Washington Mutual, WAMU Disputed Charges, customer service San Diego California

I had charged a service fee, for which I never received the services. Naturally, I called the service provider, informed them that the services were never performed, and hence I would like my money back. The service provide agreed and said I would receive a refund.

However, after about 6 months of calling the service provider, I still had not received the refund ($550). Hence, I decided to call my bank (WAMU) and dispute the charge utilizing some of the fine print that comes with a VISA charge card.

When I called the bank, and after about half an hour of giving out information, the phone representative from WAMU informed me that in order to dispute a charge on a charge card, one must cancel the debit card, not just the transaction that is being disputed. At which point I decided to give the service provide another chance, and try to retrieve the money my self, since I did not want to replace the debit card due to its many implementations throughout my personal life (wine clubs, internet providers, day care, etc.) - it seemed like a lot of work to call all those people and provide a new debit card number.

Nevertheless, a few days later I received a new debit card in the mail, informing me that the old one had been canceled - even though I said I don't want to cancel.

Next I get a bundle of paperwork, for me to detail the specifics of my debit card charge dispute. I filled out the many pages diligently and submitted.

About 4 months later (after having been refunded the $550), I received a letter from WAMU, saying that the transaction will be reversed - no explanation. Of course I got on the phone to see why.

I was told in broken English, that the paperwork I had completed was incomplete. I asked what I need to submit to complete the paperwork, upon which I was told that I had missed the time window permissible by WAMU banking rules. Naturally, I asked why no one called me to inform me that my paperwork was incomplete. The answer was stunning: "We have a policy of not contacting our clients!".

I pointed out that WAMU has called me regularly to try to sell me CD's and money market accounts, as well as home mortgages, and that I owe them money. She told me there is nothing she can do.

Henceforth, I drove to the bank prior to them taking the money back, emptied my account, and went on to a different bank. Now the are reporting my to chexsystems and forwarded my balance of $550 to a collection agency, even though they are the ones who messed this up - because they have a policy of not contacting clients.

Matthias
alpine, California
U.S.A.