Worst yet, the theft of their money might have been an INSIDE JOB BY A CHASE BANK EMPLOYEE! It took the FIXER TO HELP RESCUE TWO ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR MONEY STOLEN VIA ATM THEFT GET THEIR MONEY BACK FROM CHASE BANK!
Perhaps only one out of every 10,000 people with a problem probably get the attention of a media consumer advocate to take the time to help them.
I am copying the article here just in case the link goes bad, but out of respect to the author of this story and the newspaper that pays them, please always try the link above first. Thank you.
I am copying the article here just in case the link goes bad, but out of respect to the author of this story and the newspaper that pays them, please always try the link above first. Thank you.
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The Fixer
Fixer helps seniors chase what matters
Comments
April 28, 2009
D ear Fixer: I have been back and forth with Chase Bank regarding fraudulent activity in my mother's and aunt's bank account. This fraud dates back to March 18, 2008.
My mother is 80 and has power of attorney over my aunt, who is 87. They have been banking at a Chase Bank location at 71st and Jeffery for three years.
During that time, there was an employee there who offered to be their personal banker. Their account had one ATM card. Someone later issued a second, unauthorized ATM card with a different number, which apparently also was linked to their account.
My mom's and aunt's pattern was to get $500 once a month to use for expenses, plus occasional withdrawals with their card for groceries, etc. Over the last year, someone used the unauthorized ATM card to make dozens of withdrawals, usually in $300 increments, at various locations that are not places that either my mom or aunt would visit.
On March 14, my mother went to the bank and was told they had no money left. Her estimated savings before this dilemma was approximately $25,000, which included her last Social Security check.
I went with her to the bank that afternoon and filed a dispute. The dispute department stated that they can and will only try to repay the money that was taken out of the account in the first 60 days of this fraud, which totals somewhere around $4,000.
I spoke to them about obtaining camera photos from the ATMs used in the fraudulent transactions and was told the police have jurisdiction. I filed a police report on March 16. When I asked the police about obtaining photos, they referred me back to the bank.
On March 23, I went to Chase's main branch downtown and spoke with a woman, who in turn referred me back to the 71st Street branch manager. I spoke to her and was told she would have her assistant call me, but I have not gotten a call back.
I have been unsuccessful in trying to get someone to assist me. Everyone wants to refer me to anyone but themselves. You would think with a bank as large as Chase, there would be a specific office to handle these types of fraudulent occurrences.
Debra Bostic, Chicago
Dear Debra: Well, it was hard to imagine two octogenarians roving the city, stealthily withdrawing a couple of hundred bucks at a pop and then lying to cover their tracks. Even more strange was the initial resistance you got at the bank.
You said you contacted U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) and federal banking regulators, in addition to The Fixer. Jackson's office told you they wrote Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Meanwhile, we e-mailed Tom Kelly, Chase spokesman, to ask the bank to take a closer look and to consider departing from Federal Regulation E, which says that fraudulent withdrawals reported more than 60 days after they appear on a bank statement are the customer's problem (banks can choose to give customers a break if they want to).
In less than a day, Kelly got back to us and said the bank would resolve it. Bank officials have since met with you and your mom, and $23,661.75 has been restored to the account.
When we asked if the fraud was an inside job, Kelly said he couldn't talk about personnel matters but that the bank is continuing an internal investigation. One thing's clear: Your aunt and mom hadn't taken the money.
A couple lessons: Read every bank and credit card statement to catch problems early, and let's make sure the older generation is getting the help they need to stay on top of this stuff.
Are you being given the runaround over a consumer problem? Tell it to The Fixer at www.southtownstar.com, where you'll find a simple form to fill out. You also can mail a brief description of your problem, along with your name, address and telephone number, to: The Fixer, SouthtownStar, 6901 W. 159th St., Tinley Park, IL 60477. Please don't send original documents. Because of the large volume of submissions, The Fixer cannot make personal replies. Letters are edited for length and clarity.
Help Daily-Protest.com grow.CHASE BANK PROTEST-DAY 9. HOW YOU CAN HELP THE DAILY-PROTEST.com CREDIT CARD PROTEST GROW WITHOUT EVEN PROTESTING YOURSELF, AND IT IS FREE.
The Fixer
Fixer helps seniors chase what matters
Comments
April 28, 2009
D ear Fixer: I have been back and forth with Chase Bank regarding fraudulent activity in my mother's and aunt's bank account. This fraud dates back to March 18, 2008.
My mother is 80 and has power of attorney over my aunt, who is 87. They have been banking at a Chase Bank location at 71st and Jeffery for three years.
During that time, there was an employee there who offered to be their personal banker. Their account had one ATM card. Someone later issued a second, unauthorized ATM card with a different number, which apparently also was linked to their account.
My mom's and aunt's pattern was to get $500 once a month to use for expenses, plus occasional withdrawals with their card for groceries, etc. Over the last year, someone used the unauthorized ATM card to make dozens of withdrawals, usually in $300 increments, at various locations that are not places that either my mom or aunt would visit.
On March 14, my mother went to the bank and was told they had no money left. Her estimated savings before this dilemma was approximately $25,000, which included her last Social Security check.
I went with her to the bank that afternoon and filed a dispute. The dispute department stated that they can and will only try to repay the money that was taken out of the account in the first 60 days of this fraud, which totals somewhere around $4,000.
I spoke to them about obtaining camera photos from the ATMs used in the fraudulent transactions and was told the police have jurisdiction. I filed a police report on March 16. When I asked the police about obtaining photos, they referred me back to the bank.
On March 23, I went to Chase's main branch downtown and spoke with a woman, who in turn referred me back to the 71st Street branch manager. I spoke to her and was told she would have her assistant call me, but I have not gotten a call back.
I have been unsuccessful in trying to get someone to assist me. Everyone wants to refer me to anyone but themselves. You would think with a bank as large as Chase, there would be a specific office to handle these types of fraudulent occurrences.
Debra Bostic, Chicago
Dear Debra: Well, it was hard to imagine two octogenarians roving the city, stealthily withdrawing a couple of hundred bucks at a pop and then lying to cover their tracks. Even more strange was the initial resistance you got at the bank.
You said you contacted U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) and federal banking regulators, in addition to The Fixer. Jackson's office told you they wrote Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Meanwhile, we e-mailed Tom Kelly, Chase spokesman, to ask the bank to take a closer look and to consider departing from Federal Regulation E, which says that fraudulent withdrawals reported more than 60 days after they appear on a bank statement are the customer's problem (banks can choose to give customers a break if they want to).
In less than a day, Kelly got back to us and said the bank would resolve it. Bank officials have since met with you and your mom, and $23,661.75 has been restored to the account.
When we asked if the fraud was an inside job, Kelly said he couldn't talk about personnel matters but that the bank is continuing an internal investigation. One thing's clear: Your aunt and mom hadn't taken the money.
A couple lessons: Read every bank and credit card statement to catch problems early, and let's make sure the older generation is getting the help they need to stay on top of this stuff.
Are you being given the runaround over a consumer problem? Tell it to The Fixer at www.southtownstar.com, where you'll find a simple form to fill out. You also can mail a brief description of your problem, along with your name, address and telephone number, to: The Fixer, SouthtownStar, 6901 W. 159th St., Tinley Park, IL 60477. Please don't send original documents. Because of the large volume of submissions, The Fixer cannot make personal replies. Letters are edited for length and clarity.
Help Daily-Protest.com grow.CHASE BANK PROTEST-DAY 9. HOW YOU CAN HELP THE DAILY-PROTEST.com CREDIT CARD PROTEST GROW WITHOUT EVEN PROTESTING YOURSELF, AND IT IS FREE.
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