Complain about a product or service

Royal Bank of Canada

Wendalena of Halifax, NS March 9, 2010

My son was a third owner partner in a small business in Kelowna BC. One of the partners failed to disclose that he had got the money to open the business from a bad person, money launderer with a known history and criminal record. This person put pressure on the two good partners to pay 47,000 cash or wear cement boots.

After a trip to the RCMP who offered no help, I as a mother and my boyfriend who worked with City of Calgary police sought out a business loan with RBC which should be paid back by the two partners. Ray M. with RBC loans, said he was breaking rules but would do the loan. Not once was it mentioned my boyfriend and myself would be personally responsible for the business loan if it failed. Well the business failed two years later with 33,000 owing.

I have tried since July 2007 to pay the 670.00 a month payment, but with a job loss finally couldn't do it from November 2009. I called a person named Perry who was now in charge who said he would work with me to repay the outstanding balance. He then said we should deal with a person in Amherst NS Heather M. as he was in Kelowna BC. We did that and she suggested we apply for a new loan, which we did.

Just before signing I contacted a local trustee in Halifax for some advise or options. It was suggested due to my financial debt load I may consider filing for personal bankruptcy. I was honest with advising Heather I may have no choice. She advised if I were to file then I couldn't sign the loan papers. She also advised she would then be done with this problem and couldn't help us. She advised it was turned of to Thomas C. in collections.

A letter was sent on March 3 2010 advising we were in default of the loand and demanding we pay 1828.77 in arrears and we are in default of our loan obligations. This is bogus because Heather waived the January payment, proceeded with a new loan which took until March and never advised us to keep paying the monthly loan amount, even when we asked.

I can only come up with 400.00 per month since I just started a new job. This seems to be unacceptable to RBC and I will now have to go through with bankruptcy, because they are threatening my boyfriend by putting an order against his house, not mine. I guess I am wondering how this can happen when I have worked and requested three RCB loans people for help to just make a monthly payment over time.

Please help with any advise you can on what we may be able to do. Filing for personal/business bankrupty after 22 years of perfect credit and history with RBC and other creditors. Suicidal thoughts and health issues including depression.

Paul of New Waterford, NS March 9, 2010

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Bank) : Corporate Bully 100,000 - MISTAKE (FISHERMEN'S LOAN). I'm a commercial fisherman fighting the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Bank) over a 100,000 loan mistake. I lost my home, fishing vessel and equipment. There was no monthly interest payment date or amount of interest payable per month on my loan agreement. Date of first installment payment (Principal + interest) is approximately 1 year from the signing of my contract.

Demand loan agreements signed by other fishermen around the same time disclosed monthly interest payment dates and interest amounts payable per month.The lending policy for fishermen did change at RBC from one payment (principal + interest) per year for fishing loans to principal paid yearly with interest paid monthly. This lending practice was in place when I approached RBC. Only problem is the loans officer was a replacement who wasn't familiar with these type of loans. She never informed me verbally or in writing about this new criteria.

Help me fight the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Bank) by closing your account. "Fighting the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Bank) one customer at a time." 100,000 Loss

Rhea of Winnipeg, MB January 21, 2010

I requested a stop payment on a cheque and got charge with it. I gave the exact amount and the payee name, but miss out the cheque number and the wrong date. But nevertheless, they accepted my stop payment as it is only exact amount that is critical. But after 3 weeks of stoping the cheque, RBC cleared the cheque even had it overdrawn by more than 500 which they never did before.

So, instead of paying my actual bills that is alloted on the amount, the bills came back as NSF and Im being charge with so many late payment and my credit has been damage. I have ask Customer service, what happen and why did they clear my stop payment and all they said is that Stop payment are not guarantee that they can stop the payment unless all details are given which is contradicting to their service because it thus allow us to stop payment a cheque specially if you have the correct amount.

Richard of Scarborough, ON August 28, 2009

I am self employed and had many months this year with inadequate receivables to cover all my bills so I pay what I can, when I can. I have several bills that are pre-authorized coming from my bank on a monthly basis which sometimes cause my account to go into the red. In July '09, I had sufficient funds to pay the pre-authorized bills and so the RBC paid out the money and deducted the sum form my account.

The next day they deducted the service fees from my account and this put my account into the red. They then reposted the transactions as though the bank fees came in before the pre-authorized and returned the bills that had already been paid out in order for them to collect their bank fees. Two days later I made a deposit that more than covered the fees but it was too late. The bills had already been returned and I was then charged 20.00 for each item returned (total of 100.00).

It seems to me that since the RBC had already paid out the pre-authorized, it was unjust and unethical to change the posting date so that they could collect their fees and also charge me for the NSF they themselves generated. It would have been no problem to wait for the two days when they would have gotten their fees and I would have / should have been spared the excessive and unjust NSF fees they generated.

When I called my account rep, I was told, more or less, to bad for me, the bank has to be paid and they have the right to deduct and collect in whatever manner they see fit. They are only interested in their own bottom line and how they can generate greater revenue by raping the accounts of their customers.

This month, Aug 09, again the pre-authorized have come in for payment. Again the bank paid the money out. Again the next day they returned the items for non payment. This time however, there was sufficient funds to cover the payments and the bank fees. For my part, I will be closing all my accounts with RBC and moving onto another bank where I hope they have a better sense of customer care, fairness, justice and loyalty to their customers. They are guardians of our money and in my opinion are negligent in their duty. There in no fairness in dealing with the RBC.

Marian of Bogatynia, Poland June 10, 2009

Im cittizen of Canada and Poland -wrote last year about my problems with RBC-where I be reused help from the old problem. I, along with my wife and daughter are living in Poland since November 2007 for family reasons, Lat year I wrote many letters, phones to many peoples and institutions in Canada asking them about helping me resolve my troubles with RBC finally -has been able to settle the problems positively with RBC I owed my money, but that's not the end of the problems associated RBC-

you see a number of the remaining sum of money on our account in RBC - This time that the bank is doing the same problems-ignores me. I sent back the list required by the RBC with my wife and my signatures and the required sum of money,

I know the World is in crisis, and banks are in deep problems and huge finnancial losses but the banks cant blame their customers for banks errors and blame someone else. I read from among the G-7 countries, Canada has the best banking system on a day-interesting but How many people Services Canadian banks have the same or similar as I am problems.

Please help me one time more with this problem- RBC bank knows well about but looks like they did it for purpose- just want keep maximum time our money in Canada so they can did what they want inlude to borow to others!

Shannon of Winnipeg, MB June 5, 2009

I am not a dishonest person. I work with the highest security for my company. Approximately two weeks ago, I tried an internet business and got sent three cheques for 2500 each from John Collins Inc. of the United Kingdom. The cheques were made out in my name, handwritten, from the Bank of Montreal in Kitchener, Ontario. I deposited the cheques, not knowing this was a scam or that they were fraudulent cheques into the Royal bank at Ellice. The bank manager signed off one cheque and the teller gave me 500 in cash and a gift visa for 50, in addition to the remainder 2250 in cash, which I sent to John Collins Inc. I was unaware this was a scam until after the fact. Now I owe the Royal Bank 3964 and my account is frozen.

Yesterday my work paycheque was direct deposited into the account. I went to the Ellice branch after talking to a manager at the Westwood branch, who told me I could get my paycheque out regardless. Linda told me no, its out of her hands and told me to call the Fraud dept, which told me they will continue to take my paycheques until the entire amount is paid. They are only giving me 15 days to pay the entire amount, which is impossible as I have no other money or income. Then it will be sent to collections. They also told me no matter what bank account I deposit into they can take it all until it is paid off. I have bad credit now, no access to credit cards as they are maxed out and now in collections as well. I told her I might have to quit my job, sell my car, get evicted out of my townhouse, all because I have no money now thanks to them.

The whole time I had a 500 limit restriction on what I could take out, so how can they give me more than that, with an unsecure cheque the same day? I will go to the local newspapers and online to tell my story and how the Royal Bank screwed me! I am a victim of fraud and I was treated like a criminal. I also made a police report, and the police said there was nothing they could do since its only a few thousand dollars. They did file the report anyways.

I called the first bank which I usually deal with on Portage Avenue, and he listened and then called Linda at Ellice. When he called me back he said its out of the branches hands, as the RBC Fraud Department now has control of my account. I have no money to get by for the next two weeks, no food, and no options. I am at the end of my rope with RBC. I tried to close my account over the phone and they said I can't until this issue is dealt with, and then they will most likely close my account anyways.

I advise all people to stay far away from the Royal Bank. They have no concern for the little people, just their money. As I sat in Linda's office yesterday and cried my heart out to her, she calmly sat there and handed me kleenex and sent me on my way. I have also reported this scam to the United Kingdom as well. I am at the point of almost declaring bankrupty because of them. Help! What do I do now?

Craig of Victoria, BC May 18, 2009

I was injured in an industrial accident in November of 2006 and was off work until June 2007. During this time I Tried to activate the "Balance Protector Insurance" that I had been paying on all of my accounts for over the last 15 years or so. On my Royal Bank Visa, after submitting the paperwork twice and fighting with their collectors for several months I finally got satisfaction by advising them that I wanted all of my payments returned. My "Royal Bank Lone of Credit" however has been a completely separate issue. It has now been 2 years and three months since my submission of the required documentation. Since that time, the Royal Bank has seized my 20,000.00 term deposit, put me in collection and bounced me around from one agency to another, none of whom could provide me with any details. In March of this year I finally advised them that I was going to take legal action, which I thought had prompted a response that would resolve the issue. I was asked to again submit new updated forms as they had no record of them. I did so on April 20th (additional cost to me of 120.00)

Meanwhile on April first the Royal Bank locked my account again seizing 3,000.00. I battled back and forth with numerous people in customer service, none of whom could tell me what was going on until on May sixth I stumbled upon a woman named "Brenda" in Royal Bank Collections. She advised me that it was her that locked down my account because apparently she believed that I still owed 843.00 on this same line of credit issue that I have been dealing with. After threatening to go to the Ombudsman she released my account but held the 843.00. I have just today been advised that they have not received my paperwork for my claim and I have advised them that I will be re sending it tomorrow, this time double registered. I have also been advised that as they have "no record" of my initial paperwork that I may be denied. At this point though to add insult to injury I have applied for a mortgage and been advised that because the Royal Bank has listed me as and "R9" and "Unlocatable" that I would have to pay an additional 3% on my new Mortgage. I haven't gone anywhere or moved anywhere in the last three years, my phone number hasn't changed, my email is the same and I've been fighting with their people on a weekly basis. How can I be "Unlocatable" . Hundreds of dollars, hundreds of hours of lost work time (my boss charges me out at 85.00 per hour and I earn 50.00 per hr). Severe damage to my credit rating which will cost me tens of thousands in interest while that rating stays on my report. This dosn't even touch the many sleepless nights and thousands of hours of frustration and stress.

Hughena of Enfield, NS May 7, 2009

I went to withdraw some money from my account the other day it was declined. I am behind on my visa and thought this was the problem. I understand the whole if you would just pay your bills, this wouldn't happen, but both my husband and I who have both worked steady from our teens, were out of work for a bit, really, hard catching up. Regardless, I called very nicely explained there was a hold on my account and I understood they were just doing there job, ok, she she went on not rudley, but just plain rotten and mean and did not ask, said I am taking over 600.00 from your account and then I will take hold off, and when I said couldn't afford that much (4 kids-one in college) sorry they come first, she said too bad it's out hold is off and than click, no bye, oh yes she did say that they could go in and take whatever they wanted out.

I want to clarify, I understand they have a job to do, she said bank was losing money because of us. So I called back later, once again very nice, had explined what happened, siad she did not have to be so mean, asked if they could empty account any time, woman responded yup, and pay your bills and she just doing her job, than asked when I would have next payment.

My mortgage and line of credit is with RBC, never have missed a payment, but it won't be much longer, and it seems to me they will lose more money by us taking those to another bank. Am I nauive cape breton girl, or do people really need to be treated like garbage, economic hard times everywhere not a secret, when you doing what you need to do with this bank, they're best friend, when your life shifts and you fall behind they are the wolf at the door. Thanks for listening!

Susan of London, ON April 8, 2009

Susan of London ON (04/08/09)
I was shoppping in the mall and as the bank was open I thought I would stop by an buy an intenational money order. This is not my bank and I had no idea that if you are not a customer your are not welcome. The teller was pleasant until she found out I didn't bank there. The attitude changed. She didn't ask if I would like to open an account she just made me feel like a stupid jerk for having the audacity to think I could purchase an international money order. She announced in a loud voice, Well you are going to have to pay 15 because you are a NON customer. So I said Excuse me I didn't see a sign out front that said if you are not a customer you are not welcome. I left.

I got my money order at the post office for a fee of 5.50,

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