First National Bank Of Marin - Bank Of Marin Ripoff Making up the rules as they go along Las Vegas Nevada
I signed on to get a Visa with FNBM Bank of Marin) in Oct or Nov of 2003 to help rebuild my credit after bankruptcy. I mailed them a personal check from my account for payment, and after they applied the payment to my credit card, I was not able to have that credit available for 14 days after the payment was posted.
Well, this lasted for about 2 or 3 months. Then in Jan and Feb of 2004 I noticed that after they posted my payment to my Visa acct that my credit was immediately available. Now comes, March 2004, my fiance' mails my payment from our checking account, different checking account than the one that the previous payments were coming from. They get the payment, apply it to my Visa account on March 16.(the payment was for much more than the balance at the time the payment was mailed). I call March 18 because our check had cleared our checking account and I was still not able to use my card. Cust svc. says that they have put what they call a restriction on my account pending third party verification that I am an authorized user on the checking account from which they received payment.
They want the bank to fax over a statement on the banks letterhead verifying that I am on the checking account. This was done, and a copy of the check showing the front and back of the check proving that they had endorsed it and cashed it was faxed with the letter. Wed. March 25 I call cust svc because I am still not able to use my card and the rep says that the restriction has been lifted on the account but I will not be able to use my card until March 29 because it was a check payment. I told them a copy of the front and back of the check had been faxed with the letter verifying that I was an authorized user on the account.
The rep said that that is not good enough, that a written statement from the bank on thier letterhead has to be sent. I find this outrageous and to the point of harrassment. I have mailed a letter of complaint to the president of this company, a Ms. Dejong (? spelling)
Sharamie
Clinton, Mississippi
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Malik
Fredericksburg,Virginia,
U.S.A.
I know why they did this.... If they were the only bank in the country, I'd use a mattress and mason jar, and probably would get a better APR on my savings.
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, September 10, 2004
I know why they did this. It's a security measure against Identity Theft. One of the things some ID Theifs do is make payments (mostly minimum amounts) on the victims account to keep it open just long enough to get what the theif needs out of it. Some actually pay the bills using OTHER PEOPLE's checking accounts and names. Hence, why they sent you that letter.
I'm not saying that I'm in total defense of FNBM, but I think in this case it was a security measure. I've read all the reports on this bank, and I wouldn't do business with those characters. If they were the only bank in the country, I'd use a mattress and mason jar, and probably would get a better APR on my savings.
Sharamie
Clinton,Mississippi,
U.S.A.
received a letter from Bank of MArinregarding
#3Author of original report
Wed, March 31, 2004
I received a letter from Bank of MArinregarding the check that was sent to them for payment. Here is some of what is in the letter (****my comments are in parenthesis) : Thank you for your recent payment of $250.00. This payment has been applied to the balance owed on your account; however, the payment was provided from a third party checking account. We have been unsuccessful (they never tried to contact him) in acquiring verification from (my finace's name) that this check, or payment item, was authorized by the checking owner. (his name was the only name printed on the check that was sent in, even though I am also on the checking account as an authorised user) The credit available of your account has been temporarily restricted. Credit may be made available if (my finances' name) provides documentation that the funds have been authorized and paid. (they don't tell you what they need, like paperwork, to verify what they want)
I have never heard of this type of practice from a credit card company. I would love to hear about similar stories from other folks that have encountered this company. Thanks.