- Report: #710342
Complaint Review: GreenDot Prepaid Card/Synovus bank - MONROVIA California
Reported By:
Dedra -
Swainsboro, Georgia, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
GreenDot Prepaid Card/Synovus bank
P.O. BOX 1187 MONROVIA, 91017 California, United States of America
Phone:
866-795-7597
Web:
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
GreenDot Prepaid Card/Synovus bank MY ACCESS TO THE MONEY ON THE CARD HAS BEEN BLOCKED SINCE MARCH 2ND, 2011, THEY REQUESTED CERTAIN DOCUMENTS & I HAVE PROVIDED THEM, AS WELL AS ASKED IF ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO OR SEND, THEY REPLY "NO". MONROVIA, California
I am a tax preparer & I have clients that do not have bank accounts. There were only three of my clients that asked me to have their income tax go to my account. As of March 2nd, 2011, the card has been blocked. When I call the 1-866-795-7597, customer service, they informed me that the card was bloced because of different social securities numbers going to the same account. I understood & asked what needs to be done to get the matter resolved. They informed me that I needed the persons' to send in a copy of their driver's license, social security card & a notarized statement saying that they authorized their funds to go to that card.
All these documents were faxed in by these clients within the next few days. The GreenDot representative stated that this will take only one business day. When I called again to inquire, a Supervisor named Jun, stated that I was informed wrong & it would take up to seven business days for it to go to the investigations department. I told them I understood, & waited. I asked if they wanted my PTIN #, which is my tax preparers number, they informed no. All I have been given is the information of "I'm sorry & thankyou for your patience". I called back today around noon & was informed that someone from the investigations department would be calling me on this day, March 25th, 2011. After a few hours @ 5:00pm, I called, and was informed again that someone would be called and was told that their time was 3 hours earlier and they still had time to call.
At 9:30pm, I called again and spoke with an agent name Anne #2492, who asked me, rudely, "do I know what time it was?" I informed her that I have called several times today & if I spoke with another supervisor, that they were only going to tell me the same thing the other 4 have already told me today. This matter has gone on for almost a month, they have all the documents that they requested, and I still can not use the card that has not only one of my clients funds, but my funds as well. I threatened to call an attorney, and all they say is that I would have to wait. I have asked for that departments phone number, as well as an email address, & they refuse to give it to. I need assistance, I believe I am being ripped off.
All these documents were faxed in by these clients within the next few days. The GreenDot representative stated that this will take only one business day. When I called again to inquire, a Supervisor named Jun, stated that I was informed wrong & it would take up to seven business days for it to go to the investigations department. I told them I understood, & waited. I asked if they wanted my PTIN #, which is my tax preparers number, they informed no. All I have been given is the information of "I'm sorry & thankyou for your patience". I called back today around noon & was informed that someone from the investigations department would be calling me on this day, March 25th, 2011. After a few hours @ 5:00pm, I called, and was informed again that someone would be called and was told that their time was 3 hours earlier and they still had time to call.
At 9:30pm, I called again and spoke with an agent name Anne #2492, who asked me, rudely, "do I know what time it was?" I informed her that I have called several times today & if I spoke with another supervisor, that they were only going to tell me the same thing the other 4 have already told me today. This matter has gone on for almost a month, they have all the documents that they requested, and I still can not use the card that has not only one of my clients funds, but my funds as well. I threatened to call an attorney, and all they say is that I would have to wait. I have asked for that departments phone number, as well as an email address, & they refuse to give it to. I need assistance, I believe I am being ripped off.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
USA
What a crock or crap!
#2Consumer Comment
Sun, April 10, 2011
I am a tax preparer & I have clients that do not have bank accounts. There were only three of my clients that asked me to have their income tax go to my account.
What kind of tax preparer does this? What kind of tax preparer needs to use Green Dot or any other prepaid debit card?
Kindly explain just what you're doing having tax refunds for others deposited in any account of yours?
Could it be that you're unlawfully providing RALs (refund anticipation loans) without meeting the proper regulatory requirements? I suspect this is exactly what you're doing, otherwise these 3 clients would be screaming for they refund money and report YOU to the IRS! No other reason would make sense.
Tell us, how much in interest and FEES did you charge these 3 "clients" of yours?
I hope they return the money to the IRS rather than release it to you. Then you'll have to explain to the IRS, in detail, just what the heck you're doing.
anonymous
Baltimore,Maryland,
United States of America
Synovus Bank will not release my money nor return it back to the IRS
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, April 09, 2011
I am going through the same thing with Synovus Bank / Green Dot Corp. I've sent them the requested documents and everytime I call them to request a status, they give me a new date. I have contacted the IRS to let them know that they are not releasing people money and are keeping it for themselves. The IRS said that the banks are suppose to reject the ACH not keep the money for themselves. This is ridiculous....in addtion, they charged me maintenance fees for a frozen account. I am going to tell any and everybody about their practices. I have an apointment with my local TV station next week...mabey you should contact yours too.
Green Dot
United States of AmericaGreen Dot Response
#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 28, 2011
We truly apologize for your experience and assure you we are here to help. Green Dot understands the importance of our customers need for immediate access to their hard earned money. However we must comply with regulatory requirements for the monitoring and prevention of unusual card activity and, with regard to the Turbo Tax card, we must follow Internal Revenue Service requirements. "Unusual activity" is defined as compared to the vast majority of our customers' ongoing card usage. Green Dot is committed to assisting all customers whose card activity is not in compliance with our policies and to satisfactorily resolve the issues. We have sent a message directly to you so we can further assist you. You can also contact us directly at [email protected], please provide your full name and contact number.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
They may be the least of your concerns.
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, March 26, 2011
If I read this correctly you are depositing other people's tax refunds into your account. If that is what you are doing your bigger problem may be the IRS.
From the IRS web site:
Can I direct part of my refund into my tax professionals checking or savings account to pay my tax preparation fee?
You can direct your refund to any of your checking or savings accounts; you cannot direct your refund to someone elses account (except for your spouses account, if this is a joint refund).
It is very likely it is the IRS that notified Greendot, and the "investigation" is actually going on between Greendot and the IRS. So you may want to call an attorney, but not for the reason you said. It may be to make sure you don't end up in Prision. I also noticed that you said this card has their funds and your funds as well. I really hope that at least "your" funds are your business account and not a personal account. Because if this is a personal account you may have even more issues with the IRS.
The real question is why could your clients not get a Greendot card themselves? Why couldn't they get a check issued and just go to someplace like Walmart to cash it?
