A year ago I joined a credit union that I thought was credible and had integrity. It is the credit union for federal employees and military – PenFed. I sent them $500. Turns out I was dead wrong.
After several attempts to get a log in so I could see my account – they don’t mail anything about account status to members (but see below for the use of the mail) – I called to find that out on the phone. I was told I couldn’t get that info unless I had the pin number (duh!). Finally I asked to close the account and send my money back. That’s where the fun begins.
I was required by a PenFed rep to have several documents notarized and sent to him at a fax number he specified. That would prove who I am, I suppose.including a utility bill, my social security card (who still has theirs?) and a picture ID. Why these documents weren’t required to open the account but are required to close it wasn’t made clear. But I followed up and sent them to the fax provided. Oh, wrong – he gave me a wrong area code. We found the correct one on their website and sent the documents.
Then I replied to his email asking for confirmation of receipt. The email bounced back despite several attempts. I called a few days later and could not get to this man, but another employee told me to send my documents again, this time to a different fax number. So I did that, then called as instructed to confirm receipt. Yep, received. Now can I answer all the security questions I provided when the account was opened? By now steaming a bit I answered all the questions correctly. NOW could I get my money? Not quite yet!
Now they need to send me a pin number that I must call them with in order to get a refund! Really? Are they still not convinced I’m me? How can that be? OK, can you email it to me? No, we don’t email anything like that. We have to send it via the post office. Really? And trust that the post office will deliver it to my mail box sometime in the next x days so I can then MAYBE get someone to actually cut me a check.
And for all this I have earned in the past year a grand total of $1.48 in interest!
This has to be the most incompetent organization on the planet. They should not have custody of people’s money. Not mine, and certainly not yours! Be warned!
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