CD balance deposited to account

By NANCY PARADIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 1, 2000

My certificate of deposit was transferred to NationsBank (now Bank of America) after it bought Barnett Bank. I do not recall cashing in this CD and would like to know its status. (I still have the original and was told that, to cash it, I would have had to turn it in.) When I inquired about my CD, I was told to send in a copy.

I sent a copy. I also took the original to the bank. I was told that someone would look into it and get back to me. No one ever did.

Can you please find out what happened to my CD? It can't just have disappeared into thin air. Joseph Candelo

Response: Tina Khurana, with Bank of America in Tampa, said the bank's records indicate that the certificate of deposit was closed on Aug. 12, 1997, in the amount of $15,060.41. A penalty of $517.81 was assessed for early withdrawal, $5,208.92 was credited toward a loan, and the balance of $9,333.68 was deposited to your account with the bank.

Khurana apologized for the inconvenience and frustration you experienced because of the bank's delay in furnishing you with this information. She is sending documents for your verification.

As an addendum, you wouldn't have had to turn over your original certificate, but you would have had to sign for the money.

Overcharges corrected

I purchased a total of six Ronco Showtime BBQ units between May and December 1999. I paid $186.70 for the first unit, $189.70 each for two and $149.70 each for three. It had been my understanding that, if I paid for the units in full, the cost would be $149.70 each, so you can see that I was overcharged for three.

I wrote to the company in February and again in June but never received a response. When I was finally able to reach a representative of the company in March, I was told that, after the purchase of the first unit, the price for all additional units purchased should have been $119. I was assured that my problem would be resolved and my Discover card account credited.

My account has still not been credited. In addition, while I am happy with the unit I purchased for myself, the top steamer tray has rusted, and the paint is peeling off after only a couple of uses.

I have about given up on getting satisfaction. My letters remain unanswered, and it is impossible to talk to anyone by phone. I have tried many times and been put on hold for up to an hour. The couple of times I did get to speak to someone several months ago, I was promised that the problems would be resolved. Nothing has happened. I would appreciate help. Thomas Milazzo

Response: Mary Armstrong, consumer complaints analyst for Popeil Inventions in Chatsworth, Calif., said you definitely were overcharged for two units. After paying the full amount for the first unit, subsequent units are $119.80 plus $29.90 for shipping and handling for a total of $149.70. A credit for $80 -- two credits of $40 each -- will be issued to your credit card.

Armstrong said she will be in touch with you by e-mail to resolve the rust and paint problems.

Extra restaurant protocol

A recent item related how Mrs. Peggy Gifford felt that she had been rushed out of Bridge's Restaurant in Largo as she was lingering over her meal and the Sunday paper on her birthday. Embarrassed and feeling that an apology and free dinner were due her, she wrote to the restaurant.

She also contacted Action, and, in our response, we passed along the happy news that she had received a $15 gift certificate from Bridge's along with an apology.

After seeing this item in the column, Bridge's manager Tom Lundeen called to clarify the situation. The birthday Sunday in question was also Mother's Day, May 14, he said, one of the busiest, most fully booked days of the year for the restaurant. Lundeen said many customers spend hours at the restaurant reading their papers, but they do so in the afternoon or during slow times, not during the busiest hours.

To our original comment that restaurants must often rely on the volume of customers during normal mealtime hours to stay in business and, furthermore, that they must be able to estimate how long the average diner will occupy a table to stagger their reservations, we would add: especially on holidays!

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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