Misdirected Funds

[Kathal]

Has anyone else had the VA deposit your money in the wrong account or wrong bank? My decision notice was stamped Nov 1st. I received it Nov 2nd (way to go post office!). I called the 800 number on the 2nd to check my direct deposit information since I had changed banks since first filing my claim. They said they had no bank information on record at all. I went ahead and gave them my current routing number and account. They updated it in the computer and assured me the first check always comes by mail. About a week later I still had a nagging feeling something would get screwed up and called them again. I explained that my bank had changed since I first filed and I wanted to avoid any mistakes and make sure they had the right information. The person I spoke to assured me the first check always comes by mail then verified my new bank information was in their computer and informed me the money was deposited on Nov 6th.....to my old bank. After calling my old bank they verified the funds where received the 6th and returned the 7th. I initiated a trace with the VA and they said as soon as the treasury department found the money they would redeposit it in 7 to 10 days but she couldn't tell me how long it would take to "find" the money. Anyone else have this happen? Any ideas how long this might take? This whole process with the VA has been one ridiculous screw up after another. Doesn't really surprise me, just wish the bill collectors understood.

Kathal

[danang_1969]

Has anyone else had the VA deposit your money in the wrong account or wrong bank? My decision notice was stamped Nov 1st. I received it Nov 2nd (way to go post office!). I called the 800 number on the 2nd to check my direct deposit information since I had changed banks since first filing my claim. They said they had no bank information on record at all. I went ahead and gave them my current routing number and account. They updated it in the computer and assured me the first check always comes by mail. About a week later I still had a nagging feeling something would get screwed up and called them again. I explained that my bank had changed since I first filed and I wanted to avoid any mistakes and make sure they had the right information. The person I spoke to assured me the first check always comes by mail then verified my new bank information was in their computer and informed me the money was deposited on Nov 6th.....to my old bank. After calling my old bank they verified the funds where received the 6th and returned the 7th. I initiated a trace with the VA and they said as soon as the treasury department found the money they would redeposit it in 7 to 10 days but she couldn't tell me how long it would take to "find" the money. Anyone else have this happen? Any ideas how long this might take? This whole process with the VA has been one ridiculous screw up after another. Doesn't really surprise me, just wish the bill collectors understood.

Kathal

I gave the VA my bank account and routing number in my initial claims application and ask for all and any retro and all monthly payments be direct deposited. After I got the notification that I had been granted an award, I called 1-800 and setup the account right then, a real polite lady took all my info and said ok, you are set, but you will probably get a check in the mail. I said I really would like my check direct deposited if at all possible. She said, they usually won't do a retro diorect deposit. 3 weeks later, still no deposit. I called 1-800, again they said, we had just made out your retro check and will be mailing it today. I said, I had already had a direct deposit account setup there three weeks prior to today and had requested a direct deposit at this office and also on my application, also in an iris that my retro be direct deposited on all payments and they said you don't have an account and then they started asking me all the info about a routing and account number needed again to set up an account. I said, I have already given this info 3 week ago and was told it was set up. I said, was not my account set up three weeks ago? They said no, you don't have an account yet, and they said I could not get my retro direct deposited anyway and they could not direct deposits on retro and it might be a couple of months before I got a monthly check direct deposit and it would come by check. I did get my first monthly check direct deposited the first month though. It sounds as if we all get a different story. Of course, when you take into account I was only paid 1 year of 10 years retro, I would say they probably wanted to confuse the amounts and leave as little of trail as possible of how much retro I got. That's why I made a copy of the retro check before I deposited it. It is interesting what we find when we compare notes.

I hope you get your retro soon.

Danang_1969

Edited November 26, 2007 by danang_1969

[Pete53]

So far I have had good luck with the VA Direct Deposit. I have heard that a change can cause problems.