Any Bankers!!Help Deposit Missing Money-RESOLVED!

[garydeb]

Hi,

Are there any bankers out here??? I went and deposit want I had for our Jan Disney trip into our local Credit Union yesterday. I counted the money 3-times before getting to the window. I put the money in the can and told the girl to deposit all into the checking account. (I gave her $475). I was late so I just stuck the deposit slip in my purse and left. I got home later that afternoon and went to balance my checkbook and pull out my deposit slip and it said $375 to checking. I just lost $100!!!! I called the Credit union right away and they said their would pull the girl's drawer and count it right away. I didn't hear anything back so I called this morning. They couldn;t get the manager so they took a msg. I called again this evening and got the manager and she said the girl's drawer balanced yesterday and today. She then asked how the bills were broken down and I said all 20's except for a 10 & 5. She said that her caluator slip shows just that but for $375 not $475. She said she would get the paper work back from the main bank and call me Tues. I don't know what to do now. It's her word again mine!!!!! I can't afford to lose $100 specially right before our WDW trip on Jan 14th!!!
What should I do now????

Thanks for listening. I haven't been able to sleep......
garydeb

 

[minnie1928]

Just keep pushing for the manager's attention on this matter. You are right when you say it's your word against her, but remind the manager that you are a customer of XXX years and that you've never had a problem like this before, etc. Also, is it possible that her drawer wasn't off because she had done a transaction to the main vault and perhaps the vault is "off". It's a long shot, but maybe....

Let us know how you make out....
Good luck!

 

[riopooh]

I'm an assistant manager at a bank in New York. Did you have a deposit slip that you filled out? Whenever we have a discrepancy - if the customer wrote one amount and the teller changes it without getting the client to initial it - the customer would be justified. Even if the client gets back only a printed slip we keep the ones the client filled out for themselves. Its the first place I go when there is a problem. Let me know - my personal pet peeve is when the client gets the run around. I always tell my staff - the customer is always right, unless we can prove it!

 

[WDWBetsy]

Did you put your money in a deposit envelope with the amount written on the front? Or just put your ATM card in the can with the money (assuming the money was in an envelope...)? If you filled out a deposit slip or envelope, I would think that would help prove your case.

We always use the ATM for deposits and insert checks/cash into the deposit envelope after filling it out with our account # and amounts.

Hope you get your $100 back!

 

[garydeb]

Some questions answered.

Our credit union does not have deposit slips. You get a slip back after your deposit telling you what you deposited and the account number....

I am a nervous wreck!!!! I alway check before I leave the bank put I was in a hurry yesterday I didn't check. BOY am I paying for it now!!

Thanks alot,
garydeb

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

ask for the video cameras on the clerk to be reviewed. If anything inappropriate happened it could be reviewed on the tape. just a thought.

 

[my3kids]

This exact situation actually happened to my brother. He visited the manager and called him on the error and the manager kept stammering. He pulled out is cell phone and said "Let's call the state police in to investigate this discrepancy then." The manager credited him the full deposit and the teller was fired for stealing.

 

[btass]

ask for the video cameras on the clerk to be reviewed. If anything inappropriate happened it could be reviewed on the tape. just a thought.

Most of the cameras in banks and credit unions only focus on the customer, not the teller. That is not all of them but most of them. You never know, this could show something but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

People have given you good suggestions. I have one another. Go ahead and do what you can to retrieve your $100 but at the same time relax and plan for it being gone. No point in getting in a tizzy over it...the price on your peace of mind and your body in stress isn't worth it.

 

[minnie1928]

Most of the cameras in banks and credit unions only focus on the customer, not the teller. That is not all of them but most of them. You never know, this could show something but I wouldn't count on it.

Depending on the setup of the camera and how long it stays on that window, you should be able to see the teller counting the money. Perhaps you won't be able to see the denominations, but you said that you know it was all 20's and a 10 and a 5. But you might be able to see how many bills are being counted.

Again, I would push the manager for this to be rectified. When all else fails, threaten to take your business elsewhere. Credit unions are great, but remember they are a business and they need customers too! Word of mouth advertising for something like this is something they would definately want to avoid!

 

[sconstantz]

and remember when you talk to the manager that you are a member,not a customer!!! I know that might not sound like much, but to credit unions, it is. They can only service certain segments of the population, and they must have satisfied members.

shelly

 

[my3kids]

If someone stole $100 out of your purse you'd call the police. I would treat this any differently. If the manager isn't willing to investigate the situation, call in the state police.

 

[summerrluvv]

People have given you good suggestions. I have one another. Go ahead and do what you can to retrieve your $100 but at the same time relax and plan for it being gone. No point in getting in a tizzy over it...the price on your peace of mind and your body in stress isn't worth it.

$100 is quite a bit of money to be stolen from a person. I would be making a stink about it too.

I hate when people belittle someone else's problem by saying "it's not worth it"

 

[Tabetha]

Definately keep following up with the bank manager. There are so many (pardon the pun) checks and balances in cash control that if there was an error, it will be caught somewhere.
If not, you're right, it comes down to your word against theirs. Write down your recollection of the event. Did she count the money once? Twice? Out loud? Did she write anything down? Did you sign anything, or did she just give you a deposit slip? If you've signed anything agreeing with the deposit, you're going to be fighting an uphill battle, but I'm assuming you didn't, since you didn't catch it until you got home.

Definately follow whatever channels are available to you (research their charter/website to see what their policies are on disputed deposits), but when you've exhausted them, doubletrouble's intent is right, don't let it ruin your vacation. Yes, it's a lot of money to lose, and it sucks, but eventually it's going to be an issue of letting go of something you can't control. But you're not there yet! Fight for it!

Banks take these allegations very seriously, so you should be treated respectfully.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I don't think that "doubletrouble_vb" was belittling. . . at least that wasn't the way I read it. I actually thought the same thing. That it's probably best for the time being to try and think about shifting the vacation budget as if the $100 was completely gone. Prepare for the worst possible scenario, and you can try and not let it ruin the trip. That doesn't mean stop fighting it. I just think that there's a possible chance of the issue not being resolved (even with police involvement) before the 14th - it would be worse to depend on that $100 and find out it's not coming back in time, than it would be to make other arrangements and end up with it back before leaving.

 

[brandip22]

OK, now I am a manager at a bank and I have a little advice. First, I would not accuse the teller of stealing. Doesn't mean it couldn't be the case, but what if she didn't steal it- what if you dropped it or mis-counted and she loses her job and/or goes to jail over this? Yes, I take these things seriously, but I also trust my tellers. They have been screened and bonded and we do everything in our power to make sure things like this do not happen. My bet is that since it's a CU especially, they will give you the difference and just chalk it up to a loss that doesn't count against the teller or at least doesn't accuse her of stealing. That's a tough call to say that when you aren't 100% positive she stole anything. She could never work for a bank again. Believe it or not, we have had customers lie just to get the money and thank goodness we didn't just fire tellers based on the customer thinking or saying they stole. That's a major allegation. Plus, since I trust my tellers, you would immediately put me on the defensive my accusing the teller of stealing. My job is to take up for my staff while still making the customer "right." That's a tough spot and I would have some regard for all involved. But, if you do not get the money from the manager, then go on to his/her supervisor. The higher up they are, the easier it is to get things done, usually. To the manager's boss, the $100 probably won't be enough to lose a member over. Good luck and hope things work out! Oh, and FWIW, in my bank, we do have deposit slips and if it wasn't initialed and it was changed, then the teller would take the loss- but that wouldn't mean she stole it automatically. You never know what could have happened. Maybe she over credited another customer and that is why she balanced. They may not find it for sure for quite a long time, maybe never if the member who got the "extra" isn't honest. There are a number of reasons how this could have happened, but accusations of theft are pretty tough if you aren't for sure.

 

[gdulaney]

I'd recommend asking for the name and number of the Area Mgr/District Mgr over the branch. If that doesn't work, escalate to the Office of the President (or whatever version of this that your CU has). Be polite, but firm. You know what was in the envelope, you've never had a problem before, etc.

Good luck,
Ginny

 

[luvsgrumpy]

Thanks brandip22, I am a former head teller with 9 1/2 years experience and have dealt with too many of these types of situations. You expressed all of my feelings and calmed me down in the process! I feel for the customer, but at the same time, have a hard time not being put on the defense as an honest teller who would NEVER even think of doing something unethical! I have been put in that position before, and trust me, we (our bank) would do anything possible to find the discrepancy. Brandip22 is correct in that on rare occassion, it is possible to take a month or so until the error could be found in someone else's statement. I hope it all works out and please do keep checking on the status, but please try to treat the CU employees with the respect that you all deserve!
Whatever the outcome is, have a wonderful trip!!

 

[keenercam]

I was so sorry to hear of this problem. Has there been any progress? Please update us -- we all want it to turn out well for you. Hopefully by now, the end of the business day, the problem was resolved for you.

Good luck!

 

[Doctor P]

As the former chairman of the board of a Credit Union, a retail manager, and an accountant, IF the teller were to truly be out to steal money like this and was very good at it, the drawer would still balance and the Credit Union would likely have difficulty proving the crime related to this transaction in particular. Obviously, I'm not going to go into detail as to how to steal money in such circumstances, but it can be done (but would be hard to do more than once or on any regular basis). That said, it is also possible that an honest mistake was made and then was reversed by another honest mistake where another customer got the $100 extra. However, I will say the following: if they balance every type of currency, it is highly unlikely that such a mistake would be made with $20 bills since that means a mistake of 5 bills which could be picked up by cameras and is such a large mistake that it is difficult to make accidentally. I really pushed for deposit slips at our credit union and lost the battle.