Don't Give Creditors Your Checking Account Information!

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged because I’ve been looking for a job, and those of you who know me, know that I’m a comic in training.  However, today, today I had to take time out to get a load off my chest.

I was bamboozled, hoodwinked, and led a stray! 

But it was my own fault because I gave my checking information to a creditor.

If you haven’t guessed it, by the title, that’s the topic – what can happen if you give a creditor your account information.

I was trying to do the right thing.  It was my debt.  I owned it.  Because of this debt, I’m a proud college graduate.  Go Terpins!

I gave the student loan collection agency, Performant Corporation, my account information when I was employed.  If I could turn back time!

I’ve been trying to get Performant to grant me an unemployment forbearance since December 2013.

$374 bucker-ooze a month!

For many of my friends and family, that’s not a lot of money, but when unemployment is $379 a week, and you’ve got a child, mortgage, and a car note on top of everything else, that’s a lot of freaking money!

I explained the situation to Bank of America when $374 was deducted in February, and they refunded that amount as a courtesy.

I was told by the B&A account representative that the only thing I could do was close my account. 

I went to the B&A Sterling branch and was told that closing my account would be counter-productive because if a deposit hits my account, the account will automatically reopen.

I called, emailed and faxed additional documentation to Performant, yet they deducted $374 out of my account in March.

I knew I had an unemployment check coming in (which would reopen the account), so I requested that B&A put a stop payment on the amount $374 and the next sequential check number.

I pitched a fit, but I maintained self-control when I saw that $374 had been deducted in April.

I spoke to two B&A customer service agents before I spoke to Shawn, who explained, ‘Someone at B&A should have advised me to freeze my account, and blocked the vendor name.’ 

“No one, said that to me, and I’ve been dealing with this since February,” I said to Shawn, who reassured me that I would be credited for March and April!

Praise God!

So, you can imagine my dismay when I was transferred to the Fraud department and was told that I was given misinformation.  

‘You were told to close your account and you chose not to, so we are not responsible for your loss,’ the agent, Linda, said, in a nutshell.

I explained how the Sterling Branch Manager said it would be “counter-productive,” how I’ve been going around and around, given misinformation, and I’ve called, emailed, went into the branch.

Past tears and beginning a state of rage, I demanded to speak to a manager.

I can’t stand people playing with my money, but being told, ‘here’s your money – yeah – you thought’ was too much for me!

After fifteen minutes of going over a frustrating story, I was told that I would get a form to complete, and B&A would try to get the money from the creditor and if they do, they will refund my account.

“Did you not hear what I said?  You guys told me it would be counter-productive.  You guys cashed the check when I put a stop payment on.  I said put a stop payment on the amount and also the check number.  It’s not my fault that you guys only put the stop payment on the check number.  I didn’t realize until today that you could have frozen my account.  Why wasn’t that done?  I’ve been dealing with this since February; it’s April!  You’ve given me misinformation.  Not all of the information.  B&A is just to blame.  I will accept fighting for March, but you need to refund April today!  It is not my fault that you have untrained representatives working for you.  You tape your calls.  Listen to them.  I was never told you could freeze my account!  I was told twenty minutes ago that I would get March and April refunded and now you want me to fill out a form?  No, I did everything that I was supposed to do.  I want my money!”

“Ok, Ms. Lightburn, I will complete a fraud report and send you the form for March…”

That was yesterday.

I went to close my account at the Sterling Branch office today and was told, “Your account is frozen; you might want to keep it open.  No one can deduct anything.”

Craziness!

Anyway, my entire point of this blog is, keep control over your personal finances by REFUSING TO GIVE CREDITORS YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION.

Creditors cannot force you to give them your credit card or checking information, even though, sometimes it seems as if that’s the only option.