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Washington Mutual

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Joan of Windsor, CA June 3, 2009

I was sent an offer in the mail to open a checking account with WAMU offering me 100 after depositing 100.

I opened the account in January 09 and was supposed to have the 100 paid from WAMU in twelve weeks. When the money did not come as it was suppose to in the third week of April 09 I inquired with my local branch. They said other people were experiencing the same delays and had no explanation nor recourse except to wait. I was charged fees for not opening an ajoining savings account, which later were reversed once I complained I wasn't told that was required.

So far as the date of this posting, they have not deposited the 100.

Sandra of Hampstead, NC May 28, 2009

Somehow "WAMU" has gotten my phone number in error, as I have never done business with them. They are psycho-dialing me at home at all hours, leaving messages that indicate that the machine doing the dialing thinks they have a live person on the line, and is asking the WAMU customer to press a key to continue. There is no phone number left for me to call and handle the issue, and the caller id reads "out of area". This has gone on for months, and my husband and I are sick and tired of it. Needless to say, there is NO WAY I'd ever do business with them, nor would I recommend them to any of my clients. Their business model is obviously intrusive, unprofessional, and clearly inept!

Mindi of Miami, FL May 27, 2009

On March 19, 2009 I noticed three fraudulent charges on my account. I was notified through my email that I was in overdraft. Since I knew I had just deposited a check the day before and that I already had money in my account, I immediately logged on to my account through my phone. I then discovered that there were three charges at an ATM for 202.25, 202.25, 102.25 on March 18th that made me go into overdraft. I called my husband at home to see if he had his card in possession and I checked my wallet for mine. We both had our cards.

He then called WAMU and reported the fraudulent charges. We were told that we would receive a temporary refund in the next few days and would receive an affidavit. This was on a Thursday, so when Monday came and I had not received anything, I called the fraud department. I was told to wait FIVE business days. On the 5th day I called again and was told to wait until midnight of the 5th day. So on the 6th day I called and was told that I would not receive my money because my claim was denied on the 20th (less than 24 hours from the day of my claim) due to fact that I still had my card and my pin number was used.

I protested this by speaking to manager after manager about what I could do to prove that I did not use my card and I was at work when the charges happened. They told me they would not send me the affidavit because my claim was closed and they are not sure why I was told day after day that I would still receive my money. So after all the back and forth I went into a branch and spoke to a manager there, who made ANOTHER phone call on my behalf to the fraud department.

After about 40 minutes on the phone with them, she was able to get them to take another look at my claim so I could provide more information. I called them again and asked what they needed and I was told well, what can you supply. They left me guessing what to send.

Since I work in law enforcement, I immediately had my superiors write memorandums and affidavits on my behalf that I was at work and I am held to a certain level of conduct, they even stated they seen me with my card when we had lunch together (miles from where the money was taken). I also wrote a sworn affidavit stating that I did not withdraw this money and nor did I give permission to anyone to withdraw the money. I had possession of my card the entire time. So I was told it would be investigated again. I tried to file a police report to help the case and I was told I could not without anything from the bank. The bank refuses to provide me with an affidavit, since the case is closed. They also stated they cannot review cameras because it is a non WAMU ATM, after my own investigation I found it to be about 10-15 miles from my house at a Barber shop.

I then left to go on vacation with the notion that they were again investigating and reviewing the ATM machine. So when I come home 5 days later there is another letter in the mail stating my claim was denied (the very next day after I spoke to them before my vacation). I again called and was told because it was near my home and they had my pin then I authorized it and am responsible for the charges, also no one else reported fraud from this machine as being a skimmer. My claim was also tagged as a do not reopen, do not refer, case is closed.

Now at no time has an investigator called me and I have requested numerous times to speak to an investigator with no avail. I can only speak to random people that work the floor. I get mysterious letters from this so called fraud department, but I am wondering if WAMU even investigates anything.

After weeks of feeling sick to my stomach of being out 700.00 (500.00 withdrawals and 200.00 fees), I kept thinking I cannot be the only person this has happened to. I just can't...Which lead me to this site and which also lead me to read a post further down that looks as if I wrote it. I almost fainted. I didn't even realize that I to had received my new debit card in the mail and it was on my counter to activate it, when my other one was used just miles from my house.

john of salem, OR May 27, 2009

i have a business 0 % and was late one time the stepped up the interest my fault, last month I made a 75.00 payment on time at the wamu computer site. they claim that they did not receive it so I made another 75.00 payment to wamu site, they claim that they did not receive it and jacked up my interest to 29%

I am shifting my account to American express. I am also very angry at congress for their lack of support to consumer credit support by killing control standards. the government made decisions to do tarp, the banks claim that they still cannot make it so now the banks will climb onto the back of the wage earner and so will the government tax structure eventually.

Karla of tucker, GA May 26, 2009

I have had my Washington mutual account for going on 8 yrs and I have never experienced this much problems. When I lived in New York City I closed my account with Chase because they have a tendency to put holds on everyones account. I have used washington mutual so long without any issues on May 26,2009 My account was overdrawn and I deposited enough to cover the balance plus I had a rental car because I was in a car accident and can't afford one right now. The representative on the phone told me they took away my over draft protection it is a privalage and I had to earn it back by keeping my account in good standing for three days?

Where do banks do this only with Chase can you call customer services and get not an once of help but that is okay with them because thats Chase's new rules. I'm going to close my account and go with another bank this is a disgrace Chase bought a customer service oriented bank and made it corporate. Chase maybe saved Wasington Mutual Financially but they are killing the bank in BAD customer service.

Jenn of Lakewood, CO May 18, 2009

It was a Saturday evening and I just finished having dinner with my two boys and a friend. I gave my debit card to pay and the server comes back telling me my card was not going through. Right after I called the 800 number and a customer service rep tells me that they have closed my account and the note states "suspicious activity." He then tells me he cannot provide any additional information and that I have to contact Risk Operations which will be open on Monday - Friday from 6am-6pm pacific time.

I was like thats unacceptable. Who closes someone's account with out notification. He also told me it was closed on Friday which mean that just didn't try to contact me. They have all my current phone numbers! It's ridiculous! So today is Monday I called Risk Operations and they said "We are closing your account due to the fact the company is uncomfortable with your transaction activity." I've banked with WAMU for over 10 years and now they are "uncomfortable," sounds like BS to me. I asked the customer rep "because I use my account and my debit card as I should I'm being overthrown and WAMU is closing my account? " Of course her response was "theres nothing I can do."

I've been advised that they will not reopen my accounts, checking & savings, and that I must go to a branch to recover my funds. In the mean time I have no access to my money what so ever. I mean who keeps cash now days?! I always use my debit card. I guess thats my fault for trusting a bank that I've been with for over 10 years. Thank God I had food in my refrigerator and gas in my car. Seriously what is a person to do?

Michael of Portland, OR May 18, 2009

I wrote a check for 763.62 while my balance was over 4000. The check did clear, but not without first being being returned unpaid. Someone at the bank eventually realized that the overdraft claim was erroneous and my direct fees were waived. That's fine and all but I'm still left paying penalties for their fault in the form of bad check charges, late fees, and finance charges all directly resulting from the bank failing to honor a good check.

About 350 dollars from combined late fees, returned check fees, and finance charges. My bank literally told me that if I describe the situation nicely to my creditors they should waive my fees.

Hugh of Pace, FL May 12, 2009

I had an eight month cd with WaMu that matured on 3/30/09. I received a letter from WaMu stating this two weeks before that date. I called them and asked to have the check sent to me. On April 13 I called and informed them that I had not received anything from them. Tim informed me that Claudia had entered incorrect info into the computer and that I would have my check in 3-5 business days.

Five days later I received a letter stating that after further research indicated a check had been mailed to me that I would have to go to my nearest WaMu office (300 miles away) and complete a notarized Declaration of Loss. I called them and explained that there was no local office near and Matt was supposed to call me back with instructions on what to do. He never called. After numerous (8) calls to the others Rene was finally able to help me. The problem is, Wa-Mu has a stop-payment on the first check, if there ever was one, but I won't be able to get my money until 90 days after the date the cd matured.

Julie of Concord, NC May 12, 2009

I was a WAMU Credit Card holder that was bought by Chase bank. We got into a financially difficult spot because we moved from Pittsburgh to Charlotte. We still had a house to sell in Pittsburgh and we were paying rent in Charlotte. In October of 2008 my sons were laid off from there jobs so things got worse. My payment was late to Chase and they immediately raised my interest rate to 29.99% and didn't notify me. My payment also raised at this time.

I couldn't afford to make the full payment so I paid about 200 of a 323 payment. They kept compound the payment amount. Which made my payment 446 the next month and so on. Then they started calling me about my deliquent balance even thoug I was paying at least 200 a month or more when I could. They called me 8 times a day every day if I didn't anwer the calls. If I did answer the calls, they only called me every other day. I told them that this bordered on harrassment but they said that as long as I was deliquent they would continue to call. They called me at work and home.

We finally sold our house in February 2009 at 30,000 less than the original asking price but I was able to catch up on my credit card payments. My payment is still 323 a month. I contacted them and asked if they could lower my monthly interest rate so that I would be able to keep my account current and they told me no that was the lowest rate available. This makes my payment significantly higher than when WAMU was my bank holder. So I am now a few days late on my payment and they have already started calling me again 8 times a day. Is this allowed? Isn't this considered harrassment if I am paying what I can? I don't see a solution.

Michael of San Francisco, CA May 4, 2009

Last month I didn't get a bill for my business credit card, without the bill I forgot to pay. Of course I received a late charge. Once again this month I have yet to receive a bill from WaMu. I haven't moved, I've lived here for fifteen years. I have a feeling that the bank is cashing in on late charges through billing manipulation. I called the bank, they said that the bills had been sent, last month and this. I said to send the bills again. And that I'd contact you. I've been late charged. 60. But I feel that I've been done more than this time.

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