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Alaska Incorrectly Paid Out 5,500 PFD ChecksAlaskans look forward to receiving their Permanent Fund Dividend checks every fall. But this year, 5,500 Alaskans will be asked to give all or part of it back.Related Content
Alaskans look forward to receiving their Permanent Fund Dividend checks every fall.
But this year, 5,500 Alaskans will be asked to give all or part of it back. Due to a processing error, a portion of some Alaskans’ PFD checks should have been garnished, but weren’t. For the first time, the division used a software system known as “eGarns” to keep track of garnishments, however, PFD division employees didn’t link batches of electronic levies to applicant records. Stop payment for nearly 1,900 paper checks (mailed out last week) have been issued and roughly 3,600 direct deposit returns have been distributed requesting the funds back. This is a developing story. |
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Set Up said on Sunday, Oct 23 at 5:21 PM
Set up an accnt where the PFD will be deposited and after it is deposited ... take out all but five bucks do what you will. Your money is not your own anymore.... we been sleep-walked into a police-state
75756574yikes said on Friday, Oct 21 at 4:05 PM
Garnished check for me. Wasn't that I didn't want to pay off bill, wasn't able due to unexpected med disability. Paying as I can now, but less health=less income=less insurance=more med. bills. Not everyone w/ debts are irresponsible. Medical expense/drug costs are high- It’s a treat or die situation. Garnishment’s fair, but I say at least give people dignity & allow them 5% or something. Would have be nice to splurge for pizza or new gloves & some self-esteem. When others say "PFD was distributed, we’re celebrating/going for dinner, come with us", I get to say mine’s garnished. Sorry, bad person. Can't be allowed dignity. Yes, if you owe $ and got what you shouldn't, it should be returned. But this is the first I heard of this. Imagine the surprise if you spent the $ (not knowing ck was garnished) to pay off bills, then PFD is recalled. Talk about bounced checks, more $ then owed creating greater debt. That is NOT a good situation and very unfair.
75685789lisa said on Tuesday, Oct 18 at 10:23 PM
I never recieved a notice of a garnishment, and when I look up my pfd info it says there are no garnishments, but they took my check out of my account. I called the numbers they give and just get recordings. When I send an email, all I ever get is the same automated response
75530883KC said on Tuesday, Oct 18 at 9:08 AM
No one can garnish as well as the Zobels...lets have them weigh in on this...NOT!!!
75499474Phil said on Tuesday, Oct 18 at 3:07 AM
This money was funneled into Obamas Job Bill Campaign
75479548tammy said on Saturday, Oct 15 at 1:58 PM
they made the mistake, let them pay for it. However, a garnishment is because you owe the state of alaska money for either child support or court costs and fees. Its paid off bills you have chose to ignore or could not pay it, its paid now. Be grateful.
75367322Anonymous said on Saturday, Oct 15 at 6:50 AM
The PFD should not be garnished for any reason. Legislators please pass a law preventing the garnishment of checks by any entity. I never had a garnishment .. but it just seems a flat wrong thing to do just before winter
75353213Lenn said on Saturday, Oct 15 at 1:46 AM
I hope the PFD office takes it ALL back. If you got the money and you knew you weren't suppose to have it, do you really think you wouldn't have to pay it back? Get real people!
75345408Joel said on Friday, Oct 14 at 8:12 PM
Good, I wish mine came to me, the lady Im paying child support to, which I dont mind paying to the moms that use if for their kids, but this chick I heard has turned in to a crack head, good to know a 3rd of my paycheck every week keeps her high, hopefully she od's on the 1100
75340721Anch Scanner said on Friday, Oct 14 at 11:56 AM
I am glad I pay my bills, and I didnt have to worry about any improper garnishments!
75317689Mimi said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 11:47 PM
I was never notified that I would not be getting my dividend. My 1099 that I got from the PFD website even says "no deductions." Yet, my house payment is gone from my account. I pay the creditors monthy too!
75285802Rocky said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 9:21 PM
Thank you God and the PFD Division for sending me free money. I paid my bills, and I have a pulse so I get my check. If you owe money to others, don't expect free money...and don't complain when you get paid something that doesn't belong to you.
75283999Andrew said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 8:46 PM
Hey you already took mine you cant take it twice!
75283238CSI said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 6:52 PM
Check the way the books are for the PFD account and I think you will see inconsistencies as this and other squirmishes...they can cry foul and play a political game as they please... You have been letting them rip you off, and spend your investment however they please... Even if they lose it all...so what...guess that is allright with all Alaskans...they are protesting Wall Street...where is Alaskas protest to the PFD???? Same thing...
75279122Really? said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 6:48 PM
Yeah good luck getting any of it back...
75278921Not Yours to spend said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 5:25 PM
Nothing can be garnished without your knowledge/notification. So you KNEW if you were not supposed to receive a full PFD or a PFD at all. So if $1174 automatically appeared, you should have done the right thing and call the PFD office and let them know there was a mistake. Bank once accidentally deposited someone elses check into my account in the amount of $12,000. Does not automatically make it mine to spend.
75274022Barbara said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 5:08 PM
Big Dan it wouldn't have changed the amount that the rest of us being if they were eligable to apply the PFD would be garnished and gone to either the State for fines the applicant owed or to those that have gotten a judgement against the applicant who has refused to pay and this is how theose get the money owed them. @ Wow those that have the judgement are owed the money and if those that appled should know that the check was garnished so they need to return the money or be treated as if they frauded the PFD,
75273006Poofeelia Oomph said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 5:03 PM
I already spent all of my pf on supplies for the 'Occupy Anchorage'protests.
75272777shawn said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:58 PM
If people are suppose to have their PFD garnished, go get that money back! If you default on a student loan, no PFD. If you owe back child support, no PFD. There is no way to make these people use the PFD money to clear up their money problems, so withhold it and maybe that will motivate then to get their affairs in order.
75272542one of the 5500 said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:57 PM
what the article doesn't say is that the PFD office is not actually "requesting" this money back. they are simply TAKING it. my PFD was distributed to me and i used it to pay off medical bills. my PFD is gone. the money they are now TAKING from me is my wages from my job that i earned. this is outrageous! for those of you who are in the same situation as me call the PFD office and call the mayor's and governor's offices. the state should not have the power to simply remove funds from a citizen's bank account in this manner.
75272447one of the 5500 said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:56 PM
what the article doesn't say is that the PFD office is not actually "requesting" this money back. they are simply TAKING it. my PFD was distributed to me and i used it to pay off medical bills. my PFD is gone. the money they are now TAKING from me is my wages from my job that i earned. this is outrageous! for those of you who are in the same situation as me call the PFD office and call the mayor's and governor's offices. the state should not have the power to simply remove funds from a citizen's bank account in this manner.
75272356big dan said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:52 PM
Well, that just means less for the rest of us who are honest and pay our bills. Shame on the state for screwing this up. I know it would probably have only been pennies, but still, they should check these new systems out before they use them do distribute millions of dollars.
75272128Anonymous said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:49 PM
Garnishment is something that usually happens when people don't pay child support or something like that. I'm also sure that these people new ahead of time that they weren't going to receive their checks.
75271967wow said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:27 PM
There mistake they should take the blame n let those ppl keep it. Garnish next years. If those ppl are getting money garnished from them they are obviously in some kind of money issues, they probably need it. Would be wrong to ask for it back.
75270742Brooke said on Thursday, Oct 13 at 4:09 PM
I dont think anyone is gonna give it back! I say every 5 years our pfd gets garnished we should be allowed it the 6th year!
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