I'm about to become famous!
I'm about to become famous!
I'm about to become famous!#1
Posted: 8/11/10 at 10:33am
I am fed up with corporations, specifically a particular corporation in the banking industry. They are a national bank, who at this time I will not name.
I would just like my BWW family to be the first to know -- I am about to become famous. One of the next YouTube sensations.
This bank did a disservice to me. And for the past few months I have called two individual branches, visited in person one of those branches plus a third branch, called the bank manager of one of the branches, called that bank manager's supervisor, called a corporate hotline, and called customer service countless times.
Well, this last time that I called customer service, I recorded the conversation. And I plan on releasing it onto YouTube so that every single one of their customers will know my story.
As a teaser, I'll provide the first and last portions of this conversation that I had. I'm in the process of finding someone to edit video for me, so stay tuned!
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Thank you for calling [bank's name]. My name is Donna. May I have your first and last name, please?
ME: Hi, Donna. I'm about to give you my name, however before I do, I have to let you know that when I called this number, a robot message informed me that this call may be monitored or recorded, so I would like to return the gesture and inform you that this call is being recorded by me as well.
...
ME: ...can you please confirm that after my explaining the situation to you -- a situation which this bank admits was their fault -- that there is absolutely nothing you can do, and that there is nothing else that I can do. Is this correct? There is no one else I can call?
CUSTOMER SERVICE: I'm afraid so.
ME: So [this bank] is unable to correct the error that they admit was their fault, and that if my calls to the supervisor are not being returned, there is nothing else that can be done?
CUSTOMER SERVICE: That is correct.
ME: So what do I do now? Should I hang up?
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Like I said, I am willing to transfer you to her voicemail --
ME: No, no. I already left six messages.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Well thank you for calling [bank's name] and do know that we value you as a customer and appreciate your call.
--Aristotle
I'm about to become famous!#2
Posted: 8/11/10 at 10:36amIs this the bank you were trying skip out on because of all your overdraft fees?
Joined: 12/31/69
I'm about to become famous!#2
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:02amI wish Paul Harvey were still alive. I'd love to hear the Rest of The Story!
I'm about to become famous!#3
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:03am
YES! Those overdrafts are part of it. I forgot I posted about that way back when!
I recently moved and while settling affairs back home and putting things into storage, I found my old receipts, and to make a long story short, now have proof that the bank made an error.
The issue NOW is that I have this proof in my hands and I am in a different state. I call the branch and leave messages that go unreturned. I call customer service who can't help me. I go to different branches and they tell me only the original branch's manager can help. I call that manager's supervisor and the supervisor won't return my calls. I tell customer service that my calls and messages go unanswered and am told there is nothing else I can do.
This runaround has been going on for about a year, but since I found this proof from two months ago, and since I have recorded this last conversation I had with customer service, I am hoping to accomplish three things:
- Get the "powers that be" at the company to see the video and show them just how shtty their customer service is, despite how nice their staff may be.
- Get the "powers that be" to reprimand the branch manager and the branch manager's supervisor for not showing proper customer service by not responding to my SEVERAL messages.
- Get the public to be aware of this bank's poor service.
--Aristotle
I'm about to become famous!#4
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:04am
Are you expecting a mass rally of support?
I honestly think people will just kind of shrug.
I mean, it's not like you slid down an escape slide or went ballistic over McNuggets.
Maybe if you upped the stakes though...like do something violent. That should make you a folk hero.
I'm about to become famous!#5
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:06amI don't think this has the makings of becoming an internet sensation unless you left the part out where the customer service rep called you sugar tits.
Joined: 12/31/69
I'm about to become famous!#6
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:15amOr write it all out on a white board in an amusing way!
I'm about to become famous!#7
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:29amGot it. Go to my new local branch, write "HOPA???" on a whiteboard, yell at the teller because they don't sell McNuggets at a bank, then swing the exit door open, roll out a waterslide and take a naked subway ride home.
--Aristotle
I'm about to become famous!#8
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:32amJust bring extra batteries for the camera.
I'm about to become famous!#9
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:33am
The other problem is that at this point no one is going to be shocked (or even surprised) that banks don't give a crap about their customers who have little money.
But I thought the overdrafts were because you were charging a few cents in the cafeteria and weren't paying attention to your balance.
I'm about to become famous!#10
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:50am
It's a long story, but that's exactly right, I charged knowing in my head what my balance should be, but after checking my receipts to my account online, I noticed that one of my deposits has no history of being in the account, even though I have a receipt for it. The deposit was a promotional incentive from the bank, which is why apparently only this one specific branch can assist me because they are familiar with that offer.
I now have the promotional flyer and receipt of the gift, and it's been faxed over, but the bank manager hasn't taken care of it yet and when I attempt to call and leave messages, those messages go unanswered.
--Aristotle
Joined: 12/31/69
I'm about to become famous!#11
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:51am
My advice on how to get along with your bank- from someone who is poorer and wiser:
1) Never overdraft. It is absolutely imperative that you track your money and do not let your balance hit (or go below) zero.
2) Cut your expenses. It's painful but usually easier than finding more income. You need to spend less than you make.
3) Start a savings account at the bank with your checking account. My bank offers a transfer every time I use my debit card- if I charge $19.45, they take $20 and put the 55 cents in savings. It adds up- I get about $300 a year that way. AND it makes it easier to keep track to follow #1 above: No change, just nice round numbers.
4) Get online banking and check your balances every day. If you do screw up, transfer money into your checking to prevent those overdrafts.
5) If you can't do all that- get rid of your checking account altogether. Cash your check and use only cash and money orders. That way you can not overdraft your account. Sure, you have to pay check cashing and Money order fees but it's a lot less than those $35 overdrafts.
I'm about to become famous!#12
Posted: 8/11/10 at 1:20pmOnly do online banking on an Apple computer.
Joined: 12/31/69
I'm about to become famous!#14
Posted: 8/11/10 at 1:51pmNote: if you choose to go with the whiteboard approach, choose your date wisely. You don't want some flight attendant stealing your thunder by going out an emergency chute.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
I'm about to become famous!#16
Posted: 8/11/10 at 11:13pm
"I charged knowing in my head what my balance should be"..."The deposit was a promotional incentive from the bank, which is why apparently only this one specific branch can assist me because they are familiar with that offer."
So, let me get this straight...
You THOUGHT you knew your balance because the bank was to have deposited a 'promotional incentive' into your account.
And you were relying on that to cover your butt?
Good luck.
I'm about to become famous!#19
Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:11am
By the by, if you post something seemingly for the purpose of making yourself famous, you kind of sound like a tool...
I'm about to become famous!#20
Posted: 8/12/10 at 11:02amWill you be able to sign autographs, you know, with your hook?
I'm about to become famous!#22
Posted: 8/12/10 at 11:23amI haven't seen anything about Mr. Hook on the news yet becoming famous...unless he is a 10 year old girl named Jackie and was on America's Got Talent.
I'm about to become famous!#23
Posted: 8/12/10 at 11:54am
Look at me -- I was able to get all of BWW's funniest posters all to comment on this one thread. Maybe I should stop trying to become the center of attention and pursue producing instead!
TheatreDiva -- that's the barebones of it, but like I mentioned, there are tons and tons of details which I will not go into.
SO I have an update!
One of the regional directors called me directly in response to an e-mail I sent to corporate. The result of the conversation is that they are going to a) deposit twice the amount of the incentive funds which never posted to my account (even though I have a receipt saying that they WERE deposited), b) refund all overdraft fees caused by their mistake, and c) investigate why the branch manager never responded to my several voicemail messages I left her AND follow-up with me as soon as all three things have been taken care of.
This conversation that I recorded with customer service is still golden. The representative on the phone flat out says that I have exhausted all options and that my situation is at a stalemate -- nothing else could be done -- even though I did absolutely nothing wrong and it was the bank's error. I'm very tempted to still find an editor and post it...
--Aristotle
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