Bank Tells Armless Man: No Thumb, No Cash

(CBS/AP)  A Florida man born without arms says a Tampa bank would not let him cash a check because he couldn't provide a thumbprint.

Steve Valdez didn't have an account at a Bank of America location in downtown Tampa, where he tried to cash a check from his wife last week. However, Valdez has prosthetic arms and is unable to provide a thumbprint. He says he presented two forms of identification but was still denied.

He says a bank manager told him he could either come back to the bank with his wife or open an account himself.

Instead, he went back to his desk at the Hillsborough County Public Works Customer Satisfaction Center, called his wife and told her never to make him go to her bank again, reports the St. Petersburg Times.
"There were a few extra expletives," the 54-year-old told the newspaper.

Bank of America spokeswoman Nicole Nastacie says the bank has apologized to Valdez. Nastacie says the bank should have "offered alternative requirements if an individual is not able to give a thumbprint."

[PVperson2]

BoA apologized after it hit the media, is the braindead manager still there?

[Blatensphere]

too many idiots on this planet. Geez.

[legacyabq]

Ive gotta tell you, this is ABSOLUTELY TYPICAL of B of A. They are the rudest, evillest, bigoted, haughty, meanest, nastiest, most sarcastic and incredibly unprofessional bunch of duechebags in the whole country as far as banks go.

I had a business I operated mostly on cash and checks and I HATED it when someone wrote me a check drawn from them.. They are HORRIBLE..

[dsnj1-2009]

wow, bank of america IS getting too big for their britches-no common sense used AT All-toe print would have been fine. This manager needs to be fired, and the person should be compensated for the distress. THERE is no room for STUPIDITY in the business world today, with "more being done with less"-if this person could lose their job in this economy, they will learn common sense VERY qucikly. Simple.

[barbaram99]

Yep. Dear Lady they do that in America. I could not use my thumb. I had to use a finger. They chargeto cash a check.
The bank was wrong to have treated that like dirt. He did not ask to be born with no arms.
I had to wear shades after an operation on my eye. I could not take them off as Dr orders. What I did do was lower them in front of the teller so she could see my eyes and replaced them.
I was treated rudely at a band my friend was banking at. He wrote me a check and he was with me. They made me feel an inch tsll. They were rude to me as a blind person. The staff made an asre of themselves. They said this and that to try applase me the issue. Nothing they could said helpped. I was floored. I told my friend what I thought.
I never went back. He changed banks after that. I am legally blind from birth. The krap us sp needs persons have to go thru is appalling. That anle bodied bank worker need to be dressed down. It is plain rude on the bank's part.
.

[erasmus111]

If you are cashing the check at the bank of the person that wrote it, there really shouldn't be a problem.

[Questionews]

by Questionews September 2, 2009 5:45 PM EDT
Generally only when someone doesn't have an account at the bank they're trying to cash a check (or cheque) I have run into that while traveling through states that don't have my bank in their area. And I always remember to keep a thumb or two with me at all times. You'll be amazed how often they come in handy.


That was supposed to be a reply to erasmus111.
I see the software is working well today. :P

[erasmus111]

Hahahahaha! This website SUCKS!

I still say that if you don't make your reply in the "reply to this comment" section, it won't repeat.

[omitshiim]

lot of belly aching about this. Easy to gripe. How many got mad as i did about it and withdrew everything from them savings, checking,ira, and told them why i was. Not that they care, many more dummys to take my place. Even contacted their main web site. funny how no link to contact them with complaints. So i emailed the abuse email link.
Teller saying "whatever" is what got my goat.

[presjfk]

Bank of A-holes...

[SkirtLifter]

by dontknowitall September 2, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
What ever happened to COMMON SENSE!
______________
Common Sense is only common to those who have it.

[tunaatlast]

I onced use Bofa's atm. they charge more than $2.00 if you are not one of thrir customers.