Eppicard

Eppicard • EPPICard Scam Pops Up In Indiana • Consumer Complaints

The Eppicard is similar to an ATM card and is used by many state and local agencies to distribute unemployment benefits and other social welfare payments. But look out! Scamsters have found ways to turn the cards to their advantage. See our story for details.

Randall of Petersberg, VA July 26, 2009

Oh July 9, 2009, I approved Grants Insider of Kearney, MO to debit my account for 1.95 for supposedly shipping charges of a packet, and a temporary access to their website. After reviewing the website, I found that it was nothing more then what was allowed for free on verious government sites. I sent an email requesting that I be disenrolled from the program. Since I had not received the packet in the mail, I assumed that they had granted my wish.

On July 23, 2009, a charge appeared upon my debit card, in the "Pending Transaction" section, for 39.95 for Grant Insider. I contacted EPPICard's Customer Service at the toll free number. I explained that this was a fraudulent charge. I was told that they would credit the charge back to my account withing 24 to 48 hours.

I checked the account again at Midnight Friday night/Saturday morning. This time the 39.95 charge was listed in the completed transaction. I called back to the Customer Service number, and was told that I had not called in time to stop the transfer of funds. Further each call that I have made to the Customer Service was costing me a .45 service charge.

mary of connelly springs, NC July 22, 2009

I have money missing from my account! I called cust. service and got my last ten transactions,which mine being the same as his,I should have185.00 but only have 150.00! Now where is the other 35.00? He said he would mail me my transactions in about 3 weeks! My transactions are the same as his,we went through this over the phone wich also cost me hidden fees!!Now what good is it to send me that info. when we just went over it on the phone!! 35.00 is missing with NO explanation as to where it went so i hold the BANK responsible and should be reimbursed. Struggling already without the goverment&everyone else trying to rip me the hell off!! Never wanted the card to start with. Also have friends&family who are having problems as well.Where are the free transactions? Ive yet to find one!!Very disappointed in our country today!!!

donna of Petersburg, VA June 23, 2009

well i didnt ask for this card and they take so many fees out of it this is suppose to be my childsupport money but i feel its being taken in fees and i have had so many problems with the guy danny who answers the phone that is after they take atleast 3.oo from you to get to an live customer service rep. and he is reallly rude asked for his boss he hung up on me i had some bad experinces with this company but the state of va is forcing you use this card

donna of Petersburg, VA June 23, 2009

well i didnt ask for this card and they take so many fees out of it this is suppose to be my childsupport money but i feel its being taken in fees and i have had so many problems with the guy danny who answers the phone that is after they take atleast 3.oo from you to get to an live customer service rep. and he is reallly rude asked for his boss he hung up on me i had some bad experinces with this company but the state of va is forcing you use this card

Karen of Rome, NY June 21, 2009

This Eppi card that the state has forced everyone to use is a nightmare. I have multiple complaints about it. Right now I need to speak to someone at Eppi card and can get no one. There is no option to speak to a person. I have tried many times to get my child support direct deposited into my own checking account but everytime I send the form NYS declines it for one reason or another. At this time, the state has dispursed my money which was due four days ago, yet eppi does not reflect it. Where did the money go?

Also, there are no fee-free locations in my area at all. I dont think there are any in my state (New York) I have to pay 3.00 to withdraw cash. And the fee's for calling them and other usage are outragious. We as custodial parents and our children should not have to pay anything to get our child support! I need to speak to someone at Eppi and not be charged .50 each time I try to get a person and cant. Is there a number to speak to a customer service person???? They claim they have customer service 24/7 which is a lie. It's all automated info.

david of Cincinnati, OH June 21, 2009

The DFA (Disability Financial Assistance) I receive from Hamilton County, Ohio is now disbursed by Eppicard. Currently it is 115.00 per month. The information pamphlet Eppicard provides states that if we make cash withdrawals from "participating banks ATM's" there will only be a .75 cent service charge. The banks listed by Eppicard are Fifth Third and PNC.

Both the Fifth Third and the PNC ATMs charged me 3.00 when I withdrew cash. When I checked my statement on Eppicard.com, it showed a further .75 cent charge. But the 3.00 ATM fee was included in the amount of cash withdrawal! In other words, Eppicard hides the bank's 3.00 ATM charge by calling your 50.00 cash withdrawal a 53.00 withdrawal.

Tens of thousands of poor and disabled people are getting charged this way after being told by Eppicard that they would not be. I have contacted Fifth Third on the phone, over their website, and in person at the downtown Cincinnati office. All the people I contacted responded the exact same way, as if reading from a script: "I'm sorry, but I've never heard of that program."

Eppicard also states in their information pamphlet that Master Card teller windows will provide cash advances without fees, but I have yet to find one. Neither Eppicard nor Hamilton County, Ohio will respond to my telephone inquiries. (Eppicard has no email address for people on DFA to send questions. Eppicard's telephone is automated; there is no option on the menu to connect you to a live service representative.

Michael of PAHRUMP, NV June 19, 2009

There was an unauthorized charge on my Eppicard. I disputed with an agent and was told the charges was to be reversed within 24 hours and 48 hours later still nothing. Also, while waiting, I was charged many account fees for checking (I was given an account alert on my cell phone for a balance notice).

Jan of Las Vegas, NV June 14, 2009

I made a purchase for 50.68 at a grocery store and my card was erroneously charged twice by the same merchant for the exact amount the following day. I contacted the merchant and was told to contact Eppicard. After many disputes in writing and follow-up calls regarding the unauthorized charges, Eppicard stated that the merchant had not submitted any supporting documentation regarding the unauthorized charges on my card and that the money would be put back on my account.

A credit adjustment for one of the charges and a debit adjustment for the other charge appeared on my account and when I called to inquire of the matter, I was told that it was due to a “system error” and that a credit adjustment for the second 50.68 would be made to my account. It never happened, as a matter of fact Eppicard made a debit adjustment of 50.68 which meant that my account is now minus 101.36. I received a letter from Eppicard denying my claim and closing the matter. It’s a dog gone shame that this beastly company is allowed to successfully scam consumers of their money despite the number of complaints sent to appropriate agencies and once the scam finally balloons to media notoriety, the low-life vipers slither away quietly into the fog that protects them until they strike again. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!!

kimberly of Rocky Mount, VA June 14, 2009

I have an eppicard and as everyone knows they charge you after a couple of balance checks they charge you. Well now I'm locked out of my account on the internet and after many attempts to reset my password I still can not access my account. Not only that but I can't get in touch with any type of customer service despite any number I call to fix the problem. This is the worst manner of business I've ever had to deal with.

Rachel of Columbus, IN June 11, 2009

Original ATM problem. Nov 5 or 6, 2008. Dispute filed immediately. Nov. 28 Provisional Credit 320 applied to my account. Dec. 12, 2008 320 Provisional Credit Removed from my balance. Dispute filed again (exact date in records) Dispute denied (again, I have records to prove this) Filed 3rd dispute (spring, 2009) 3rd Dispute denied. Each and every time I mailed in the dispute forms, I clearly explained the details of events, providing written documentation from the Bank, my receipts, and my personal statements regarding what happened, and some of the troubles I've experienced during this ATM dispute process.

November 5th or 6th, 2008 I went to an ATM at National City Bank on 25th St. Columbus, IN to remove cash from my account. My balance was 334, I requested 320 (increments of 20). It did not give me any cash, and printed a receipt that said, "Unable to process transaction at this time". I wondered what the problem was, and thought that maybe there was a 300 limit, so I requested lesser amount (twice) and each time it said, "amount requested exceeds available balance".

I knew I had 334 prior to pulling up to the ATM, I reported this to the card company immediately. L. Rodriquez, Customer Service Representative documented this issue and began the dispute process for me. I filled out all paper work, sent it in via certified mail, and about 2 weeks later, on Nov. 28, 2008. I received a "provisional credit" OF 320 to my account. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER...WRONG! Two weeks later, Nov 12, 2008, they removed 320 from my account AGAIN! I called them asking WHY it was taken out again, and the representative did not know why. She agreed that it must have been in error, and suggested I file another dispute claim. Again, I filled out all paper work and sent it in in a timely manner, with Certified Mail, and again they denied me. They said my denial was, "based on documentation from the merchant" which is National City. So I went to National City to find out what EPPICard was talking about. They had "NO IDEA"! As I said, they provided me with written documents supporting my dispute, and want this matter resolved immediately.

I disputed that transaction (Nov. 12)and got nowhere. I had even sent in a letter from the Bank Manager, stating that I absolutely did not receive any money from the ATM. National City is supporting me with letters and ATM logs proving that I did not get any money and yet they (EPPICard Processing Payment Center) refuse to give my money back. Upon receiving that "denial" I simply couldn't believe it! They were making it impossible to get my money back.

Some one has my child support, and I want it back. That money is for my child, and I will fight for this. It's terrible that a person has to go through such lengthy dispute processes and spend 5 to mail it off, not to mention other financial losses I incurred! After being denied, I disputed THAT and the final reply was, "we credited your account 320 Nov. 12" but they fail to address the fact that they REMOVED 320 on Nov. 28. I'm ready to take legal action. 120 lost wages (missed work trying to take care of this issue). 78 in overdraft fees. 15 in certified mail fees Missed out on Christmas Specials for my child.

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