The detective said they couldn't file any charges or take a report because with all the information we provided, it seems as if it is an internal fraud case.

3. Citibank told us to contact the attorney for the company that garnished the account. They told my grandmother they cannot speak to her because she was not the defendant, yet, it was her account that was garnished.

4. We took the collections company to court, provided all the evidence we have, proved that we did not know the defendant, proved that the daughter with the similar name is not the person on the account, and the judge ruled in our case. The account got unblocked and money released minus Citibank's fee when they removed the money in the first place.

Now, the account is still compromised and will be closed. We still do not know how a stranger was added to the account.

Please ensure that you read your digital statements and if you don't read your statements often, and only log in to check that your money is there, please make sure you check who the account owners are. This experience has taught us that overnight, a stranger can be added to your bank account and you will have to fight to get it back.

Location: NYC