Washington Mutual Bixby Knolls Branch ripoff Long Beach California
I deposited $10,000 in my account on June 23, 2006 at the Bixby Branch. I was told the funds will be held 3 to 5 days. Partial funds were released June 30, 2006. The remaining funds are being held for another 8 days. The check was written on an life insurance policy with my mother being the beneficiary. The check was drawn on City Street Bank in Kansas City, but the funds are administered by Transamerica. In order to verify funds you would have to contact Transamerica. My mother called to verify release of funds and spoke with Doug at Transamerica and he verified that funds had been release on June 26, 2006. Upon contacting the branch to ask them to release the funds they refused and further refused to deal with the administrators of the fund. Currently I am being charged for nonsufficient funds and returned checks.
This is a ripoff. The bank is charging me when my funds should be released. I feel this is deliberate on the part of the branch operations supervisor Brian Grageda. When I contacted the Quality Service Department I spoke with a Debbie Corona who admitted she was working in the back office at the Bixby Branch. She also refused to assist me with the problem and was very rude and basically wouldn't talk to the administrator of the funds either.
Upon my last call to the Quality Service department I had the administrator Brett on the phone and connected him with Quality. This time I spoke with a lady name Anna, she said Debbie was not available, however she came back with a message from Debbie that the funds would not be released without a copy of the check proving that funds had been released.
The Administrator told them that he had dealt with many banks and the verbal verification was sufficient, however, he would contact the processing center to get a copy of the electronic transfer with proof that the funds had been released.
He thought it was very unfair of the bank, because they know that paper check processing is not handled the same way. He couldn't understand why the bank was being so difficult.
This is causing me much stress, being that I am on disability and causing much financial stress and a unnecessary burden not to mentioned the embarassment it's causing me with my creditors.
Naimah
Fontana, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Elaine
Boise,Idaho,
U.S.A.
Get ALL Your Ducks In a Row
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 10, 2006
IF what you say is true and IF you can document all of it, get all your paperwork and documentation for this in a row, including all your bounced check notices AND a copy of the Washington Mutual Bank brochure on fees and deposits (specifically how long they will hold funds on a deposited check) and call the local television station/newspaper and congressmen and/or representatives. Nothing and I mean nothing will get the banks higher ups pumped than bad publicity that the bank has screwed a person, especially a disabled person. I have had dealings with Wash Mutual, and they bounced checks off a deposit, but after taking my proof to the branch manager, she reversed ALL of my fees and I've had no problems with them since. Good luck, post what happens!
Naimah
Fontana,California,
U.S.A.
The Rip Off Continues
#3Author of original report
Mon, July 10, 2006
As of today my funds still have not been released by the bank. After talking to Brett at Transamerica on 7/5/06, he indicated that the processing center had faxed the proof that the funds had been released on 6/26/06. I called the bank and spoke with a person stating he was Darnell. I was told that Mr. Sebastian and Bryan was not at work today and he did not know a Debbie Corona. I called the Quality Service Department and was told that Debbie was unavailable too. The same happened on Friday, no one was available to talk to me. In the meantime I have been charged over $400.00 in returned check fees and non sufficient fees. I have been charged for returned check fees from the people I wrote checks to and my credit cards have been charged with return check cost at the rate of $35.00, not to mention the embarrassment and frustration this has caused me.
My cost is spiraling and its becoming a vicious cycle. As my funds decrease due to fees charged, my ability to maintain my budget is becoming impossible. I'm on disability and I live on a strict budget, (I live on a strict budget anyway) and cannot afford all these additional cost.
Banks are suppose to service it's customers, not steal their customers money. They treated me like a criminal, like I am some criminal that would deposit illegimate funds in their bank.
This was a real simple fix, but Bryan and Debbie chose to make decisions about my money for me. They made this personal and they chose to discriminate against me. You cannot tell me that they could trace the release of the funds, or trust Brett from TransAmerica. They are a bank and they have a whole lot more money than I do. I'm sure it would not have hurt the bank to release my funds. The remaining $4,000 dollars is not going to make or break the bank but it's costing me a lot.
Once again the big giants sucks the blood of the little people.