People's Community Credit Union in Vancouver, WA

Keep up the grate work!

Always excellent.

Thieves it is! I've got a personal story to share about this place - if you're thinking to trust these people with your money, you need to know this. But first, let me share with you that a few years ago I was one of those people who were giving this bank a five star rating. I even went as far as writing an editorial in the Reflector (our local newspaper), praising them for their excellent customer service and being personable and caring. Things have certainly changed recently. I think they had a management change: I've been with People's CU since 2003, and now I'm hearing some new names. But back to my story. Here is how it all went. I have my personal account at this bank, and also a joint account with my mom. Well, my mom's account happened to be overdrawn. So this gal named Jennifer (one of those new names) called me and informed me of this -- to which I replied that "let me check with Mom and I will get back to you". So far so good. But you wouldn't believe what happened next: the next day or so Jennifer went into my personal account and transferred the money, causing a few overdraft fees. No letters, no warnings -- not even an after the fact courtesy of "hey, we've moved this money over -- adjust your finances accordingly". Just laying low and waiting to see if I notice. When I called to inquire what the mysterious withdrawal was from my account (and at this point I'm thinking: hackers!) I was re-directed to Jennifer--who couldn't be more snide and condescending if she was trying for an Oscar.award. Her response was, "we had a conversation about your mother's account being overdrawn". That we did. But if she had told me in that conversation something to the effect that "unless if is brought current within x number of days, we will... etc." we would not have an issue here. Nothing like that was ever mentioned--neither before. nor after, nor ever. Everything was done very much on the sly. My point here is not that they may have a policy somewhere in fine print that they can do this "under certain circumstances". They probably do, and something like this is pretty much to be expected these days. What appalls me that this was done secretly--and left it up to me to find out... and to pay the overdraft fees. But what upsets me the most is Jennifer's attitude of--reading between the lines--"you're poor white trash with an overdrawn account -- you don't deserve the time that I have to spend with you. Let me teach you a lesson here: just watch my corporately assertive demeanor". Needless to say, I'm looking for another bank. I feel there is a reason why People's Community had branch closures in the recent years due to lack of business.

I decided to share my opinion after two incidences of lacking customer service. Since my boyfriend is rather lazy when it comes to dealing with errands, I decided to figure out why he hadn't received his debit card so late in the expiration month. I verified with a chat representative named Brenda that I can't make any changes to his account or verify the address. Completely understandable, but annoying when all of my questions are answered with the same thing: have him call us. Now, when I feel that is NOT okay is when I'm asking general questions about general business practices that don't compromise account information. Just because I'm not a customer doesn't mean you need to go into hush-hush mode about every aspect of your company. Honestly, as a new customer, I'd go into chat and ask about various processes before becoming a member. To that effect, I asked what a customer would have to do to replace a debit card (especially if yours did not come in the mail for whatever reason). I was in chat for about 35 minutes without an an answer to this repeated question nor an answer to when they close/if they're open on Saturdays. When I called in and spoke with a Tiffany, she told me Brenda had stepped away from her desk. Talk about rude and neglectful service. When I told Tiffany my boyfriend's card wasn't received and I wanted to know what his options were, I was once again met with resistance and to have him call. Again, I understand only he can obtain the card, but what is wrong with telling me what options he has so that I may relay them to him? All you have to tell me is what options a customer has if a debit card isn't received. That way, this SAFE BUSINESS PROCEDURE THAT DOESN'T COMPROMISE AN ACCOUNT can be relayed to him, seeing as how he's busy at work and not off until near closing time. Oh, might I mention she told me "You're really putting me in a bind, here." Excuse me? A bind? It's a bind to answer a potential customer's question about what options I would have to replace a debit card I haven't received? Yes, I was a potential customer thinking of opening an account with People's Community Federal Credit Union, but this experience and another dismissive chat experience has led me to believe it'd be a headache to do business with these people. Choose another credit union for better customer service, if you have issues with slow chat response times and solutions that always involve going in the store or calling.

They say you're more than a anumber to them...That's their slogan. They lie.