WTH, MetroBank?

Saturday, June 13, 2009

By missPenny

A supposed “simple name change” comes to destroy some 7 years and 3 timezones of loyalty.

The short of it goes something like this:

I had a Commerce Bank account for a number of years before I moved to California. Loved them so much I kept them while I ran my eBay store – using them for PayPal, etc. Even from 3000+ miles away, I was convinced they couldn’t be beat.

Now somewhere in there I dropped the account for just over a year. But, I didn’t hesitate to open a new one when I came back to Pennsylvania. Their convenience and level of service are unmatched.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday, Commerce/Metro failed me in ways I wish I didn’t have to wrap my brain around. And what’s worse is that it’s not just me. This apparent major FAIL is affecting the entire Commerce/Metro Customer Community.

And even worse is I was IN THE BRANCH Friday afternoon with my paycheck and heard nothing, saw no posted memo, had no word from the teller, NO SIGN that my bank was about to go into lockdown and leave me utterly helpless as far as using my own money goes.

It’s absolutely inexcusable on their part. I wonder what different experiences have been, and I know this isn’t over – so far I’ve only been troubled this much:

– I can’t transfer money to buy some much needed plane tickets to California.

– I can’t access my balances. I don’t even know if my recently deposited paycheck is in there.

– The poor tellers have less knowledge on what’s going on than we do. And they have to take the brunt of what is their Company’s fault.

– I have payments going through on bills and I don’t even know if the money is in the right place.

– I managed to get cash out today based on “yesterday’s” balance … God knows I’m not touching my bank card until this blows over.

– I’m afraid to go for groceries in case my card doesn’t work.

My bank-by-phone is gone – my online is gone – and i can’t even go into the branch for help …

… I hope this is over with tomorrow like they “promised,” but I have serious doubts about that happening at all.

I can’t help feeling bad for the tellers in the branches. My local one especially – they’re all such good people – and they seem as helpless in all this. But those poor kids get to take the brunt of our rage. And it’s NOT their fault …

I’ll come back with details when I have more information and have settled down a bit.

Until then if you need me, I’ll be the one out on the corner with a tin cup and “The End Is Near” hung in cardboard around my throat.

Talk to you soon …

(¢) Penny

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