Unauthorized withdrawals from my checking account. What can I do? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BonBon · 08-27-2010, 09:33 AM

I am so ANGRY!

My bank processed two unauthorized "payment by phone" transactions withdrawing almost $400 from my checking account. I went in to the bank to dispute the charges and they pretty much did....nothing. I knew nothing about these transactions until I checked my account activity, and I certainly did not approve these withdrawals.

The bank manager said the only way to stop this company from doing it again would be to close my account and open another one. They gave me little to no hope of ever recovering my money. WTH!?!?! The bank processed these transactions - it was their error - why do I have to pay because they just handed my money out to anyone and everyone?

I have all of my utilities, my mortgage and my car insurance set up to as auto withdrawals from this account. Not to mention that my employer REQUIRES us to have direct deposit of our paychecks.

I guess my afternoon will be filled with phone calls to all these companies.

Thanks for letting me vent. For once, blowing off steam didn't help any.

BonBon · 08-27-2010, 09:35 AM

Oh, and I did call the company that made these withdrawals. They insisted that I had made an arrangement with them but could not provide any proof.

They're refusing to refund my money.

The bank also says they won't replace the money in my account while the dispute is being processed (which takes up to 90 days).

Micah my love · 08-27-2010, 10:03 AM

I would be closing that acct. and going to another bank

Fatalivy · 08-27-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micah my love

I would be closing that acct. and going to another bank

i totally agree.

BonBon · 08-27-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micah my love

I would be closing that acct. and going to another bank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatalivy

i totally agree.

I'll definitely be closing the account. But switching banks....that's part of my dilemma. I've been with this bank for over 20 years, and never had any problems...what you'd call a Happy Customer....up until now. I'm very disappointed but I don't know enough to know if this is common practice or not.

A friend suggested that I visit a couple of other banks and ask how they would handle this situation before I make any decisions to change. Has anyone else had this happen? How did your bank handle it.

Any suggestions on how I can get my money back? Like most people, I don't have $500 to lose....this reeeeaaaalllly puts me in a bind.

Nancy1999 · 08-27-2010, 10:17 AM

What does the company say that that the withdrawals were for? What services were provided for this money? Could someone else have given them permission without your knowledge? I'm not sure whom you would contact; I cannot imagine your bank doing so little to help you resolve this. I think I would find another bank as well.

jencar98 · 08-27-2010, 10:32 AM

Bonny, I used to work for a bank and the best advice I can give you is to....don't give up. They can and do refund money on fraudulent withdrawals and that is exactly what took place. Don't know the size of your bank but if you have a loan officer there, speak with him/her, don't just deal with bookkeeping. Explain that you have been a valued customer with no account problems for the past 20 years and want to remain their customer, but you can not afford to be without your funds for the length of time the bank is requiring. Ask them to, at the very least issue a partial refund until this fraud can be proven or dealt with.

The customers that give up easily, don't get their money back. Those that are persistent have a good chance at getting it back, especially for this amount. It's not worth a few hundred dollars for the bank to lose your business. After all, I am pretty certain the bank could write off on their taxes losses like this.

Good luck.....I know ...it Sucks!

Fatalivy · 08-27-2010, 10:32 AM

I had a situation a few months ago where someone used my debit card number in another state. guess what, I had my debit card, so someone just stole the number. well, my bank (loss prevention) called me to verify that I had made those charges because they felt it was unusual that i would have made purchase in a state i don't normally do it in. and such a large amount of money. i had not been online that day to see the charges, so i was totally unaware. i told them it was not me that went on a shopping spree and i did not authorize those charges and they returned the money that very same day. every bank is different, but i do not understand how they can hold you liable for something you didn't authorize or make you wait 90 days while it's being investigated. isn't that why banks are insured?

Maximo · 08-27-2010, 10:37 AM

I'm so sorry you are going through this. What kind of company made the unauthorized charges? Have you tried contacting them?

ETA: I see you did contact them.

jadabug · 08-27-2010, 10:38 AM

I am the head teller in a bank. I am not sure if laws vary state by state, but in TN if a customer has a transaction that clears from their account as an ACH file that was not authorized by the customer, we have a written statement of unauthorized debit. You are basically stating that you did not authorize the transaction and the bank returns it to the company that debited your account as an unauthorized transaction. If the debit cleared your account as a debit card or point of sale transaction it does take up to 90 days for the dispute to be cleared up as it is handled through visa or mastercard who has the majority of all debit cards in the US.

lynnelily · 08-27-2010, 10:42 AM

I had that happen to me with unauthorized withdraw and I contacted my bank it is a credit union bank and they told me to come in fill out a report and put the money right back into my account that day. They said they would take care of everything. They also called me once when I was in another state visiting my daughter to see if it was me using my debit card.

Fatalivy · 08-27-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynnelily

I had that happen to me with unauthorized withdraw and I contacted my bank it is a credit union bank and they told me to come in fill out a report and put the money right back into my account that day. They said they would take care of everything. They also called me once when I was in another state visiting my daughter to see if it was me using my debit card.

I'm with a credit union as well. They are awesome!

bchgirl · 08-27-2010, 10:45 AM

Oh I'd be livid. How did this company have your checking account and bank routing number?

jadabug · 08-27-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynnelily

I had that happen to me with unauthorized withdraw and I contacted my bank it is a credit union bank and they told me to come in fill out a report and put the money right back into my account that day. They said they would take care of everything. They also called me once when I was in another state visiting my daughter to see if it was me using my debit card.

I work for a bank and we do it that way too. If a customers says they didn't authorize it we return it to as unauthorized by the customer and the bank customer gets their money back the same day.

Rhetts_mama · 08-27-2010, 11:06 AM

Wow. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Does the bank have a fraud division that you can speak to?

08-27-2010, 09:33 AM	#1
BonBon Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: With my yorkies Posts: 10,350	Unauthorized withdrawals from my checking account. What can I do? I am so ANGRY! My bank processed two unauthorized "payment by phone" transactions withdrawing almost $400 from my checking account. I went in to the bank to dispute the charges and they pretty much did....nothing. I knew nothing about these transactions until I checked my account activity, and I certainly did not approve these withdrawals. The bank manager said the only way to stop this company from doing it again would be to close my account and open another one. They gave me little to no hope of ever recovering my money. WTH!?!?! The bank processed these transactions - it was their error - why do I have to pay because they just handed my money out to anyone and everyone? I have all of my utilities, my mortgage and my car insurance set up to as auto withdrawals from this account. Not to mention that my employer REQUIRES us to have direct deposit of our paychecks. I guess my afternoon will be filled with phone calls to all these companies. Thanks for letting me vent. For once, blowing off steam didn't help any. __________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -- Author Unknown

08-27-2010, 09:35 AM	#2
BonBon Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: With my yorkies Posts: 10,350	Oh, and I did call the company that made these withdrawals. They insisted that I had made an arrangement with them but could not provide any proof. They're refusing to refund my money. The bank also says they won't replace the money in my account while the dispute is being processed (which takes up to 90 days). __________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -- Author Unknown

08-27-2010, 10:03 AM	#3
Micah my love Donating YT 100K Club Member & Top YorkieTalk Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: western KY Posts: 108,935	I would be closing that acct. and going to another bank __________________ Betty & Micah my love + Yogi

08-27-2010, 10:17 AM	#6
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	What does the company say that that the withdrawals were for? What services were provided for this money? Could someone else have given them permission without your knowledge? I'm not sure whom you would contact; I cannot imagine your bank doing so little to help you resolve this. I think I would find another bank as well. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

08-27-2010, 10:32 AM	#7
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,435 Blog Entries: 3	Bonny, I used to work for a bank and the best advice I can give you is to....don't give up. They can and do refund money on fraudulent withdrawals and that is exactly what took place. Don't know the size of your bank but if you have a loan officer there, speak with him/her, don't just deal with bookkeeping. Explain that you have been a valued customer with no account problems for the past 20 years and want to remain their customer, but you can not afford to be without your funds for the length of time the bank is requiring. Ask them to, at the very least issue a partial refund until this fraud can be proven or dealt with. The customers that give up easily, don't get their money back. Those that are persistent have a good chance at getting it back, especially for this amount. It's not worth a few hundred dollars for the bank to lose your business. After all, I am pretty certain the bank could write off on their taxes losses like this. Good luck.....I know ...it Sucks! __________________ ~Ruby, Reno, Razz, & Jack~

08-27-2010, 10:32 AM	#8
Fatalivy YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: USA Posts: 414	I had a situation a few months ago where someone used my debit card number in another state. guess what, I had my debit card, so someone just stole the number. well, my bank (loss prevention) called me to verify that I had made those charges because they felt it was unusual that i would have made purchase in a state i don't normally do it in. and such a large amount of money. i had not been online that day to see the charges, so i was totally unaware. i told them it was not me that went on a shopping spree and i did not authorize those charges and they returned the money that very same day. every bank is different, but i do not understand how they can hold you liable for something you didn't authorize or make you wait 90 days while it's being investigated. isn't that why banks are insured? Last edited by Fatalivy; 08-27-2010 at 10:33 AM.

08-27-2010, 10:37 AM	#9
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,041	I'm so sorry you are going through this. What kind of company made the unauthorized charges? Have you tried contacting them? ETA: I see you did contact them. Last edited by Maximo; 08-27-2010 at 10:40 AM.

08-27-2010, 10:38 AM	#10
jadabug Jada + Bogie = ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mayberry AKA smalltown usa Posts: 24,078	I am the head teller in a bank. I am not sure if laws vary state by state, but in TN if a customer has a transaction that clears from their account as an ACH file that was not authorized by the customer, we have a written statement of unauthorized debit. You are basically stating that you did not authorize the transaction and the bank returns it to the company that debited your account as an unauthorized transaction. If the debit cleared your account as a debit card or point of sale transaction it does take up to 90 days for the dispute to be cleared up as it is handled through visa or mastercard who has the majority of all debit cards in the US. __________________ Michelle, Jada and Bogie

08-27-2010, 10:42 AM	#11
lynnelily Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: usa Posts: 413	I had that happen to me with unauthorized withdraw and I contacted my bank it is a credit union bank and they told me to come in fill out a report and put the money right back into my account that day. They said they would take care of everything. They also called me once when I was in another state visiting my daughter to see if it was me using my debit card.

08-27-2010, 10:45 AM	#13
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 15,444 Blog Entries: 2	Oh I'd be livid. How did this company have your checking account and bank routing number? __________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com

08-27-2010, 11:06 AM	#15
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	Wow. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Does the bank have a fraud division that you can speak to? __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.