My complaint was simple. I had an account with NETBANK which the Feds closed due to screwups by their officers. They bad financial decisions for which my wife and I are being punished. When we opened the NETBANK account we lived in Guanajuato, Mexico. The only information we received is that we would not have to do anything but sit back and watch a seamless and effortless transition of our account from NETBANK to ING Direct Bank. That was not to be the case. We were not notified that we would be canceled out of hand because we had our primary residence in Mexico and not the United States. I am a disabled person who has to live in Mexico in order to afford the prescriptions that keep me alive.
On Nov 23, 2007 our ATM access was deactivated. ING Direct, who assumed NETBANK'S accounts claimed they notified us in a timely manner to make other arrangements before they deactivated our account. They did not do this and I have the proof. ING Direct claims that according to the U.S. Patriot Act that they cannot give us an account because we live in Mexico and not the U.S. However, I have proof that they indeed have granted Americans accounts whose primary address is in Mexico.
And besides, I most certainly had a legal address in Florida which they deemed unsatisfactory.The point is that had they acted in good faith and actually notified us I could have used my sister's Kansas City address as has many expats in Mexico who had this NETBANK when it was closed by the Feds.If you read the attached page you will get the whole picture of what has transpired.I am afraid my time is running out. I am on the verge of being kicked out of my home and I have no access to our money for food and medicines.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Alternatives we've discovered is that you can get a Prepaid Visa or MasterCard card. It functions just like a debit account. You load a certain amount into this account and you can suck it out whenever you need it just like you would with your traditional checking account. This was a marvelous find of which we took advantage. We now have two accounts. We have our Mexican account and an account with a bank in America. The only difference is that I fund the USA account through Paypal. My book royalties, when deposited to Paypal, will be deposited into this Prepaid Visa Account. It has a regular bank account number; it has a routing number for direct deposits, and is FDIC-insured with a bank in America. No questions were asked and I offered no extra information like where I actually live.
I used a friend's American address.
Thank you, U.S. Patriot Act for nearly ruining our lives and putting my life in danger.
If friends hadn't given me money to buy my life-sustaining medications, I would not be penning this story.
Did we dodge a bullet?
I like to think so!
RESOURCES
1. Find a friend or relative who will let you use his or her address as your U.S. address. Many expats in Mexico use a mail forwarding service. However, the banks seem to be asking for a utility bill keyed to the address you are using as your address to prove you live in the States.
2. If you can swing the U.S. address require through "hook or by crook", then apply for a Prepaid Visa or Mastercard. These seem to be a way you could get around the checking account gig. It is a debit account. It is really just like a check debit card but with no paper checks. It's worth checking out!
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