Ubank customer destitute after entire life savings mysteriously disappear: 'I'm at my wit's end'
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We here at the Seniors Discount Club know that many of our members have worked hard all their lives to save up enough money to comfortably enjoy their retirement.
So, you can only imagine how scary it must be for those who have diligently saved for years only to have their life savings mysteriously disappear with no explanation – as was the case for one Ubank customer in Western Australia.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, received two emails from his bank informing him that $580,000 had been withdrawn from his account without authorisation and his account was now closed.
Understandably worried and confused, the 73-year-old retired engineer spent 15-20 hours on the phone with Ubank customer service (whom he described as 'space cadets') last week in an attempt to get some answers.
Worse still, because he is a self-funded retiree, this money was meant to be his safety net in case of unexpected medical emergencies or other unforeseen expenses – none of which he can now access. All because of what appears to be a huge mistake on Ubank's part.
The nightmare began when Bruce (not his real name) received an email on November 24 from Ubank stating: 'Just want to let you know that we've processed a debit on your account for $578,759.53.'
Just a few seconds later, a follow-up email revealed that Bruce's account was now closed. After logging into his online banking account and discovering that his balance was sitting at zero despite never authorising any transaction, Bruce immediately called Ubank.
He was told by customer service that they would fix the issue overnight so he could access his funds again in the morning. But 11 days later, nothing has changed; Bruce still doesn't have any answers and is unable to access any of his own money.
'I could have a bloody heart attack over this. I'm generally a relaxed sort of guy, but I'm freaked out, and it's sure not doing my health any good,' Bruce told reporters.
'Those are my life savings. I'm a self-funded retiree and if I had to go into hospital or have an operation, it could well have been my living fund, and I'm totally screwed as I have no access to it, wherever it is.'
The entire situation, he continued, has been 'freaking him out,' and he still finds it difficult to accept the reality of what happened.
Ubank has confirmed that the emails Bruce received were legitimate and not a scam, yet they have not been able to tell him where his money is or when he will get it back.
The bank says they are 'working with customers who have been impacted', yet they are unable to provide any further details due to confidentiality requirements. They also haven't offered any sort of apology or explanation for the mix-up, which has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for Bruce and his family.
'I can't eat, I can't sleep, my wife is freaking out, and the kids are on my back. You work for 40 years and think you have enough money to live with and do what you want to do, and then, suddenly, a big portion of it is gone,' said the father of two.
'I'm at my wit's end, and no one should be treated how I have been treated. It's unbelievable.'
Ubank, which started in 2008 and now operates under NAB's licence, has recently been merged with another bank, which has caused a lot of problems for customers who have been forced to get new BSB, account numbers and debit cards as part of the transition.
In Bruce's case, this recent change may have something to do with his savings mysteriously disappearing, but no one seems to know for sure.
Hundreds of other customers have vented their frustration over the upgrades, which have made it difficult to access their money, yet no one has reported anything as severe as Bruce's experience.
If you are a Ubank customer and have been affected by the recent changes, we recommend you get in touch with their customer service department as soon as possible to sort out the issue.
For everyone else, this story is a stark reminder of how important it is to keep a close eye on your bank statements and report any suspicious activity immediately.
We also recommend not keeping all your eggs in one basket and spreading your savings around, in case something like this ever happens to you.
We here at the SDC hope he gets his money back as soon as possible. This is a horrifying story and a terrible thing to happen to anyone, let alone someone in their retirement years.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
What are your thoughts on this story, folks?
So, you can only imagine how scary it must be for those who have diligently saved for years only to have their life savings mysteriously disappear with no explanation – as was the case for one Ubank customer in Western Australia.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, received two emails from his bank informing him that $580,000 had been withdrawn from his account without authorisation and his account was now closed.
Understandably worried and confused, the 73-year-old retired engineer spent 15-20 hours on the phone with Ubank customer service (whom he described as 'space cadets') last week in an attempt to get some answers.
Worse still, because he is a self-funded retiree, this money was meant to be his safety net in case of unexpected medical emergencies or other unforeseen expenses – none of which he can now access. All because of what appears to be a huge mistake on Ubank's part.
The nightmare began when Bruce (not his real name) received an email on November 24 from Ubank stating: 'Just want to let you know that we've processed a debit on your account for $578,759.53.'
Just a few seconds later, a follow-up email revealed that Bruce's account was now closed. After logging into his online banking account and discovering that his balance was sitting at zero despite never authorising any transaction, Bruce immediately called Ubank.
He was told by customer service that they would fix the issue overnight so he could access his funds again in the morning. But 11 days later, nothing has changed; Bruce still doesn't have any answers and is unable to access any of his own money.
'I could have a bloody heart attack over this. I'm generally a relaxed sort of guy, but I'm freaked out, and it's sure not doing my health any good,' Bruce told reporters.
'Those are my life savings. I'm a self-funded retiree and if I had to go into hospital or have an operation, it could well have been my living fund, and I'm totally screwed as I have no access to it, wherever it is.'
The entire situation, he continued, has been 'freaking him out,' and he still finds it difficult to accept the reality of what happened.
Ubank has confirmed that the emails Bruce received were legitimate and not a scam, yet they have not been able to tell him where his money is or when he will get it back.
The bank says they are 'working with customers who have been impacted', yet they are unable to provide any further details due to confidentiality requirements. They also haven't offered any sort of apology or explanation for the mix-up, which has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for Bruce and his family.
'I can't eat, I can't sleep, my wife is freaking out, and the kids are on my back. You work for 40 years and think you have enough money to live with and do what you want to do, and then, suddenly, a big portion of it is gone,' said the father of two.
'I'm at my wit's end, and no one should be treated how I have been treated. It's unbelievable.'
Ubank, which started in 2008 and now operates under NAB's licence, has recently been merged with another bank, which has caused a lot of problems for customers who have been forced to get new BSB, account numbers and debit cards as part of the transition.
In Bruce's case, this recent change may have something to do with his savings mysteriously disappearing, but no one seems to know for sure.
Hundreds of other customers have vented their frustration over the upgrades, which have made it difficult to access their money, yet no one has reported anything as severe as Bruce's experience.
Key Takeaways
- One Ubank customer from Western Australia had his life savings vanish without a trace, and the bank was unable to provide an explanation.
- As a self-funded retiree, these funds were supposed to serve as a safety net in the event of medical emergencies or other unforeseen needs. Now, he is unable to access them.
- Ubank hasn't offered any sort of apology or explanation for the mix-up, which has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for the victim and his family.
For everyone else, this story is a stark reminder of how important it is to keep a close eye on your bank statements and report any suspicious activity immediately.
We also recommend not keeping all your eggs in one basket and spreading your savings around, in case something like this ever happens to you.
We here at the SDC hope he gets his money back as soon as possible. This is a horrifying story and a terrible thing to happen to anyone, let alone someone in their retirement years.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
What are your thoughts on this story, folks?