California middle class tax refund debit card issues continue

Some Californians who received their middle-class tax refund via debit card continue to have problems accessing their money, after months of announcements about inflation relief payments. govt. Gavin Newsom said in early 2022 that a debit card was from the DMV. Then the legislature passed the budget with a compromise that instead of the DMV, the Franchise Tax Board would issue payments. | MORE | Thieves are draining California’s middle class tax refund debit cards. Here’s why KCRA 3 continues to receive emails and phone calls from across the state from people with one of two issues. The first is that they see their cards drained of their funds, apparently spent somewhere in Southern California by an unknown person. One saw spending from Laguna Niguel and Newark, New Jersey, another from Burbank – even more from Anaheim or Orange County. Some only used the card to empty it a few days later. Others say they never even used it, only to find hundreds of dollars missing before their first use. Yet more and more calls and emails say the card has been activated, but when used, the card does not work. While millions of Californians have received direct deposits, there are also millions who have not. A Newsom spokesperson said on Friday they had sent 7 million cards. Many got cards because they changed banks or addresses; Others simply because they used their tax refunds to pay for tax preparation services. | RELATED | California Inflation Relief: More Middle Class Tax Refund Debit Cards Arrive in Mailboxes Tax Board – either at the debit card provider: Money Network, LLC. Consumers say that when they call Money Network, if they are not put on hold for hours, the phone line hangs up. The FTB refers callers to Money Network. Some emails indicate that the time to investigate a complaint will be longer than 60 days. Others asked for a check and were told it would take 12 weeks. Viewers got several reasons, they say, from Money Network operators. These range from a system-wide glitch to a batch of bad cards sent to Californians. Most, however, said they couldn’t find anyone to help them. The FTB said: “There is no indication that this is a widespread problem. As with any FTB program, we are monitoring the situation closely.” The statement sent to KCRA then referred people to a website and phone number: the Money Network, LLC number. Money Network’s contract, obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates, states that the company must “provide sophisticated fraud prevention services with fraud prevention evidence at a ninety-nine percent success rate ( 99%) or more. The Contractor’s basis points for fraud shall be two (2) basis points less. Within the fraud limit of his contract. “Again, we have provided for the possibility of malfunctions and fraud or other wrongdoing,” FTB said in the second email. The FTB also shared some key points about anti-inflation debit cards. Debit cards have no value. activated with key personal information. Recipients must activate their cards to withdraw or transfer funds. Callers are advised to listen to all options when calling the MCTR customer service line to be transferred correctly. can also not be immediate and callers have to call back later if they are disconnected. Lost debit cards can take up to 10 business days to be reissued. Fraudsters can target debit cards whether or not they have a chip. KCRA asked both the Governor’s office and the Franchise Tax Board how many complaints they received; whether Money Network will face any consequences for problems taxpayers have with the cards; if there has been a computer or card problem, a hack or something else that prevents people from using their cards; and if there is simply fraud of some type hitting these PLUS cards | California anti-inflation debit cards are supposed to have chip technology. A spokesperson for the governor’s office said fraud investigations were taking a long time. They added that taxpayers who were unable to get their cards working should be able to get a new card by contacting the FTB. This process should take no longer than two weeks. | RELATED | Did you get a middle class tax refund debit card? Here’s how to use it, avoid the fees

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Some Californians who received their Middle class tax refund Via a debit card, they continue to have problems accessing their money.

It comes after months of announcements about inflation relief payments. govt. Gavin Newsom said in early 2022 that a debit card was from the DMV. Then the legislature passed the budget with a compromise that instead of the DMV, the Franchise Tax Board would issue payments.

| MORE | Thieves are draining California’s middle class tax refund debit cards. here’s why

Yet KCRA 3 continues to receive emails and phone calls from across the state from people who have one of two issues.

The first is that they see their cards drained of their funds, apparently spent somewhere in Southern California by an unknown person. One saw spending from Laguna Niguel and Newark, New Jersey, another from Burbank – even more from Anaheim or Orange County. Some only used the card to empty it a few days later. Others say they never even used it, only to find hundreds of dollars missing before their first use.

Yet more and more calls and emails say the card has been activated, but when used, the card does not work.

While millions of Californians have obtained direct deposits, there are also millions who have not. A Newsom spokesperson said on Friday they had sent 7 million cards. Many got cards because they changed banks or addresses; Others simply because they used their tax refunds to pay for tax preparation services.

KCRA 3 has asked for answers about fraud or IT issues — anything that could happen either at the Franchise Tax Board — or at the debit card provider: Money Network, LLC. Consumers say that when they call Money Network, if they are not put on hold for hours, the phone line hangs up. The FTB redirects callers to Money Network.

Some emails state that the time to investigate a claim will be over 60 days. Others asked for a check and were told it would take 12 weeks. Viewers got several reasons, they say, from Money Network operators. These range from a system-wide glitch to a batch of bad cards sent to Californians. Most, however, said they couldn’t find anyone to help them.

The FTB said: “There is no indication that this is a widespread problem. As with any FTB program, we are monitoring the situation closely.”

The statement sent to KCRA then referred people to a website and phone number: the Money Network, LLC number.

The contract for Money Network, which KCRA 3 Investigates obtained, states that the company must “provide sophisticated fraud prevention services with fraud prevention evidence at a success rate of ninety-nine percent (99%) or more The Contractor’s basis points for fraud shall be two (2) basis points less.

In a second email sent to KCRA 3, the FTB said Money Network was well below its contract fraud limit.

“Again, we anticipated the possibility of malfunctions and fraud or other wrongdoing,” FTB said in the second email.

The FTB also shared some key points regarding anti-inflation debit cards.

Debit cards have no value until activated with key personal information.
Recipients must activate their cards to withdraw or transfer funds.
Callers are advised to listen to all options when calling the MCTR customer service line to be properly transferred. Transfers may also not be immediate and callers must call back later if they are disconnected.
Lost debit cards can take up to 10 business days to be reissued.
Fraudsters can target debit cards whether or not they have a chip.

KCRA asked both the Governor’s Office and the Franchise Tax Board how many complaints they had received; whether Money Network will face any consequences for problems taxpayers have with the cards; if there has been a computer or card problem, a hack or something else that prevents people from using their cards; and if there is simply fraud of some type hitting these cards.

| MORE | California anti-inflation debit cards are supposed to have chip technology. So why don’t they?

A spokeswoman for the governor’s office said fraud investigations are taking a long time to investigate. They added that taxpayers who were unable to get their cards working should be able to get a new card by contacting the FTB. This process should take no longer than two weeks.