Thread: Banks Make Mistakes

Banks too it seems can also be subject to employee/human error.

Case in point:

Today went to the bank to pick up a new CIBC/Costco credit card replacing the one my wife lost couple weeks ago. She phoned CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) when it became apparent we were not going to find the card after looking everywhere we thought it might be. At that time the agent asked if we wanted to also cancel my card and send a new one along with my wife’s card. To the best of my knowledge I never ever did receive a card nor did I use it but we figured why not, send us each a new card. We only use it for cheaper gasoline and I wouldn’t need to borrow her card anymore to do so. We were told the cards would be delivered to nearest branch and that we would get the the call when in. Got the call yesterday and went in today.

We dealt with a bank teller and after showing her two pieces of ID each, we were told to wait while she retrieved our new cards from wherever they keep them. She handed each of us a envelope that contained new cards. Before we left the parking lot we decided to open them and make sure all ok. My wife opened hers and was surprised to find not only her new card but one for me as well. What was in my envelope then? I found a new card belonging to someone else. When I checked the addressee on the envelope it did not have my name but that of another person who by the looks of things lived in Toronto about 150km away. Under her name on the envelope was the word manager and I just thought that was the bank manager’s name and that she got the new cards delivered to her. Nope. I took it back inside the bank and explained to teller that she had mistakenly given me someone else’s new card complete with PIN number attached. All fine until I went home to activate my new card via internet.

Without actually talking to a person and after several recorded automated prompts I was able to activate my card. However during the process the machine told me my balance and my credit limit. It was then I realized if I had not returned the other person’s card then I could have easily been able to activate it, access her balance and credit limit, plus I had her PIN number. The teller couldn’t believe she’d given me someone else’s new card and was very apologetic and seemed humbled by her error. Fortunately for that cardholder I’m an honest guy yet one bit of carelessness by an employee with someone who isn’t and the ending may have been quite different.

I want to complain to CIBC but wife says shut up about it. Should I disobey the high court of opinion?

You would feel terrible if anyone lost their job.

If it was just a mistake and they weren't doing anything devious I wouldn't say anything.

Once,I came back from abroad with cash from a job and deposited it to my bank account -except I gave the right bank number to a different bank (not mine).

When I went to withdraw some of it they told me the account didn't exist.

Then I realized my mistake and rang the bank I had given the money to and they were holding it for me.

I thought the teller could easily have pocketed my money but they had it in some special account waiting for a fool such as I.

Originally Posted by geordief

You would feel terrible if anyone lost their job.

If it was just a mistake and they weren't doing anything devious I wouldn't say anything.

Once,I came back from abroad with cash from a job and deposited it to my bank account -except I gave the right bank number to a different bank (not mine).

When I went to withdraw some of it they told me the account didn't exist.

Then I realized my mistake and rang the bank I had given the money to and they were holding it for me.

I thought the teller could easily have pocketed my money but they had it in some special account waiting for a fool such as I.

I also hate to see people lose a job. You were fortunate.

What I didn’t mention was that the automated voice I was dealing with said that I could activate the card without the PIN number, so I never did use it to activate. I was advised by the voice that the PIN number would be sent to me in a few days after activation yet it was included in the envelope with the cards. I kid you not.

I trust these people with my money so I think I should at least let them know. A teller gives me someone else’s card that I can activate from home and a machine tells to wait few days for a PIN that actually comes with the new card. Who gets the blame for sending the PIN? I figure they should at least review the procedure.

From CIBC ”Contact us” page. Tell me if this sounds stupid….

Sign onto online banking for more personalized help from our virtual assistant

How personal is a virtual assistant?

Well I suppose that if it happened again the next person might not be as lucky as the woman whose card they sent you (she mightn't be best pleased either)

So they might have to explain how the error occured and what they are doing to prevent a recurrence.

Originally Posted by geordief

Well I suppose that if it happened again the next person might not be as lucky as the woman whose card they sent you (she mightn't be best pleased either)

So they might have to explain how the error occured and what they are doing to prevent a recurrence.

Another option was to use the card for purchase and in doing so the card is activated. Perhaps that’s why they give you the PIN #. If you don’t wish to purchase something then just stay on the line and they activate it.