Fidelity Bank Of Kansas My check account was charged back $1700 in money order that I was told had cleared. ripoff Wichita Kansas
I was recently the victim of a very well thought out internet scam. The details of this scam go into great lengths and will not be discussed in this rip-off-report.
To make a long story short, I was to accept payments from U.S. buyers and send the money via western union (minus a fee) to my "art dealer" acquaintance in London, England. My first thought was SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, but after verify the business as well the persons identity, I realized that this may be a legit offer.
The first payment I received was in the amount of $1700 via USPS postal money orders (2 for $850 each). I proceeded to my bank to verify that they were indeed authentic. I made the deposit on a Saturday and was told that they would need to be verified the following Monday BEFORE the money would EVEN be posted to my account.
I waited until Tuesday to go back to my bank to check on the status of the money orders, to see if they had cleared. I was assured by the bank that the money orders had cleared; hence the money was posted to my account, $1700 plus what little I had in there. That's when I made the withdraw; and proceeded with the western union transaction discussed with my acquaintance.
The following Thursday I ran into a problem at the gas station, my debit card was denied twice. I immediately went home to check the status of my account, via online banking.
To my DISMAY, I was charged back the $1700 dollars on Thursday, 3 BUSINESS days after the deposit. I don't know whether the money orders were canceled, or simply fraudulent.
This bank never called me, emailed me, or gave me any kind of warning about these money orders. They didn't even notify me of the chargeback. They say they tried to call me, but unlike my acquaintance, my caller id doesn't lie.
"I" had to call the bank, and I was told that they money orders didn't go through, I had indeed been scammed. My account was now in WAY in NEGATIVE.
Take into mind; I'm a college student barley making ends meet. I absolutely didn't have that kind of money in my account before this deposit.
I think that the bank is in the wrong in this situation. That kind of money should have NEVER been posted to my account without being absolutely VERIFIED.
After battling on the phone for hours I ended up talking to a very rude "loss prevention" lady. She stated that "In now way shape or form is the bank liable for that money, and that the loss was totally my fault."
Since my account was in the negative, she then tried to offer me a LOAN to bring my account back to zero, and said that if it was not brought current within 30 days that I would be taken to collections and my account canceled. Can you believe the nerve of this lady?
I've been banking with Fidelity for a long time, and even have my mortgage through them. This is very devious and I was treated so disrespectfully. This bank cares nothing about its customers. I was a victim twice over.
Do yourself a favor and steer clear of Fidelity of Kansas like you would a pile of horse dung. Warn your friends and family about there deceit. There are much better banks out there that actually care about there customers.
Dustin
Wichita, Kansas
U.S.A.
12 Updates & Rebuttals
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
It's All Cash At The Post Office
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.)
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office.
Now, I know.
Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders.
Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money.
It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
It's All Cash At The Post Office
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.)
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office.
Now, I know.
Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders.
Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money.
It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
It's All Cash At The Post Office
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.)
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office.
Now, I know.
Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders.
Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money.
It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
It's All Cash At The Post Office
#13Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.)
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office.
Now, I know.
Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders.
Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money.
It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
I didn't know about UPSP money orders till someone sent me one
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office.
Now, I know.
Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders.
Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money.
It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
OK JULIET, which is it?
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
Juliet,
First you say that you didn't even know the Post Office offered money orders, then you say that you call yo make sure the small town post office you use has enough cash on hand to cash your money orders!
Which is it?
You wrote>>
"I didn't even know the Post Office offered momey orders, or that you can CASH them there - USPS money orders only, not money orders from any other business or bank - but this leaves out any bank entirely".
No need for a deposit, just take the money order in to the Post Office, and get cash.
The Post Office I use is a small town one, so I do call to make sure they have enough cash on hand for if the amount of the money order is over a $100 or more.
>>>
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Cash USPS Money Orders at USPS
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, April 21, 2007
I don't know what the Post Office (USPS) would have done if you went to them to cash the money orders, but they MIGHT have known they were fraudulent.
I didn't even know the Post Office offered momey orders, or that you can CASH them there - USPS money orders only, not money orders from any other business or bank - but this leaves out any bank entirely.
No need for a deposit, just take the money order in to the Post Office, and get cash.
The Post Office I use is a small town one, so I do call to make sure they have enough cash on hand for if the amount of the money order is over a $100 or more.
The other respondents are correct. Any bank would have behaved just like this bank.
Ken
Randolph,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Sorry.... but...
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money.
Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it.
The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared.
In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect.
If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Ken
Randolph,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Sorry.... but...
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money.
Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it.
The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared.
In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect.
If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Ken
Randolph,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Sorry.... but...
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money.
Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it.
The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared.
In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect.
If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Steve
Cary,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Clear this up for me
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
"Take into mind; I'm a college student barley making ends meet. I absolutely didn't have that kind of money in my account before this deposit."
"I've been banking with Fidelity for a long time, and even have my mortgage through them."
So you have NO money AND a mortgage??? So where are you getting the money to pay the mortgage??
Vince
Carmichael,California,
U.S.A.
Any Bank Would Do The Same Thing
#13Consumer Suggestion
Fri, April 20, 2007
Banks are given a limited amount of time to credit your account with a deposited instrument. You were involved with a scam (any deal involving Western Union is a scam) and should have known better.
I have seen it take 3 weeks for a bad check to return. The fact it 'cleared' your bank doesn't mean much. I do think it was a nice thing for them to offer a loan to cover your overdraft. Many banks wouldn't even do that much. You have been ripped-off - but not by the bank.