C5ASubstitute Check Policy Disclosure
Substitute Checks and Your Rights
Some or all of the checks that you receive with your account statement or
by
request may look different than the check you wrote. To make check processing
easier, a
federal law permits banks to replace original checks with substitute
checks. This notice
describes substitute checks and the rights that you will have when you receive
substitute
checks.
What is a Substitute Check?
A substitute check is a copy of an original check that is the same as the
original
check for all purposes, including proving that you made a payment, if it includes
an
accurate copy of the front and back of the original check and contains the
words: This is
a legal copy of your check. You can use it the same way you would use the
original
check. A substitute check that meets these requirements is generally
subject to federal
and state laws that apply to an original check. If you lose money because
you received a
substitute check, you have the right to file a claim for an expedited refund.
Your Right to File a Claim for an Expedited Refund.
Federal law gives you the right to file a claim for an expedited refund
if you
receive a substitute check and believe that all of the statements below are
true
(1) The substitute check was incorrectly charged to your account (for example,
this may be true if we charged your account for the wrong amount or if we
charged your account more than once for the same check);
(2) You lost money as a result of the substitute check charge to your account;
and
(3) You need the original check or a better copy of the original check to
demonstrate that we incorrectly charged your account (for example, this may
be true if you think that we charged your account for the wrong amount and
the substitute check does not clearly show the amount).
Expedited Refunds
To obtain an expedited refund, you must send us a claim. Federal law limits
an
expedited refund to the amount of your loss, up to the amount of the substitute
check, interest if your account earns interest. You should be aware that you
could be
entitled to additional amounts under other state or federal law.
How to Make a Claim for an Expedited Refund
Please make your claim by calling 412-322-7091, by writing to us at Heinz-Del
Monte FCU, P.O. Box 57, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0057 or by e-mailing us via our
website at www.heinzfcu.org. You must make your claim within 40 calendar days
of
the later of these two dates:
(1) The date that we delivered the account statement showing the charge that
you are disputing, or
(2) The date on which we made the substitute check available to you.
If there is a good reason (such as a long trip or a hospital stay) that you
cannot
make your claim by the required day, we will give you additional time.
Your expedited refund claim must --
(1) Describe why you think the charge to your account was incorrect;
(2) Estimate how much money you have lost because of the substitute check
charge;
(3) Explain why the substitute check is not sufficient to show whether or
not
the charge to your account was correct; and
(4) Provide us with a copy of the substitute check or give us information
that
will help us to identify the substitute check and investigate your claim (for
example, the check number, the name of the person to whom you wrote
the check, and the amount of the check).
Our Responsibilities for Handling Your Claim.
We will investigate your claim promptly. If we conclude that we incorrectly
charged your account, we will refund to your account the amount of your claim
(up to the amount of the substitute check, plus interest if your account earns
interest) within one business day of making that decision. If we conclude
that we correctly charged your account, we will send you a notice that explains
the reason for our decision and includes either the original check or a better
copy of the original check than the one you already received. If we have not
made a decision on your claim within 10 business days after you submitted
it, we will refund the amount that we owe to your account, up to $2,500, plus
interest, by that date. We will refund the remaining amount, if any, plus
interest, to your account by the 45th calendar day after you submitted your
claim.
If we refund your account, on the next business day we will send you a notice
that tells you the amount of your refund and the date on which you may withdraw
that Normally, you may withdraw your refund on the business day after we make
it. In limited cases, we may delay your ability to withdraw up to the first
$2,500 of the refund until the earlier of these two dates:
(1) the day after we determine that your claim is valid; or
(2) the 45h calendar day after the day that you submitted your claim.
Reversal of Refund
We may reverse any refund that we have given you if we later determine that the substitute check was correctly charged to your account. We also may reverse any interest we have paid you on that amount if your account earns interest. Within one business day after we reverse a refund, we will send you the original check or a better copy of the original check than the one you previously received, explain to you why the substitute check was correctly charged to your account, and tell you the amount and date of the reversal.