Chase bank declares live homeowner dead, allegedly destroys her credit

I’m not dead!

JP Morgan Chase is currently “investigating” how a homeowner was declared dead by their bank. Florida homeowner Wrenella Pierre has filed a lawsuit against Chase Bank, alleging that her credit has been destroyed her credit after the bank declared her deceased.

Pierre and husband, Curtis discovered the bank mistake when they were repeatedly denied mortgage modifications. The court papers state that on November 2, the husband received an unsigned form condolence letter from the bank noting that a member of staff would be in contact soon regarding the next steps.

Letter of condolence

Chase Bank proceeded to report to credit agencies that Pierre was deceased, and despite her attempts to correct the record, in December, credit reporting agencies recognized her as deceased which of course meant she could not modify any loan and she alleges her credit was ruined.

“I don’t know why the bank made this type of disastrous mistake,” her attorney, William Peerce Howard, told the Orlando Sentinel. “There is no possible way to have credit extended when you’re deceased.”

The couple built their home in 2007 with two mortgages through Chase Bank and court papers claim they had never made a late payment, leading to shock and their being distraught at a “sorry for your loss” letter.

Look, I’m not dead!

Pierre says she repeatedly called the bank who refused to correct her file, even prior to reporting to credit agencies. She went so far as to physically visit her local branch to prove she was not, in fact, deceased. Surely bank tellers were confused, but weeks after her producing identification documents to the bank, no change had been made.

Although this problem is nearly on its eighth month of dispute, Chase Bank has not yet corrected the mistake but is “investigating.” This is nowhere near the first troubles Chase has had. From exorcisms on their “evil empire” this spring to being ordered to pay $48 million to service members for illegally foreclosing on them, we are not likely to see Chase’s name drop out of headlines soon.