I have a business checking account at US Bank in Louisville, KY. On 5/6/09 I deposited a valid check from a regular and respected client. On 5/11/09 I was balancing my checkbook online and found that the check had been declined. So I go to my branch and inquire about it. I got a copy of the check and the reason for the decline was RETURN REASON - E UNABLE TO LOCATE ACCOUNT.
I proceed to talk to my client and it turns out they never seen the check. Upon careful study, we realized that someone at US Bank keyed in the routing numbers wrong. No big deal right? WRONG! I go back to my branch of US BANK on 5-12 and asked them to simply key the routing numbers and correct my account. The teller tells me I have to wait 24-48 hours and I'll get something in the mail and he'll correct the error.
So 2 days later I do get something in the mail from a FARS company in Barbourville, KY. I take this to the branch where they ALL, including the bank Manager act totally dumbfounded about who FARS is and why they are involved. So I call the FARS 1-877-898-3136 number where I'm told they are hired to collect my money and deposit it in my account and it would take 7-14 days to process. I proceed to tell them it was a simple routing code mistake by US Bank but by then we can't do anything about it according to the US Bank Branch Manager.
14 days pass. Now it's 5/26,20 days since I deposited the check. I call FARS again and they tell me they have my money. They said they they would process it and put the money in my account that night as nothing happens until after 5PM. The night passes and no check. I Call the next day and ask to talk to the supervisor, name Cathy. She assures me the money will be IN my account by 5 minutes after midnight THAT night. I ask hoe they make their money? She tells me they charge the check writer $50! I went through the floor. I told I told EVERYONE in the beginning that it was a clerical error by US BANK. Turns out FARS harassed my client about this and made them jump through hoops to issue FARS a check.
I need to go on record now, that I am a contractor for this client and since this started I have received no work from this client. That's about $20-30,000/yr business that US Bank and FARS screwed me for. I informed the US Bank Branch Manager about this and that was when he stated he never heard of FARS. You gotta wonder about a bank that turns over private banking information to a third party, then proceeds to wreck my business.
So here I am today 5/28, still have not received my money, mortgage check is going to bounce in 2 days, out of work, marriage hanging by a thread and nearing the end of my rope. All because US Bank cannot type 2 digits in a routing number correctly.
I called the President of US Bank in Louisville David Wamble at 502-562-6474 and he has not returned my call.
Here is a letter I wrote to US Bank:
Back on 5/6 one of your dyslexic people put a routing number in incorrectly (got the last 2 digits wrong) which sent a check for $785 through what apparently one of your top US Bank officials set up as a scheme to either outright steal money from customers or just show how incompetent you are. I'm still waiting to get the money credited to my account that was a good check but your bank still cannot return my money. I could have walked the money to the x moon before now. You need to simply return check that you think are not good. Like I said, your FARS system is either a scheme to keep peoples money and collect interest on it or just about the most incompetence system I ever seen. I am forwarding this to the Kentucky Attorney General in case there is other instances of this on record.
Here is their response:
I apologize for the inconvenience. For assistance with the item please contact IBG / FARS Electronic Check Recovery Customer Service at 1-877-898-3136. They are available Monday - Friday 8:30 AM -9:00 PM EST.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Danielle Snider
Email Operations
U.S. Bank 24-Hour Banking and Financial Sales
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