We’re Here For You

Whenever any corporation says they're "here for you", be wary!

Here's my love note to Chase Bank.

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J.P. Morgan Chase & Company
Attention: James Dimon: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Office of the Secretary
270 Park Avenue, 38th Floor
NY, NY 10017

Dear Mr. Dimon,

This is to inform you that I have filed a complaint against JPMorgan Chase and Co. with the FDIC. And while you sit in your Park Avenue office with a view of the city, far removed from the everyday transactions that occur in the many branches of your banking establishment, I thought I would let you know why I have a complaint in the event that you do receive this letter and actually read it.

Now I know that Chase has a "Customer No Service Department", but I chose to start at the top because maybe I would get a response better than, "There's really nothing that we can do."

I have a client that pays me twice a month. Today when I deposited a check at my branch, I was told that 10% of the check funds would be held for 48 hours. This has never happened before when I deposit their checks, so this really made no logical sense. When I questioned this, the teller said there was no reason to justify the unexplained hi-jacking of my funds, that it was just a computer operation that no one had any control over.

Excuse me, Mr. Dimon, but knowing as much as I do about computer technology, (and I'm really good at it), computers don't arbitrarily do things unless they're programmed to do it. I have no answer but a receipt that reads, "Further review may result in delayed availability of this deposit."

The only one who could over-ride this 10% gangland strong-arm was the bank manager. She was not going to be in until tomorrow. When I inquired about the assistant manager, she was conveniently on a conference call for 30 minutes and I was told that there was nothing that she could do anyway.

So while it will take 10 days for the FDIC to investigate this illicit activity and by then the funds will be available I am questioning the ethics as to why your banking establishment feels they have the right to hold 10% of deposited funds in hock on the same payor's checks? I should mention here that they are a very large corporation.

When I read your contact page and saw the words, "Chase is committed to serving you the way you want" I wondered if this is the typical garbage that banks spew to engage the customer's trust or will you honor the written word in the contact page of your website?

When I got the receipt with the hold, here is what immediately came to mind. I believe that I can share this with you, Mr. Dimon. It seems that if you hi-jack the funds of your customers (you know 10% here, 10% there) on certain days from all of your branches, your banking establishment may be able to stock up on interest and make money. I know, Mr. Dimon, it's a bit of a stretch, but just call me a customer who is a conspiracy theorist at heart.

I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. I have attached a copy of my complaint filed with the FDIC.

The Eye Of The Beholder

I remember one of my favorite Twilight Zone Episodes, The Eye Of The Beholder, where this woman was in the hospital; you know the one, her face covered, to see if the result of her umpteenth surgery was finally successful. And I wondered, as I listened to the vicious unflattering remarks made by Howard Stern and his sidekick, Robin Quivers regarding the incredibly talented Gabby , have we as a human race learned anything? Have we become so profoundly advanced in our technological developments that we have lost the ability to have an ounce of compassion for another human being? Have we gone to a point to see how viciously far we can go?

In wonderment, I ask the question: How is it possible to issue a verdict regarding the success of one's future career based on how they look? Not everyone in this life sucks on celery sticks and obsesses about gaining half a pound or plastic surgeries that make them look as emotionless as the old Clutch Cargo cartoons back in the 60s.

The problem is, we get so used to focusing on the unreal, that we can't accept what's real and end up needing the ultimate reality check. When that reality check comes in the presence of a young woman who doesn't fit the mold for the Hollywood black woman (light skin, light eyes and somewhat Europeanized features) everyone seems to be caught off guard. Its Gabby's self-confidence and self assurance that is stunning, because she seems to have more of it than most of Hollywood's "norm". We know that we won't be seeing Ms. Sidibe on Dr. Drew!

The message that the haters are giving is, "we are going to shake your self confidence and self esteem. We want to make you feel bad about who you are." Granted, there are weight issues, but tell her something that she doesn't already know, as evidenced from the interviews I have heard from the young best actress Oscar nominee. The problem is that Stern and his sidekick represent those who judge people by appearances. The problem with that type of character assessment may mean losing out on knowing a quality human being.

I'll never tell anyone that they can't accomplish anything. I have never accepted such an ideology for myself. I always say "go for it", because I want to look back one day and smile to remember when that person shared their idea. It feels wonderful to see where they took it. The positives that come out of all these negative projections of image and "can't do" is that it has given people hope where they may not been able to see their way through to completing a goal.Just look at Ms Ruby!

Now if Stern and Quivers can predict what Gabby's future may or may not be, they may be able to predict the lottery numbers or where our world will be in 10 years to the finest common denominator. It may even work for them if they see where they are down the road and what turn their careers may take.

The funny thing about life is, we really don't have all the answers and just don't know what really lies ahead which is why we incorporate faith and good will to those pursuing their goals for a positive result. I certainly hope for their sakes that Ms.Sidibe doesn't somehow through fate become the anchor on their lifeboats. You never know.

If we gave in to all the doubters out there, we wouldn't have some of the most incredible creations and inventions that we enjoy, because the persons who came up with the ideas may have decided to give up due to someone else, insecure within themselves having no faith. It takes faith to pursue goals, accomplish dreams and pave the road to personal pursuits.

I remember a poem by Edgar A. Guest that I learned back in 3^rd grade, never forgotten and chosen to live by:

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,

But he with a chuckle replied

That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one

Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it";

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure;

There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start to sing as you tackle the thing

That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.