Confused People Do Not Know What Their Balances Are Or If Payments They Have Made Have, Indeed, Been Paid Reporting Jennifer McLogan OCEANSIDE, N.Y. (CBS) ― http://wcbstv.com/consumer/td.bank.bank.2.1222131.html
TD Bank's computer system has been on the fritz for days, causing chaos with balance statements. Customers are furious. Where's your money! On Thursday night, TD Bank was scrambling to fix a computer glitch that has millions of customers angry and confused about their account balances. The bank is now promising to reimburse those affected by the frustrating malfunction. "Very frustrating, very aggravating and scary," said Norma Hernandez, whose account registered zero balance. Online computer glitches with direct deposit created a near run on the bank. "Of course I'm worried. My social security check," one customer told CBS 2 HD. TD Bank has 6.5 million customers in the United States. There's no word on how many customers have been impacted by the computer glitch, but here in the tri-state area it was pretty apparent. Every parking space at many of the bank's 270 tri-state area branches was filled on Thursday. David Perkins, a Surgery Technician at Lenox Hill Hospital said his direct deposit paycheck was missing. "I went to get money so I could pay rent and stuff and I didn't have any funds available in my account," he said. Perkins made an emergency trip to the Morningside Heights and learned the direct deposit lagged by a day. He was told the bank would cover any overdraft penalties. He was able to get cash out of another account to pay his rent. Adam Weinberg of Prospect Park Brooklyn was shocked to find a bank balance of nothing. "There was just no balance given," he said. Dondi Clark of Morningside Heights said, "I can understand having system problems, but three days is a little amatuerish." TD acquired Commerce Bank last year and over the weekend began merging the two banks' computer systems. Since then it has been running slowly; credits and debits delayed. "I don't know what to do. I have direct deposit. It is supposed to be direct in my account today, but it's not in there. I have a negative balance," customer Julius Lake said. Lake and his wife, unable to access their account information, called the number listed online for help, but got a recording. "I'm in shock, panic. We're all outraged about the situation and we'd like to find an explanation," Lake said. With their mortgage payment due, the Lakes don't have confirmation it went through because, they said, the bank's computers keep crashing. CBS 2 HD went to TD's branch in Westbury for answers, but was greeted rudely. "You have to leave the property. The police are on the way," we were told. However, online, the bank is apologizing and customer Karen Gierak accepted that. "I'm not worried. They are so good. They stand behind everything," Gierak said. TD Bank issued a statement saying the problems will all be resolved very soon and pledged to reverse any "fees, charges or interest incurred" as a result of the disruption. A TD Bank spokeswoman said customers can still use ATM machines and withdraw or deposit money, but their balances will not be in real time. *********************************** * POST TO MEDIANEWS@ETSKYWARN.NET * *********************************** Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews