$1600 disappeared! What should we do??

Question

$1600 disappeared! What should we do???
My husband and I were both paid on Thursday, by direct deposit, and it did go through, and was reflected in the balance since yesterday during the day.

This morning, though, $1600 is unaccounted for. Our available balance went from almost $1700 to $31.54 overnight.

Other than about $300, all of the money we've used for spending cleared, and was reflected in the $1700 balance. So the lowest our balance SHOULD have been is about $1400.

We can't find a number to call to our bank, there is only one branch, and they are not open again until Monday morning.

I'm worried someone got the number and has been using it, but I don't know where they would have got it from.

What usually happens in these situations? Will most banks write it off, or are we pretty much screwed, trying to last 2 weeks on $31, unable to make rent or our car payments, not to mention any spending, daycare, gas, groceries, etc?

I know, I've asked this elsewhere.

I put it here, too, because I want to know if there is anything we can do from a legal standpoint.

Should we file a police report?

What are the chances we'd be able to recover our money?

They have online banking, and we are enrolled in it (that's how we saw the balance). However, they dont' show the transactions that are pending, there are just the transactions that have cleared, a balance, and an available balance.

Wierd thing is, this morning, my husband was an at ATM, and he swears the AVAILABLE balance was $1600 something, the same as the actual balance. At the same time, I was online and seeing the available balance of $31, and the actual balance of $1600.


Ohhh, I'm going to be sick....

Answer 1

Does your bank have online access to your account? If so, go to their web site and see if you can sign up pronto. Maybe you can see where the money went.

If not, you need to get in touch with the bank ASAP. Check the phone book for an 800 number.

If this is due to fraud or bank error, they should be able to provisionally restore the funds while the solution is worked out. If fraud, you definitely should file that police report.

Answer 2

Even if you cant access your bank til Monday, atm card should have an 800 number to call. Report ALL atm cards associated with accts stolen. If it turns to be an error you may have to wait a week or two for a new one, or may be able restore the cards working ability by calling the 800 number again. If there is fraud involved, this sets up that you saw it and will help from liabilities of the money.

After this is done, change to a nation wide bank with 24/7 phone access and complete online access.

Answer 3

How did you find out the difference in your balance, by phone or by computer? Most phone systems also let you check your latest transactions. You should do that. If you are using banking online it should also show you your last transactions. If all you did was obtain this information from the ATM you are going to have to wait until Monday.

In the mean time, find out how to enroll in your bank's online system. This way you can always track everything.

You are probably not going to be able to find out anything until Monday unless you are already enrolled in online or telephone banking.

I wouldn't panic until you actually speak to the bank on Monday. I know it is frightening but try to wait until Monday.

Answer 4

Sorry to hear about that. I would say to start with the bank ASAP. Find out the transactions that have occurred, and take it from there. If you find out it is a theft, which it sounds like at this point, make out a police report (just have them come to the bank and do it right away there), and it will be investigated. And...if they find out it was a theft, see if they know from where...store, ATM...? and find out if there's any tape on the possible offender(s) and make sure those get saved for police.

Answer 5

First, don't panic.
Check your balance again in the morning - most likely, it will be there.
If not, call the number on the back of your ATM card, and follow the prompts for checking recent transactions.
If that is not possible, wait till Monday and go to the bank.
Panicking and worrying won't resolve the situation any faster or any better.

Answer 6

first get with the bank asap and find out where the money went get copies of it and get the name of who did it then you go file a police report, not sure if u will get your money back though