Without naming the specific businesses involved, here’s what happened:
Monday afternoon, I initiated a wire transfer of money through a large national business. One has the option of doing this in person, online, or over the phone.
Works great in person, but I couldn’t get down there in time. I’ve tried the online option, but it hasn’t worked for me.
I’ll just do it over the phone, I thought … what could possibly go wrong?
Ho ho. The agent was very pleasant, and everything went smoothly. He had already given me the long numerical code which signifies “it’s a done deal;”
then suddenly, the guy says we’re not quite done yet and transfers me.
The new guy says the transaction is denied. No way, no how, final answer. No, we can’t tell you why, that information is priveleged. Tough s**t. Go away.
So I walked across town, racing the clock because I HAD to do it that day, and go to an outlet to do it in person. But this place only takes cash, so I went to the ATM conveniently placed inside, only to find — my prepaid credit card has nineteen cents on it.
I jammed home, gnashing my teeth, out for blood. I call them again, they say, well, they’ll put in a request to put my money back but it takes THREE DAYS.
And of course, they are also keeping their fee for a transaction they denied; and the credit card guys are getting TWO three-dollar service fees. (presumably because they got me coming and going. :rolleyes:)
But wait, that was monday around 3pm. This is friday at 10pm.
Exactly how long are they legally entitled to hang onto my money when they refused the transaction in the first place?
I read over the “Terms and Conditions” very carefully; such a contingency is not even mentioned. Nowhere does it say that they will confiscate your money if they refuse to transfer it for you.
As far as I’m concerned, if there’s some kind of deal-breaker that they insist on keeping secret (yes, I do understand why) — then that question should come up BEFORE they put their grubby electronic fingers into my wallet.So, does withholding my money become illegal at any point or what? Do I have to just take this crap from them?