Okinus used ACH to pull an UNAUTHORIZED amount from my account, causing my bank to go negative and overdraft fees racked up as well. Last month a Summer from Okinus asked Management and agreed to turn off ACH because my bank kept returning the auto draft from Okinus, due to a glitch in the transaction between companies. They suggested Okinus charge a different amount but Okinus emphatically told me they can not ACH from my account for any other number than what was on the contract. Because i have NEVER missed a monthly payment and have even paid the return fees when it wasn't my fault the payment was being returned, they agreed I could mail payments beginning this month (Nov).
The week of Thanksgiving, I decided to bare the late fee and sent my payment in a few days late so I could get a paycheck in, and keep money to buy Thanksgiving dinner for my family. I was not worried since Summer turned off ACH. Sure enough, Okinus not only drafted from my account anyways...they drafted $180, instead of $179, which I ASKED THEM TO DO FOR 3 MONTHS PRIOR AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DRAFT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT MY CONTRACT STATED!!! I planned my budget to a T and that amount caused me to go negative $270, twice my payment to them!! A Lacey L and Kristen Lloyd consulted with the Senior Manager Jennifer Morelle, and Lacey read my notes to me on Tuesday 11/23 and it read that Summer wrote "DO NOT ACH" and "Customer wants $180 drafted but we can not, she will mail payment to avoid denial of ACH." Lacey, Kristen and Jennifer all agreed the notes clearly stated the truth and they would refund the money as long as my back agreed not to return charge after they gave me the $270 from their unauthorized charge.
After emailing all bank statements to Lacey, and Kristen Lloyd even calling three-way with Bank of America to get the charge reversed, Okinus closed the phones lines at 4:45pm Tuesday, before we could finish the transaction. Sure enough, Wednesday, the Overdraft fees then went through and i sent an updated bank statement, but could not reach ANYONE on the phone lines.
Today, I talked to a Brian Howell, who was management but only the messenger for the Senior Manager Obie Salter's new decision to refuse the refund afterall because my notes said I authorized he $180 ach...A TOTAL LIE!!! Lacy L, Kristen Lloyd and Jennifer Morelle all reviewed and confirmed the notes on Tuesday 11/23 that showed I did NOT authorize that amount but made an agreement to turn off ACH. Three days later, Friday 11/26, my notes MAGICALLY changed! This is fraudulent activity on Okinus' behalf. If i make a adult decision to eat the late fee and mail my payment late, i can do so. They were not authorized to charge my account for $180 and now i am in the negative $270 because I didnt have a chance to move over money from savings before they charged me.... This is fraud!!! They are altering the notes on my account to avoid this refund! And the check i put in the mail, I have to pay a $25 stop payment for that too!
I am trying to work through this, get the fund reversed so I don't have to pay all these extra fees, and I will pay the regular monthly payment PLUS late fee...LIKE I ALWAYS PAY EVERY MONTH, but no one will talk to me or return my calls!!! I have never missed a payment and was trying to save a headache by not having my bank kick out the charge, but they took my money anyways..without permission!
The worst part is that they are now lying to my face. Three people okayed my refund because they knew it was the truth (Jennifer Morelle, Kristen Lloyd and Lacey). While they (not Lacey - she was kind) were completely bothered to have to help me, they at least were trying to get this resolved. Today...no one wants to help, actually Brian Howell is getting the flack from me because I am so livid but I realize he simply delivering the message from Obie Salter.
I am not trying to skip out of paying!! I just think its unfair for me to have to pay essentially $270 for a $179 monthly payment, because they UNETHICALLY took money from my account after ACH was to be turned off. If any person pulls my contract and ORIGINAL notes before they magically changed, they will see that this money was not to be taken like this. At this point, I even offered to pay the $180 payment and the $25 stop payment for the check i sent...as long as they paid those overdraft fees they caused. My answer was...we'll have to ask and call you back. YEAH RIGHT! This company is down right unethical.
I am filing this same report with the BBB as soon as I press send. |
