Through endless tears and desperation I am finally creating this to raise awareness to my situation and reach out to the world for help.

For the last 6 months I have silently been going through the worst situation of my life.

My family has fallen victim to a nightmare situation and PNC bank is trying to get away with it.

I worked 3 jobs in 2024, paid taxes at each job, filed my taxes with my accountant during season once I had my w-2’s collected, and filed to receive a paper check to deposit into my bank account.

10 days after filing I received my check in the mail from the US Department of the Treasury.

I took my check into the bank, at a familiar branch downtown where I made a friendly relationship with the tellers, bankers, and managers over several years.

As I was at the teller desk with my check and the proper credentials, the teller took my check, glared at me above her glasses and said “who’s giving YOU a big fat check?” (Relatively speaking, it is average for other tax paying, filing American citizens, so this statement really rubbed me the wrong way.)

I gestured to the check and kindly said “The US Treasury. This is my tax return check.” And she proceeded to inspect every inch of the check, looking me up and down.

I felt like I was being profiled and discriminated against, but as a tattooed quirky fun Mom, that happens. I let it roll off my back. After all, I just accomplished a pretty rewarding task in the adult world and was looking forward to being able to get my finances in order.

Timeline, this all occurred just a few short months after leaving a steady job I had been working for over 3 years when the restaurant went out of business and finances had been hard to keep up with. I was relying on my tax return check to pay off outstanding bills, catch up on rent, and get a little necessary work done on my vehicle.

This aforementioned teller at the bank decided to have my check inspected further by the bank, and it was deposited without issue.

A few days later, my card was declined at the grocery store. An embarrassing experience, but something I knew I could clear up with the bank as I was confident I had my tax return check, paychecks from both jobs, and a bit of cash that I had deposited just the day before.

A quick phone call to the fraud department sparked a 6 month heartbreaking debacle with the bank.

They decided to put a hold on my entire account and grant zero access to any of my funds.

I was forced to go through 2 separate in-person identity verification appointments, each lasting several hours. Both times I was met with sincere apologies for the trouble and humiliation, and assured that my money would be available to me as soon as possible.

Well, that never happened.

I was given the run around every single time, even with underlying gaslighting, trying to make me feel like I had done something wrong.

Even future paychecks I tried to deposit were not made available to me. I had a family member Zelle me $1, and even that was inaccessible.

The branch employees kept trying to save face by being kind and giving me a false sense of hope. Offering toys and crafts to my kids at these meetings, supposedly sympathizing with me for what was depicted to be a huge misunderstanding on their part.

About a month later, my uncle with a business background joined me to the bank to try and get some answers and figure out how we should proceed as the need for my funds was heightened. My landlord was raising my rent by $300/month and it became apparent that i needed to relocate asap and needed my money to do so.

The same teller was able to contact the fraud department from her desk phone while we were standing there and she very blankly stated to us that “the check has been voided by the bank, destroyed, you will need to contact your filer to reissue a check.” So we immediately contacted my accountant while still standing at the desk.

He answered immediately and stated that in 35 years he has NEVER heard of a bank doing this and that they were wrong for this action. unfortunately because I already filed for a paper check, I would need to contact the IRS directly and have them reissue another check.

I was completely shattered, frustrated, and heartbroken. How could they think this is okay? So I told the teller “This is ruining my life. Go ahead and close my account, I will take my money to a respectable bank that has integrity and cares about its hardworking clients.”

For months I attempted to contact the IRS and get this resolved and finally at the end of July I was able to file a claim to have my check reissued, as instructed by the bank.

I was given 3 options to choose from: was my check lost, stolen, or destroyed. I filed a claim that my check had been destroyed, which was what my bank had informed me and my uncle.

A month later, I received a packet in the mail with a copy of my check informing me that the check was not destroyed, that it had actually been cashed 5 months prior.

My uncle and I took this confidential government paperwork into that branch of the bank to get answers. Someone at the bank had cashed my check and all these months later I still had no access to my funds.

After a few short minutes of looking into this they said “Oh, it looks like your check wasn’t destroyed afterall. It is in your account, but there is a hold on your account. I see that you have official paperwork proving that there is no discrepancy. Let me make a phone call and get the hold lifted, it should take about 45 minutes and you can have your money and put this behind you.”

They were seemingly apologetic, embarrassed, and confident that this would be resolved quickly. I was instructed to go get some lunch and come back and it would be in my account.

My uncle had a very important meeting he couldn’t reschedule, but I let him know that I appreciated his help and I would be fine to come back alone and finish up our meeting.

Upon returning to the bank I was informed “there’s nothing we can do, the IRS said to put a hold on the account.” And when I asked for proof, as this was Never addressed to me by the IRS, they couldn’t provide any.

I spent the rest of the day in the bank manager’s office going through my entire file trying to figure out exactly what was going on here. The only issue we could find was a note made initially the day that I was told me check was supposedly “voided and destroyed and needed to be reissued” by some lady I’ve never spoken to at an office in Arizona. We’ll call her Atalie Nalonzo, for legal purposes.

She put a tiny note on an excel spreadsheet that said “hard hold by IRS” with no written proof or proof of contact from the IRS on file at all.

I spent the next couple of weeks in and out of the branch, meeting after meeting documenting every bit of proof I had from employers, my accountant, and the IRS PROVING that I had zero audits, owed zero dollars, and that said check was rightfully issued to ME and wrongfully withheld by the bank. I had an opportunity to submit a tier 3 formal complaint and was interviewed for 15 minutes on the phone the following day (August 21) with the head of the fraud department, we’ll call him Dosh Dewis. He was incredibly rude and assured me he’d “look into the matter and be in touch.” Yet he never ever contacted me again.

I provided ample proof from several avenues of the US Government that there was no discrepancy and that my funds were being unjustly withheld for no apparent reason at all other than the fact that the initial teller didn’t like the way I looked and decided I don’t deserve my own money.

I have never had a fraudulent check, a bounced check, a counterfeit bill, or ANY reason to raise a red flag with ANY banking establishment in my 18 years of adulthood.

This just doesn’t make sense.

I was able to get in touch with someone at the IRS to explain the situation and they agreed, they have NEVER heard of a bank doing this to someone, it definitely sounded like discrimination, and I was advised to file a lawsuit as soon as possible.

She dug deep into my profile and said with confidence on the record that I have NEVER had any sort of issue as far as the IRS is concerned and that the IRS had never once been in contact with the bank regarding an issue. As far as the IRS is concerned, my check was cashed at the beginning of March without issue.

At this point, I go into the bank and speak directly with the Assistant Branch Manager (again!) and he expressed his confusion, embarrassment, and sympathy. He gave me his personal cell phone number and assured me that this would surely be resolved quickly and encouraged me to be in close contact if I heard anything back from the fraud department and that he would do the same. I let him know that I had no choice but to seek legal counsel to file a lawsuit, to bring awareness to this matter on all social media platforms, and to contact every local news station to bring this to light and hold them accountable for their actions.

He paced around his office, sweating, stuttering, rubbing his eyes nervously and stating “I like to think people in my company have integrity, but whoever did this…. They’re toast.” In our last 3 meetings, this man who was supposedly in the military for 15 years, couldn’t even make eye contact with me during conversation.

I have remained calm, peaceful, professional, and confident the entire time. An easy thing to do considering I haven’t done anything wrong.

The IRS was so confused, they advised me to file a lawsuit. They said this is completely against the law.

Upon seeking legal counsel, I was informed that the bank has so much money, they will delay and delay and give me the runaround until I am bled dry of all resources and finances to press the issue until I am forced to give up.

Regarding taking to social media, it was suggested that I first file a formal police report to have the credibility and have it documented.

I was advised by the police department to go into the bank in person every single day until they choose to do the right thing and release my funds.

The bank states that they will not release the funds until someone from the IRS says they are okay to do so.

The IRS says they can’t even legally discuss my private tax information with a measly bank employee and that there is no circumstance where they would have told the bank to issue a hold on my account. That the bank has no right to mismanage the US Treasury’s money issued to me, and that they wish there was something they could do to help.

So this big name corrupt bank has cashed my check and has thousands of my dollars in their banking system, and is refusing to give me access to it.

This has caused so many financial issues for me I am now in a state of desperation.

Please pray for my family!

Please spread this like wildfire!

Please press this until they are forced to take accountability and release my funds into my account!

I had an outstanding bill that I intended to cover with a portion of my check that was sent to collections and now my credit score has gone down significantly, affecting my ability to progress on my journey to buy my house.

My van, which needed a few necessary things done to it, has crapped out entirely and I have been without a vehicle for over a week, forced to use the little bit of money I had saved toward rent to cover uber rides to be able to get all of my children to and from school each day as well as to and from both of my jobs.

I have even run into very dangerous situations on several occasions resulting from having to walk miles home from destinations due to lack of funds.

I am now behind on bills and rent despite working multiple jobs and am at risk of losing my home which was signed to be rent-to-own providing lifelong security for me and my 4 children.

I have been utilizing local food banks for help with nutritious meals and even applied for temporary food assistance because of this.

Simple issues, such as my dishwasher and washing machine malfunctioning, have caused detrimental problems.

How can I easily get to a laundromat with laundry for a family of 6 and no vehicle?

Work clothes, school uniforms, undergarments, etc. How?

I have no means to service these appliances, replace them, or even afford to pay for a laundromat without taking funds from my housing expenses.

It is running me dry and creating so many deeper issues. I am losing faith and just heartbroken. I feel like I am failing and I don’t understand why I am going through this in the first place.

This situation has been exhausting and humiliating and has had such a negative impact on my confidence, well-being, and self worth. I have kept it completely private with the false hope that it will be resolved and I can go about my happy humble existence without having to involve my friends and family.

Without a functioning vehicle, I have not been able to have my older daughters at home for 2 weeks and I am devastated. I wasn’t even able to spend my daughter’s 13th birthday with her.

I am running out of hope and praying for a miracle.

Family has been helping when they can to facilitate rides here and there and a family member has been able to help a bit financially so that we don’t go under completely and lose our housing. I am now indebted in the thousands and desperate for a solution.

Please help in any way you can.

If you have the means to donate or know anyone who does, please reach out.

If any local businesses would be willing to host a fundraiser, please reach out.

To bring awareness to the situation, please share this every day.

And PLEASE pray for me and my 4 amazing children!!!

We do not deserve this.

I work so hard and always try to do the right thing.

I am so deep in my time of need right now, I pray that this reaches the right audience.

Thank you for reading.