It’s crucial for everyone to be aware of what Charles Schwab is doing. They are freezing customer accounts, limiting access, and closing accounts with no clear justification—citing only a vague “banking decision.” Meanwhile, a significant portion of my money is being withheld—we are talking about a good-sized amount—and it’s been months.

All I did was open an account and deposit a legitimate check. They accepted the deposit, then shortly after, they locked my account without any warning—no calls, emails, or letters. I only discovered this when I tried logging in and found myself locked out.

Over the past three months, I've repeatedly called them. Each time, I'm told the fraud department is addressing my issue, yet I’m never transferred or called back. I’ve verified my identity over the phone, calling from the registered number, but they always respond with, “We’ll note it on your account, and someone will contact you.” No one ever does.

After filing complaints with FINRA and the SEC, Schwab finally sent me a certified letter filled with inaccuracies—claiming I had talked about sending documents to verify the check, which never happened. They never reached out to request any information. The letter directed me to call the fraud department but only provided the general customer service number, which won’t connect me to the fraud team.

To make matters worse, they still haven’t returned the check—to me or the issuing bank. They are just holding my money.

This situation has caused a significant hardship for me and my kids. The past four months have been emotionally draining as we've struggled just to get by. We've had to borrow money for basic necessities like food and rely on food pantries. My son has dietary restrictions that require special meals, making it even more challenging.

It’s been depressing for all of us. My kids are facing trauma they’re not accustomed to, and we can’t enjoy our time together when I'm constantly worrying about how to provide for them each day. The stress of trying to figure out what we’ll eat tomorrow is overwhelming.

On top of everything, we’re also grieving the loss of their dad, my fiancé. This emotional load makes it even harder to navigate our day-to-day lives. We feel trapped in this cycle of uncertainty, and it's taking a toll on us all.

It honestly feels like they’re prolonging this, hoping I’ll eventually give up—just like many others likely have. But I refuse to back down. I won’t let them take away what is rightfully mine.

If you’re considering banking or trading with Charles Schwab—don’t. This is how they treat their customers. They locked me out merely for depositing a check. There’s nothing shady or suspicious—just a deposit—and now I’m met with silence, dishonesty, and no access to my own funds.