Green Dot VISA Debit Card Refused to Direct Deposit my IRS Federal Refund because it was "not tax season" Pasadena California

On April 1, 2014 I E-Filed my Federal and State Tax returns using the router and account number from my Green Dot VISA so I could have my refunds direct deposited.  I logged into my Green Dot account and thoroughly read the information on the site in order to obtain what I needed for the IRS.  There was NO notice on the site at this time about there being any kind of "expiration date" as to when a tax refund could be deposited.

I got my refund information on the IRS website that my Federal refund would be direct deposited on my VISA debit card by July 2, 2014, on a Wednesday.  On that date I called the automatic service at Green Dot to see if it had been deposited - the recording said there was a direct deposit on July 1, 2014 but it had been refused and would be sent back to the IRS within 2 days.  My refund amount was over $3,000.00.

I called customer service to find out why the refund had been refused - I was told it was because it wasn't tax season anymore and that the company was refusing to deposit any tax refunds as of June 17, 2014.  I explained that when I filed my taxes in April, there was no notice on the Green Dot website about any expiration date for a direct deposit - I was told it was posted on the site now.  I explained how do I have any control over when the IRS will deposit my refund?  I demanded to speak to a manager or supervisor; I was told that someone from corporate would call me within 2 business days.  

I later spoke to an IRS Advocate from West Virginia and she said it was on the computer records that Green Dot refused my refund because "my account was closed" -- throughout the day I chatted online with 4 different Green Dot Customer Service Reps who would only repeat "I am sorry to hear that" and "As of June 17, 2014 we will no longer deposit tax refunds" -- it was obvious they were going by a script.  No one would tell me WHY refunds were not accepted, WHY there was a particular date when they refused refunds, and WHY would it matter to a debit card company WHEN I got money direct deposited on MY card and that it was MY money.  

No explanations whatsoever.  The 4th representative mentioned it was due to fraudulent activity and I asked "Are you saying fraudulent activity can't happen BEFORE June 17 and if you suspect that then why can't you verify the deposit with the IRS?"  I also mentioned that the IRS said my account had been closed - the rep said "No your account is not closed" and I replied "I know that, but why does the IRS believe that and why did your company tell them that was the reason for the refusal?" -- no answer to that question either.

In the evening I got a call from a man who said he was from management - he said nothing different than the reps I talked to.  When I brought up the subject of fraudulent acitivity he said "That has nothing to do with it" and "I am sorry to hear that, but we can not accept tax refunds at this time."  

No explanation as to why they want to dictate when a card holder can accept a Federal refund, no explanation as to why they lied to the IRS, no nothing.  In the meantime, after waiting 3 months for my refund, I now have to wait 2 to 6 weeks for the IRS to get the check back, process it again, and mail it out to me.

Green Dot is the poorest excuse for a debit card company that I have run across.  Besides paying out the a** to reload your card, they also charge almost $6.00 for a monthly fee, and if that isn't bad enough, I couldn't even depend on them to deposit my tax refund on the card.