Maryland Unauthorized Charges & Transfers Lawyer

Overview

The bank made a decision. That decision is not final.

Somebody moved money out of your account and the bank told you it was your problem. Maybe a scammer captured your Zelle credentials and drained your checking account in three transfers overnight. Maybe an ACH debit for a service you never signed up for showed up on your statement. Maybe your debit card was skimmed at a gas station and used at ATMs in another state. You reported it — and got a form letter back saying the charges were "authorized" or that the bank's investigation was "closed."

That letter isn't the end. Two federal statutes govern this exact situation, and both give you a right to sue the bank in federal court.

Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) & Regulation E

The EFTA (15 U.S.C. §1693 et seq.) and its implementing Regulation E cover Zelle, ACH, debit-card, online banking, and other electronic transfers from your consumer account. They require the bank to promptly investigate reported errors, provisionally credit your account in most cases within 10 business days, and complete a full investigation — meaning a real one, not an automated review that ends the moment device metadata matches your phone.

The bank cannot shift liability to you just because someone used your password. If your credentials were stolen and you didn't benefit from the transfer, the law is designed to protect you — not the bank's fraud department.

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)

For credit-card billing errors — unauthorized charges, wrong amounts, charges for goods or services you never received — the FCBA requires the card issuer to investigate a written dispute filed within 60 days and to correct the account. Card issuers that resolve disputes on autopilot, without actually investigating, violate the statute.

Cases we take

Hacked bank accounts — Zelle, wire, ACH, or online-banking transfers
Stolen debit-card charges and unauthorized ATM withdrawals
Recurring 'subscription' or gray-area ACH debits you never authorized
Business-email-compromise scams targeting individual accounts
Bank investigations that were closed in a day with no explanation
Credit-card billing errors the issuer refuses to correct

What you can recover

Under the EFTA, you can recover the money the bank refused to return, plus statutory damages up to $1,000. Under the FCBA, you can recover the wrongly billed amount, actual damages, and statutory damages up to $5,000in some cases. Both statutes are fee-shifting: if we win, the bank pays your legal fees. That's why we can take these cases with no upfront cost.

FAQ

What Maryland consumers ask us

My bank said the transfer was 'authorized' because it came from my device. Isn't that the end of it?＋

No. Under the EFTA and Regulation E, the bank must actually investigate — not just look at an IP address or device ID. If your credentials were stolen through phishing or account takeover and you did not benefit from the transfer, you are protected. Bank shortcuts on the investigation are themselves violations.

How much time do I have to dispute?＋

For electronic transfers (Zelle, ACH, debit card, online banking) you generally have 60 days from the statement showing the error. For credit-card billing errors under the FCBA, you have 60 days from the first statement showing the charge. Faster is better — but call us even if you think you missed the window.

The bank sent me a 'final determination' letter. Can I still sue?＋

Yes. A denied dispute is often when a lawsuit becomes possible, not impossible. The EFTA and FCBA give you private rights of action in federal court, with statutory damages and fee-shifting.

What if I was tricked into sending the money myself?＋

So-called 'authorized push payment' scams are harder but not always hopeless. The rules are evolving, banks have their own dispute procedures, and some situations still qualify. Tell us what happened — the consultation is free.

Your dispute was denied. We sue.