WAMU/CHASE BANK ILLEGAL FEES

ILLEGAL RUNUP OF FEES;

I was out of state and called Washington Mutual Bank (AKA Chase Bank) to close my checking account that had a Positive balance. I was told that I had to be present at my branch in California to cloase any account. I asked them to suspend the account to prevent any autopays. They said that they did not do that. It was Catch 22.

Upon my return, I went to the WAMU Branch and tried to close my account that now had penalty fees for refused Autopays amounting to $ 420. They demanded the fees as a condition to close, or even suspend my account. I refused to be blackmailed. The Autopay fees continued for 45 days increasing the illegal penalties. After 45 days, I was reported as a delinquent customer to a bank credit agency that is now on my perfect credit record of over 40 years. I wrote to the President of Chase Bank and received a kiss off letter from some administrator. The dunning is still on my credit record and they have me in collection for $480.00 of autopay denial fee. This is theft. The bank should have closed my account when requested before any fees. I asked my new bank if the refusal to close my account was illegal and standard bank practice. The answer was that it is Illegal and not per standard banking practice. Any bank customer has the Right to Close his/heran Account upon notice by the customer.