Comments on: A Hero’s Family Fights Back - Bank Policy Frustrates Grieving Family

By: AmericanJarhead

AmericanJarhead — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:09:23 +0000

I hope they screw Downey into the ground. I don’t usually like Allred but here it seems she took a good case.

Sure the banks words say nice things but their actions, which speak louder than their words, speak the truth.

By: Happyone

Happyone — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:21:33 +0000

Banks are always trying to pull this scam. There are specific federal laws to punish them. Also, if their excuse is “it might be conterfeit,”–TOO BAD–get the technology to confirm its authenticity automatically, or get fined. Scum!

By: devildog81mm

devildog81mm — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:49:44 +0000

how much do you wanna bet, the person who rejected the check is a democratic

By: Professor Bill

Professor Bill — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:02:05 +0000

This policy enables the bank to hold back the money and loan the money out on an overnight basis to other banks and make a small percent on interest, but when you multiply that number by millions and millions of dollars it translates into big bucks for them and we have to wait for out money. This is in fact routine but it’s just a way to screw their customer.

I hope they lose a lot of customers over this.

By: dvldok

dvldok — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:02:16 +0000

Tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy.

Not only does this happen to the family but in reporting the story they refer to him as a medic and a soldier.

Navy Corpsmen are Navy Corpsmen, not Navy Medics, not Marine Medics. We are sailors, many of us are SQRUNTS and even thou some of us are serving with the army, we are NOT soldiers.

I also have to wonder if there isn’t something not quite complete about this story. Hemet is a little town but there is a significant active and retired military population residing there.

By: Leadfoot

Leadfoot — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:44:45 +0000

Most banks would have done the same thing. Checks are not perfect and this kind of dollar amount should always be treated with caution. If any of your banks started cashing checks regardless they would go down faster than bad home loans would ever do.

If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at the government for giving the family a check that they knew full well they wouldn’t have access to immediately. If you can get your tax refund direct deposited, then they could offer grievance money in the same fashion and it’s more secure to begin with!

By: Incomplete?

Incomplete? — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:38:35 +0000

Obviously, there are some facts that are missing or conflicting. Some reports say they went in to cash the checks. Why would they need $100K in cash? I think the reports are inaccurate. Also, the bank’s statement said they were willing to release the funds upon verification. Seems reasonable to me. I bet the family just wanted it “NOW” and they didn’t want to take no for an answer. By the way, checks are just pieces of paper. Banks have to wait for the check to clear just like you and me. Leadfoot is right, a wire would have been more appropriate.

By: OK Joe

OK Joe — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:00:29 +0000

To contact the bank.

https://www.downeysavings.com/ad/contact/contactResponse?department=Banking

By: Lorna Collins

Lorna Collins — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:27:33 +0000

If Downey had cashed the checks as requested, they would have been in direct violation of government regulations. All checks, including government checks, can be forged. The standard hold on checks over a specific amount is ten days. However, the depositor may request notification as soon as the check clears. Downey offered that option to the family and they declined.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:46:06 +0000

I work at a bank and the story does seem a bit incomplete. Banks are losing money daily due to check fraud and most of the losses come from fraudulent cashiers checks, money orders and, yes, government checks. We would have held the check until it could be verified also. I’m sure that’s what the bank told this family. Also, I read in a different article that the credit union did not release the whole 100k. They released 20k after the checks were verified.

By: Dale

Dale — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:49:49 +0000

Big Ass lie by the bank. At first they offered three thousand and then said no! We will have to hold the check
until the first of July. The funeral was held on June 25
one day after his body was returned from Afghanistan. All
the family wanted was enougth to pay for the burial.

Someone who knows all the facts.