NEW YORK (MainStreet) — A kid in Georgia has stolen a lot of money and won't give it back.
On March 7 the First Citizens Bank in Hull, Georgia made a mistake, depositing $31,000 from a customer named Steven Fields into the account of another customer with the same name. The second Fields is a local 18 year old who, after finding the bank's error, immediately did what any budding sociopath would with a lot of money that wasn't his.
He spent it.
Ten days later the original Steven Fields discovered First Citizens' mistake, by which time the teenager had spent $5,000 on his debit card and withdrew another $20,000 in cash. When the bank asked him to return the money the younger Fields claimed that they were wrong. No mistake had been made. The money, he said, was a direct deposit from his grandmother's estate.
Much more at the link. What would you do? Keep it or return it? I know I'd let them have it back because:
1] it ain't mine.
2] they're gonna get it anyways.
But given my current love of bankers, I'm kinda rooting for this kid!
Bank customers make mistakes all the time. They get charged for those mistakes by the bank. Now the bank has made a mistake, what should their punishment charge be? Maybe not $31K but with a mistake of that size, the charge should be proportional.
Let's see, a bounced check that overdraws the account by $5 earns an overdraft fee of $30. Whay say you, Mr Banker?
Bank customers make mistakes all the time. They get charged for those mistakes by the bank. Now the bank has made a mistake, what should their punishment charge be? Maybe not $31K but with a mistake of that size, the charge should be proportional.
Let's see, a bounced check that overdraws the account by $5 earns an overdraft fee of $30. Whay say you, Mr Banker?
yeah, it ahppens...When I first opened up an account, they tossed in an additional 30k. It took almost 6 months to get them to fix it. it was much more of a pita then it shouldda been...
It's so hard to keep track of every in and out with direct deposits and such happening, if $1000 ended up there I wouldn't think twice. But $31k for an 18 year old, he knew it was a mistake, and he stole it anyway. I would have brought it to the bank's attention and tried to remedy the situation.
Though at the same time, it was the bank's fault. So I don't know what should happen in this case, only what I would do and what I think of the guy.
It's so hard to keep track of every in and out with direct deposits and such happening, if $1000 ended up there I wouldn't think twice.
Really? Must be nice to be your age and have so much money coming in you can't keep track of it. Does 84fiero123 know you are CEO of some corporation, getting rich off the working people?
Really? Must be nice to be your age and have so much money coming in you can't keep track of it. Does 84fiero123 know you are CEO of some corporation, getting rich off the working people?
That sounded bad. It's just that, with refunds and bills and transfers, I have most of it tracked, and if $1000 went missing I'd notice, but if $1000 went in I'd assume it was work related.
I think like above, customer get charged for any infraction. Bank should bite the bullet when it goes the other way. Maybe not $30K worth, but he should get a substancial bonus in his account. Id probably have spent some of it myself. I def would have made it a pita for them to recover it. While it was fought out, it would at least be drawing interest in another bank ... for me.
That sounded bad. It's just that, with refunds and bills and transfers, I have most of it tracked, and if $1000 went missing I'd notice, but if $1000 went in I'd assume it was work related.
WTF must be nice that you don't know how much money you have in your bank accounts, that is simple arithmetic, even I know how much money I have in my bank accounts at any time, even when I was working and making money hand over fist. hell I even knew when I wasn't paid for overtime or was overpaid for overtime or underpaid for overtime. me thinks you need to higher an accountant just to take care of your finances.
must be tough to be you.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
That sounded bad. It's just that, with refunds and bills and transfers, I have most of it tracked, and if $1000 went missing I'd notice, but if $1000 went in I'd assume it was work related.
I think like above, customer get charged for any infraction. Bank should bite the bullet when it goes the other way. Maybe not $30K worth, but he should get a substancial bonus in his account. Id probably have spent some of it myself. I def would have made it a pita for them to recover it. While it was fought out, it would at least be drawing interest in another bank ... for me.
I got to agree, I would have opened an account in another bank and deposited it and said, what money. then made them sweet it out until they took me to court for it. we have to pay when we bounce a check, miss a payment and many other things but they don't? time for the rules to change, banks and bankers never are held accountable, just us poor folks.
Its not his money, its theft and they will prove it. He will be given the chance to make it right but if he cant he will get a chance to be Bubby Jo in cell block 6 room "mate"
I wouldn't keep it, I would call and make the bank aware of the issue. I would withdraw all of the money that they didn't remove after 2 days then work directly with a district manager The reason I would pull the money is so none of it got spent, I would put it in a secure location and not let anyone know about it.
WTF must be nice that you don't know how much money you have in your bank accounts, that is simple arithmetic, even I know how much money I have in my bank accounts at any time, even when I was working and making money hand over fist. hell I even knew when I wasn't paid for overtime or was overpaid for overtime or underpaid for overtime. me thinks you need to higher an accountant just to take care of your finances.
I don't agree with it and would not have spent it, but that is just me.
Think of it like this, couple of kids are just standing around, gal walks over and because she is not paying attention to what she is doing she hands them 20 bucks thinking it is her kids. Kids go over to a stand and buy ice cream etc.. NOW the mom realizes she made a mistake and wants her money back, did the kids steal that money? should they have to legally pay it back? Yup, it aint 31,000 dollars but it is really the same thing.
Its not his money, its theft and they will prove it. He will be given the chance to make it right but if he cant he will get a chance to be Bubby Jo in cell block 6 room "mate"
He doesn't give the money back, ends up doing time and being intimate with cellmate. Doesn't having sex for money have a name?
I got to agree, I would have opened an account in another bank and deposited it and said, what money. then made them sweet it out until they took me to court for it. we have to pay when we bounce a check, miss a payment and many other things but they don't? time for the rules to change, banks and bankers never are held accountable, just us poor folks.
Steve
I think you are missing the big picture here, someone is a 1%er depositing 30k in a bank like that.
People shouldn't be depositing 30k and not paying attention to it!
1%er? They don't need that money anyway. Probably would waste it on a car, or tennis bracelet for the girlfriend, or himself. Assuming that 1%er is male.
Originally posted by Fats:I think you are missing the big picture here, someone is a 1%er depositing 30k in a bank like that.
People shouldn't be depositing 30k and not paying attention to it!
Brad
So, some one trusted the banker to make a correct transaction and they should be punished? I move a lot of money and there are plenty of times that the f-en bank sits on it for weeks. I gotten so that I ask when the money should be available, take names, ask the supervisor to confirm. They put in and removed $120K three times before 3 weeks later I had to show up at the bank and demanded that the funds be usable that day. That was on the last house I bought. I put it in early because I am used to be screwed with.
The way everybody is freaking out about identity theft these days, banks should NOT be making a mistake like this... in ANY amount. I'm not saying I take the kid's side, but I agree the bank should have SOME kind of accountability in it.
I remember years ago back in the early 80's when I was 18 or 19. I had a Good/Year credit card that I had about $500 +/- on. Made my payment plus the extra as usual. A week or so later I got my check back in the mail with my statement showing a $0 balance. I called them and they said that my account was paid in full. I explained to them that it was not. She wanted me to resend the check in with a letter explaining that I did not pay the account off. Yeah, I got right on that one. Never, did hear anything further. But yes, I did call them and try to make right.
Would I call now on a $31,000 bank mistake, not sure. Would I spend it, NO. Would I let it sit, probably.
The way everybody is freaking out about identity theft these days, banks should NOT be making a mistake like this... in ANY amount. I'm not saying I take the kid's side, but I agree the bank should have SOME kind of accountability in it.
They do, they are responsible for all the improperly handled funds and damages incurred by the depositor right now. Now whether they have any success in retrieving it from the kid is yet to be seen, if not? they will have to suck it up.
Originally posted by Cheever3000: The way everybody is freaking out about identity theft these days, banks should NOT be making a mistake like this... in ANY amount. I'm not saying I take the kid's side, but I agree the bank should have SOME kind of accountability in it.
thats the fun part. Did the bank make a mistake, or did the person depositing the money make the mistake? Steven Fields deposited the money Steven Fields withdrew the money - and spent it.
I expect that is why many banks will NOT do anything without the customer providing the account number. They used to be nice and look up your account number by your ID, and go with that. Apparently exactly what happened here. With the bank tellers aid, the depositor made a nice donation. The bank itself made no mistake.
What I find amazing is it took 10 days for the depositor to realize. Me being a working man, I check my accounts constantly, especially when dealing with what to me is a large sum. Sorry Steven Fields. nice donation. know your account numbers. especially if that was a cash deposit. unless, there are laws which prevent someone from depositing money into someone elses account?
Would I spend it, NO. Would I let it sit, probably.
The banks, or the government for that matter, don't hesitate to hold your money while they collect the interest off of it. What is the difference in you withdrawing the money, putting it into another bank to draw interest until the day before the deadline to return it?
Unethical? Maybe. Fair based on the way the system currently works? Oh yeah!
thats the fun part. Did the bank make a mistake, or did the person depositing the money make the mistake? Steven Fields deposited the money Steven Fields withdrew the money - and spent it.
I expect that is why many banks will NOT do anything without the customer providing the account number. They used to be nice and look up your account number by your ID, and go with that. Apparently exactly what happened here. With the bank tellers aid, the depositor made a nice donation. The bank itself made no mistake.
What I find amazing is it took 10 days for the depositor to realize. Me being a working man, I check my accounts constantly, especially when dealing with what to me is a large sum. Sorry Steven Fields. nice donation. know your account numbers. especially if that was a cash deposit. unless, there are laws which prevent someone from depositing money into someone elses account?
I hate it when people mail a check in to the bank with just a first and last name.
I think it's despicable that the 18-year old is lying about where the money came from. If he doesn't pay it back, I highly doubt he'll ever be able to open another bank account at any other financial instituion.
So, some one trusted the banker to make a correct transaction and they should be punished? I move a lot of money and there are plenty of times that the f-en bank sits on it for weeks. I gotten so that I ask when the money should be available, take names, ask the supervisor to confirm. They put in and removed $120K three times before 3 weeks later I had to show up at the bank and demanded that the funds be usable that day. That was on the last house I bought. I put it in early because I am used to be screwed with.
thats the fun part. Did the bank make a mistake, or did the person depositing the money make the mistake? Steven Fields deposited the money Steven Fields withdrew the money - and spent it.
I expect that is why many banks will NOT do anything without the customer providing the account number. They used to be nice and look up your account number by your ID, and go with that. Apparently exactly what happened here. With the bank tellers aid, the depositor made a nice donation. The bank itself made no mistake.
Really? Sounds like some personal speculation filling in your own blanks and then a theory based on bad information.
From the quoted article. On March 7 the First Citizens Bank in Hull, Georgia made a mistake, depositing $31,000 from a customer named Steven Fields into the account of another customer with the same name
Looks to be clearly the banks fault. I never fill out my own slips, other than my name. They always do it for me with a smile,
If I buy something with my banks debit card, its taken out of my account in less than an hour. If I return the item, it usually takes 2-4 weeks to be credited back. Whys that ? Maybe other banks are different. Someones setting on MY money for that time and I dont get any credit for it. When you pay a bill directly online from your account, why does it take 2-3 days to post the payment at the creditor. It should be instantaneous like Paypal.
You guys can rationalize all you want, but you know the $31,000 isn't yours ... either legally or ethically. If you spend it, move it, or attempt to hide it, it becomes theft (larceny, embezzlement, or fraudulent conversion). Either you're a person of integrity or you're not; it can't be a part-time proposition.
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 03-31-2014).]
You guys can rationalize all you want, but you know the $31,000 isn't yours ... either legally or ethically. If you spend it, move it, or attempt to hide it, it becomes theft (larceny, embezzlement, or fraudulent conversion.
Yup. Been said here many many times; If you didn't earn it or buy it, it ain't yours.
Maybe not $30K worth, but he should get a substancial bonus in his account.
What the heck for? How did a deposit into his account inconvenience him at all... except for maybe him having to make a phone call to report it.
The kid knew it wasn't his money. He's no better than a common thief for spending it. If the kid had stolen $3 worth of empty's from your yard you would've shot him.
If anyone is to get a "bonus", it should be the person who trusted the bank to put their deposit into the proper account.
You can be sure there was fine print covering this situation when the kid opened an account at the bank. Very fine, buried very deep, but it's there somewhere.
You guys can rationalize all you want, but you know the $31,000 isn't yours ... either legally or ethically. If you spend it, move it, or attempt to hide it, it becomes theft (larceny, embezzlement, or fraudulent conversion).
Correct!
Long story, short version. I once worked for a company and left it to take another job. I had a special bank account at the time that the deposit went into and I'd move the money around as need be. It was a direct deposit from the company to the bank. When I changed jobs, I used the last paycheck, left five bucks in the account to keep it open just in case I needed it for debts that hadn't come in yet. Actually forgot about it and the five bucks. Six months later, I remembered that account and decided to go to the bank and close it out. To my surprise, the former employer had continued to pay me! Six full months of my salary!!!
This is an absolutely true story, I think I may have posted about it before. Regardless, my first call was to my wife and the second was to the company I had been with previously. Called up the GM and told him I had something I thought he might want back. Needless to say, he was both happy and ticked off. I wrote a check and mailed it that day. BTW, he replaced his accountant that week.
The money wasn't mine and I knew it. That's all there is to it.
------------------ Ron Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 03-31-2014).]
