Help! Lost my wallet and my bank doesn't answer its number outside business hours

[+ FreshFluff]

I left my wallet in a cab. I know, I'm an idiot.

 

So the first thing I tried to do is call the number listed on the back of my ATM in order to cancel it. I called the number and pressed "Lost or stolen card." A robotic voice informs me that the office is now closed and that I should call back during business hours (!!!). This is TCF bank, a huge banking conglomerate, not some tiny bank.

 

So I went to my online account, opened a Money Market account and transfer my checking account money there. It tells me that the deposit limit is $500.

 

Does anyone have any idea what I can do to cancel my card before Tuesday? (Yes, there's a PIN on the card, but I"ve heard that thieves can find ways around it.)

[+ FreshFluff]

FYI, be forewarned about TCF bank. There are other complaints about their customer service online.

 

I'm monitoring the account online, and no transactions yet. I'll just have to hope that no one gets my PIN.

 

I've also put my cell number on my main webpage in case a decent person has found the wallet. (I found an iPhone in a taxi a while ago and contacted its owner, so it happens.)

[rvwnsd]

FYI, be forewarned about TCF bank. There are other complaints about their customer service online.

 

I'm monitoring the account online, and no transactions yet. I'll just have to hope that no one gets my PIN.

 

I've also put my cell number on my main webpage in case a decent person has found the wallet. (I found an iPhone in a taxi a while ago and contacted its owner, so it happens.)

 

During the 1980's and 90's I worked for one of their competitors in Chicago. We called them "Totally Crappy Federal." If their office is closed, their office is closed. You won't be able to cancel the card until Tuesday morning. You might want to check their online banking and see if you can report the card lost/stolen that way. Regardless whether you cancel the card before or on Tuesday, you are not liable for fraudulent purchases made on the card. If a purchase is made before Tuesday, it is likely that it will still be in a pending status until it is settled and clears the bank. Typically, when you report a lost card the bank will first review pending transactions and prevent them from posting if you do not recognize them. Posted transactions are typically reversed.

 

Having said all that, it is time for you to switch banks. Based on TCF's footprint, you will likely have a choice of USBank and Wells Fargo in most of their markets except for Chicago, where Wells is sparse but US is strong. Chase has a large presence in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan but not in the rest of TCF's footprint except for parts of Colorado. Charter One/Citizen's has a large presence in Illinois and Michigan and BMO Harris competes with them in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Of the banks I mentioned, stay away from Wells and Charter One/Citizen's. Wells is bad news and CO/C puts the rinky in rinky dink. (They couldn't get me a copy of a bank statement by phone or by written request, I had to visit a branch. Problem was the closet branch was 1,700 miles away. Once they received the court order they miraculously figured out how to do it by mail.) Chase offers OK customer service. They were phenomenal when my dad passed away and I had to settle the estate. You can usually get free checking with direct deposit. USBank has a very good reputation for customer service. They compete with the institution I work for and in my opinion work hard for their customers. I don't know much about BMO Harris. They are a totally different institution than when I competed with them years ago.

[+ FreshFluff]

During the 1980's and 90's I worked for one of their competitors in Chicago. We called them "Totally Crappy Federal." If their office is closed, their office is closed. You won't be able to cancel the card until Tuesday morning. You might want to check their online banking and see if you can report the card lost/stolen that way. Regardless whether you cancel the card before or on Tuesday, you are not liable for fraudulent purchases made on the card. If a purchase is made before Tuesday, it is likely that it will still be in a pending status until it is settled and clears the bank. Typically, when you report a lost card the bank will first review pending transactions and prevent them from posting if you do not recognize them. Posted transactions are typically reversed.

 

Having said all that, it is time for you to switch banks. Based on TCF's footprint, you will likely have a choice of USBank and Wells Fargo in most of their markets except for Chicago, where Wells is sparse but US is strong. Chase has a large presence in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan but not in the rest of TCF's footprint except for parts of Colorado. Charter One/Citizen's has a large presence in Illinois and Michigan and BMO Harris competes with them in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Of the banks I mentioned, stay away from Wells and Charter One/Citizen's. Wells is bad news and CO/C puts the rinky in rinky dink. (They couldn't get me a copy of a bank statement by phone or by written request, I had to visit a branch. Problem was the closet branch was 1,700 miles away. Once they received the court order they miraculously figured out how to do it by mail.) Chase offers OK customer service. They were phenomenal when my dad passed away and I had to settle the estate. You can usually get free checking with direct deposit. USBank has a very good reputation for customer service. They compete with the institution I work for and in my opinion work hard for their customers. I don't know much about BMO Harris. They are a totally different institution than when I competed with them years ago.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I tried going online, but one can't report a card stolen there either. It's simply hard to believe that a chain as huge as

 

Thanks for confirming that I should switch. In any case, there are no pending transactions at this time. My area is dominated by TCF, and since I don't have a car, TCF ATMs are all I have access to. I'm going to put all my money back to Citibank (where I still have an account) and just pay the occasional ATM charges.

[+ FreshFluff]

BTW, I now doubt that I left the wallet in the taxi. I remember doing a visual sweep of the seat before leaving, as is my normal routine when leaving a cab. I think I was probably pick-pocketed, though it's hard to see how that happened; I didn't get close enough to anyone during the walk from the cab to the restaurant.

[Diverdan]

I can heartily recommend US Bank, and depending on the amount of money you keep with them, you may not have to pay charges when using another Bank's ATM. EVERY charge card and debit card should have a 24 hour service line and if they don't I would move my money regardless of any other considerations.

[+ Gar1eth]

FYI, be forewarned about TCF bank. There are other complaints about their customer service online.

 

I'm monitoring the account online, and no transactions yet. I'll just have to hope that no one gets my PIN.

 

I've also put my cell number on my main webpage in case a decent person has found the wallet. (I found an iPhone in a taxi a while ago and contacted its owner, so it happens.)

 

I'm sorry you lost your wallet. I didn't understand where you posted your phone number and how you expected people to find it.

 

Gman

[gallahadesquire]

I'm probably taking an unpopular stance here, but after lord knows how many bank mergers (I started with something called "new england [something]" in the early '70's), I am now with Bank of America. It's great. It also merges with my investment accounts at Merrill Lynch.

 

I am sorry that you have to experience all of this. America, we are going down the drain.

[+ Gar1eth]

I'm probably taking an unpopular stance here, but after lord knows how many bank mergers (I started with something called "new england [something]" in the early '70's), I am now with Bank of America. It's great. It also merges with my investment accounts at Merrill Lynch.

 

I am sorry that you have to experience all of this. America, we are going down the drain.

 

I won't beat down on you. But I found Bank of America very unfriendly several years ago. I think because of where I lived I needed to have an order of checks delivered to the bank branch instead of to where I lived, but BOA wouldn't do it. But I don't think America is going down the drain.

 

Gman

[rvwnsd]

Thanks. Yeah, I tried going online, but one can't report a card stolen there either. It's simply hard to believe that a chain as huge as

 

Thanks for confirming that I should switch. In any case, there are no pending transactions at this time. My area is dominated by TCF, and since I don't have a car, TCF ATMs are all I have access to. I'm going to put all my money back to Citibank (where I still have an account) and just pay the occasional ATM charges.

 

Citibank has an agreement with 7-Eleven's ATM provider in some markets, so their customers can make withdrawals at those ATMs at no charge. Check their web site for ATMs in your area.

[bigvalboy]

Well since we are all a little off topic here...lol, I will cast one vote for Bank of America. I have been with them for the better part of 30 years. They have been both accommodating and efficient in handling my banking needs. I also lost a ATM/Credit Card not long ago, and like FF found that the 800# went to voice mail after hours. I went to the bank the next day to complain, and was promptly given a # where I could talk to a real person 24/7. I have used them on a couple of occasions and now it has given me more peace of mind.

 

And as a side note to Gman, I just ordered checks from BofA and requested that they be delivered to the bank. The branch manager simply called and requested that the checks be shipped to my branch. That was it...I requested a rush order, and a few days later they arrived. I am confused as to why the bank would have told you no, unless different areas have different policies. At any rate, I just love BofA....

[bobchitown]

I was never so happy as the day TCF saw my back walking out their door for the last time. The final blow for me was when local stores began putting up signs saying "we no longer accept TCF checks" - I assume due to a high insufficient funds rate.

[Guest boiworship08]

I feel the same way about the Merrill-BofA combo.

[+ Charlie]

I have a Wells Fargo checking account. I opened it almost 50 years ago with Philadelphia National Bank, which was taken over by CoreStates, which was taken over by First Union, which was taken over by Wachovia, which was taken over by Wells Fargo. I can't honestly say that I thought any one of them was any better or worse than the others.

[seeker630]

Well since we are all a little off topic here...lol, I will cast one vote for Bank of America. I have been with them for the better part of 30 years. They have been both accommodating and efficient in handling my banking needs. I also lost a ATM/Credit Card not long ago, and like FF found that the 800# went to voice mail after hours. I went to the bank the next day to complain, and was promptly given a # where I could talk to a real person 24/7. I have used them on a couple of occasions and now it has given me more peace of mind.

 

And as a side note to Gman, I just ordered checks from BofA and requested that they be delivered to the bank. The branch manager simply called and requested that the checks be shipped to my branch. That was it...I requested a rush order, and a few days later they arrived. I am confused as to why the bank would have told you no, unless different areas have different policies. At any rate, I just love BofA....

 

I've been with Bank of America since graduate school (40 yrs!) - although they had a different name then. AT various times they've thoroughly pissed me off (usually it was fees), and I even went so far as to open an account elsewhere but never left them. Until the last few years, I used a lot of cash and their ATMs were omnipresent in my area.

I've set alerts on my cards for anything over $100. Last year, someone charged hundred of dollars on my card at a Legos online store. I was notified within an hour, and the BoA credit cards folks were very helpful and shipped me new card overnight.

 

I manage my fathers accounts at a BB&T in his hometown, and the local folks are incredibly helpful - but that's a smalltown trait, I think

[+ FreshFluff]

Thanks for the B of A recommendation. There are a few B of A branches in my new city, so I'll check it out.

 

I'm sorry you lost your wallet. I didn't understand where you posted your phone number and how you expected people to find it.

 

G, I had my driver's license in there. I figured that, in the unlikely case that an honest person found it, he/she could Google me and find my number on the first site that comes up. It was a long shot, but why not?

 

Citibank has an agreement with 7-Eleven's ATM provider in some markets, so their customers can make withdrawals at those ATMs at no charge. Check their web site for ATMs in your area.

 

Yep, I see Citi ATMs in 7-11s all over NYC. There's no 7-11 anywhere near my home in the midwest though.

[+ FreshFluff]

I was never so happy as the day TCF saw my back walking out their door for the last time. The final blow for me was when local stores began putting up signs saying "we no longer accept TCF checks" - I assume due to a high insufficient funds rate.

 

I talked to the TCF branch president, and his answer to everything was "No, we don't do that." When there was a snafu online, their CS wasn't around.

 

But my last straw was TCF's refusal to send me new checks for free even though I had just ordered some and kept a nice balance there for 3 years. When I went to the Citi branch, I learned that same balance qualifies me for Citi Gold privileges (free checks, special CS line, snazzy gold ATM card ). I'm keeping my money there for now and will look into B of A when I get back to the midwest.

 

I think the CS at TCF has to be the worst I've experienced in some time. In the age of social media, very few companies can get away with that.

[+ FreshFluff]

I can heartily recommend US Bank, and depending on the amount of money you keep with them, you may not have to pay charges when using another Bank's ATM. EVERY charge card and debit card should have a 24 hour service line and if they don't I would move my money regardless of any other considerations.

 

Yes, this is the bottom line.

[+ Gar1eth]

Yep, I see Citi ATMs in 7-11s all over NYC. There's no 7-11 anywhere near my home in the midwest though.

 

Oh you moved away from NYC. You might be near Tyro now. She lives in the Midwest too.

 

Gman

[+ FreshFluff]

Oh you moved away from NYC. You might be near Tyro now. She lives in the Midwest too.

 

Gman

 

I live in the midwest part of the year and in NYC during the rest. My area of the midwest is relatively far from Tyro.

[rvwnsd]

Yep, I see Citi ATMs in 7-11s all over NYC. There's no 7-11 anywhere near my home in the midwest though.

 

Citi also subscribes to the Money Pass network, which includes US Bank ATMs. You can withdraw money at a participating Money Pass ATM for free. If you need to deposit checks, you can use their mobile service. It is pretty good.

[+ deej]

But my last straw was TCF's refusal to send me new checks for free even though I had just ordered some and kept a nice balance there for 3 years. When I went to the Citi branch, I learned that same balance qualifies me for

 

It also qualifies you for free foreign ATM transactions and reimbursement on foreign ATM charges up to a certain number of transactions per year. (That is, they reimburse you for what the *other* bank charges.) It's actually a fixed reimbursement. I've made money on it when the non-Citi bank charged less than the Citi rebate. Of course, I only use ATMs a couple of times/year. If you use them often you'd go over the limit.

[+ FreshFluff]

Citi also subscribes to the Money Pass network, which includes US Bank ATMs. You can withdraw money at a participating Money Pass ATM for free. If you need to deposit checks, you can use their mobile service. It is pretty good.

 

Citi also lets you deposit checks by mail, which I find convenient.

[+ Gar1eth]

Citi also lets you deposit checks by mail, which I find convenient.

 

Do you mean email or snail mail? I thought 'all" banks accepted snail mail checks. Before the rise of the internet, ATM's around every corner, and banking websites, I used to occasionally send banks check deposits by mail.

 

Gman

[+ FreshFluff]

Do you mean email or snail mail? I thought 'all" banks accepted snail mail checks. Before the rise of the internet, ATM's around every corner, and banking websites, I used to occasionally send banks check deposits by mail.

 

Gman

 

Snail mail. TCF doesn't accept deposits by mail, or at least that's what CS told me.