August 16, 2011

 

To: Tampa Bay Times

490 First Ave S.

Saint Petersburg FL 33701

tbteditors@tampabay.com

 

From: Robert Johnson

***

Saint Petersburg FL 33704

 

 

Tampa Bay Times,

 

I am just now finding out that you had published the letter that I wrote to you about my appalling experience with Grow Federal Credit Union, thank you. I don’t always get the newspaper except for the days I am able to get one from the gym that I go to. I was surprised to see it had been printed, and had even had responses from other readers who commented. There are many additional facts and details that I left out in the initial letter I sent to you because this whole situation is just so astonishing I didn’t want it to sound implausible. I’d like to take this time to update this story with some additional facts if I may. I am also attaching various correspondences that I have had with different parties such as the ACUA, Better Business Bureau and the credit union itself. Please feel free to use any of this additional information as you see fit for this story.

 

I am aware that the majorities of Grow customers (and other bank readers) are not going to be able to relate to what I have been enduring with Grow Federal Credit Union but there are others who will be able to sympathize because they have had their own bad experience(s). If there are even only a few of us, that is too many. It is inexcusable what Grow Federal Credit Union has done and if left un-addressed they will continue to practice these type of thieving business practices which will ultimately affect more Grow customers, possibly ones who are reading this article now. For one to learn that the money they had trusted to a banking institution to be safe, and that had been loaned to them to use for so many years for virtually free (not even ½ a point interest) and then to find it missing from a different account (checking) is deplorable and preposterous! My website business,  had a consistent and substantial money market balance for Grow to use as they saw fit, and this is how I am rewarded for letting them use my money since 1986. Grow has attempted to hide the fact that they had purposely withheld vital information from me to prevent me from making an intelligent business decision based on the fact that there would be a cash withdraw fee if I wanted to cash out an account. Had I known that they intended to charge me almost $900.00 to withdraw MY money, I definitely would have handled the withdraw differently. I have sent the credit union’s CEO Robert Fisher letters about this situation but he has ignored all of my attempts at correspondence. He is unwilling to become personally involved because he must know what has happened is dishonest, unethical and immoral. What responses I have received from staff, (that were initially prompted by ACUA and the BBB) are laced with inaccuracies and downright lies. They are claiming that I was informed there would be a fee for the withdraw and that I was given a choice to avoid having to pay a fee if I would take a check from them instead of cash. I can prove that I was NOT made aware of a fee, was NOT given a choice to not have to pay a fee, and that this information was purposely withheld from me so that they could charge me an exorbitant fee! I have indisputable proof of this and as soon as I find a lawyer I plan on using it in court if that’s what I have to do. Where can you go to a bank and withdraw thousands of dollars in cash and NOT have to show personal identification or sign anything for the withdraw? This is exactly what happened to me with Grow Federal Credit union!

 

Please feel free to print any of the detailed information in the attachments that I am including to you. You may also print my business email address in the event there are others who would like to contact me.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Robert Johnson