Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#2Author of original report
Wed, July 23, 2008
Finally, my money is back in my accounts. Not a moment too soon, I am exhausted. I do not know if all this was done legally, as I have not researched banking laws. I do know that through persistence, I have my money back in 5 days instead of original quote of 2 weeks. I do know that the communication network in 5th 3rd's Banking System leaves something to be desired. I do know that the customer service manager I had to deal with was at first nice, then arrogant, then just plain nasty. I do know, I have to do research and find another bank. I may use 5th 3rd, too, as a secondary bank, but never again will I leave all my eggs in one basket.
Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#3Author of original report
Tue, July 22, 2008
Called Fifth Third yesterday and was told, that I had already been told (guess that means do not call and ask again) that there is no way to put MY money, $10,302.32, back into my checking and saving's account and yes, I would have to still pay the $9.00 service fees per check written. And, yes, it may take another 1 - 2 weeks to do this (even though they have my money, they have cashier's check, and they have the Tax Warrant Release dated the 14th of July. I did receive 2, two page letters yesterday from the Senior Vice President of Fifth Third Bank informing me my checking account was overdrawn and incurring overdraft fees, and I should rectify the situation immediately. When I informed the CS Manager of these letters, she replied, they mean nothing, just throw them away, you will get one for every check you write now, EVERYBODY GETS THEM. (My girlfriend replied to me when I told her the story, if everybody got them, Fifth Third Bank would have no customers.) Hmmmmm. Knowing I was not being treated right last week, I thought I had better get cash into my account somehow. So, I authorized another bank I do business with to electronically transfer money into my credit card account to pay the accruing balance, and then I would transfer the excess funds to my checking to hold me over until Fifth Third give me my money back. (This was on the 17th, last Thursday.) I was informed today by other bank that 5th 3d REJECTED the electronic transfer. So, other bank mailed check to them on 19th. I was told it could take up to 3 weeks for Fifth Third to accept that check and deposit funds into my account. What has happened to the Banking system in America, when Banks can legally play with your lives this way? Seems to be going the way of the Healthcare System.
Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#4Author of original report
Sun, July 20, 2008
Response to Stridirq...Following is the sequence everything happened. 1. E-mail from Fifth Third Bank telling me to go to site http://www.53.com for a message. Received on a Friday evening according to date on e-mail, and read by me Saturday morning. At the site I discovered ALL my money gone from checking and savings in the amount of $XX,XXX.XX I found it was removed on the Thursday before, so therefore my gas bill had bounced and my mortgage payment had been cancelled for payment. (I also knew I had 5 other checks out that would be coming in.) I immediately called Fifth Third and was told they could not divulge anything on phone and to drive to my original account opening branch, 20 miles away. When I got there, they could not tell me what this was for, except I was to contact Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Since I was a good customer for 15 years, they would only charge me $9.00 for each check coming in and transfer them to my credit card, held by them. 2. Monday morning...called Sheriff's Office, was told it was a Tax Warrant served by Indiana Department of Revenue in the amount of over $15,000.00 It was being served on a business registered in my name. (A business I did NOT own) I was told to go to the Indiana Department of Revenue to straighten out the mix-up. 3. I provided all documents at the Indiana Department of Revenue to prove who I was and did not own that business, and they immediately lifted the warrant and called Sheriff's Department lifting the Tax Warrant in my name. I had to sign legal documents while there and they were notorized and filed. Before I even was finished, I received phone call on my mobile from Sheriff's Department stating, Fifth Third Bank Tax Levy Department had been notified to Lift the Tax Levy. 4. I left Indiana Department of Revenue and called my branch Customer Service Manager. She asked WHERE they cancelled this Tax Levy, since I was outside in 90 degree heat, I asked her if she would please, call Sheriff's Office and get all the information. She said NO, I had to do it. I hung up, called Sheriff, got information, called it back to 5th 3rd so she could VERIFY Sheriff sent information to PROPER PLACE. 5. By the time I reached my car (maybe 10 minutes later), I called her back to check on verification. I was told, yes, indeed the Sheriff's Department had contacted the right place, they had the Tax Levy Lift in hand and I would have my money placed back in my accounts by end of business day, or within 24 hours. (The time was now 12:45 pm) 6. Everyday after this, I called 5th 3rd at least twice/day, checking on status of my money. Was told each time, it was IN PROCESS. Finally, on Thursday morning, I was told 5th 3rd no longer had money. Customer Service Manager said Sheriff's Department had the money. 7. Thursday morning...Called Sheriff's Department, they absolutely denied they had money, said the warrant was lifted. Sheriff's Department said they would get this straightened out. Called Sheriff's Department on Friday to check, was told 5th 3rd Tax Levy Legal Department would not take their calls and was not returning their calls. I contacted CS Manager, again about not answering Sheriff Department calls. She then called them and informed them the matter was closed and 5th 3rd would not discuss matter any further as they had issued a CASHIER'S CHECK BACK ON THE 11TH AND PUT IT IN MAIL TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. CASE CLOSED. The rest of incident can be read in original complaint above. BOTTOM LINE * MY MONEY IS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR. MY CHECKING AND SAVINGS ARE STILL EMPTY, AND CHECKS I WROTE STILL COMING IN AND BEING CHARGED $9.00 EACH TO PLACE ON MY CREDIT CARD, WITH THEIR BANK. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT 2 MORE WEEKS TO PLACE MONEY BACK INTO MY ACCOUNTS AND THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO WAIVER THE $9.00 FEE PER CHECK. Customer Service Manager told me to take the Sheriff's Department and my ex husband to court to recover my expenses. Indiana Department of Revenue DOES NOT have my money. Marion County Sheriff's Department DOES NOT have my money. FIFTH THIRD HAS MY MONEY...IT HAS NEVER LEFT THEIR BANKING SYSTEM, except for a cashier's check they have floated around for 11 days now and they refuse to cash (because according to them, Marion County Sheriff's Department did not process correctly, so therefore they cannot place MY money back in MY accounts.) They are using the (legalities) of a Tax Levy, to make a few extra bucks and absolutely no regard for a long term customer. (I guess I could be paying $33.00 per check, hmmmm)
Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#5Author of original report
Sun, July 20, 2008
Response to Stridirq...Following is the sequence everything happened. 1. E-mail from Fifth Third Bank telling me to go to site http://www.53.com for a message. Received on a Friday evening according to date on e-mail, and read by me Saturday morning. At the site I discovered ALL my money gone from checking and savings in the amount of $XX,XXX.XX I found it was removed on the Thursday before, so therefore my gas bill had bounced and my mortgage payment had been cancelled for payment. (I also knew I had 5 other checks out that would be coming in.) I immediately called Fifth Third and was told they could not divulge anything on phone and to drive to my original account opening branch, 20 miles away. When I got there, they could not tell me what this was for, except I was to contact Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Since I was a good customer for 15 years, they would only charge me $9.00 for each check coming in and transfer them to my credit card, held by them. 2. Monday morning...called Sheriff's Office, was told it was a Tax Warrant served by Indiana Department of Revenue in the amount of over $15,000.00 It was being served on a business registered in my name. (A business I did NOT own) I was told to go to the Indiana Department of Revenue to straighten out the mix-up. 3. I provided all documents at the Indiana Department of Revenue to prove who I was and did not own that business, and they immediately lifted the warrant and called Sheriff's Department lifting the Tax Warrant in my name. I had to sign legal documents while there and they were notorized and filed. Before I even was finished, I received phone call on my mobile from Sheriff's Department stating, Fifth Third Bank Tax Levy Department had been notified to Lift the Tax Levy. 4. I left Indiana Department of Revenue and called my branch Customer Service Manager. She asked WHERE they cancelled this Tax Levy, since I was outside in 90 degree heat, I asked her if she would please, call Sheriff's Office and get all the information. She said NO, I had to do it. I hung up, called Sheriff, got information, called it back to 5th 3rd so she could VERIFY Sheriff sent information to PROPER PLACE. 5. By the time I reached my car (maybe 10 minutes later), I called her back to check on verification. I was told, yes, indeed the Sheriff's Department had contacted the right place, they had the Tax Levy Lift in hand and I would have my money placed back in my accounts by end of business day, or within 24 hours. (The time was now 12:45 pm) 6. Everyday after this, I called 5th 3rd at least twice/day, checking on status of my money. Was told each time, it was IN PROCESS. Finally, on Thursday morning, I was told 5th 3rd no longer had money. Customer Service Manager said Sheriff's Department had the money. 7. Thursday morning...Called Sheriff's Department, they absolutely denied they had money, said the warrant was lifted. Sheriff's Department said they would get this straightened out. Called Sheriff's Department on Friday to check, was told 5th 3rd Tax Levy Legal Department would not take their calls and was not returning their calls. I contacted CS Manager, again about not answering Sheriff Department calls. She then called them and informed them the matter was closed and 5th 3rd would not discuss matter any further as they had issued a CASHIER'S CHECK BACK ON THE 11TH AND PUT IT IN MAIL TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. CASE CLOSED. The rest of incident can be read in original complaint above. BOTTOM LINE * MY MONEY IS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR. MY CHECKING AND SAVINGS ARE STILL EMPTY, AND CHECKS I WROTE STILL COMING IN AND BEING CHARGED $9.00 EACH TO PLACE ON MY CREDIT CARD, WITH THEIR BANK. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT 2 MORE WEEKS TO PLACE MONEY BACK INTO MY ACCOUNTS AND THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO WAIVER THE $9.00 FEE PER CHECK. Customer Service Manager told me to take the Sheriff's Department and my ex husband to court to recover my expenses. Indiana Department of Revenue DOES NOT have my money. Marion County Sheriff's Department DOES NOT have my money. FIFTH THIRD HAS MY MONEY...IT HAS NEVER LEFT THEIR BANKING SYSTEM, except for a cashier's check they have floated around for 11 days now and they refuse to cash (because according to them, Marion County Sheriff's Department did not process correctly, so therefore they cannot place MY money back in MY accounts.) They are using the (legalities) of a Tax Levy, to make a few extra bucks and absolutely no regard for a long term customer. (I guess I could be paying $33.00 per check, hmmmm)
Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#6Author of original report
Sun, July 20, 2008
Response to Stridirq...Following is the sequence everything happened. 1. E-mail from Fifth Third Bank telling me to go to site http://www.53.com for a message. Received on a Friday evening according to date on e-mail, and read by me Saturday morning. At the site I discovered ALL my money gone from checking and savings in the amount of $XX,XXX.XX I found it was removed on the Thursday before, so therefore my gas bill had bounced and my mortgage payment had been cancelled for payment. (I also knew I had 5 other checks out that would be coming in.) I immediately called Fifth Third and was told they could not divulge anything on phone and to drive to my original account opening branch, 20 miles away. When I got there, they could not tell me what this was for, except I was to contact Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Since I was a good customer for 15 years, they would only charge me $9.00 for each check coming in and transfer them to my credit card, held by them. 2. Monday morning...called Sheriff's Office, was told it was a Tax Warrant served by Indiana Department of Revenue in the amount of over $15,000.00 It was being served on a business registered in my name. (A business I did NOT own) I was told to go to the Indiana Department of Revenue to straighten out the mix-up. 3. I provided all documents at the Indiana Department of Revenue to prove who I was and did not own that business, and they immediately lifted the warrant and called Sheriff's Department lifting the Tax Warrant in my name. I had to sign legal documents while there and they were notorized and filed. Before I even was finished, I received phone call on my mobile from Sheriff's Department stating, Fifth Third Bank Tax Levy Department had been notified to Lift the Tax Levy. 4. I left Indiana Department of Revenue and called my branch Customer Service Manager. She asked WHERE they cancelled this Tax Levy, since I was outside in 90 degree heat, I asked her if she would please, call Sheriff's Office and get all the information. She said NO, I had to do it. I hung up, called Sheriff, got information, called it back to 5th 3rd so she could VERIFY Sheriff sent information to PROPER PLACE. 5. By the time I reached my car (maybe 10 minutes later), I called her back to check on verification. I was told, yes, indeed the Sheriff's Department had contacted the right place, they had the Tax Levy Lift in hand and I would have my money placed back in my accounts by end of business day, or within 24 hours. (The time was now 12:45 pm) 6. Everyday after this, I called 5th 3rd at least twice/day, checking on status of my money. Was told each time, it was IN PROCESS. Finally, on Thursday morning, I was told 5th 3rd no longer had money. Customer Service Manager said Sheriff's Department had the money. 7. Thursday morning...Called Sheriff's Department, they absolutely denied they had money, said the warrant was lifted. Sheriff's Department said they would get this straightened out. Called Sheriff's Department on Friday to check, was told 5th 3rd Tax Levy Legal Department would not take their calls and was not returning their calls. I contacted CS Manager, again about not answering Sheriff Department calls. She then called them and informed them the matter was closed and 5th 3rd would not discuss matter any further as they had issued a CASHIER'S CHECK BACK ON THE 11TH AND PUT IT IN MAIL TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. CASE CLOSED. The rest of incident can be read in original complaint above. BOTTOM LINE * MY MONEY IS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR. MY CHECKING AND SAVINGS ARE STILL EMPTY, AND CHECKS I WROTE STILL COMING IN AND BEING CHARGED $9.00 EACH TO PLACE ON MY CREDIT CARD, WITH THEIR BANK. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT 2 MORE WEEKS TO PLACE MONEY BACK INTO MY ACCOUNTS AND THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO WAIVER THE $9.00 FEE PER CHECK. Customer Service Manager told me to take the Sheriff's Department and my ex husband to court to recover my expenses. Indiana Department of Revenue DOES NOT have my money. Marion County Sheriff's Department DOES NOT have my money. FIFTH THIRD HAS MY MONEY...IT HAS NEVER LEFT THEIR BANKING SYSTEM, except for a cashier's check they have floated around for 11 days now and they refuse to cash (because according to them, Marion County Sheriff's Department did not process correctly, so therefore they cannot place MY money back in MY accounts.) They are using the (legalities) of a Tax Levy, to make a few extra bucks and absolutely no regard for a long term customer. (I guess I could be paying $33.00 per check, hmmmm)
Scammed by crooks
Indianapolis,#7Author of original report
Sun, July 20, 2008
Response to Stridirq...Following is the sequence everything happened. 1. E-mail from Fifth Third Bank telling me to go to site http://www.53.com for a message. Received on a Friday evening according to date on e-mail, and read by me Saturday morning. At the site I discovered ALL my money gone from checking and savings in the amount of $XX,XXX.XX I found it was removed on the Thursday before, so therefore my gas bill had bounced and my mortgage payment had been cancelled for payment. (I also knew I had 5 other checks out that would be coming in.) I immediately called Fifth Third and was told they could not divulge anything on phone and to drive to my original account opening branch, 20 miles away. When I got there, they could not tell me what this was for, except I was to contact Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Since I was a good customer for 15 years, they would only charge me $9.00 for each check coming in and transfer them to my credit card, held by them. 2. Monday morning...called Sheriff's Office, was told it was a Tax Warrant served by Indiana Department of Revenue in the amount of over $15,000.00 It was being served on a business registered in my name. (A business I did NOT own) I was told to go to the Indiana Department of Revenue to straighten out the mix-up. 3. I provided all documents at the Indiana Department of Revenue to prove who I was and did not own that business, and they immediately lifted the warrant and called Sheriff's Department lifting the Tax Warrant in my name. I had to sign legal documents while there and they were notorized and filed. Before I even was finished, I received phone call on my mobile from Sheriff's Department stating, Fifth Third Bank Tax Levy Department had been notified to Lift the Tax Levy. 4. I left Indiana Department of Revenue and called my branch Customer Service Manager. She asked WHERE they cancelled this Tax Levy, since I was outside in 90 degree heat, I asked her if she would please, call Sheriff's Office and get all the information. She said NO, I had to do it. I hung up, called Sheriff, got information, called it back to 5th 3rd so she could VERIFY Sheriff sent information to PROPER PLACE. 5. By the time I reached my car (maybe 10 minutes later), I called her back to check on verification. I was told, yes, indeed the Sheriff's Department had contacted the right place, they had the Tax Levy Lift in hand and I would have my money placed back in my accounts by end of business day, or within 24 hours. (The time was now 12:45 pm) 6. Everyday after this, I called 5th 3rd at least twice/day, checking on status of my money. Was told each time, it was IN PROCESS. Finally, on Thursday morning, I was told 5th 3rd no longer had money. Customer Service Manager said Sheriff's Department had the money. 7. Thursday morning...Called Sheriff's Department, they absolutely denied they had money, said the warrant was lifted. Sheriff's Department said they would get this straightened out. Called Sheriff's Department on Friday to check, was told 5th 3rd Tax Levy Legal Department would not take their calls and was not returning their calls. I contacted CS Manager, again about not answering Sheriff Department calls. She then called them and informed them the matter was closed and 5th 3rd would not discuss matter any further as they had issued a CASHIER'S CHECK BACK ON THE 11TH AND PUT IT IN MAIL TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. CASE CLOSED. The rest of incident can be read in original complaint above. BOTTOM LINE * MY MONEY IS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR. MY CHECKING AND SAVINGS ARE STILL EMPTY, AND CHECKS I WROTE STILL COMING IN AND BEING CHARGED $9.00 EACH TO PLACE ON MY CREDIT CARD, WITH THEIR BANK. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT 2 MORE WEEKS TO PLACE MONEY BACK INTO MY ACCOUNTS AND THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO WAIVER THE $9.00 FEE PER CHECK. Customer Service Manager told me to take the Sheriff's Department and my ex husband to court to recover my expenses. Indiana Department of Revenue DOES NOT have my money. Marion County Sheriff's Department DOES NOT have my money. FIFTH THIRD HAS MY MONEY...IT HAS NEVER LEFT THEIR BANKING SYSTEM, except for a cashier's check they have floated around for 11 days now and they refuse to cash (because according to them, Marion County Sheriff's Department did not process correctly, so therefore they cannot place MY money back in MY accounts.) They are using the (legalities) of a Tax Levy, to make a few extra bucks and absolutely no regard for a long term customer. (I guess I could be paying $33.00 per check, hmmmm)
Striderq
Columbia,#8Consumer Comment
Sun, July 20, 2008
Why would a cashier's check for a tax levy go to the local Sheriff's office? If a tax levy was placed on your account the cashier's check would have been forwarded to the court that approved the levy. It would then be given to the attorney representing the tax agency.