US Direct Express - Government Debit Card Unauthorized charges 1st round - denied - second round 'pending' Internet
This card is supposed to go through Comerica Bank, yet nobody at Comerica can help me. I had 2 unauthorized charges totally almost 1/2 my check that I'm disputing. The first dispute was denied...they 'told' me what happened...according to them. I filed for a 'fair hearing', which 'can' take up to 45 days, or that's one version - another is that it'll take from 45 - 180 days...take your pick on which is the truth! I have asked if there is another number I can call, other than the general customer service number, and the answer is no. This is supposed to be a 'safe' card. Right. I'm wondering if I should contact the Attorney General's office - anybody have any ideas on that? It's been almost 3 weeks since the requested 'fair hearing', it's been over a month since I initially filed the report. I've never had this type of trouble disputing a charge on a debit/credit card in my life!
3 Updates & Rebuttals
hannah
st.paul,Minnesota,
USA
direct express card fraud
#4General Comment
Wed, November 17, 2010
i had the same problem with direct express debit card holding my money without explanation. i went to the bbb and they refused to respond to them so now i am waiting for the application from the minnesota attorney generals office and they will respond to them cause they handle bank cases ect. they can accomplish what the bbb cant. and just incase you dont know their address is p.o. box 69114 harrisburg pa 17106 i wish we can all come together and file a class action lawsuit against this company and use them as an example for other banks that think they can make up their own rules and screw the poor in the process.
Mindy
Lansing,Michigan,
United States of America
update
#4Author of original report
Thu, December 17, 2009
As an fyi follow up - I went to the SSA office to dispute these charges. They had no clue what I was talking about. The agent at SSA and I together called Direct Express and finally got some answers. I am being allowed another fair hearing, as they said the amounts were wrong (it was the dates - when the account was paid on vs when it hit their system)...I was given the correct information and am waiting for the paperwork to come in the mail to file again.
Mindy
Lansing,Michigan,
United States of America
same thing happened to me
#4Author of original report
Thu, December 10, 2009
The same thing happened to me. They turned down my 'fair hearing' after THEY decided what happened. I just got off the phone with them, and they said that once you've been turned down from them, your next course of action is with the local Social Security office. At first I was told that after the 'fair hearing' stage, if the dispute was again denied, I was basically out of luck - this was about 3 weeks ago. I'm headed to the Social Security office in the morning to continue this process. They (Direct Express) really needs competent people working for them, and to LISTEN to what their customers say. I guess the reason I'm responding is because they probably won't tell you to take it up with Social Security, as they didn't tell me at first. Keep on with it - the more people that complain and file disputes with Social Security, maybe they'll change their policies. I switched to a different card because of this. Don't give up!