ComplaintsforDesert Financial Credit Union

• Initial Complaint

  10/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 10-6-22 I was charged 4 NSF fees totalling $150. The overdraft totaled $12. AI would like 3 of tyhese fees reversed.

  

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Please note that a paper copy of our response has also been mailed to Mr. ******.

  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  09/27/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  They stopped a check to a correct account after I closed my account then never returned my money and just kept putting me off when I called over and over again. I want my money

  

  Business response

  10/05/2022

  A paper copy has also been mailed to Ms. Woolston.

• Initial Complaint

  09/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Desert financial flagged my debit card use as fraud when I attempted to pull 240 dollars out of an ATM located 6 miles away from my house. I have spent 45 minutes on hold yet to speak with somebody in fraud protection. Their message center takes 30 minutes to message me back. I am completely locked out of my life at the moment as I have zero access to my funds in my checking account. Desert financial flagged it for fraud, and refuses to deal with it in a timely manner. Horrible experience. Will be switching financial institutions.

  

  Business response

  09/14/2022

  Please note that a paper copy has also been mailed to Mr. ********.

• Initial Complaint

  07/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  If you or someone suffering of financial poverty or you're a college student or even a working class Desert Financial is not for you. These credit union or not what they used to be they promise a lot at first. The last time I spoke to one of their customer service representative regarding an overdraft fee what I thought she had signed me up for and what I requested was overdraft protection. A couple of days ago I woke up to five overdraft fees from Desert Financial I was confused because again I thought I was signed up for overdraft protection. I immediately got refunded for all of that overdraft charges add to put it on a separate credit card. Two of those charges were those of refundable trial charges (ex: a week free of YouTube TV) which are refundable authorized charges that were never supposed to come out of my account regardless and we're supposed to be refundable. I explained this thoroughly that I'm going through financial hardship and can barely afford to eat but they didn't seem to care. Chime, Wells Fargo and Bank of America are all great banks that just recently got rid of all overdraft fees. After a year with Desert Financial this was the last straw.

  

  Business response

  08/11/2022

  Please note that a paper copy has also been mailed to Mr. ********

• Initial Complaint

  07/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 20th 2022, my business account was closed without my knowledge or consent. The funds ($225,000) were moved into another account that I cannot access. No one at the bank can seem to figure out how this happened or remedy it in any way. Both tellers and a manager I spoke to agreed that something was wrong on their end and that I shouldn't have been taken off my own business account without my consent. I have gone into the bank multiple times on this matter just to be given the run around. No one is willing to give me any answers as to how this happened. Obviously I need access to these funds to keep my business going and I need them asap.

  

  Business response

  07/26/2022

  Please note that a paper copy has been mailed to Ms. ********

  Customer response

  07/29/2022

  Tellers I spoke to regarding this all agreed that something wasn't right about the account closure. Desert Financial is now saying the other person on the account somehow was prioritized above me and that's how she able to take me off. If we both opened the account, both should have to close it. Someone messed up and cost me alot of money.

  

  Business response

  08/01/2022

  While the Credit Union sympathizes with Ms. *******'s situation, we acted in accordance to the joint account guidelines in regards to ownership with and so have nothing further to add to our initial response.

  Customer response

  08/03/2022

  The account was never properly reviewed. I asked for an investigation and no one from the bank would return my calls. Although bank staff agreed that the situation raised red flags, nothing was done to remedy it.

• Initial Complaint

  07/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  see Attached document

  

  Business response

  07/14/2022

  Please note that a paper copy has also been mailed to Ms. *******

  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  04/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On 3-21-22 I obtained a cashiers check from Desert Financial drawn from money in my account there. I was making a motorhome purchase from an individual. The same day we tried to register the motorhome and we were unable to because the *** said the registration had been altered. We were afraid we were involved in a scam. On 3-22-22 we asked that Desert Financial cancel the cashiers check, which they did, they asked that we sign an indemnity agreement that the check was lost etc and on that basis my money would not be returned for 90 days. Later that day, we were able to recover the cashiers check from the 3rd party. We took the physical check back to Desert Schools as it was no longer lost, and we had it in our possession. I asked that since the check was no longer lost or not available, could our ********* be returned toto my account. The Relationship Specialist was not sure and the person he needed to ask was not available. He took the check and said he would have the appropriate department get ahold of me. He later said perhaps there would only be a 30 day hold on retuning the funds to my account. I understood this and thought that was reasonable. On 4-12-22 I called and left a message with the Relationship Specialist to see if there was an update. He did not call back on 4-14-22 I went into Desert Financial to get an update. I spoke with another Relationship Specialist. She indicated that Desert Financial was going to make me wait the whole 90-day period before returning my funds even though I had been able to return the physical check to them. I asked if there was anyone I could discuss this with or any other was to resolve this sooner as I found out I need to pay over $5000. In income tax. She indicated there was not. I am a 25 year+ customer with a good history. Ck # ********** acct#***************

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I took over as POA for my mother in February of 2020. Between March of 2020, and November of 2020 when I finally was able to get her debit card from her, there was a total of $5,000 + overdraft fees charged to her account. Given that she only deposits $3,200 into her account monthly between the social security and pensions, having that amount taken essentially costs her two months of income. I've reached out to the bank multiple times and have had a total of 10 fees which equals $350 refunded. In the meantime, I've had to rely on the "privilege pay" to just stay on top of things. We had to move mom into our home in August of this year and with the cost of moving her plus paying the remainder of her rent, we fell even further into a hole - I had to use her account to catch up on things that should have been coming out of mine. I tried to be as smart as possible and do one large sum to only have one fee instead of multiple so that I can get through it, but now have had one account charged off because I didn't have the ability to pay it back in their time frame, and because of that I can no longer access the open account online to view when the deposits have come in, and the debit card has been cancelled so accessing the funds now is next to impossible. I've asked to be allowed to view the open account and have been told no. I've asked to have the debit card turned back on and been told no until both accounts are brought current. In the meantime, I am now 2 months behind on my mortgage and it all stems back to this $5000 in fees that I can't get any assistance with. I have asked for a supervisor or someone at corporate and have been told that that isn't possible. I need help with getting some of that $5000 refunded as that is excessive and has cost me much more than $5000 at this point.

  

  Business response

  11/03/2021

  Please note that paper version of our response has been mailed to ******************.

   

  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  As i looked into reviews against Desert Schools credit union to my surprise everyone was saying the same thing... NSF fees and trying to upsell you into a convenient bank account upgrade to "cover any NSF fees" for the low price of one $35 charge... long story short. I had a merchant trying to charge my account when my account was low .. i called Desert schools we resolved the $140 in NSF fees for a $25 .. 2 weeks later i get charged another $140 because " the merchant still hasnt got paid and tried again to charge the $25" ... i contacted both of the said merchants in which they told me they dont show me owing anything go figure... so DSCU says he we will waive these fees one more time but only half the amount $70... so now im -$70 for a merchant error ..im so glad i only use this account for **** pays and deposit as needed... closing my account asap .. no other bank does this to me ..

  

  Business response

  10/22/2021

  We have been in direct contact ****************** and have resolved the issues noted in his complaint to his satisfaction and so are considering this matter closed.

  Additionally, on a follow-up call we have confirmed the issue with the merchant has been resolved per to ******************.

   

  Thank you.

  ***************************

  Sr. Executive Assistant

  10/22/21

  Customer response

  10/22/2021

  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  *******************************
  
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/14/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been locked out of my account tonight and I'm not sure exactly why. I made a deposit today and I have the receipt for that deposit. I called the bank tonight at 830 pm and spoke with someone that told me her name was ****** she asked me several questions and for some reason she said my answers were not correct and she was not able to help. I would like to have access to my accounts at all times.

  

  Business response

  10/15/2021

  We have been in direct contact with ****************** and have resolved the issues noted in his complaint to his satisfaction and so are considering this matter closed.

  Additionally, a follow-up call was placed to ****************** on 10/14/21 to ensure his satisfaction in which we left a voice mail encouraging ****************** to contact us directly should he have any additional concerns.

  Thank you.

  ***************************
  Sr. Executive Assistant

  10/15/21

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩