I called the bank branch.
I spoke to an assistant manager because the manager was with a customer.
I explained to him what happened and he said that that is not what the employee should have told me. The bank requires a credit card or passport along with the drivers license or id and has nothing at all to do with the patriot act.
He told me if I came in, he could see what he could do for me as far as the secondary id went. I told him I would have to think about it but right now, I was very upset that some employee used the patriot act as a way of discriminating against people who aren't credit worthy. I even told him that the guy encouraged me to get a credit card to prove I am a citizen and how much that infuriated me. As if having a credit card makes you a better American.
He apologized and I told him that his employees need to be re-trained on the patriot act which actually gives more freedom in regards to opening a bank account than the bank itself does and to stop throwing the patriot act around like it is the be all end all of a persons worth when it comes to banking.
I gave him the website address on compliance in finance and even told him what section financial institutions fall under in the patriot act so he can go read for himself.
I feel better having told someone off but I would love to tell Jay off.
Oh, for those of you wondering, the bank in question is Washington Mutual.
Comments
Yeah, I went to open an account at WaMu once too... It was the same thing. I needed a second form of ID or they wouldn't let me open an account. So I ended up having to have J meet me at the bank so we could open a joint account in his name just so I could have a freaking account.
And THEN they opened a savings account for me, without even asking me if I wanted it. And signed me up to have $25 deposited into the savings account every month. Since I was working I didn't make a big deal out of it, but asked what would happen if the $25 wasn't there. She said they'd stop trying and cancel the transfers.
But she LIED.
A few months went by that I didn't have money there. So I figured they wouldn't try it again. One day I put a paycheck in and a few days later they did do the transfer, but I didn't know it, so a whole bunch of checks bounced even though I had the money, but it was just in my savings account since THEY moved it over and I ended up being HUNDREDS of dollars overdrawn even though had they not transfered the money to my savings, I'd have had more than enough to cover the checks.
Two months in a row I was overdrawn due to their mistakes, and they didn't apologize either time.
The whole reason I left my first bank to go with WaMu was because WaMu had no monthly fees, but they f*cking made up for it, didn't they? Bastards.
So now I'm back with the first bank I was at. Sure, there's a $4/month charge, but I never, ever, ever have any trouble, or overdrafts or anything like with them.
I would very very strongly caution against opening an account at WaMu. :(
Posted by: Tina | July 9, 2004 7:50 PM
Man, what a pain in the ass. I swear they enjoy doing these things, and making us jump through hoops.
Posted by: karri | July 9, 2004 9:24 PM
You know that is so wrong! I don't have credit cards either ~ for bad credit problems and the fact that I learned to live without them...if I can't pay cash I don't get them....I am lucky in that I have to have an ID for work as well as driving but for folks that only have one ID its a bear. Something should be done about that crap because I get flack everytime I have to show two IDs and tell them I don't have a credit card. Then they are all rude...I tell them "...I may not have a credit card but my kids christmas presents are bought and paid every year for unlike yours!"
Posted by: Chaos | July 10, 2004 7:25 AM
Exactly Chaos. When I buy something, I own it outright because I paid cash in full. They are still paying last xmas off...lol
Posted by: kat | July 10, 2004 11:54 PM
I think so too Karri.
Posted by: kat | July 10, 2004 11:56 PM
Oh my gawd! I told Heidi tonight about your comment, cuz that's the bank she just got an ccount with, she flipped out! She's gonna go yell at them on monday and close her account. Thanks for the heads up. Sorry that happened to you.
Posted by: kat | July 10, 2004 11:59 PM
I have washington mutual and haven't had any trouble I guess I have been lucky. I didn't actually open a account with them though, a few years ago they took over Bank United and I had a account with them so they just took over my account.
Posted by: squishybear | July 12, 2004 11:07 AM