Posted: 11/5/2008 8:22:00 PM EDT
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Anyone have any connections @ WaMu?
I'm on the verge of seeking legal help because of an error on their end and would rather speak with someone who can actually make a decision (or get me in touch with a decision maker) within the organization. 
I don't ask for help often, but this has the potential to really impact my family for a while if it doesn't get straightened out. 
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Gather the facts and make certain you are 100% positive of their error and march right into the local branch you deal with and get it resloved immediately or inform the highest ranking individual there you are going to their boss and also contacting the local news and an attorney.
I have zero tolerance when it comes to mistakes by financial institutions. |
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I had a small issue with them earlier this year, which took months to resolve.
In all honesty, the higher up in management that I got, the more indifference I received. So, I made the branch miserable until they saw it my way. It was only a mistaken $25 charge/policy, and in all honesty, my time was spent unwisely considering how much it required. But I got the $25 charge removed by being a thorn in their side. Most probably just let them get away with it since it was such a hassle to fix. In other words, they pissed me off, so I made the time to deal with it. |
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I had a problem with WAMU also... Well two come to think about it... anyway the one time I went to the branch manger of the Monroe office. That guy was AWESOME... He called the the main office (or where ever) and try to resolve my problem. about a 1/2 hour later he slammed down the phone and said and I quote "fuck them mother fuckers" He got the same go around as I did.
He fixed my problem by using his branch account to pay the fees they said I owed... I say if you have a cool branch manager go to him/her. Note not all braches mangers are as helpful as this one in Monroe |
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I had a problem with WAMU also... Well two come to think about it... anyway the one time I went to the branch manger of the Monroe office. That guy was AWESOME... He called the the main office (or where ever) and try to resolve my problem. about a 1/2 hour later he slammed down the phone and said and I quote "fuck them mother fuckers" He got the same go around as I did. He fixed my problem by using his branch account to pay the fees they said I owed... I say if you have a cool branch manager go to him/her. Note not all braches mangers are as helpful as this one in Monroe Very similar deal here. Manager got the same BS that I did, so they started a new checking account for me that included a $25 sign-up bonus, then withdrew the funds and closed the account. I didn't care how they did it, just that it got it done. |
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I hesitate to air my dirty laundry like this...but maybe it will help.
A couple months ago the wife and I were considering our options for locking in our mortgage. We went for that ARM back when...and WaMu was advertising their desire to switch people like us over by offering no fees, no charges, etc. So we called their 800 number to "discuss" our options. The WaMu rep on the other end ran our credit and said everything looked great. My numbers are in the high 700's, my wife's are in the low 800's. Then he said it would help if we would pay off a credit card (our only one and @9%), and a car loan (@5%). We weren't really interested, as the interest rates were not too bad and we were overpaying each month. Than he mentioned a line of credit (based on equity) that we had opened a few years earlier when we refinanced the first time (ARM). He said it was @4%, and that if we used that for the c.c. + car loan it would look better on the books for him when he ran our new loan papers (if we decided to go that route). We said we'd think it over...We had aquired multiple HELOCs over the years, but had never used one. Then the market went bad. We figured loans and credit might become scarce. So I called WaMu again and asked about that line of credit. This time a lady told me I could access it any way I wanted; by check, debt card, or at a branch. So we pulled some out (1/5 of what was offered) and payed the other two debts off. Last weekend they froze our accounts. Including the accounts of family members living in other states. Apparently the line of credit was someone else's. [>:/] We called customer service, they say that they cannot help, it's with the fraud division. We called the fraud people, and they are "looking into it." We have bills to pay that will try to come out of our accounts. Our local branch will not even let us put money into our accounts to cover them at this point. I've left messages with a customer service rep and her manager. I left messages with the fraud lady and her manager. They have not returned any of our calls since Monday. We are feeling pretty helpless...but documenting EVERYTHING. Ultimately, we just want to pay our debt and be on our way. I need to decide at what point I go to my employers and ask them to stop my automatic deposit (comes at the first of the month). Think this will be resolved by then? Should I get a lawyer on retainer? At least we have some cash and a lot of credit on our credit card to live off for a while. 
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Wow. I honestly don't know where you should proceed. Consulting with an attorney is my first thought, but only if you feel comfortable with them and with the fees.
Next thought is the Attorney Generals office. They provided a very desirable result for my family last year, with my only writing a single detailed explanation letter. (Major national company you've definitely heard of, and they were instantly calling us to offer solutions, instead of the opposite spent in the months before. Full compensation too. No attorney fees, and check arrived about two weeks after I wrote the AG) Lastly, I assume you know that JPMorgan Chase purchased certain assets of WAMUs recently, including all their loans. The transition period has only begun. Good luck man. |
| What I would do would be to call the AG office first to see what they can do. I have used them in the past and the seem to have helped. May also want to call your congressman and ask them... With the huge bail out they passed and if WAMU JP morgan Chase got any of that money might be of some leverage? Either way it will be a lot cheaper than a lawyer and may be of some help. |
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Depends how much time you got.
I've used the squating technique several times, but not for that kinda issue. I just go in to talk, if they are busy, no problem, I'll wait. If they get to closing and havn't seen me, no problem, I'll be back at opening. When they see me waiting around the next day, they realize I'm not going away until they solve the problem. Yes, it takes me away from other things (like earning income), but persistence pays off. 
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I hesitate to air my dirty laundry like this...but maybe it will help. SNIP WOW Alot more serious than I would have thought. In no certain order: Attorney State attorney general Contact local news station ( people helpers ) Research - contacts here Best of luck |
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I hesitate to air my dirty laundry like this...but maybe it will help. A couple months ago the wife and I were considering our options for locking in our mortgage. We went for that ARM back when...and WaMu was advertising their desire to switch people like us over by offering no fees, no charges, etc. So we called their 800 number to "discuss" our options. The WaMu rep on the other end ran our credit and said everything looked great. My numbers are in the high 700's, my wife's are in the low 800's. Then he said it would help if we would pay off a credit card (our only one and @9%), and a car loan (@5%). We weren't really interested, as the interest rates were not too bad and we were overpaying each month. Than he mentioned a line of credit (based on equity) that we had opened a few years earlier when we refinanced the first time (ARM). He said it was @4%, and that if we used that for the c.c. + car loan it would look better on the books for him when he ran our new loan papers (if we decided to go that route). We said we'd think it over... Then the market went bad. We figured loans and credit might become scarce. So I called WaMu again and asked about that line of credit. This time a lady told me I could access it any way I wanted; by check, debt card, or at a branch. So we pulled some out (1/5 of what was offered) and payed the other two debts off. Last weekend they froze our accounts. Including the accounts of family members living in other states. Apparently the line of credit was someone else's. [>:/] We called customer service, they say that they cannot help, it's with the fraud division. We called the fraud people, and they are "looking into it." We have bills to pay that will try to come out of our accounts. Our local branch will not even let us put money into our accounts to cover them at this point. I've left messages with a customer service rep and her manager. I left messages with the fraud lady and her manager. They have not returned any of our calls since Monday. We are feeling pretty helpless...but documenting EVERYTHING. Ultimately, we just want to pay our debt and be on our way. I need to decide at what point I go to my employers and ask them to stop my automatic deposit (comes at the first of the month). Think this will be resolved by then? Should I get a lawyer on retainer? At least we have some cash and a lot of credit on our credit card to live off for a while. Open a new checking account w. another bank, and tell your employers to send yer money there... It is not ideal but in your circumstances it's better to have yer money somewhere besides under the bed. On the other hand since what you explain it seems to be someone elses fuck up (you were not the one who cam up w. that credit someone gave it to you). |
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Over the weekend I faxed in a complaint to the OCC (Thanks to a friends' advice. thanks Ned!).
I also copied the document listing all of our phone calls and records, the printed-off list of failed automatic payments due to our household account being locked, and a summary of how we would like to see the situation resolved, and emailed it to everyone we had been in contact with AND the CEO, CFO, head of legal, and head of customer services @ Washington Mutual. After weeks of hearing how they were working on it, we were called and told that WaMu was sorry and would make it right. A representative actually told my wife that they were receiving a lot of pressure from high up to resolve this issue. 
Today I received a call from a nice young man from the executive offices. He asked if it would be acceptable to me to receive a new loan (HELOAN...? instead of the HELOC...?), at an even lower rate (the rate has dropped) so that they could close out the HELOC that was still on someone else's account and settle the issue. I told him I would talk with my wife about it. He assured me the loan was already approved on the "back end," apologized for the inconvenience, and stated that they just want to make this right with us. We'll go in and look the papers over on Saturday. Anything we should be on the lookout for? Is this a sneaky bank ambush that will require a kidney to resolve? I'm very happy....it looks like the siege is almost over. Now's when I want to be extra careful. 
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If you want a banker to look them over for you, I am near the Oly area, which is where I think you are. Send me a pm.
I would also request reimburement of any additional costs that you incurred because of their error, and be prepared to document them. Don't get greedy and ask for more than you can prove, unless you will really sue. They already have lawyers on retainer, and it won't likely cost them much to defend against any suit. Best of luck. |
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Anything we should be on the lookout for? Is this a sneaky bank ambush that will require a kidney to resolve? I'm very happy....it looks like the siege is almost over. Now's when I want to be extra careful. Sounds like good news. Congrats! I can't top AMESOS advice. (And if you don't already know, he's good people) |
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Quoted: I would also request reimburement of any additional costs that you incurred because of their error, and be prepared to document them. Don't get greedy and ask for more than you can prove, unless you will really sue. They already have lawyers on retainer, and it won't likely cost them much to defend against any suit.
Thanks. My branch manager told me they would cover any costs, fees, etc.
Best of luck. |
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Quoted: I would also request reimburement of any additional costs that you incurred because of their error, and be prepared to document them. Don't get greedy and ask for more than you can prove, unless you will really sue. They already have lawyers on retainer, and it won't likely cost them much to defend against any suit.
Thanks. My branch manager told me they would cover any costs, fees, etc.
Best of luck. I would also make sure to check your credit report from all 3 agencies through myfico.com about a month or two after the ordeal is done. If there is anything negative on them because of Wamu's mistake then you should dispute them asap. They could really affect your scores for future credit. Especially if some bilpay payments were bouncing due to the freeze. |
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Try Annualcreditreport.com. That site is free, set up by the FTC, and you get all three credit reports, not just one. You can get a free credit report every single year. Get mine every March.
Again, more than happy to help. There are fucktards in every line of work, unfortunately. |
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I'm really glad things worked out for you. I'm just blown away that they did. Holy shit, well in a couple weeks, we will see the corporate headquarters empty out for good. They've changed the terms three times since that call. Everytime we accept an offer, they tell us the rate has gone up/the term has decreased. What a fucking nightmare. We just want to be able to pay bills, buy groceries, and access our savings accounts. Bastards. 
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Thanks brother.
Damn sorry this has happened to you. I don't even know how you are remaining as calm as you are. If it were me, I'd put my money elsewhere as soon as possible. I changed my auto-deposit and have funneled all funds I can access to another account at a credit union I'm a member of. I've contacted the AG, bank regulators, bank execs, and local news folks. A lot of good it has done me. Mostly I worry about my wife. I got to tell you, it adds stress to a marriage when banks lock your accounts. She's counting on me to solve the problem and I feel helpless. 
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Thanks brother.
Damn sorry this has happened to you. I don't even know how you are remaining as calm as you are. If it were me, I'd put my money elsewhere as soon as possible. I changed my auto-deposit and have funneled all funds I can access to another account at a credit union I'm a member of. I've contacted the AG, bank regulators, bank execs, and local news folks. A lot of good it has done me. Mostly I worry about my wife. I got to tell you, it adds stress to a marriage when banks lock your accounts. She's counting on me to solve the problem and I feel helpless. Keep your chin up. It will work out in the end. If not, ARFCOM roadtrip.
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Holy cow, what a fiasco! I'm glad they finally pulled their heads out.
WAMU can FOAD as far as I"m concerned. Oh, wait, they did! Bastards. Several years ago they erroneously reported me late on my mtg payment, and not just a few times either. I came up with canceled checks showing I payed on time but couldn't find all of them.
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In my 10 years on the west coast, I have never dealt with WAMU until recently.
I think we called it a draw, neither of us liked the other very much. Im ok with that. |
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I've already moved everything (except a couple not-yey-matured CDs) over to the credit union. WaMu was so difficult to work with, I'll never go back....and that's not even counting the multipe accounting errors they made during this process.
I love Columbia Credit Union. Not a single mistake made by those folks, and damn helpful. Next time, maybe try a local credit union? I'm glad it's over.
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Gather the facts and make certain you are 100% positive of their error and march right into the local branch you deal with and get it resloved immediately or inform the highest ranking individual there you are going to their boss and also contacting the local news and an attorney. I have zero tolerance when it comes to mistakes by financial institutions. That's good advice. I had an issue with Wamu last year. They informed me that they had lost my tax return check. Told me I needed to contact the issuer of the check and get them to cut me a new one. I went in and talked to the branch manager, told him that I'm not going through whatever BS hoops would have to be jumped through to get a new check issued by the IRS. I said fix it, NOW, or I'm closing every account I have and taking my business elsewhere. I got a call the following day from that manager. They managed to find the check. |