Venting about Sumter Grand
 

The true test of a facility is not when everything is running smoothly. The true test is when there is an issue that needs solving. Sumter Grand is failing the test. They erroneously took $4,662 from my 85 year old widowed mother's checking account (causing her to overdraw it) 8 days ago and I can't get them to return it. They acknowledged they made a mistake, but fixing it? That is not happening. All they do is make excuses and stall. Okay, mistakes happen, I get it. But they should FIX IT! Not give us the run around. Who can afford something like that? And now the Exec Dir won't even return my calls. Not a very caring attitude for their clientele. Beware!

I used to run assisted livings, and I know Sumter Grand is independent. However, call the corporate office. Ask for the Regional Director and if that does not work, ask for the VP of Operations. You will have a call from the ED and your check refunded. Promptly.

Did that. They have an automated answering system and I left a message. No response. I'm so frustrated.

Call Adult Protective Services and report financial exploitation of a resident if no one responds on Monday. Let them deal with it.

Also go into the building and ask who the Ombudsman is, they are an advocate for complaints of residents. I am not 100% sure if they go into Independent Living but the will let you know. The Ombudsman number will be either posted in Sumter Grand or Sumter Place.

When my mother went into an assisted living home they wanted to handle all of her finances and bank accounts.........no thank you, i'll handle that myself....

There are 2 sides to every story...I'd love to hear theirs as well as your tone when you voiced the mistake. As for the money isn't your mothers account protected from theft??? If not....why not??? Why haven't you mentioned calling the bank with a stop payment????

If they did as you say...then it will be resolved properly. On the other hand if a person goes off the deep end in their complaining then all bets are off.

Another vote for the Ombudsman. There should be a sign hanging in the lobby or near the activities board; wherever the required postings are. And it is a required posting. They do go into independent living facilities. Ombudsman is a state sponsored third party volunteer advocate and they get results. The facilities do not want to get crosswise with the state. I sympathize with the urgency of this issue and can imagine your frustration.

Try Seniors Againest Crime here in The Villages to see if they've gotten other complaints.

How exactly should the tone sound over a $4662 mistake? Like Mr. Rogers or Mr. Green Jeans? Or the Grinch? What would your tone sound like?

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OP is looking for advice, from those who have knowledge in this field. You are a little harsh for a new poster. Or maybe you have some insight to this matter on a personal note

Would you consider 8 days enough time to resolve that properly? I would consider it reprehensible.

You can't stop payment on a withdrawal. And the bank isn't going to insure you against an entity that has automatic withdrawal approval.

You're making a lot of assumptions in your reply. Yours is the tone that sounds pretty bad.

:bigbow: Amen. OP, so sorry this happened to you. I hope you get a resolution very soon. Even if you do, please report this to the Florida Attorney General’s Office. You can do this online, and it could result in helping others and curtailing unethical practices like this. I hope your mother is doing well.

Those that have the money don't like to release it. Years ago I paid the full balance of a Visa Card bill with a check. The bank erroneously withdrew 10 times that amount. It didn't overdraw the account, but when we went to the bank with the cancelled check in hand they said it would take two to three weeks to put the money back. Wrong! We pointed out that since they withdrew it instantly, they could put it back instantly, which they did. With that we closed the account.