FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION CFPB Complaints

2000 Latest Complaints

Date Received	Timely Response	Product	Issue	State / Zip	Submitted Via	Tags
06/24/2021	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	IN 46220	Web
I have serious concerns about First Merchants ' ability to service loans properly and in compliance with federal regulations. I have had a number of worrisome issues since refinancing with them in XXXX of 2021, culminating in an issue this week where a customer service representative gave me a completely fabricated explanation for an issue that, if I had believed, would have cost me thousands of dollars. I refinanced my mortgage loan with First Merchants Back in XX/XX/2021. I made my first payment in XXXX of 2021. At this time, my loan had still not been set up in the system, so I took a check to a local brach, received a receipt from the teller. Later that month, I started getting calls from First Merchants ' debt collection team saying that I had not paid my mortgage. Apparently, the bank had lost my check. I spent at least an hour on the phone with customer service trying to get this issue straightened out. I had to call back multiple times to get the late fee I had been assessed waived. My annual homeowner 's premium is set up to be paid out of my First Merchants escrow account. In early XXXX, I got a call from my insurance agent saying that my annual homeowner 's premium was so far past due that they were going to cancel it. They had apparently contacted First Merchants several times about the overdue payment and had never heard back from anyone. I called First Merchants customer service, was passed around several times to people who had no idea what to do, and eventually was told oops, yes, we missed the payment. One person at First Merchants told me they had contacted my insurance company to ask for a quote and never heard back. I asked for evidence of that and they were unable to provide anything, and my insurance agent has no record of that. First Merchants did not have an explanation for why they never responded to my insurance company 's multiple outreaches. The most recent incident is by far the most worrisome. In XXXX of 2021, I changed flood insurance and obtained a much cheaper policy. I asked that First Merchants do a new escrow analysis, and on XX/XX/2021, they sent me an Annual Escrow Account Disclosure Statement ( attached ). According to this statement, I had a surplus in my escrow account of {$2600.00} that they were returning to me via an enclosed check, and my monthly payment starting on XX/XX/2021 was going to be {$1200.00} XXXX down from {$1400.00} ). ( My new flood insurance policy was only about {$1200.00} cheaper than my prior policy, so I also have questions about whether their initial escrow analysis was correct, considering the sizeable refund and $ XXXXmonth lowering of my mortgage payment. ) I set up my account to autopay the {$1200.00} each month. The payment went through without issue for the month of XXXX. In mid-XXXX, I started receiving at least a dozen calls per day from a number that showed up on my phone as " spam, '' but turned out to be the credit department at First Merchants. When I realized who was calling, I answered, and the person on the line demanded I give her my date of birth and last four numbers of my social security number. She refused to provide any information as to why she was calling until I provided these two items of information. I declined to do so. That same day, I received a letter from XXXX XXXX saying that my monthly payment of {$1400.00} was overdue. The letter noted that I had made a partial payment of {$1200.00} for XXXX, but still owed {$170.00} for the month of XXXX. I called First Merchants customer service and asked why my monthly payment had gone up without any notice. XXXX, the representative, put me on hold to speak to " loan servicing, '' then came back and said, " Did you get a check with your escrow analysis statement? '' I told him that I had. He said, " What did you do with it? '' I told him I had deposited it. He said, " Well, loan servicing says if you wanted your payment to go down, you had to return the check. If you kept the check, your payment would go up. '' I told him that it didn't say that anywhere in the escrow analysis disclosure I received. He said, " They said you got a couple letters about it. '' I told him I had not receieved any letters or any notification at all. He suggested that if I wanted to return the {$2600.00} check, my payment would go down to the {$1200.00} stated in the escrow disclosure. I told him I did not want to do that and asked if he could waive the late fee that had been assessed for XXXX. He told me that he was happy to waive the fee, but couldn't do so until I paid the outstanding {$170.00} that was due. I told him I would pay that and then call him back for help with the late fee. I went online to pay the {$170.00} that XXXX and the letter from First Merchants said was due. Despite my First Merchants loan account ( and my Old National checking account ) showing that a partial payment of {$1200.00} had already been paid for the month of XXXX, the First Merchants payment system was showing that I still owed {$1400.00} for the month ( plus a late fee of {$48.00} ). I called customer service, yet again, to see how to mak a partial payment for {$170.00}. The customer service representative sent me to a voicemail box for a loan servicing person whose voicemail said he was on vacation. I called a general number for First Merchants loan servicing and left a voicemail saying I needed help 1 ) figuring out how to make the remaining payment of {$170.00}, 2 ) waiving the late fee that had been assessed, and 3 ) understanding why my monthly payment had gone up without warning and why I had not been told that this would be the consequence of keeping the surplus check I received with my escrow disclosure. About 30 minutes later, a woman named XXXX with First Merchants loan servicing called back. She said that she had looked into my account and found that " for some reason, the system didn't record your new monthly payment amount after the escrow disclosure - it looks like it recorded it for one month XXXX XX/XX/2021 XXXX, then it went back up. '' ( Note, the payment amount in the system didn't actually go " back '' to what it was XXXX {$1400.00} - it went to a new amount, {$1400.00}. ) XXXX confirmed that I was allowed to keep the surplus check and that my correct monthly payment was {$1200.00}. She said it was just a " system error '' that caused the misunderstanding. I understand mistakes happen. However, XXXX specifically told me that loan servicing told me that my options were to keep the {$2600.00} surplus check and have a monthly payment of {$1400.00} or return the check and have my payment go down to {$1200.00}. This was apparently completely made up. When I asked why I had not received any notification of the jump in payment, he specifically told me that I had received " a couple of letters. '' This, too, was apparently a complete fabrication. Had First Merchants ' website been sophisticated enough to allow me to make the partial payment of {$170.00} that I thought I owed, I would have continued to make monthly payments of {$1400.00}, instead of {$1200.00}, indefinitely - an overpayment of {$170.00} each month. There is no indication that First Merchants would have caught this error or otherwise rectified it without my continued questions and follow-up. This was a serious error, but most concerning to me is that First Merchants apparently fabricated a justification for the error ( a justification that blamed me, the consumer, for cashing a surplus check and then missing non-existent notifications they claimed to have sent ) instead of looking into the issue and resolving it.
06/24/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	IN 473XX	Web
My family has lost a total of {$1800.00} to unauthorized charges on my debit card to purchases from XXXX XXXX. Someone got a hold of my debit card information and used it. I filed a dispute with the bank which was denied because 4 of the charges are past 60 days ( none of them ever informed of that information ) old ( That I never would of caught and thought they were my families own charges ). My concern and frustration comes to the bank. I called the customer service area on Friday XXXX XXXX and had my debit card shut off. I talked to them about the charges and was advised to wait until all charges had cleared. At that point I had {$170.00} " pending ''. I went into the local branch in my town and got a new debit card on that same day XX/XX/2021. I took my print out of the charges as well. The gentleman got me a new debit card and said I needed to wait until after the Holiday ( XXXX day weekend ) for my pending charges to clear which would probably be on XX/XX/2021 that way I only had to file 1 dispute and not 2. Again, nothing was ever said to me about not getting any money back if the first charges happened 60 days prior. I was advised that I would get my money back in 10 business days and it was an easy process. Yes, I do agree that SOME of this was my fault for not catching it sooner. But I also want to know why my account was never flagged as fraud or asked if these happen to be my charges on the dates that it hit crazy. So from XXXX I lost {$240.00} from not catching them " testing out my card '' they were very sporadic and I thought they were mine. On XX/XX/2021 I had 6 charges hit for a total of {$110.00}. That was never a red flag to my bank. If my bank would or flagged that for Fraud and checked with me I would of lost only the {$240.00} but not had {$1500.00} more taken from me. On XX/XX/2021 XXXX charges hit to my account, again not a red flag to the bank they let everyone of them go through and not question it. That was {$400.00}. When I checked my account on XX/XX/2021 to see if my husbands check was going to hit the account before the Holiday or after I noticed the amount in my account seemed off by ALOT of money. On XX/XX/2021 9 more charges hit my account for {$260.00}. So not only did two crazy days of charges make it through my bank to be paid and not questioned I lost a total of {$670.00} in 2 days! I was told by customer service and they gentleman who created my debit card that I had to let my pending charges go through. Which on XX/XX/2021 there were 5 pending charges for {$170.00}. It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. That not only did I mess up because I am human and make mistakes and don't check my transactions daily ( I do from this point forward ). We have XXXX busy boys in travel baseball and my husband is a XXXX XXXX XXXX. So just making sure I had money in there was what I did. My bank, a bank that we are putting our trust into let money slip out of my account like it wasn't a bid deal and no fraud concern. I also called into customer service and asked them a few days later about Fraud and why it wasn't trigged to not go through or for the bank to check with us on these crazy charges. I have family and friends that work for this bank, and they have advised me that it definitely should of been a red flag with sirens going off. They had no good reason for it. I looked over the website for First Merchants and there is nothing listing for the 60 day time frame. I will be attaching all of my examples. Here is what the website says " A consumer claiming that funds were taken from an account by another person 's unauthorized transfer without prior consent A transaction was posted improperly due to a bank bookkeeping error, can have the error corrected by notifying the financial institution holding the account Once a consumer notifies the financial institution of a suspected unauthorized transaction, the financial institution has from 10 to 45 days to investigate the complaint and re-credit funds debited in error. The consumer 's account liability is limited by regulation to {$50.00} if the bank is notified of the error, but otherwise can be as high as {$500.00}. '' It also list they already have everyone included in Fraud alerts, so it's not something I had to sign up for. Thankfully we had money in our savings account, but it is my husbands inheritance money from his grandpa passing. On XX/XX/2021 I was advised of the denial when I called to follow up because that was day XXXX of my dispute. The customer service person couldn't explain it to me so that I could understand what was going on. I went into the XXXX branch which is in my town. I spoke with a manager and they had to call someone on the dispute because even the letter that was being sent to me was confusing to her. She told me to call XXXX XXXX to get my money. I emailed that same manger the same day asking how the fraud protection worked and why it didn't work for my checking account, I never received a response back and we have threatened to pull all of our accounts which includes us, our kids, my husbands XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX account. I'm honestly guessing she didn't have a reason for me on why it worked, but from a business and a manager I would of thought they could of responded back with maybe someone higher up to talk to. But I got nothing. I also emailed a dispute email address on XX/XX/2021 and got no response. I did email I have spent hours on the phone with XXXX. Because these purchases were NOT purchased from our XXXX accounts they can't refund me the money and keep telling me I have to to go through the bank because it's Fraud. I don't understand why XXXX XXXX can't look up my old debit card # to see who was making these purchases. We have play station accounts and our checking account is tied to the XXXX XXXX so when we actually purchase from XXXX XXXX it shows up as a XXXX XXXX transaction. I don't want the lack of fraud protection to hurt anyone else financially. I feel like the bank is just as responsible as I am at this point for not catching it on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. At this point I would be happy to just get my money back from XX/XX/2021 forward which is {$1500.00}. The bank should of stopped it from XX/XX/2021 forward. I feel like they should of also stopped the pending charges from going through since they had not cleared yet instead of advising me to wait. I called in on XX/XX/2021 to file my dispute and had to call back on XX/XX/2021 because I had not received the email that I needed to respond to about my dispute. Honesty is what we are all taught and told to do and I was honest with the bank about me not catching it soon enough and included 4 dates that would cause me to not got anything back. It's almost like it's a punishment for being honest. I had someone in the XXXX office open a complaint on XX/XX/2021. I have 3 attachments 1. The XXXX XXXX XXXX ( showing the last 4 of my old debit card ) 2. Information from the banks website 3. Example showing that our XXXX account is tied to our checking account 4. XXXX XXXX Account search history for XX/XX/2021 XXXX
04/02/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	IN 46168	Web
- [ ] I filled a dispute with my bank first merchant on XX/XX/XXXX. I cancelled and got my account close with XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX but money was steadily coming out my account. I have this bank account to save money never check it at all and records shows. I return the form with my signature for the dispute to start on XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a call from XXXX XXXX at first merchant in dispute/fraud department. She beginning asking me questions one was you made a cash deposit on XX/XX/XXXX and it was a purchase made to this merchant at that time? I started to her my account was canceled that and I have emails so it shouldnt be no money coming out to go to that merchant. She begin interrogating me as if I was a prisoner. The questions she was asking, if the answers was not right she will re-ask the same questions. After XXXX minutes of getting nowhere with her shes begins to get real rude with me stating YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK I THINK YOU OWE THESE PEOPLE AND THEY TALKING THEIR MONEY BACK!. She was accusing me of things that wasnt true. There was no investigation started for her to say all the mean things she said to me. The merchant havent even emailed her back for her to accuse me of anything. She was so rude I Escalated it to her XXXX name XXXX where she told me that if they need any additional information for my investigation that they will reach out. She also stated that a parental credit will be giving within XXXX business days. Thats she will go over the call and give me a call back the next day. I have yet to hear anything back from her XXXX. I have sent over multiple paperwork supporting my dispute I have yet to get any hearing back on it. As of XX/XX/XXXX I reached back out to customer service a first merchant bank. They stated that the claim was denied on XX/XX/XXXX. I have got nothing in the mail or any calls stating why my claim was denied. The rep I was working with filed a complaint and Escalated my dispute to a higher management for how i was treated and my case not even being look into. There was no investigation done to my dispute for anything to be denied. They have not tried to get in contact with the merchant. I have been in contact with the merchant on several occasions and have sent over many emails and chats to them supporting my case. I have even sent over account statements from when I had joined this company back in XXXX until XX/XX/XXXX, sparring account closure. Theres no records of them transactions. They have not done they job as a bank in helping me get my claim successfully completed. XXXX called one day and the next day denied my claim without even putting a ounce of effort into investigating it. The customer service rep told me XXXX emailed the merchant on XX/XX/XXXX and denied the claim on XXXX XXXX never giving the merchant anytime to respond nor putting in any effort to wait and see. I contact the merchant and they stated they dont have no emails from first merchant bank. Ive never felt racism till the day I talk to XXXX and was treated so bad. Her XXXX by the name XXXX XXXX stated theyll investigate and if I need anything shell reach back out to me if she needs anymore documentation. She didnt even do nothing she promise me on the phone. XXXX so glad that calls are monitored and recorded and I would like management to also listen to those calls. Theres no way a representative should be able to tell a customer that shes lying without doing all the proper steps into investigating the case. I have talk to the branch XXXX and XXXX customer service reps who have apologized for the poor service that I received and got my documents sent back over.
09/21/2022	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 48103	Web
My mortgage was transferred to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Bank on XX/XX/22. I hadn't received any information on my new mortgage so I called on XX/XX/22 and was told that I would need to reach back out after XX/XX/22 for more information but that I wouldn't need to worry about it too much because there was a 60 day grace period after the transfer to catch up on my payments. Time got away from me and I was planning on signing up on the online portal this week when I received a packet in the mail indicating that my mortgage was past due and I was in collections. I immediately called their customer service line and was transferred to their collections department on XX/XX/22. I was speaking with XXXX around XXXX. I explained the circumstances of my mortgage being transferred on XX/XX/22 and they said there was no record of my calling the bank on XX/XX/22 and that the information was wrong and I only had a 15 day grace period. This person was extremely rude to me, refused to transfer my call because I was " already given the information I needed. '' I made the payment and when I said I still wanted to speak with someone, this representative hung up on me. When I called back later, I was again connected to collections but then I requested to speak with customer service and was eventually transferred to XXXX, who then informed me that it's the law that after a mortgage is transferred that I have 60 days grace to make my payments without penalty or reporting to credit bureaus. She apologized for the person in collections telling me that information. I was provided the correct legal information when I made the call on XX/XX/22. Regardless of how late I was in the process, the collections agent should have known the law and they should have provided me with the correct information. This was unethical to attempt to be the one to collect on this payment. I was going to make my payment this week without the XXXX XXXX thinking I was defaulting on my mortgage. Additionally, I think it's somewhat deceptive to send a collections letter without also noting that my 60 days grace period was almost at the end and to make the call right away to make my payment or else I would be in collections. The customer service representative, XXXX, was very lovely and was able to calm me down. They also said that they would file a complaint on my behalf but the more I thought about it, the angrier I became about the situation.
06/11/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Closing on a mortgage	MI 48336	Web
We started a construction loan/mortgage with XXXX XXXX ( now First Merchants ) in XX/XX/2022. The loan officer ( XXXX XXXX ) strung us along with false information and promised closing dates that did not happen. We escalated this issue at the bank and eventually the loan was closed but : * It closed several months after promised closing * We were forced by the bank to pay off some current loans which took away cash we had saved for the house build, made us lose cash discounts and increased the amount of money we had to finance with the bank * We were forced to pay off our son 's student loan ( we were co-signers ) and he may now lose out on {$10000.00} of forgiveness. Once the loan was closed, it was nearly impossible for me to pay. I requested online access several times and was told they could not authorize our online account. I went into a physical XXXX XXXX ( now First Merchant 's ) branch and three different bank employees told me they could not figure out how to take my payment because they were not sure if it was a construction loan or mortgage. I did have loan statement with me including the account number. It took the bank multiple requests to pay out the final draw our builder which out us in a bad situation. Our builder is a client of mine and this incompetence put my business at risk. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, we received an email from the bank ( XXXX XXXX ) stating our loan was rolling over from a construction loan to a mortgage and we needed to submit {$11000.00} immediately to roll over the loan. We were told no payment was due for XXXX or XXXX and our first payment of {$3300.00} would be due XX/XX/XXXX. We jumped through hoops to come up with {$11000.00} with about 48 hours ' notice and sent it to the bank. Last week, my husband and I did a conference call with XXXX XXXX XXXX ) who stated we did not make our XXXX payment. We explained the situation to her and sent her XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX contact information. XXXX stated she would get this figured out, put it in a holding pattern so it was not reported to the credit bureaus, and she stated she would " do what she promised '' and call us back with an update. We have never heard back from her. We also just received notice that this was turned into the credit union.
09/21/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Cashing a check	IN 47304	Web
I sold my motorcycle to someone I met through XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/2021. The buyer came from out of town and gave me what he claimed was a cashier 's check, the amount was {$12000.00}. The check says it is from XXXX XXXX XXXX. I deposited that check the next day on XX/XX/2021 into my checking account at First Merchants Bank. I was contacted by a manager at the bank the following Monday, XX/XX/2021, to inform me that the check had bounced due to insufficient funds. My bank said they would try to run it again and they would let me know. I followed up with the bank on Friday, XX/XX/2021, and I was informed that the check had not bounced the second time and that the " higher ups '' had requested the physical check so that they could look into it. I was told that this was a good sign, and that we should know something in a week. I stopped back in on XX/XX/2021. The manager had not heard anything, which he said was also a good sign. So, while I was there, he called the " higher up '' who had requested the check, who told him that everything should be fine ; she said most of these things are figured out within a week. I was told that there should not be a problem. So, I waited a little longer to be sure. I returned to the bank on Tuesday, XX/XX/2021, and I was told by a different manager that the check had cleared and that they had collected on it. I asked very explicitly, " Does this mean it is now okay to spend that money? '' I was told yes. So, I used that money for a down payment on a new truck. Much to my surprise, I was buying dinner a month later on XX/XX/2021, and my debit card was declined. I checked my checking account, and it was plunged deep into the negative. My account had been charged {$12000.00}. The charge was for a check with an incorrect routing number. The same check that I had been told was cleared and collected on. I went to my bank the next day, XX/XX/2021, assuming it was a mistake. I was told that it was not a mistake and that there was nothing that they could do about it. I was told that there was no safety net or protection for this sort of thing. I was told to contact the police, and that there was nothing else that they as the bank could do for me.
04/06/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	IN 46168	Web
I had a fraud dispute, where the merchant was still taking money from the account after it was closed, that was denied on XX/XX/2022 with no investigation. First Merchant states in the final determination letter that I have the right to request copies of the documents that was relied on to making they determination. XX/XX/2022, I called in to customer service stating that I need documentation of the decision from the merchant and the first merchant bank. She stated under the tab its usually a document from the merchant or notes supporting why the decision. She said " there's nothing here on my end that I can send you just of what you sent in from the merchant ''. XX/XX/2022, I called back seeing has there been any updates on the account for me to pick the documents up, another customer service rep stated " you will be able to go to the branch and get them print off ''. I arrive to the Plainfield branch where XXXX the bank manger assisted me. He stated " there's nothing he can be able to give me because he doesnt see nothing. '' I have filed a case now with the Indiana Attorney General. First Merchant is stating I have the right to my documents regarding this dispute but there's nothing available. The bank did not do an investigation on dispute like a fraud case is supposed to be done. On first merchant end and the merchant " there has been no communication before the claim was closed ''. First Merchant bank waited till the 9th business day to open the dispute and the 10th business day to close without any investigation. Please send over as soon as possible the documentation from first merchant bank and the merchant.
09/12/2022	Yes	Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service Mobile or digital wallet	Fraud or scam	IN 47302	Web
XX/XX/2022 I was selling a telescope on XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX messaged me and said he would buy if I would ship and pay using XXXX. I never heard of XXXX, so I told him I would have to check if my bank offered it. My banks XXXX page says " First Merchants has partnered with XXXX to bring you fast, safe and easy way to send money to family and friends, even if they aren't a First Merchants Bank customer. They only need to have a XXXX, XXXX account. '' Instructions said to logon with my phone app and select the " + '' a bottom of page to setup XXXX. There were no warnings or fine print that I needed to agree to. I assumed if the other person had a XXXX XXXX account. they had to be a confirmed customer. XXXX said he was sending me {$1100.00}, but I then received a spoofed email from XXXX say I needed to upgrade to a business account with {$1500.00}. XXXX said he would send {$1500.00} if I would send {$400.00} back. In the process I sent {$400.00}, but never received the {$1500.00}. While waiting for my {$1500.00}, I researched online and found out I had been scammed. I contacted my bank within 10 hours and told them of the scam. Thay said I could not dispute it until it cleared. The next day it cleared and I disputed it and the bank said it would take 10 days. After they investigated it, they denied my claim saying it was my error and they are not responsible. I have emailed customer service back and forth, but they refuse to refund my {$400.00} even though it was fraud. They could have stop it while in process, even not Regulation E should cover such a fraud.
09/18/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IN 471XX	Web
Earlier this year, around XXXX I believe, my husband ( soon to be ex-husband ) went to First Merchants Bank and had my name removed from both our joint checking and savings accounts. When I found out and called and questioned the bank about this procedure they told me that they could do that. I then took it upon myself to research the matter further and determined that the accounts should have been closed and reopened under his name, but that they can not take my name off of the account without my written permission. I called back and informed them that they could not do what they did legally. They did not correct the situation. I have been humiliated and embarrassed several times now as when I have gone to the bank to deposit his check and and take money from the deposit as he instructed only to be told that they can not give me the money because my name was not on the account, even though I provided them with my ID and my name should not have been removed from the account. I have had to change my accounts that were being directly withdrawn and been very inconvenienced. I feel that this is a great injustice that they have done, let alone a very scary that someone can just go and take all of your money and take your name off of your accounts. I feel that the bank not only had a liability to notify me, which they did not. Please do not let this happen to anyone else. There should be someone protecting the consumer from them doing what they have done!!
12/21/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	MI 481XX	Web
My problem with First Merchants Bank is that they do not give me receipts when I withdraw large, or any, amount of money from my checking account. Today, XX/XX/2012, I withdrew {$1900.00} from my checking account. I received an envelope with the cash in it and no receipt. This is not a new problem. On many occasions, I am offered what they call a " balance '' receipt. This does not include a record of these present transactions, it just shows my account balance. I had an issue with a credit union a few weeks back. I had deposited {$1300.00} cash into my checking there and the cashier deposited it into someone else 's account. I made a Visa payment out of that checking account after that failed deposit and I was hit with plentiful fees, fines and penalty 's! The difference here is that, I had a receipt to show the bank manager so they could rectify the problem. First Merchants will tell you that they give receipts with transactions. This is a direct lie and misinformation. Ask them to prove that they printed " ANY '' receipt for my transaction today. I don't know why they will not do it, I don't really care if they want to be green and save paper! To the local First Merchants Bank, I am considered a troublemaker for asking for receipts. I don't know why this is, they are a financial institution and receipts are their business. I have formally complained about this issue several times but nobody from the bank seems to call me or care.
09/12/2022	Yes	Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports Credit reporting	Incorrect information on your report Information belongs to someone else	MI 48375	Web
In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, FIRST MERCHANTS BANK # XXXX has violated my rights. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX violated my rights. 15 U.S.C 1681 section 602 A. States I have the right to privacy. 15 U.S.C 1681 Section 604 A Section 2 : It also states a consumer reporting agency can not furnish an account without my written instructions The following accounts are all fraud and need to be deleted from my credit report immediately.
02/01/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed	MI 482XX	Web
In XX/XX/2022 I wrote a {$2500.00} check from my business account, payable to a Vendor that my company has made payments to before. The vendor sent me a reminder notice that they had not received my payment, however, according to my bank records the check was cashed. The check was stolen and cashed by an unknown person. Even though the check was addressed to a business, from a business, somehow an individual 's signature was endorsed on the back and the funds were withdrawn from my account. I first called the Bank XXXX # for guidance. They told me to go into the branch and file the necessary paperwork to start an investigation. I went into the branch, filed ALL of the requesting documentation, including a statement from my Vendor attesting that they never receive the check. Was advised that this could take up to 3 months to resolve. It is now going on Month 4 without a resolution. When I call the Banks XXXX number, they tell me to go to the branch. When I go to the branch, they call a number and tell me that all my paperwork is in order, and that they were just waiting for payment from the Bank that cashed the check in error, before they can put the funds back into my account. Was told that I should hear something soon. That has been more than a month ago. I can not get a response from the Bank that clearly tells me the status of this matter, even after 4 months and counting.
08/24/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IL 60411	Web
I had a joint account with my mother for years to help her pay her bills. When she passed away, they closed the account shortly after I took in the death certificate without my knowledge. They said I had to establish another brand new account in my name. They would not let me look at any previous transaction that I made to the account for bills. I had her mortgage coming out automatically from the checking account. The next month I get a double bill from the mortgage company and a XXXX late fee. MY brother 's account is also listed, and checks were bouncing because they would not honor his checks. I have been to this bank more than several times to try and fix errors on their behave. First merchant bank in XXXX Illinois is a few miles away from me. I drove to XXXX Indiana 3 times to try and fix things. Either they want my ID or my brother ID which I have given them multiple times. The last event was they would not allow my brother to cash a check. I signed the check for him, but they said I must be present with my brother for him to cash it. They have my signature on file. He has cashed checks before without me being there. They are inconstant and will tell you anything that comes to mind when you call for help. I have been on the phone with them for many hours.
02/14/2021	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 481XX	Web
First Merchants bank took over XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in the fall of 2019. I have always maintained my own calculations for each payment and would tie the yearend data for total interest paid and principle paid to the data provided by the bank. As soon as Merchants bank took over, my calculations are significantly off, meaning the processing through Merchants bank is different than how XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX calculated interest which tied to how the note indicated interest would be calculated. Hence, because we did not rewrite the terms of the note, First Merchants calculation does not match how my note indicates it would be calculated. I have contacted my loan officer numerous times over the last year to no avail. The last contact I had with him, he agreed that my calculation was how he would calculated it but there has never been any resolution. I believe most consumers trust that the bank is correctly calculating their interest and are victims of fraud and they dont even realize it. I gave the bank approximately 12 months to resolve the issue with no avail. From my perspective, this has gone from a possible mistake in the calculation to fraud due to their willingness to do nothing and hope I just give up on the issue.
01/03/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	OH 43202	Web
Opened checking account online in XXXX of 2022. I was dissatisfied with the customer service and other aspects of the bank, so I decided to close. Multiple representatives refuse to close the account over the phone or online, saying I needed to visit a branch. There is not a branch close enough to me to get to during open hours, as I am at work nearly all of their open hours ( I specifically wanted a bank account with online and after-hours services ). The representatives informed me that despite this, I must go in-person during branch hours to close even though the account was at zero and I had opened it online. They also refused to downgrade the account to a fee-free version. I continued to pay the $ XXXX fee for an account I did not use and did not want, but got quite fed up with this after 6 months of no resolution. After two months of me refusing to pay the fees, they continued to charge the fees to the empty account anyway, and they have apparently found a way to finally close it without me visiting a branch ( which is what I had been requesting all along ). They have put a negative report on my banking record, though, and still demand the last fees I refused to pay.
03/31/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	IN 46168	Web
On XX/XX/2022 I called about charges that was on my account after the services was canceled. My dispute started on XXXX XXXX when I signed the dispute form. On Thursday XX/XX/2022 XXXX from the dispute/fraud department called me interrogating me and threatening charges that I didnt do. Even though she had all my documentation. It is now XX/XX/2022 I havent seen my credit at all to my account and I been sent over documents to support my claim on MULTIPLE DAYS. XXXX seem to be XXXX and accusing me off things SHE THOUGHT. I would like higher up to listen into that call. But under the regulation E it states my provisional credit should be provided
10/24/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Problem caused by your funds being low Overdrafts and overdraft fees	OH 43211	Web	Older American
I was told on XX/XX/XXXX that my personal checking account was over drawn and that a purchase came in from XXXX for {$12.00}. my account overdrew for {$8.00} and that was the balance on XX/XX/XXXX. I have not been using that account and it was positive. Iwas not aware they charge {$8.00} recurring charges daily. I think it's ridiculous. Now my account is negative {$80.00} because of this {$8.00}. I would like to close this account. The bank should have never paid it when the account did not have enough money. I had {$4.00} in my account at the time. I want them to remove the fees. They need to re do the policy about overdraft fees.
01/26/2023	Yes	Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports Credit reporting	Incorrect information on your report Account information incorrect	MI 48104	Web
To whom it may concern, My name is XXXX XXXX and my loan number is XXXX. First Merchant Bank is reporting a 30-day late on my credit report. This needs to be removed. During the RESPA period with First Merchant, I was never contacted or advised that my servicing was transferred to them. I continued making my payments to my previous servicer without any issue until finally one was returned to me. I have made all payments to date on my mortgage. I should not be responsible for the lack of communication from the new servicer. I request that the 30-day late be removed from all 3 bureaus as a courtesy by First Merchant .
11/14/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	MI 488XX	Web
On XX/XX/XXXX, I reached out to first merchant banks customer service to close my account, I was told I have to go to a branch to close it. The nearest branch is 1.5 hours drive from me. I called the branch trying to close my account, was told I will need to mail the branch a notarized letter as well as a copy of my ID to close my account, which means Ill need to risk COVID to get a notarized letter. Today I learnt online that other people closed their accounts by calling their branches without issue. I do not believe this is fair. In addition, my account had a {$15.00} fee because I couldnt close my account.
03/21/2022	Yes	Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports Credit reporting	Incorrect information on your report Information belongs to someone else	MI 48180	Web
Hello, I have been Seriously Scammed a few times by people I have trusted, However, these people had sent me bad checks and I had cashed them not knowing they were bad and I was punished for it by my Banks and it was not my fault! It shut my bank accounts down and the cashed checks that were bad went on my credit report. The amount is so high I can't remove it, and I have no help from anyone. I am on long term XXXX and have been for over 25 years, I just wish to get mt XXXX XXXX straightened out, I know I will never see that scammed money to pay the banks back which totals {$21.00}. Warm Regards, XXXX
12/03/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Banking errors	IL 60615	Web
Again, the mobile app gave the error message, " The data network is busy, please try again or come back later. '' The balance was {$110.00} in my account. This morning, I checked the app again and my balance went to {$110.00}, however, there was no debit transaction to account for the {$4.00} difference! Everytime I bring this to the bank 's attention, they lie about it. In this case, they told me they don't see a balance of {$110.00}, they see a balance of {$130.00} before other transactions came through, they always make up an excuse. They never reimburse me, but I took pictures this time.
06/30/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Struggling to pay mortgage	IN 462XX	Web
My mortgage company, First Merchants Bank, has been overcharging me for my escrow withholding significantly this year. After I got my first property tax bill this year, I called them on XX/XX/23 and told them they overestimated the taxes and needed to recalculate based on this year 's actual bill. They sent back paperwork XXXX weeks later with my existing escrow schedule and did not re-run anything. I have not heard anything from them since. I can not keep making these inflated payments.
07/10/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IN 47906	Web
I called First Merchants to close my checking account because I do not want to pay the monthly fee anymore. The representative told me I had to go into a branch to close the account, but I am not able to do this because I work during the day ( not to mention the risk of spreading the coronavirus ). This does not seem like a fair business practice at all to me.
07/08/2023	Yes	Credit card or prepaid card General-purpose credit card or charge card	Other features, terms, or problems Other problem	MN 55429	Web	Older American
This is the message I received via text. " First Merchants Bank ( XXXX ) Your card is locked. Call XXXX immediately. '' I do not have an account at First Merchants Bank. This is the second text message from the so-called bank. The first one came XXXX XX/XX/2023, The second one came today, Saturday XXXX XX/XX/2023. I have not responded to these texts.
10/10/2023	Yes	Vehicle loan or lease Loan	Repossession Account reinstatement or redemption after repossession	IL 60477	Web
I can account for my payments and I have the receipts showing my payments. When I went out of town that's when this bank came and took my truck. I then went and filed a bankruptcy and the stated they already sold m truck. There is something illegal going on.
04/10/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 60613	Web
Bank refuses to close account. I have called, messaged, and have sent two separate notarized requests to the branch.
01/21/2024	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Problem with a lender or other company charging your account Transaction was not authorized	IN 47909	Web

01/08/2024	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process Escrow, taxes, or insurance	IN 468XX	Web

11/17/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process Private mortgage insurance (PMI)	IN 47905	Web

11/08/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Closing an account Can't close your account	IN 46777	Referral

10/19/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Company closed your account	IN 47906	Phone	Older American, Servicemember

09/12/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Opening an account Account opened without my consent or knowledge	NJ 08330	Phone	Servicemember

08/10/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Fee problem	IN 46203	Web

08/07/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Fees charged for closing account	IN 46410	Referral

08/01/2023	Yes	Mortgage FHA mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 48047	Web

07/21/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	IN 46239	Referral

06/13/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	CA 90803	Web

04/28/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	OH 43202	Web

04/28/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	OH 43202	Web

04/11/2023	Yes	Mortgage Home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC)	Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage	IN 46217	Referral

01/21/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem accessing account	IL 60615	Web

01/20/2023	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 48207	Web

01/19/2023	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Cashing a check	IL 60422	Referral

12/23/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Fees charged for closing account	MI 48640	Web

11/09/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Opening an account Didn't receive terms that were advertised	IN 47403	Phone

11/06/2022	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 48220	Web

11/01/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed	IL 60615	Web

10/24/2022	Yes	Debt collection Auto debt	Attempts to collect debt not owed Debt is not yours	IN 460XX	Web

10/06/2022	Yes	Mortgage Home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC)	Incorrect information on your report Account status incorrect	OH 43081	Web

08/23/2022	Yes	Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service Check cashing service	Problem with customer service	IL 60475	Web	Servicemember

06/17/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 60302	Web

06/17/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 60605	Web

04/11/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IN 46168	Referral

03/30/2022	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage	IN 47303	Postal mail

02/10/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Fee problem	IN 46217	Web

02/10/2022	Yes	Checking or savings account Savings account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IN 46030	Referral

10/20/2021	Yes	Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports Credit reporting	Improper use of your report Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize	IN 46235	Web

09/15/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Incorrect information on your report Public record information inaccurate	IL 60409	Phone

09/08/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Fee problem	IN 46324	Referral

09/03/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 61535	Web

09/03/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 61535	Web

07/02/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Problem with a lender or other company charging your account Transaction was not authorized	MN 55327	Referral

06/10/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Savings account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	MI 48166	Phone	Servicemember

05/11/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Closing an account Can't close your account	IL 61434	Web

04/13/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Managing an account Problem accessing account		Referral

03/10/2021	Yes	Mortgage Conventional home mortgage	Trouble during payment process	MI 48162	Postal mail	Older American, Servicemember

02/15/2021	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Banking errors	IL 60626	Web

12/29/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals		Referral

12/22/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Managing an account Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed		Phone	Older American

09/22/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	MI 48161	Referral

05/14/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IN 47394	Phone	Older American

05/12/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Checking account	Managing an account Problem using a debit or ATM card	OH 43224	Phone

02/19/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Managing an account Banking errors	IL 60415	Web

02/10/2020	Yes	Checking or savings account Other banking product or service	Managing an account Deposits and withdrawals	IN 46845	Phone	Older American