How to File a Complaint Against PNC

What is it? The fine print of your contract with the bank says you can’t sue them in most courts or do things like join a class action lawsuit, but you can file a claim against PNC bank in small claims court. This is a court that deals with specific types of claims, so be aware of the following two limits:

Claim Limits: Most small claims court limits range from $2,500 to $10,000 so if want to file a claim against PNC for more than your state allows, you won’t be able to use small claims court (but you can still use arbitration).

The type of relief: There are two types of awards that you can seek in a lawsuit – monetary (a dollar value payment) and equitable (any non-monetary request). Most small claims courts can only grant monetary awards, so when you file a claim against PNC bank, any damages incurred have to be converted to a dollar figure.

Note: in order to file a claim against PNC bank in small claims court, you will have to pay a small claims court filing fee, which differs from court to court in amount.

When to try it: You have time and energy on your hands, and you want the chance to make your case against PNC in public.

What you need to do: Locate your local small claims court and follow the steps laid out by the small claims court online to learn how to file a small claims court suit. Each small claims court has its own procedure. Filing a small claims court lawsuit tends to be simpler than the regular lawsuit process.

What to expect: If you follow all the steps precisely and have a strong claim against PNC, there’s a good chance you’ll get compensation. Additionally, PNC may even offer you a settlement in exchange for dropping the civil suit against them.

See a guide on suing PNC in small claims court here.

What is it? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) is a federal government agency that regulates much of PNC’s business. The CFPB provides an informal channel for consumers to submit claims and complaints against PNC.

What happens to these claims depends on the internal procedures of the CFPB. You can find more information about these procedures here.

When to try it: You’re frustrated with PNC and want to file a complaint against PNC Bank that will be accessible by the government and the public. Remember that when you file a complaint against PNC Bank using the CFPB, it won’t get you compensation, but it will give the government insight into how the bank is operating, and perhaps help down the line with oversight.

What you need to do: File an informal complaint on the CFPB’s public website by following the instructions here.

What to expect: Your complaint will be posted online in a public database. It may be used in setting the CFPB’s priorities for regulating companies like PNC. The company may be asked to respond to it. You will not necessarily receive an individual response.

What is it? The Better Business Bureau (“BBB”) and its local chapters are private organizations. They collect complaints and reviews from customers like you and use them to give an aggregate rating for things like customer service for each company. They also give those organizations a chance to respond to the complaints.

When to try it: When PNC’s BBB page shows that it is actively involved in responding to complaints you are more likely to get compensation or just have your voice heard after you file a complaint against PNC Bank. But if they aren’t active, you can still file a complaint against PNC Bank and just get your story out there for others to read.

What you need to do: Go to PNC’s BBB profile here and follow the instructions for submitting a complaint.

What to expect: This depends on whether the company actively responds to its BBB complaints. If PNC is responding, you might get a message from them or the BBB where they ask for more information or clarification about the complaint. Ultimately, it is up to PNC whether they choose to acknowledge and offer compensation for your claim.

What is it? Remember that thing about the small print of your PNC contract? Well instead of filing a claim before a court, what their contract allows you to do is to file a claim against PNC bank that takes with an independent arbitrator, in a neutral setting.

This process will cost PNC money so more often than not they will try to settle as soon as you alert them to the fact that you are trying to file a claim this way. That’s what FairShake can help with!

When to try it: Any situation in which you believe PNC has misled you, violated their contract with you, or violated the law can be pursued through arbitration. Typically claims involve a specific request for how PNC can fix the situation, which may include financial compensation. FairShake will help you pursue claims up to $10,000.

What you need to do: Fill out our form below to start your claim against PNC Bank.

What to expect: For more details about arbitration, click here. Or start your claim below and let us help!

See more articles regarding PNC lawsuits:

• Check out our other PNC article: “All About PNC Bank Lawsuits which covers a story about a PNC class action lawsuit filed in 2017 regarding unjust mortgage fees. There is also a story on a PNC lawsuit about improper overtime pay where the PNC settlement class covered 3,431 employees.
• You can also read more about the PNC merchant services lawsuit on Classaction.org.
• There was also a PNC class action lawsuit in 2018 that claimed that PNC considered job applicants’ no-conviction arrest records as reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

(For a list of companies we process complaints against, start here.)