Up My Own Ass

My sister is a single mother of four boys, and has finally – after entirely too long a wait - been awarded child support from the  less-than-stable and often drug addicted individual who sired my nephews.  It is really about damn time.  The kids are almost all in their teens and, as anyone with teenage boys can attest, they create an actual vaccuum into which all extra cash is siphoned on a daily basis.  Couldn’t have come at a better time.

Enter Chase Bank – the proprietor of cash cards distributed by the Child Support Clearinghouse that collects, records, and then disburses payments.  My sister was supposed to receive her card over two months ago.  She has called and called and called, always being told “it will be there in 7-10 business days.”  Oh, except for the time that they said they sent it, but to a completely different address.  That card never materialized.  She called a few more times, always being told that she would receive her card in the ubiquitous 7-10 business days. 

Nothing.

By a few days ago, there were three payments pending on the card, and still no card.  Having had absolutely enough, my sister called and was told, “Oh, they verified your information, but never released the card.”

“Wait, what?  Why did they not release the card?”

“I’ll just go ahead and take care of that for you right now.”

“Why didn’t they release the card?”

“Okay, you should get that card in (wait for it) 7-10 business days.”

And then my sister’s head spun off…

The delightfully useless little girl on the other end of the phone told her that they COULD overnight it, but it would cost her $15.00.  Needing the cashola, she agreed to pay the money.  Sure enough, bright and early the next day, her card arrived, as promised.

Now, what I would like to know is this:  Where, exactly, does Chase Bank get off holding child support payments hostage from a single mother who is only using Chase bank because that is the banking entity that the Child Support Clearinghouse has chosen to use?  That doesn’t sound like a “best practices” situation, does it?  In fact, when I don’t deposit enough money into my account, or if I am LATE with a payment to my Chase Visa card, they are always very timely with charging my late fees and overdraft fees.  Clearly, they had no intention of sending the card to my sister until she agreed to pay a FEE to receive the card.  Let me remind you (and Chase) that this child support is COURT ORDERED and for the bank to knowingly withhold her child support payments puts Chase Bank squarely in contempt of court. 

Now, if anyone from Chase Bank actually reads this, I want to know when my sister can expect a refund on the $15.oo that they extorted from her? 

I think it’s high time I changed banks.  Maybe Wells Fargo won’t steal me blind.