Bank Accidentally Steals Woman's Belongings, Refuses To Make Restitution
12:40 pm - 07/24/2013
Vinton County Woman Wants Possessions Back After Bank Tried To Repossess Wrong House
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So a bank can break into your house, change your locks, and steal your things even if you have nothing to do with them, and then not have to pay to fix their mistake. Good to know.
MCARTHUR, Ohio - An Vinton County woman is looking to get her belongings back after a bank incorrectly broke into her house and took them.
Katie Barnett says that the First National Bank in Wellston foreclosed on her house, even though it was not her bank.
“They repossessed my house on accident, thinking it was the house across the street,” Barnett said.
Barnett, who had been away from the house for about two weeks, said she had to crawl through the window of her own house in order to get in after she used her own key that did not work.
Some of the items in her house had been hauled away, others were sold, given away and trashed.
It turns out the bank sent someone to repossess the house located across the street from Barnett’s house, but by mistake broke into hers instead.
“They told me that the GPS led them to my house,” Barnett said. “My grass hadn’t been mowed and they just assumed.”
She called the McArthur Police about the incident, but weeks later, the chief announced the case was closed.
Barnett said that according to the bank president, this was the first time something like this has happened.
She presented him with an $18,000 estimate to replace the losses, but the president refused to pay.
“He got very firm with me and said, ‘We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is,’” Barnett said. “I did not tell them to come in my house and make me an offer. They took my stuff and I want it back.”
The shock of having her house broken into and belongings taken by mistake has now turned into anger.
“Now, I’m just angry,” Barnett said. “It wouldn’t be a big deal if they would step up and say ‘I’m sorry, we will replace your stuff.’ Instead, I’m getting attitude from them. They’re sarcastic when they talk to me. They make it sound like I’m trying to rip the bank off. All I want is my stuff back.”
No one from the bank would go on camera with 10TV about the incident. The bank president told 10TV News that the bank is trying to come to terms with Barnett.
Watch 10TV News and visit 10TV.com for updates on this story.
Source.
So a bank can break into your house, change your locks, and steal your things even if you have nothing to do with them, and then not have to pay to fix their mistake. Good to know.
The worst part in all this is that in spite of the news stories and lawsuits, nothing has changed.
How the fuck do you not check the goddamn numbers on the house before you try to repossess it?
We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is
And if they were haggling at a flea market, I would agree with him. But in this case, yes, he should pay to replace everything he stole, and to repair any damage to the house, and probably offer a settlement on top of that, along with an actual apology.
But their attitude towards compensation is reprehensible in the extreme - they should pay what is owed without argument (replacement value and not what the belongings would have fetched at auction, which appears to be what they're arguing for) and also compensation for distress IMO.
I hope she writes her congressperson about this outrage and that said congressperson is boss enough to get some shit done on her behalf.
I can "understand" why the bank is being rubbish, but I don't get why the police closed the case. The bank had no right to have people enter the lady's home and take her stuff even if it was caused by a mistake.
As for the bank president saying, "We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is" - my response would definitely be: "I'm getting a lawyer to sue you fuckers if that's the way it is." And even if he offered the $18,000, I'd still sue the pants off the bank - they don't have a leg to stand on.