I'm pissed.

[Sava]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[Zkribbler]

Only US $12.99 to wreak havoc and destruction?! Go for it! :doitnow:

[Sava]

just for plans though... I still have to build that damn thing

and the seller doesn't want to answer a few simple questions I asked about it...

his response was "buy it and find out"

YEAH WHATEVER DICKHEAD

I don't think so

it's probably for the best anyways

[JohnT]

Oerdin didn't mention the name of the bank so the advice will be more general than specific...

For starters, keep your cool. You gain nothing by losing your temper, especially in public. A brief flash of anger is fine, possibly needed, but don't lose your temper!

First, do you have documentation of what happened? Go online and get your balance history, making sure that it matches your timeline. If you have the original receipts, better.

Find out what type of bank it is - National (Bank of America), Regional (AmSouth, SunTrust), statewide (California National Bank), credit union, whatever. There is a regulatory agency for that bank and they have a complaint process - usually writing a letter or filling out a form. Do so (offline), but don't submit. Prepare a nice looking envelope, complete with stamps. Paper clip the envelope, letter, and documentation together. Do not staple. (FYI: Look for State, Federal, and Local regulatory agencies. Do the complaint process on each one. )

If your bank is a branch, find out the HQ and get the name of the person in charge of operations (web research). Write them, by name, a letter, referring to your documentation, but don't submit. (You might want to look up a few names and write them all letters). Again, prepare a nice looking envelope, complete with stamps. Paper clip the envelope, letter, and documentation together. Do not staple.

Also, if you don't have an attorney, look in the phone book/online and get names of people who would possibly be interested in throwing out a few letters for your benefit - you don't have to contact them, just get a few names. You might want to write them a letter too (envelope, stamps), but that's up to you.

All right. Since you've written your story down twice (three times including here, four if you've written an attorney), you should have it well fixed in your mind, and you've got your backup plans all ready to go. Time to visit the offending branch.

If you can, wear a tie, khaki's, nice shoes - don't go in sweats and jeans. Take a copy of the online documentation and the letters, put them in a folder, briefcase, something so they're not hanging out, amatuerish. Ask to see somebody regarding a "customer service issue".

You'll get Flunky - that's OK, there are channels to go through and you are prepared to get through every single one of them in a day if need be (isn't that great?). Tell him your story and your point of view.

Get turned down. S/he will... if you're dealing with some corporate behemoth, the lowest level person won't have the authority to do anything except take your money. Don't get too mad - they, too, are suffering under the stupid rule-makers as you are. Don't mention the Comptroller of the Currency (the Federal Agency responsible for regulating BIG banks) or the State's regulatory agency or whatever to Flunky. You'll just either scare them or piss them off and there's no need to burn any bridges, not at the Flunky level there's not.

Not yet.

Get turned down and ask to see the manager. Repeat story, get more insistent. Sit up, back straight, maybe leaning forward a little bit, always maintaining eye contact. If manager goes into "our policy" spin, wait until finished and then make them aware that you are ready to take this above their head

TODAY.

Show them the PREPARED documentation, neatly laid out, ready to go. Do it along the lines of

"I am prepared to take this to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, in which I have already prepared their Customer Complaint Form and a corresponding letter with documentation..." pull out OCC letter, the State Regulatory Board, in which I have already prepared the necessary forms..." (use the exact title) pull out State Regulatory Board letter, "and your HQ, including a letter addressed to Name, Regional Manager..." pull out HQ letter 1 "and to Name, VP of Branch Management..." pull out HQ letter 2. Repeat for each letter, the more the merrier.

Or, we could debit my account the measley $176, make any necessary corrections to my credit rating that might need be made because of this little problem, and forget the whole thing."

When I did that to the local branch manager at Bank of America, the man just about **** his pants. And did what I wanted. But I kept my cool and I was prepared - actually, I probably spent more time on the issue than the dollar amount was worth ($93 in my case, where I had a NSF fee applied to a $800 check being drawn (three times!) against an account with $4,200 in available funds and overdraft protection! )

Have fun!

[GePap]

Or he could burn down the bank as retribution.....

Just a suggestion.

[Sava]

the seller of the HERF plans sent me a response calling me a "half-wit" and insulted me and stuff because I said I wouldn't buy his stuff unless he answered my questions...

I responded by saying Ebay had a lot of scammers and that I thought his item was probably not legit and I thanked him for confirming my suspicions.

He responded back saying he reported me for violations our whatever...

I didn't directly insult him, so I'm not worried... only I saved his messages where he called me a "half-wit". So I reported him.

Also, I reported the item as something illegal, along with 3 other identical things he had listed.

Here is the email I sent to Ebay's customer service:

the four numbers below are the Ebay item numbers

7575666206 , 7527468659 , 6191836076 , 6197315177

These are plans to build a HERF weapon. These devices destroy electronics equipment such as microprocessors in computers. Building one is illegal and may be considered an act of terrorism.

Would Ebay allow sellers to sell plans to build a nuclear weapon? Or some kind of explosive?

This device is like an electromagnetic pulse on a smaller scale, but can be directed at a target.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herf

I think I'm going to email the FBI with a crime tip also... saying that this guy is selling plans for HERF weapons on Ebay.

Maybe they will "detain" him.

When will people learn... YOU DONT MESS WITH SAVA!!!

[DRoseDARs]

Oh, yes says the bank but we always charge out going checks before we credit in going balances.

Wtf, indeed. I was a little too close for comfort one time with checks/purchases I'd made from my checking acct. and while negative flow is noted, positive flow was cleared first. I bank with Wells Fargo. I've heard horror stories, but I've never had a problem (*knocks on wood*).

And follow JohnT's advice. He speaks the TRUTH!!1

[DRoseDARs]

Sava, shouldn't you report the guy to the FBI or DoHS? I'm sure they'd take an interest...

[Timexwatch]

I hate to say it, but who tries to float checks nowadays? It's more trouble than it's worth. I know people sometimes have to do it, but shouldn't most financially stable people nowadays simply save a few extra bucks and avoid this trouble?

[Sava]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Sava, shouldn't you report the guy to the FBI or DoHS? I'm sure they'd take an interest...

Yeah, I'm gonna do that tomorrow.

Although I wonder if I should go to an internet cafe or something to do this.

Don't want to end up on their radar screen.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Mrs. Tuberski
geez what banks are you guys using?

Washington Mutal. I want to stab their eyes out.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie
I bet they invest the money during the transfer period and get an interest for it.

You know they do. The ****ers drag their feet on the transaction because they're busy using your money to make themselves rich while they're bouncing your checks because they didn't feel like transfering money in a timely manner.

The banking industry should be so heavily regulated that every time a banker takes a **** he should have to fill out a 400 page report. These bastards are one industry which needs to be regulated to the last dotted eye and who should be fined massively for every time they behave unethically.

[Winston]

I concur, excelllency. 'm also pissed. out of my mindd.

[Sava]

[Dinner]

Been drinking for a while myself. I think I'll go out. The roommates are getting rowdy, the neighbors party is so loud it is bugging me, and I'm hoping to watch the ball drop some where besides sitting on my couch.