UPside Visa Prepaid Debit Card Plastyc Inc This company is holding over $1500 of my money Internet, New York

It is amazing how your company continues to avoid the truth, which is your error and direct cause. You go on and on about your obligation to return our money to IRS. You have everyone in your call center (in the New World Country) believing that it is true. But the truth is, IRS doesn't have anything because you never sent it. If you were truly honest and trustworthy, you would have complied with applicable laws and informed us of the transfer of our money, instead of the weak attempt you made to cover your tracks. Get used to the fact that you are 'going down!' for all your illegal activities.

We are aware of your issue in particular.  We did indeed receive a fax from the landlord at your complex, but it stated that they could not verify that you (in your name) were living there.  Again, we understand your frustrations, but our hands are tied here by the government.  If we can assist with anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at cs@upsidecard.com.

We are allowed by the government to take payment on the efforts to return funds to them.  Though this is $12.00 off of your account,a s what you see on your end, the IRS will refund you the full amount on their end.  Please contact the IRS at 800-829-4477.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have incurred regarding you Federal Payment, unfortunately we have to follow strict government regulations that all Federal Payments must be in the name and SSN of the cardholder.  If a payment occurs, we are required to send it back to the government. 

We then require documentation per the US Patriot Act, which is outlined in our Terms & Conditions, in order to release your card:

The USA PATRIOT ACT, a federal law, requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens a Card account. When you open a Card account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, social security number and other information that will allow us to reasonably identify you. We may also ask to see your drivers license or other identifying documents. We may limit your ability to use your Card or certain Card features until we have been able to successfully verify your identity.

Regarding customer service, we are aware of the issue with the call center, and have been working diligently to get the agents to "think outside the box" but it has been a continuing issue so we are currently looking into other call centers here in the United States to assist.  This should be completed by the end of the year.

For this complaint, if there is any further action you would like help with, please contact us for free at cs@upsidecard.com.

Your defense is unjustified. You claim the government agencies require you to return the money to them. That is a lie. I know this because, I, too was ripped off by your company. My tax return (what was left of it) was allegedly returned to the IRS. Except that the IRS doesn't know anything about it. They have received nothing. In addition, they further stated that they would never accept return of a partial deposit made on a taxpayers account. They won't be put in a position to be held responsible for the acts of your company, thereby held accountable for the alleged return.

Your company stole over $1,400 from me. You gave lie after lie as a excuse to justify holding my funds. You demanded information you are not legally authorized to ask for, to verify my identitiy, using comp-liance with the US Patriotic Act as a means to support your invasion of my privacy. You slandered my name by labeling me as fraud on your website. In actuality, it is you, who are guilty of consumer fraud. You took my money and made a false accounting of where it went.

You took upon yourself to research my address, enabling you to obtain the name of my landlord who you sent a fax too. The fax included your request to validate my address, saying the US Patriotic act requires you to do so. The US patriotic act states only, that you verify identity. You have exceeded your bounderies as a pre paid card provider  and used the information provided you beyond your limitations under Color of Authority.

But these unlawful acts have not gone unnoticed. I have taken further steps to not only prosecute your actions, but also to hold you to answer for them. It is quite clear that I am not the only person you have done this too. But the authorities are all aware of it now. An investigation will expose your consumer fraud acts and you will soon discover what happens when you defraud a customer and try to blame another Federal Agency. Or justify your mistake in witholding by blaming the IRS responsible for authorizing the hold. It is from that same federal government agency, that I have been given direction as to how to further proceed. 

Your rebuttal does nothing but attempt to articulately explain the need for your acts. The only need for your acts is in fact yours. And no matter how hard you attempt to cover your tracks, the damage is done. The emails will be used as my justification to my support my allegations upon you. Since you blatently made false statements in them, I consider then Very Helpful.But believe that when it is all said and done, the only party compelled to answer will be you. 

I was told that the funds would go back to the IRS.. Why am I being charged $12.00 for the funds to go back? How long does it usually take to get my funds in my hand?

We understand the frustrations this cardholder had gone through when the card was marked potentially fraudulent.  Unfortunately, we are put in this situation by federal government regulations which state that any federal payment must be sent to the recipient of the funds (social security number verification).  As this cardholder's information did not match the payment recipient, we are forced to block the card and in most cases, send the payment back to the government - these regulations are stated explicitly on our website as well as on federal filing forms.  In rare cases, we will allow the payment to remain if the cardholder is able to provide their own photo ID, SSN and utility bill, as well as the photo ID, SSN and proof of federal payment of the recipient. 

Regarding the actions of the customer service representatives, they are most often unable to go outside the boundaries of the information they are provided (i.e. if told the funds must go back to the government, they will have to advise the cardholder of this fact).  They are not able to make larger decisions that may affect the company's rules and regulations, or those of the government.  If escalated, as this case was, supervisors and department heads will do whatever they can to provide the best customer service for the cardholder, as we were able to do here and release the card and funds.

I have also been scammed by using the upside card. My card was blocked a couple of days after getting my tax refund of $4,000 direct deposited. I used the card like 3 or 4 days and now they are saying that because the address that I had the card to be mailed to did not match with the information that I faexed in. I explained to them why the card was mailed there and they still will not uplift the hold on my card. I called in and spoke with the supposebly supervisor Herris and he told me that the money would be sent back to the IRS and I would be charged a $12.OO fee. So now I see that this on the account 02/28/12 Adjustment Debit CSR Refund Check -$2016.30

02/28/12 Fee CSR Refund Check -$12.00. I hope this means that I will have a check in the mail soon. Are you still waiting for a check or dod they retururn your funds like they said they would?