Consumer complaint received 2020-05-08
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (OH)

I was given a Comdata Debit Card by my employer in XX/XX/2019. All employer payroll from that point on was to be processed and handled by third party payment processor Comdata. 

Subsequently all employees were required to possess and utilize the Comdata Card to receive their weekly paychecks. Direct deposit was still offered as an option after activation. Utilizing an automated online system you could add a separate bank account to have a selected percentage of your weekly check transferred automatically to your bank. The process is stated to take 7-10 ( business ) days at which point you must then, verify the bank by awaiting a small deposit to the account, and prove ownership. 

After authenticating the deposit increments, a waiting/processing time for the account to be linked with Comdata was another 4-5 business days according to Comdata. These are all stated timeframes however and after receiving the card and creating online access it took 12 weeks before my bank account was  processed by Comdata allowing my paycheck to be received to my bank account. 

During the extended processing time by Comdata, all my funds that were loaded on this card were said to be available to access and use anywhere Mastercards accepted, however the card can not be utilized for any normal merchant transaction, nor online purchase, not even applicable are money transmitters or the ability to pay bills or purchase a money order. The card is completely useless and no access was granted to my weekly paychecks for the entirety of the 12 week period. Every single phone call to support the countless thousands, resulted in the same negligent response you can take your card to any bank and have the money received as cash, or take it to an ATM where you have {$200.00} limit of withdrawal daily. 

Withdrawing from an ATM worked for 3 transactions while the rest ended with Unauthorized Transaction Type. Any bank where the card was taken to refused to service me in any way shape or form, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX ) all services contacted by phone and told me to contact the institution that my card was through. This completed the circle back to the useless phone call to XXXX as I started. 

Despite my bank account being linked to my account finally after those 12 weeks and my paychecks then on being received. Upon trying to deposit the funds already on my Comdata card, the option appeared to be nonexistent. At which point another several calls to XXXX, I was informed yet again, Your account is verified so you can take it & your ID to any bank that accepts Visa & Mastercard to withdrawal your money.

I now have a vehicle repossessed for lack of payment when I have failed for 20 weeks to transfer this money to my bank account for bills and necessary transactions. The countless time, money, and cash wasted on phone calls, visiting bank tellers, and late fees on top have completely disrupted my life in a way no institution should be allowed. This is completely absurd and ridiculous to not allow me to have my WEEKLY PAY, and even more absurd that week after week of phone calls to customer support to withdraw the {$8000.00} on my card that is very much needed, has completely been disregarded by the institution.