Banking Scare

[javachin]

I had the wonderful idea of balancing my checkbook today. So when I logged into my online account, I found that I was missing $800! I am soooo good about trying not to use my information on shady websites, etc that I was a bit shocked. Then I saw that it was an ATM withdrawal!

I got my wallet and my card was still there...dun dun DUNNNN....I frantically called the bank and after some research, found that someone has bad handwriting and wrote a bad looking 9 which was mistaken for a 4 on a withdrawal slip. I'll get my money back in a couple of days...PHEW!!!! You never know these days!!

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

I would have had a heart attack too! Imagine you didn't have that money in there, and all the NSF you could have gotten with fee's!

 

[squeaker123]

Ah scary! Glad it was just a mistake though.

 

[Laurie]

Follow up with the bank daily until the funds are back in your account. Banks have dishonest employees so just make sure you follow up everyday until it is returned. They could have put it in there for you today and they should have.

 

[tunes]

I agree. I would ride them until that money was returned. It's a bank. If they know it's a mistake, they should have put the $800.00 back in immediately, not make you wait a few days.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Also agreeing with the above. The explanation sounds a little funny -- am trying to figure out how a 9 and a 4 go together to make an 8...

 

[Brittany]

Good luck :-(

 

[caiti]

Ah! That's very scary. The only plus side to being on the verge of broke is I know exactly how much money I have at all times, because the number is so low

I fourth the idea to follow up until all is back to normal.

 

[lauralynne]

If it was an atm withdrawal, what does handwriting have to do with it? It's all automated. The bank sounds screwy.

 

[CTChin]

That reminds me of when I wrote a check for $40 to Sears and someone along the line recorded it as $400.00. They are supposed to READ the WRITTEN part along with the number part. It scared the heck out of me. Fingers crossed your issue is resolved soon. That is a lot of money.

 

[ChinnyMom]

If it was an atm withdrawal, what does handwriting have to do with it? It's all automated. The bank sounds screwy.

agreed! this sounds a bit fishy to me, and i would be sitting down with the branch manager to discuss it, and if they can't give you a clear answer on what happened, go to the governing body that handles banking disputes.

this might be a good place to start if your bank can't give you a good answer: http://www.dfi.ca.gov/licensees/banks/

 

[javachin]

Also agreeing with the above. The explanation sounds a little funny -- am trying to figure out how a 9 and a 4 go together to make an 8...

The 9 and 4 were in the account number. $800 is how much I'm short. I know I should demand it back, but I hate arguing. I do it too much at work I guess. If I don't see it in another day, I'll say something.

agreed! this sounds a bit fishy to me, and i would be sitting down with the branch manager to discuss it, and if they can't give you a clear answer on what happened, go to the governing body that handles banking disputes.

this might be a good place to start if your bank can't give you a good answer: http://www.dfi.ca.gov/licensees/banks/

Someone went inside the bank and made an ATM withdrawal using one of those withdrawal slips. They reassured me I didn't have to put a fraud alert on my account. Its definitely an inconvenience, but thankfully I don't need the money right now.

 

[Melissa]

The 9 and 4 were in the account number. $800 is how much I'm short. I know I should demand it back, but I hate arguing. I do it too much at work I guess. If I don't see it in another day, I'll say something.



Someone went inside the bank and made an ATM withdrawal using one of those withdrawal slips. They reassured me I didn't have to put a fraud alert on my account. Its definitely an inconvenience, but thankfully I don't need the money right now.

ATM is Automated Teller Machine.. There are no bank slips. Of course they dont want you to put a fraud alert on your account. And I would consider switching banks. If they didnt put the money back into your account at that moment of finding out what happened they shouldnt be handling YOUR money. I would be in that bank until 1) I got back every penny or 2) The police dragged me out.

 

[lauralynne]

The 9 and 4 were in the account number. $800 is how much I'm short. I know I should demand it back, but I hate arguing. I do it too much at work I guess. If I don't see it in another day, I'll say something.



Someone went inside the bank and made an ATM withdrawal using one of those withdrawal slips. They reassured me I didn't have to put a fraud alert on my account. Its definitely an inconvenience, but thankfully I don't need the money right now.

I used to work for a bank for several years.

Ok, so this sounds like it wasn't from an ATM machine, just a withdrawal from a physical teller window.

That is YOUR money and it is fine to be demanding, especially when they've already admitted that it was their error. If they said it was a handwriting issue, they should've already reversed the transaction and corrected it.

If someone was purposely doing this, you would have to go to the bank and sign affadavits before they would refund the money.

 

[Laurie]

I have worked in banking for several years and the money should have been returned to you immediately. Every bank has a general ledger account they can withdraw from to give people money for issues just like this. If there is physical proof in paperwork which there is there is no risk to the bank to do this. I know many people today like the convenience of such this as the ATM machine and debit cards but I still say it is better to do things face to face at the bank and I would never, ever deposit money into an ATM. $800 is alot of money and it's your money. I explained earlier there are dishonest employees working at banks--one of my jobs used to be to look for and catch people like this so believe me it exists--if it was a dishonest employee who took this money and you say nothing about getting it back they will get away with this and continue to do it until they are caught, IF they even are caught.

Please go into your bank today and sit down with either the Branch Manager, Teller Manager or Operations Specialist (if they have one). There is no reason why your money would not be returned to you if you do so

 

[caiti]

I hope you got your money back!! If you don't, I'd suggest sending Laurie after them

I might consider looking around at other banks to switch.

 

[javachin]

Thanks everyone for your concern. Got it taken care of today. I haven't had any problems from Chase before so hope this isn't a developing pattern.