No Thumbprint, No Money, Bank tells armless customer, Can you believe it!.....
By tdemex
@tdemex (3540)
United States
September 3, 2009 12:15pm CST
MIAMI (Reuters) – A bank in Florida refused to cash a check for an armless man because he could not provide a thumb print.
"They looked at my prosthetic hands and the teller said, 'Well, obviously you can't give us a thumb print'," Steve Valdez told CNN on Wednesday.
But he said the Bank of America Corp branch in downtown Tampa, Florida, still insisted on a thumb print identification for him to cash a check drawn on his wife's account at the bank, even though he showed them two photo IDs.
In the incident last week, a bank supervisor told Valdez he could only cash the check without a thumb print if he brought his wife in with him or he opened an account with them.
Good old Bank of America. The bank violated the U.S. Americans with Disability Act requiring institutions to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled persons.
Do you have any thoughts on this? I think this place is going crazy! My own opinion!
8 people like this
21 responses
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
3 Sep 09
Hello my friend 
How heartless is this they should be ashamed of themself,his wife should close her account and bank else where, I could only imagine how bad he must have felt when they did that to him, and I am sure in their eyes they did nothing wrong, wonder what he will do? did they say anything about that, heartless is what it is no feelings whatsoever poor man may have needed his money at the time as well,they stopped him from doing whatever it was he had planned at that time 
How heartless is this they should be ashamed of themself,his wife should close her account and bank else where, I could only imagine how bad he must have felt when they did that to him, and I am sure in their eyes they did nothing wrong, wonder what he will do? did they say anything about that, heartless is what it is no feelings whatsoever poor man may have needed his money at the time as well,they stopped him from doing whatever it was he had planned at that time @tdemex (3540)
• United States
3 Sep 09
The Bank issued an apology and said they should have accommodated him because of his disability! I had an account with Bank of America and it was fine for about 4 years, then there we a sudden bunch of mistakes on their part and I finally closed the account, with no love loss there! 
tdemex
tdemex2 people like this
I use to have an account with them myself I must admit it was cool can't say i had any problems with them, I am broke now so I have no accounts hmmm 
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
3 Sep 09
This is progress???
Everyone is becoming so dumb and can't, or daren't, use their thinking caps anymore.
Who was it said 'stop the world I wanna get off'? I think they saw a glance of what was yet to come!
3 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
3 Sep 09
No way!
Someone seems tothink I ought to be though and took the other one for their own use 
If you happen to bump into it - it is NOT me my friend
If you happen to bump into it - it is NOT me my friend 2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Sep 09
hi tdemex Now I have more reasons to dislike my own bank
Bank of Anerica. how could they do this to a person who
had no way of providing a finger print? Surely he is not'the
only one who is disable in some way.here my branch has not'gone to
that extreme thank goodness.
3 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
3 Sep 09
Thinking logically here, if it were his account, the bank would have been totally in the wrong. Since it was his wife's account, I guess I can see them "standing on principal", but under the circumstances if I had been the bank manager, I would have given him the money. Some people just can't think outside the box even a little bit...
3 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 Sep 09
I just wonder if the bank is obligated to if he's the customer (ie it's his account) vs not the customer (his wife's account). But even if they weren't obligated, this is a situation where I think they ought to have gone a little outside the rules.
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
3 Sep 09
Well there's an item in the Americans Disability Act, that says your supposed to give handicapped people reasonable accommodation! Although it's vague it means the bank is supposed to find another way to verify his identity or record his information. I've went thru several classes on this issue. I did federal housing for years and worked with attorneys who tried to interpret this law, and it's a nightmare! But this is pretty cut and dry. This is a major corporation and they should've already had a plan for these situations and trained the staff on how to handle it! It could be as simple as go to the person in charge. But it should be different than how it was handled that's for sure! Thanks! tdemex
1 person likes this
@stephwrites (275)
• United States
3 Sep 09
I saw this on the news last night too. What an insensitive clod this teller was! he/she should have at least called a manager or something to be sure he was handling it right. I guess they did call him later and apologized but I hope that teller gets fired! I would rather get fired for giving the money with two pieces of I.D. than for being so insensitive!! aarrgh,, it is so frustrating sometimes what people do in the name of 'security.'
3 people like this
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
3 Sep 09
Yes, that is a really sad and disturbing story too. I think the man already has to face many hardships in life and the bank shouldn't be this cruel to him. The bank I go to only requires you to show a form of I.D. or to enter the P.I.N. (personal identification number) on your debit/bank card so you can withdraw money or cash a check.
3 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
3 Sep 09
Yes but that's to easy for Bank of America! LOL! I've been to a couple where I was cashing my paycheck and didn't have an account there, and they did the same thing! It must be some protection for the bank or they wouldn't do it! But it sure is a shame on the way this guy was treated! tdemex
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
4 Sep 09
That is ridiculous. And everyone including the bank manager was scared to make an decision to make it right for this guy. I wonder if he will sue?
It would make sense, not only does he has a disability he was embarrassed beyond belief.
2 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
As another responder pointed out, could you imagine all the problems he's had throughout his life? This would be the icing on the cake, they are lucky I wasn't in line behind him! I would of made sure all hell broke loose, on the spot! I know the law! I'm sure he has a lot of attorneys contacting him! tdemex
tdemex
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I honestly cannot stand Bank of America. I will never have an account with them again. I had the worst customer service ever. I can't believe that they refused to cash his check for him because he didn't have thumb to give his print...I would think that 2 ids would be sufficient.
2 people like this
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
5 Sep 09
Not only would I have gone to the bank's branch boss, I would've went all the way up to corporate ladder. That is just complete bs, and I would've taken my money out of that bank immediately and found a new bank.
2 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Evidently they train the tellers with the NO EXCEPTIONS! policy pretty good!, to bad they forget to tell they there are situations where there are exceptions. It would seem to me in my logical mind that there was something wrong with this picture! I would've went to the boss and let him or her take the heat! tdemex
tdemex
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I wonder if he has a case, and if he could sue this bank. I am not one for ambulance chasers, and people who sue over just anything. But Disabled Veterans deserve a lot more respect and pay in this country. They go out and put their life on the line, and if they come back wounded, they don't even draw enough disability to live a decent life.
My two favorite causes are Veterans and Childrens causes. I am not one to give to just any charity because they are standing in front of me, but those two I tend to do what I can.
2 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
That's good of you! There are a lot of good causes out there! I'm sure attorneys are contacting him by the dozens! It'll be up to him to follow thru! If B of A decides to settle we may never hear about it! But he may be on Larry King some night and that would rekindle the whole story again, so we may have not heard the last of this! tdemex
tdemex
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Well, I wonder if B o A will now re-examine their policy and include voice recognition? The thing is, you know that in order for them to do that they will raise things like fees to the customers and they will justify it by saying that the equipment that they have to purchase for this cost them money.
DCMerkle
2 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I didn't quote the whole article, his wife has an account there. The bank made an apology. But still, the point is this shouldn't have happened in the first place. If they refused to cash the check because the bank policy was you had to have an account there, it would change the whole situation. But they refused because he couldn't provide a thumb print, this is the issue. Thanks! tdemex
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
5 Sep 09
That's been an issue for years. They call unfunded mandates a curse from the Feds! They pass laws that cost some companies millions of dollars and don't fund any cash to obey these laws. Do you know how many cities that have curbs at intersections with no ramps for people in wheelchairs to cross them are here? I spent 2 summers running crews jack hammering out these areas in one city to comply with that mandate and never put a dent in all the existing infractions! LOL! Just an example! there are many more! tdemex
tdemex
@kcoregon (302)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Just my opinion but Bank of America has to be the worst place to have a bank account. It seems I am always hearing horror stories about them and this one just tops the cake. How did they think they could do this to this poor man and get away with it? I sure hope that he does bring them to court. How anyone could do such a thing is just beyond me.
2 people like this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I agree 100%! I canceled my account there recently due to their problems, I actually got ripped off for $600 from an affiliate of theirs they told me to use? It was an ATM in Mexico, they short changed me, both them and B of A did an investigation and found nothing wrong with the transaction, another words I was a liar! LOL! I canceled soon after that! I'm looking for the interview with this guy and his attorney! Stay tuned! tdemex
tdemex
@terry8000 (36)
• China
4 Sep 09
No fingerprinter,No money?
First I think only my contry the bank treat customers crudely,Now, i know USA is also the same as our contry.
why this discrimination generate?
why customer not the god?
bank,poor organization...
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
They only require the thumb print to people who do not have an account there! It's to protect them from fraud, the thumb print will catch people who try to do this! This poor guy didn't have an account there, and since that is the case they don't care how he is treated, but they should! The USA is far from perfect, not like some other people in other countries believe! It's actually getting worse! tdemex
tdemex @rg0205 (2636)
• Hong Kong
4 Sep 09
I can understand the need for security but then again, I think there are other ways to verify the person withdrawing the account. I must say though, what they did was an insult to his disability and they should be reprimanded for such kind of discrimination. It's illogical and sarcastic. "Well obviously you can't give us a thumb print" - I wouldve taken off my prosthetic hand and probably throw it at the teller. Fools.
2 people like this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
4 Sep 09
tdemex,
First of all, do you think the bank from the top to the downright bottom of that branch in question is not wary of the Disability Act?
Second, do you think that the whole bank's staff is not knowledgeable enough to know how to accommodate and service this handicapped person?
I just see that there is something more than it meets the eye. I cannot help but point the finger at poor civic mindedness, lack of civility and some baseless discrimination from every staff in that bank.
What can be so complicated and difficult to cash a check? Can't they accept identification documents like an ID card to begin with?
Something is just not right here. This is not insanity here but DESPICABLE!
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
4 Sep 09
tdemex,
Sorry, I do not agree that the bank staff concern is insufficiently trained.
In the first place, could this staff in question actually turn away a legitimate case as this?
Also, when this staff found something amiss here, then shouldn't he/she approach the manager, instead of taking things into his/her own hands and turn this disable customer away?
No training or the lack of it is not a valid excuse.
1 person likes this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
No I think, or know, that upper management is aware of the Act! I've been trained extensively,on all phases of the American Disabilities Act, and worked with an Attorney on interpreting the intent. I believe, in order to cut costs they do not train people on this, more than likely they expect the Manager to handle these situations! Reasonable accommodation is the key, and many people stumble on this portion of the Act, including my self. But the teller should have went to the manager that's very obvious to me anyway! But the training they receive is at the center, of the response of the teller! The bank did issue an apology after the fact, but the damage is already done, they will probably have to reach in to their own check book to satisfy this person! Wonder if they will cash that check for him? tdemex
tdemex
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
4 Sep 09
I saw this news story this morning on CNN. I think that is just awful that they treated this man this way. I just wonder if the Bank of America employee that told him "Whatever!" when he told her that it wasn't going to end with her telling him "no" got into trouble, reprimanded, or lost her job.
What an idiot! How in the world are you going to expect that an armless person is going to be able to give you something that they have never had? I think a toe print then? That is what I would have thought. At least it is an identifying piece of information on a person.. I think that would be the most logical thing if you had to have a "fingerprint" of some sort.
Boy, this situation is a classic case of discrimination.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting
Boy, this situation is a classic case of discrimination.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Thanks! That's the first thing my wife said, a toe print. But there is no data base on toe prints? At least not one I'm aware of, back in 1947 when I was born they did a foot print on the babies! True! But they don't do that anymore, I wonder when that stopped? Your right about the discrimination, that's why the American Disability Act was created, among other reasons! tdemex
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
3 Sep 09
'Well, obviously you can't give us a thumb print',"
That's priceless!! I wonder how many years she had to go to school to determine that?! That is so FU#$ed up!
This is sorta different but, when I worked for the school board I did the finger prints for all the school employees anyway I had a woman that came in and she didn't have a right hand. I never experienced that so I had to call the Ohio Attorney General's office (that's who's in charge of finger printing) to ask them and they said that the person had to actually have ink finger prints and sent off the FBI. So Florida has to have something that would be about the same.
2 people like this
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
3 Sep 09
wow. they should be ashamed of themselves, but of course they're not. this isn't the first time bank of america has screwed someone over. they really need to drop that "america" part of their name. They are a disgrace.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
4 Sep 09
Isn´t there something like a higher level where this person can recurr to file a complaint (ans recieve some money for the problems they caused)? I can imagine a cashier would have problems ( specially if he is a little dumb) but the supervisor should know better or go home. I´m sure there are a lot of americans more capable of doing that job now that there are resession problems.
I don´t want to be rude, but that doesn´t look at all as "the land of the free" and all the wonderful stories we hear about the US. That thing about opening an account with them sounded right out of The Godfather.
¡Adios, amigo gringo!
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
4 Sep 09
In a way I don't blame the teller, I blame the Company for not training their people properly. But it seems common sense took a back seat to company policy, they ingrain the no exceptions policy into their people when actually there are exceptions. I'll bet there are a lot of red faced bosses at their corporate headquarters! tdemex
tdemex
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
3 Sep 09
Lets see the American way would go something like this: He'll be doing paid interviews tomorrow on the three morning shows! Then at night he'll be on Larry King with his attorney tomorrow evening! He'll make a couple hundred grand off this, and sue the Bank, which will settle for $5,000,000! tdemex
tdemex1 person likes this
