“Welcome to Detroit!”
He opened a free checking account after he verified my social security number and Washington State driver's license.
On New Year's Day, I tried to withdraw some money from JPMC'S Automated Teller Machine (ATM), but I received a surprise. The transaction was declined. Since I was pinching pennies, I was hungry on New Year's Day. Over the years, I stayed away from banks for fear of falling down. I favored withdrawing money from ATM's. I also favored checking my account balances online. Most importantly, I've come to rely heavily on my cell phone in the event of emergencies because of my physical disability. The following day, I telephoned the bank.
“I need to withdraw money from ATM,” I said.
“Come into the bank,” he said.
“I "m disabled. I don"t want to fall down. I can't stand in line. Standing disables me further. I prefer the ATM.”
“Alright!" I'll see what I can do, “said my personal banker
Since I was in Michigan for a trial, I telephoned the defense attorney for Domino's Pizza in their corporate office in Ann Harbor.
“You should settle with me to avoid the cost of a trial. “ I said.
'Domino's Pizza refuses to pay you a dime,” he said.
“Why don't you pay half of the money to Saint Jude's Hospital in my name?” I asked.
'Domino's already sponsoring Saint Jude's Hospital.”
'It's not the same thing.”
“Your lawsuit has no merit. You cannot file a lawsuit against someone who is not aware of your disability. None of our employee saw you. Domino's Pizza does not know that you are disabled, “he said.
“I ordered pizza. But Domino's Pizza refused to deliver it to me when I told them that I was disabled. Additionally, they cursed me out. Now, that's discrimination. I was staying at a hotel. Domino's said that they delivered all the time to the Cross land hotel in Washington but Domino's refused to deliver to me because of my disability. I gave Domino's Pizza my telephone number and room number but Domino's Pizza refused to call me. When I telephoned Domino's Pizza to find out why they did not deliver to me, Domino's Pizza instead cursed me out and hung up on me. Hence, Domino's refused to serve me because of my disability. You're in the business of delivering pizza to the public. You have stayed in business because of the public. Not to mention that you trade your stocks publicly with New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). That's an act of discrimination, obsession, and terrorism!” I reminded him.
“That's right! We trade our stocks publicly. Again, you cannot bring about a lawsuit against someone who has never seen you. It's a frivolous lawsuit. You should consider filing a different kind of lawsuit. Domino's Pizza didn't discriminate against you.” he said defensively.
About a week later, JPMC also became obsessed. They froze my account. Again, I was unable to withdraw money from JPMC's ATM. As always, I telephoned my personal banker.
“It's not us. It's the branch office in Utah that froze your account. You may call them via a toll free number and ask them to allow you access into your account,” he said.
“Why should I? I opened the account with you. I did not open it with Utah. Prior to opening my account, you verified both my social security number and driver's license. All of a sudden, Utah wants to take over from you.”
“My hands are tied. If you want your money call Utah,” he said.
“What's the number of your corporate office? Your corporate office is in New York.”
“Call Utah, “he said. Then, he hung up on me.
I couldn't fathom why another branch from another state would freeze my account. I had never been to their bank. Why? Since the day that my only child was kidnapped in Maryland on June 20, 2003, I've lived in ten states in pursuit of accounting jobs, business ventures, and law school. Utah's not one of them. I've never set foot in Utah. What does Utah have to gain? Why is Utah freezing my account? These questions raced through my brain. As a disabled person, I mind my business, and keep a low profile. Yet, I swallowed illegal acts at the hands of some people. I was hungry so I made a trip to the bank.
“I'll give you all your money if you agree to close your account today,” he said.
“I can't. I've not finished my business in Detroit.”
'Then, I can't help you. It's not us. It's Utah. You would have to call them. Here's their number.”
