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I'm not sure where to start with this story. I guess I'll start with the guy whose girlfriend/significant other this story is about.
"Frank" was a local businessman for decades in town. He ran his business out of his home office. He only retired a couple years ago, and even then, he was still giving advice to long-term customers and friends.
Some months ago, maybe a year, he started bringing "Jaqueline" in with him when he came into our bank. Or maybe she was just tagging along. She seemed a little domineering, in my opinion. Telling the tellers what to do. "He wants to deposit this check." And complaining about bank employees in a stage whisper as they walked out the door. We suspected she might be trying to access his money, but we never saw him giving her money, so we didn't feel like there was anything (elder abuse, etc.) that we could act on.
Sometime last year, Frank moved into an assisted living facility. His daughter has power of attorney for him, so she took over his finances. We found out later that the daughter made an agreement with Jaqueline that she could continue living in the house as long as she paid the utilities and anything like phone and cable that she wanted. Jaqueline would come into the bank and make leading statements - not quite questions, but she seemed to be prying for information about Frank's accounts with us. We would give noncommittal answers. When she outright stated that she knew that Frank had accounts with us, we would tell her that we couldn't confirm that. Privacy laws, etc.
Earlier this year, Jaqueline opened her own checking account with us. This was the first time I really interacted with her. That's when I found out that she was still living in Frank's house. And her arrangement with Frank's daughter to pay the house bills. Cool, whatever works for you all. While I was typing up the documents, she started prying to see if she could get info about Frank's accounts again. I asked if she had power of attorney for Frank. No, his daughter does, she said with a scowl. Then I can't tell you anything. Obviously, she knows that he has accounts with us. That's fine, I said, but you didn't hear it from me. She said they were married (which I didn't believe for a second) as if that would give her access to his accounts. It doesn't.
Not only is she living in Frank's house, but she's using his post office box, too. The daughter later came in and complained to a CW about that. CW suggested telling the post office that someone found out the combination to his PO box and see if they can hold his mail. Jaqueline also mentioned trying to use Frank's fax machine, but it doesn't work any more. And he has a copier, but she doesn't know how to use it. It's like she's trying to get whatever value she can out of his stuff while she's living there. I even suspect that the envelope of cash she brought in to open her checking account was money he stashed in his house, but I can't prove that.
I was filling in on the teller line last week and had two more annoying interactions with her. First, she brought a $20 bill over from the ATM and asked for change. "Two 10s and a 5," she said. I started to say "ok" before I realized what she said. "No, I can't do that. I can give you two 5s and a 10." I don't know if she misspoke or was joking. She said, "I can't trick you guys any more." Very funny. She said it so deadpan, I'm not sure if she was serious or trying to pass it off as a joke or what.
Later that week, she brought in some documents she wanted faxed. I told her it was $5. She tried to say I'd told her faxes were free for customers. "I never said that." "I'm sure you did!" "NO." Then she finally pulled out some cash and I sent the fax for her. Ugh. I always tell new customers "Here's the list of fees and charges. These services are things that we charge for." Including faxes. Oh, also I glanced at the documents she wanted faxed and she listed Frank as her "significant other." So much for trying to tell me they were married.
This woman seems to be a compulsive liar. She's also really bad at manipulation. We may be dealing with her for a long time.
"Frank" was a local businessman for decades in town. He ran his business out of his home office. He only retired a couple years ago, and even then, he was still giving advice to long-term customers and friends.
Some months ago, maybe a year, he started bringing "Jaqueline" in with him when he came into our bank. Or maybe she was just tagging along. She seemed a little domineering, in my opinion. Telling the tellers what to do. "He wants to deposit this check." And complaining about bank employees in a stage whisper as they walked out the door. We suspected she might be trying to access his money, but we never saw him giving her money, so we didn't feel like there was anything (elder abuse, etc.) that we could act on.
Sometime last year, Frank moved into an assisted living facility. His daughter has power of attorney for him, so she took over his finances. We found out later that the daughter made an agreement with Jaqueline that she could continue living in the house as long as she paid the utilities and anything like phone and cable that she wanted. Jaqueline would come into the bank and make leading statements - not quite questions, but she seemed to be prying for information about Frank's accounts with us. We would give noncommittal answers. When she outright stated that she knew that Frank had accounts with us, we would tell her that we couldn't confirm that. Privacy laws, etc.
Earlier this year, Jaqueline opened her own checking account with us. This was the first time I really interacted with her. That's when I found out that she was still living in Frank's house. And her arrangement with Frank's daughter to pay the house bills. Cool, whatever works for you all. While I was typing up the documents, she started prying to see if she could get info about Frank's accounts again. I asked if she had power of attorney for Frank. No, his daughter does, she said with a scowl. Then I can't tell you anything. Obviously, she knows that he has accounts with us. That's fine, I said, but you didn't hear it from me. She said they were married (which I didn't believe for a second) as if that would give her access to his accounts. It doesn't.
Not only is she living in Frank's house, but she's using his post office box, too. The daughter later came in and complained to a CW about that. CW suggested telling the post office that someone found out the combination to his PO box and see if they can hold his mail. Jaqueline also mentioned trying to use Frank's fax machine, but it doesn't work any more. And he has a copier, but she doesn't know how to use it. It's like she's trying to get whatever value she can out of his stuff while she's living there. I even suspect that the envelope of cash she brought in to open her checking account was money he stashed in his house, but I can't prove that.
I was filling in on the teller line last week and had two more annoying interactions with her. First, she brought a $20 bill over from the ATM and asked for change. "Two 10s and a 5," she said. I started to say "ok" before I realized what she said. "No, I can't do that. I can give you two 5s and a 10." I don't know if she misspoke or was joking. She said, "I can't trick you guys any more." Very funny. She said it so deadpan, I'm not sure if she was serious or trying to pass it off as a joke or what.
Later that week, she brought in some documents she wanted faxed. I told her it was $5. She tried to say I'd told her faxes were free for customers. "I never said that." "I'm sure you did!" "NO." Then she finally pulled out some cash and I sent the fax for her. Ugh. I always tell new customers "Here's the list of fees and charges. These services are things that we charge for." Including faxes. Oh, also I glanced at the documents she wanted faxed and she listed Frank as her "significant other." So much for trying to tell me they were married.
This woman seems to be a compulsive liar. She's also really bad at manipulation. We may be dealing with her for a long time.
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