Greendot Corporation, Greendot Financial Network Dishonest, won't give me my money, irresponsible, Monrvia, California
My name is Michael and i'am from Cincinnati, Oh. Recently I purchase a Greendot prepaid debit card. Everything was going fine with the card so I started having my payroll ckecks directly deposited into the card.
I had no problems until I had my tax refund deposited onto the card. They froze my entire account and wouldn't let me touch none of my money. Even my money that I work for every week, they won't let me touch.
At first they said that the only thing I had to do was fax over my information to varify who I'am. And I did that. Then they said it wasn't enough and if I send more information they would release my money. I did that and they still won't let me touch my money.
All of a sudden Greendot's customer service tells me that I have to wait 24-48 business hours. They would not let me speak to a manager or a specialist. I have over $3,000 and they won't let me touch. They won't even release my payroll check. I have 3 children and a wife and the only thing that they can say is, "I'm sorry there is nothing we can do at this time".
And each time I call, I get a different person. Then all of a sudden, a customer service representative by the name of Patricia tells me that the bussiness hours are 8 hours per day. So instead of 1 to 2 days, it's going to take maybe up to 6 days in order for me to get my money. And that does not include the weeekend.
I can't put no gas in my car. And I can't feed my kids and the only thing they can say is " I'm sorry" and " I understand". So what am I supposed to do. I need to go to work and my family needs to eat and I can't provide for them because the Greendot Corporation wants to hold on to my money so that they can collect interest on my money. This is not right and pray to God that someone does something about it.
Michael
Cincinnati, Ohio
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Don't Get A Payday Loan If You Can Help It!!
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, May 08, 2007
Michael, I am so sorry to hear of your troubles with Greendot. BECAUSE of this website, I have been very wary of them. I don't need one of their cards, but even when I see them at the store, I just have a bad feeling, I don't even want to look at them. Weird but true.
I have two things I'd like to stress to you, and will explain why.
#1 - DO NOT GET A PAY DAY LOAN/TITLE LOAN if you can possibly avoid it, in any way.
#2 - If you can't get a checking account, once your money is freed from Greendot, could you possibly open a SAVINGS account somewhere?
Please, Michael, if you need to borrow money or something to get by, PLEASE DON'T TAKE OUT A PAY DAY/TITLE LOAN. That will multiply your problems 1000%.
The pay day loan places all have different names, and the ones that might be in your area, or online, maybe they haven't had a ripoff report written on them yet, but please, avoid them, or you may be writing the first one on that particular place.
Again, it is BECAUSE of Ripoff Reports that I hope and pray I never find myself so in need I HAVE to go to one.
And even without Ripoff Reports, I have seen 3 people, up close and personal, every week at work, and one is a MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER, having to go to the pay day loan place to pay the interest and never get free of the loan.
When your money is freed from Greendot, could you open a savings account, if you can't get a checking account, and withdraw the cash you need as you need it?
This last year has seen a severe reversal of fortune for me, personally, and when I want money now, I have to go to the bank to withdraw it. No checks, no debit card. Other people can use those items, without your knowledge or consent, and the banks do not have any kind of security in place whatsoever to prevent unauthorized use.
They don't examine checks AT ALL for any similarity whatsoever between the authorized signature and the check's signature. Debit cards can be used at gas stations, for sure, for pay at the pump, without any kind of pin number. And the sex of the card owner who is named on the card versus the gender of the person using the card has zero relevance to the cashiers.
So I am on a cash only lifestyle. And it sucks, but it works. Luckily, my bank relationship has not been jeopardized in any way, but I realize you may not be in the position to have a checking account. That is why I suggested perhaps a savings account.
Also, if you do have issues with a bank relationship, not sure if a credit union would be any more helpful, but perhaps you could find a credit union and see if they could help you build a banking relationship.
Good Luck, Michael, I am so sorry this has happened to you. Another one to watch out for, from the experience of a close friend as well as Ripoff Reports is Netspend. They, too, seem to have draconian rules that serve mainly to let them keep your money, and give you none of it.