busker

To Catch a Thief

It would be nice - and certainly less confusing - if the customer service experts at my friendly Bank of America could agree on unified advice and policy over my stolen check.

The situation to date:

• 12/7/04: En route to airport for 4 weeks in Europe, I foolishly mail blank - but *signed* - check #2623 from Bainbridge Island to Seattle.
  
• 12/10/04: Check is cashed to the tune of US$1500, made out to 'Carrie Herren' for purpose of a 'Blem set'
  
• 12/12/04: I discover the theft while checking my online Bank of America account from Corfu.
  
• 12/12: I first email BoA and then phone their emergency number where, after being on hold for 15 mins, I am put thru to the unsympathetic Mary.
  
• Mary lectures me on my lack of wisdom in signing a check without including a payee. I tell her I am in no mood to run up an international phone bill for a lesson in correct banking practice.
  
• Mary explains there is nothing the Bank can do to retrieve the money and advises me to call another number and request a "Source of Receipt", which will at least tell me where/who/etc this Carrie Herren is.
  
• 12/15: I receive email response from BoA slightly raising my hopes of tracing the thief and even being refunded.
  
• 12/23: Travel from Greece to Italy during which I lose interest in my long-distance sleuthing.
  
• 12/29: I phone BoA again to check on 'Source of Receipt' procedure and speak first to Christina and then to the helpful Dan.
  
• Dan shows me how to read the *reverse* of a check online and helpfully reads out the ID details of Ms Herren, i.e. that in order to procure my US$1500, she produced her driving licence, number HERRECL239J1, issued 3/17/04, expiring 4/21/08.
  
• Dan, too, advises me that the Bank can do nothing for me but that, on my return to the US, I should file a police report.
  

What to do? I feel this calls for a little outside muscle, i.e. help from PI extroadinaire, the excellent Joe Garshae.