Wachovia Bank WACHOVIA BANK ENGLEWOOD FLORIDA SHOWS NO PATRIOTISM BY DENYING 17 YEAR OLDS ARMY BASIC TRAINING SOLDIERS PAY Englewood, Port Charlotte Florida
17 year old High School student enlists in Army National Guard and ships to basic training at Fort Jackson giving up his summer break before his senior high school year to serve his country. Prior to shipping to basic Training a direct deposit was arranged with Wachovia Bank in Englewood, Florida to allow his pay to be deposited in his account on May 5th 2009.
Upon Soldiers first attempt to use his debit card after 6 weeks at Basic Training he was denied access to account to withdraw money for a haircut. Upon investigation Wachovia stated that they closed the account on May 6th, 2009. Upon contacting the bank we were told that the account was closed due to the min. balance requirements which their own policy shows no minimum balance required. They also show that several deposits from the Department of Defense were received by the bank but they returned the funds to because they had closed the account.
I was then told that they would reopen the account for my son and he would have access to his ATM only if I put money in the account. No effort on there part was or will be made to locate the missing funds that the bank denied.
We now have a 17 year old high school student proudly serving his country with no pay and a bank that claims that there is nothing that they are willing to do. Not even an apology or attempt to right a wrong that has been done to a Member of our Armed Forces.
Thank you Wachovia Bank for your support of our military personnel.
Proud army dad
Port Charlotte, Florida
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Jules
Hinesville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Here's how to fix it...
#8
Thu, August 20, 2009
Have your bank type a letter containing the dates and amounts of each return. It's important that both the date and correct amount is there! Then have your son sumbit the letter with his pay inquiry, along with the account number and routing number of his new account. Then he will need to make sure his direct deposit has the current account information. Best of luck!!!
ReactorCore
Victoria,British Columbia,
Canada
Well, look at the bright side...
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, August 06, 2009
This IS a nasty setback, certainly, but if, as you say, Wachovia did the correct thing under their (and most likely government) policy and sent those deposits back to the issuing authority (U.S. Gov't), your son will STILL have a nice lump sum waiting for him once he goes through the proper channels and gets his pay packet. He'll be able to open up a REAL account with a REAL 'opening balance'.
I agree it *sounds* like you managed somehow to open an account with a $0 opening balance, but it got left that way too long and the account was closed for inactivity (as they say; 'a day late and a dollar short'). On that note, for yourself or anyone else in future, even if you put a measly $5 in such an account, it won't be closed, provided it's a true "no fee" account and monthly service charges aren't depleting that $5, in which case, hust keep a little more over what's needed for the service fees in the account until the cash flow regulates and is coming in steady.
Hope it all works out in the end.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Suggestion..
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 10, 2009
It is surprising that you were able to open an account without a deposit. When a bank refers to "No Minimum Balance" that is to KEEP it open, but I have never seen a bank that allows you to OPEN an account at a branch with no money deposited at that time. Now, I have seen banks that allow you to open an account on-line with no money, but you still must make the initial minimum deposit within 7-10 days.
As for the pay issue with the Military. It is not Wachovia's responsibility to get your Son's money back. It is your Son's responsibility to contact the payroll department. In fact I am surprised about this also, because if they had pay returned they should have notified your Son of the fact(it's not like they don't know where he is).
This does not just go for Wachovia but any bank. For example if you write a check and it is returned to the merchant, do you talk to Wachoiva(or what ever bank) or the merchant? You of course talk to the merchant because they are the one that now has the check. Wachoiva is out of the loop. So for a Deposit the situation is the same. Once Wachovia returns it you need to talk to the company that sent it(in this case the US Government).
Ashley
Springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Uh
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 10, 2009
The OP said where the money went. The bank returned it to the department of defense.
Learn to read.
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
If The Soldier Has No Money --WHERE DID THOSE FUNDS GO THAT ALLEGEDLY WENT TO THE BANK???
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 10, 2009
that money went SOMEWHERE!
Sounds like to me you had better contact your SENATOR to find out WHY your son received no money and if some of the paymaster people didn't pocket his checks by accident when the bank refused them!
AND NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THAT RIP OFF BANK AGAIN.
Even the name sounds like a Russian Mafia surname or something.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE RUSSIAN MAFIA or implying it in any way...
But there is DEFINITELY SOMETHING CROOKED GOING ON HERE!
How did you all "ARRANGE" for those deposits to be made to this BANK?
AND DON"T YOU KNOW IT IS JUST TO EASY, TOO TEMPTING FOR DIRECT DEPOSITS TO BE MIS directed and perhaps misappropriated???
I WOULD NEVER DO THIS TO ANY OF MY MONEY!
IT IS AN INVITATION TO THEFT.
So sorry this happened to a military guy.
I appreciate his service.
SocratesAL
Auburn,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Indeed
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 10, 2009
WALK-OVER-YOU Bank has been screwing people for YEARS. I made the mistake of opening an accout with WALK-OVER-YOU in NC over 30 years ago and found out quickly what bunch of crooks and scammers they are. RUN- don't walk- away from them as quickly as possible. I wish you luck in finding your son's money. You can be certain that you will receive NO HELP from WALK-OVER-YOU !!
Ashley
Springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
What?
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, July 08, 2009
The military thing is irrelevant. Rules are rules when it comes to banks, they don't care about your particular situation.
When he opened the account did you deposit any money at all? I don't know a single bank that will hold an account open with a "0" balance.
""" Open your account today with $100
The minimum opening deposit for Free Checking is $100, then you'll enjoy:
* No minimum balance
* No monthly service charge
* No Direct Deposit required
"""
Did you put 100$ in the account when you opened it? Because that is required at wachovia.