TD Bank & W-8BEN !

[Aschenbecher 16]

Hi, I arrived here on 18th Dec 2012.

Decided to go to the bank and oppen a checking account in early Jan 2013. Went to TD Bank , thats where my wife has her account.

Since wife was busy with work and couldnt come to the bank with me, I opened a checking account just in my name.

They made me sign W-8BEN. I had a feeling this was wrong but i deffred to the Bank employee figuring they know what the heck they're talking about. BIG MISTAKE !

anyway. the account was oppened. but one week later i received a letter from TD bank to give proof of my forigne status since i've filled out W-8BEN.

Ok so i went back to the bank. The dumb lady there had no idea what it was. she just took photo copies of my greencard and mailed it to TD bank processing.

another week later i recived another letter asking for "Proof of my forigne status, since i've filled out W8-BEN" , again i went back to the bank , again some dumb employee who was as incompetent as the last one told me oh ill just take a photo copy of your state id which has address on it and send it to them. He did and assured me its fine now.

Again a week later i receied the same letter from TD Bank asking to give proof of my forigne status. This time i researched it on VJ and told the geniuses at TD Bank that W-8BEN is wrong form for me and i should fill out W-9. The dumb employee insisted that all forigners always fill w-8BEN. I told him that even though i am not a US citizen i am a resident alien and as per instructions on W-8BEN i am sopose to fill our W-9. So he called somebody on the phone and those dummys didnt know it either. So this guy takes another set of photo copy of my documents from me and tell me that this is what they need.

Ok went with their advise.

And yet again today i received another letter from TD Bank asking for the same bloody thing. What should i do . i am about ready to tell them "Up %^$&$!" and go to another bank.

[Moomin 292]

You have a greencard. According to a post by you not long ago, you have ssn as well.

Personally, I'd try opening the account online through their webpage. Because employees at local banks may not be familiar with the process. Either that, or open up an account somewhere else.

The link to the online thing is here; https://customerservice.tdbank.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6265/session/L3RpbWUvMTM2MjA4OTQ0OC9zaWQvZkYzWG0qamw%3D

(to make things clear - I have 2 accounts. One bank did the same stunt as with you. They admitted later on it was wrong and I'm in the process of closing that account. They sent my mail, including new debit card, to my old address. In Denmark. )

[TimeTravel 78]

Do you really love that bank? If no, then close that account! Open with any other bank, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc etc.

Or you may consider to talk to branch manager, and let him know about this issue.

[yonglin 1]

I think that's quite strange. I was once given that form to fill out by TD Bank (I have a 0% interest checking account there -- no form filling required to open the account). I asked: "Are you giving me this form because I don't have a social security number?". She said: "Yes". I then gave them my social security number instead, they entered it into their system, and that was the end of the discussion. Are you sure that they have your social security number on file?

[Aschenbecher 16]

I think that's quite strange. I was once given that form to fill out by TD Bank (I have a 0% interest checking account there -- no form filling required to open the account). I asked: "Are you giving me this form because I don't have a social security number?". She said: "Yes". I then gave them my social security number instead, they entered it into their system, and that was the end of the discussion. Are you sure that they have your social security number on file?

Yes they ddo have my ssn, I gave it to them back in January they are incredibly incompetent. Unfortunatly I cant open accout anywhere else as my wife can have ac just in TD caus of bad credit well ill talk to manager on Monday.