Dear Blog followers:
At the beginning of April, I met with Jane Harman's office in El Segundo, California. In an urgent plea to get backing behind Rep. Adam Schiff of Pasadena to call for an investigation of the FDIC, and the OTS, I met with staff members of Jane Harman's office.
I can tell you that the office told me this was the first they'd heard of this problem. I have great difficulty with that statement, since many of you who live in her district claim to have complained & reported the problems of Indymac depositors.
Today is May 14th. I have called several times to follow up on the visit. Ms. Harman is busy saving her own career, and not nearly as worried about constituents, in my humble opinion. I still urge each of you to write to members of Congress who represent your district. Find and write to your Senators. Make appointments with them and their staff before the recess in June. Do you get a recess? I don't. Let's get them working for us. Cheers, LM
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Letter to Congress and House Financial Services Staff
Click Here to get a copy of the letter to send to Congress and the House Financial Services Staff asking for a hearing and review before Congress of the Indymac issue.
You can add your name, address and telephone, then utilize the Congressional contact list to locate your representative or CLICK HERE to find Congressman Barney Frank, and the House Financial Services staff.
You can add your name, address and telephone, then utilize the Congressional contact list to locate your representative or CLICK HERE to find Congressman Barney Frank, and the House Financial Services staff.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Press Release
News release: Company Information:www.indymacdepositors.com
Indymac Depositors Sacrificed for Hedgefund Manager’s Profits?
Indymac Depositors Sacrificed for Hedgefund Manager’s Profits?
Summary: Insurance limits have been raised, the OTS has disclosed errors in booking capital, the FDIC has refused to make its communications practices more transparent, and hedge fund manager and potential IndyMac acquirer John Paulson has recommended increased liquidity for the full return of capital to hedge fund investors 10,000 IndyMac depositors have approached Paulson to be heard.
Emeryville, CA, December 31, 2008 – 12 noon EST
After many months of fruitless lobbying the FDIC and learning of the Treasury investigation of OTS regulator Darell Dochow’s decision to allow IndyMac to backdate an infusion of capital from May to March 2008 to keep the bank off the watchlist, IndyMac depositors who lost 50% of their uninsured funds are putting their situation before one of IndyMac’s potential buyers, hedge fund manager John Paulson, to ensure the sale of the bank pays attention to their situation.
“When John Paulson, whose $13-billion Paulson Advantage Plus fund has risen some 38 percent through Dec. 19, testifies before Congress on the wisdom of the $700 bailout and states clearly in his 2009 outlook that hedge fund managers should raise enough liquidity to cover all the redemption requirements of their investors, we want to be heard,” says Fran Quittel, technology recruiter and business journalist, who has lobbied the FDIC for months now regarding changes to make their communications practices more transparent and depositor friendly. “We’ve been in touch with Paulson’s spokesperson Armel Leslie and are awaiting his reply to see if we can also be made whole in this transaction and if not, why not, particularly since we were cash depositors and not shareholders, investors or traders of any sort.”
In fact, Quittel is only one of several IndyMac depositors who have sprung into action to protest the handling of the bank’s takeover and current sale. “That we have received no attention from the FDIC since this started, and this sale is being done in the week between Christmas and New Year’s is yet another example of how the entire matter has been handled,” says Lisa Marshall, creator of http://www.indymacdepositors.com/, a site where uninsured depositors who have lost funds are flocking to post their stories. The sale, if and when it happens, will ensure that the FDIC – but not the 10,000 uninsured depositors – are repaid first for any funds expended in the takeover.
On July 11, the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) closed IndyMac Bank and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) receiver. Depositors who held one or more accounts totaling more than $100,000 per depositor had funds in excess of the limit reduced by 50%. In October of 2008, FDIC insurance limits were raised to $250,000 per depositor per institution until December 31, 2009, with additional protections provided non-interest bearing business payroll accounts, some of which had also been reduced by 50% in the IndyMac failure. On December 22, 2008, Eric Thorson, Inspector General of the US Treasury, reported to Senator Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Committee on Finance, that OTS regulator Darrell Duchow had allowed IndyMac to backdate an $18 million infusion of capital. News of the pending sale of IndyMac bank was tentatively announced on Christmas Eve. Congress is planning hearings on IndyMac beginning January 7, 2009. IndyMac's group of uninsured depositors is asking to be included in those hearings.
Information on IndymacDepositors.com (http://www.indymacdepositors.com/), communications to Congress and the many efforts expended to improve FDIC communications to depositors can be obtained through:
CONTACT: Lisa Marshall - 310-344-4098, indymacdepositors@gmail.com creator/http://www.indymacdepositors.com/ Hamir Bhatia - 714-269-0252, acsvision@hotmail.com Fran Quittel - 626-864-1400/cell, francq@aol.com, http://www.fdicbusinessalert.com/
Uninsured depositors can join the effort by going to http://www.indymacdepositors.com/. Members of Congress responsible for banking and finance include: . Representative Barney Frank . Senator Christopher Dodd . Senator Chuck Schumer . Senator Charles Grassley California senators contacted by IndyMac depositors are Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Contacted representatives include Barbara Lee, Jane Harman, Henry Waxman, and Adam Schiff.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Marc's Story... another productive person's savings gone
Hi Lisa,
I just came across your blog today and would like to share a story that you may publish. I like so many others here was mislead many times by Indymac Banking officials that all my accounts were fully insured. I called several times and was assured that my accounts were all fully FDIC guaranteed. Even on the Monday after the bank was closed teller 240 reviewed my accounts and I received the same answer that all was in order.
Of course after going through the gut wrenching process of the FDIC interview I found out different. I lost a lot of money due to incorrect bankers information.
I wrote my Congressman, but have never received any answer from him or his staff. I wrote him again after the FDIC changed the rules and was told by FDIC officials that it would NOT include Indymac customers. Had the new rules been made retroactive I would have not lost one dime of money. What an injustice to those of us that trusted the Bank and the government is doling out billions of dollars to save so many other banks. I even called the FDIC to see if they were receiving any of the TARP money but was told no.
Now that it looks like the Bank is going to be sold for 14 billion and you do the math there won’t be enough money to pay the uninsured depositors. They will actually be losing money on the assets as far as I can tell, which will leave nothing for us. When I called the FDIC this morning to run the scenario by one of the agents to see if I was understanding the math right she agreed, but could not comment since nothing had been officially announced. It looks like a fire sale to me for the FDIC to get rid of the Indymac headache. I realize this isn’t the best time in our economic crisis to be selling a bank. It’s just to bad that innocent and careful depositors will probably take it in the shorts on this one. I guess the next few days will tell the story.
If there is anything I can do to help our cause please let me know and I’m very glad to have found your blog. If nothing else I don’t fell so alone in this unjust mess.
Thank you,
Marc
I just came across your blog today and would like to share a story that you may publish. I like so many others here was mislead many times by Indymac Banking officials that all my accounts were fully insured. I called several times and was assured that my accounts were all fully FDIC guaranteed. Even on the Monday after the bank was closed teller 240 reviewed my accounts and I received the same answer that all was in order.
Of course after going through the gut wrenching process of the FDIC interview I found out different. I lost a lot of money due to incorrect bankers information.
I wrote my Congressman, but have never received any answer from him or his staff. I wrote him again after the FDIC changed the rules and was told by FDIC officials that it would NOT include Indymac customers. Had the new rules been made retroactive I would have not lost one dime of money. What an injustice to those of us that trusted the Bank and the government is doling out billions of dollars to save so many other banks. I even called the FDIC to see if they were receiving any of the TARP money but was told no.
Now that it looks like the Bank is going to be sold for 14 billion and you do the math there won’t be enough money to pay the uninsured depositors. They will actually be losing money on the assets as far as I can tell, which will leave nothing for us. When I called the FDIC this morning to run the scenario by one of the agents to see if I was understanding the math right she agreed, but could not comment since nothing had been officially announced. It looks like a fire sale to me for the FDIC to get rid of the Indymac headache. I realize this isn’t the best time in our economic crisis to be selling a bank. It’s just to bad that innocent and careful depositors will probably take it in the shorts on this one. I guess the next few days will tell the story.
If there is anything I can do to help our cause please let me know and I’m very glad to have found your blog. If nothing else I don’t fell so alone in this unjust mess.
Thank you,
Marc
FDIC Organization Directory and Office Contacts
I was appalled this morning when I went to the FDIC official website http://www.fdic.gov/about/contact/directory/index.html to contact the Division of Resolutions & Receiverships only to find that all the phone numbers for the contacts from their Headquarters have conveniently been deleted from the FDIC websight. Shame on the FDIC. They have obviously confused the concept of trying to be more "transparent" with that of being more "invisable". Clearly they are trying to avoid our phone calls so they do not have to deal with the depositors from Indymac. Lucky for them I saved the original list with the phone numbers from when Indymac first failed because I suspected that the FDIC might try and do something like that. I will contact Lisa to see if she can post the list I have so we can contact FDIC officials with our concerns, comments and questions. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Mailing addresses for Congress and important contacts
Greetings all:
I promised you a list of individuals in the public eye, both government issue, and important news, or popular media to whom I wrote at the end of November.
To view, download and do what you will with this information, I have loaded it as a web page & you can click here to find it.
I wrote to all of the individuals listed & heard back from a few, in the form of pre-formed, rubber stamped letters by Congress members' staff.
Thanks to Lauren LaCapra at "TheStreet.com", who read my letter, this subject received attention and a blog was born here. If enough people write to media, or call, we can raise the awareness. Please write today.
Cheers,
Lisa
I promised you a list of individuals in the public eye, both government issue, and important news, or popular media to whom I wrote at the end of November.
To view, download and do what you will with this information, I have loaded it as a web page & you can click here to find it.
I wrote to all of the individuals listed & heard back from a few, in the form of pre-formed, rubber stamped letters by Congress members' staff.
Thanks to Lauren LaCapra at "TheStreet.com", who read my letter, this subject received attention and a blog was born here. If enough people write to media, or call, we can raise the awareness. Please write today.
Cheers,
Lisa
Monday, December 22, 2008
Making the News...on Rush Limbaugh's radio program
IndyMac & Charles Schumer were given dishonorable mention on Mr. Limbaugh's radio program today. He talked about Senator Schumer's involvement in the whole fiasco. Rush Limbaugh's radio program web site is: www.rushlimbaugh.com
Please write to Mr. Limbaugh, as we may generate some enthusiasm for publicity there.
Email Rush at elrushbo@eibnet.com.
Cheers,
Lisa
Please write to Mr. Limbaugh, as we may generate some enthusiasm for publicity there.
Email Rush at elrushbo@eibnet.com.
Cheers,
Lisa
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Letter to Sheila C. Bair
Recent letter sent to Sheila Bair. We all need to contribute to this blog and share our stories.
December 15, 2008
Ms. Sheila C. Bair
Chairman of the FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th St. NW MB-6028
Washington, DC 20429
Dear Ms. Sheila Bair:
I am one of the many depositors that were fraudulently induced to exceed FDIC deposit insurance limits at failed Indymac Bank. I had two CD’s with the bank and I was assured that my accounts were properly insured by representatives at Indymac. Per the advice of Indymac Bank one account was held as an individual insured by the FDIC for 100k and the other account was held as a trust account with two beneficiaries (ITF’s) and insured by the FDIC for 200k. I have been informed by the FDIC that one of my beneficiaries on my account is not “qualified” and I have uninsured losses that exceeds $105,000.00.
On Friday August 8, 2008 I spoke with a Mr. Michael D. Geske at the FDIC he went over my accounts and made a deposit insurance determination that I had a grand total of deposit insurance of $300,000.00 and the total of uninsured funds of $5,798.17. Mr. Geske also stated that I would receive a corrected receivership certificate in the mail and the balance of my insured funds. Copy of the email sent by Mr. Geske at the FDIC confirming the conversation is attached. As of this date I have received neither a corrected receivership certificate nor the balance of my insured funds.
I have contacted numerous agencies including the Office of the Ombudsman at the FDIC and my local Congressman’s Office and have not had a satisfactory resolution to this matter. I am currently working with Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Mel Martinez in my state to help resolve this matter. I am writing to request formal assistance from Ms. Sheila C. Bair, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
I am requesting that the FDIC insure my account balances for the $300,000.00 that I was assured by Indymac Bank as well as by Mr. Michael D. Geske at the FDIC. Effective September 26, 2008 the FDIC modified the rules for revocable trust accounts regarding the concept of “qualifying” beneficiaries and will insure virtually any beneficiary listed on an account. Effective October 3, 2008 with the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, insurance limits were increased to $250,000.00 in an attempt to instill public confidence in the banking system.
The Federal government and lawmakers have acknowledged the fact that Indymac Bank was one of the first banks to fail due to our current economic crisis. I firmly believe based on the size and scope of such a large publicized bank failure such as Indymac Bank that lawmakers should have made these changes retroactive to when this crisis initially began. I hope that lawmakers can go back and correct this situation and do what is right for the American people who have lost so much at Indymac Bank.
I would greatly appreciate your assistance in regards to this matter. If you need any additional information or I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me at the address above or call me at (Deleted) or (Deleted)
December 15, 2008
Ms. Sheila C. Bair
Chairman of the FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th St. NW MB-6028
Washington, DC 20429
Dear Ms. Sheila Bair:
I am one of the many depositors that were fraudulently induced to exceed FDIC deposit insurance limits at failed Indymac Bank. I had two CD’s with the bank and I was assured that my accounts were properly insured by representatives at Indymac. Per the advice of Indymac Bank one account was held as an individual insured by the FDIC for 100k and the other account was held as a trust account with two beneficiaries (ITF’s) and insured by the FDIC for 200k. I have been informed by the FDIC that one of my beneficiaries on my account is not “qualified” and I have uninsured losses that exceeds $105,000.00.
On Friday August 8, 2008 I spoke with a Mr. Michael D. Geske at the FDIC he went over my accounts and made a deposit insurance determination that I had a grand total of deposit insurance of $300,000.00 and the total of uninsured funds of $5,798.17. Mr. Geske also stated that I would receive a corrected receivership certificate in the mail and the balance of my insured funds. Copy of the email sent by Mr. Geske at the FDIC confirming the conversation is attached. As of this date I have received neither a corrected receivership certificate nor the balance of my insured funds.
I have contacted numerous agencies including the Office of the Ombudsman at the FDIC and my local Congressman’s Office and have not had a satisfactory resolution to this matter. I am currently working with Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Mel Martinez in my state to help resolve this matter. I am writing to request formal assistance from Ms. Sheila C. Bair, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
I am requesting that the FDIC insure my account balances for the $300,000.00 that I was assured by Indymac Bank as well as by Mr. Michael D. Geske at the FDIC. Effective September 26, 2008 the FDIC modified the rules for revocable trust accounts regarding the concept of “qualifying” beneficiaries and will insure virtually any beneficiary listed on an account. Effective October 3, 2008 with the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, insurance limits were increased to $250,000.00 in an attempt to instill public confidence in the banking system.
The Federal government and lawmakers have acknowledged the fact that Indymac Bank was one of the first banks to fail due to our current economic crisis. I firmly believe based on the size and scope of such a large publicized bank failure such as Indymac Bank that lawmakers should have made these changes retroactive to when this crisis initially began. I hope that lawmakers can go back and correct this situation and do what is right for the American people who have lost so much at Indymac Bank.
I would greatly appreciate your assistance in regards to this matter. If you need any additional information or I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me at the address above or call me at (Deleted) or (Deleted)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
