I am writing this note today on behalf of my 80 year old parents who have been banking with Washington Mutual. My parents account has had 10 forged checks passed on their 3 of their bank accounts. The fraud department has reimbursed one of the accounts for 2 checks after faxing a copy of the police report. However, today, after 20 days now, the fraud department has not reimbursed the other accounts. I have called fraud department many times now in an effort to recapture these funds in the amount of $1,100.00. Quite frankly the department was very rude and has been giving my parents the run around!

The police detective informed me that Washington Mutual has the very worst reputation of fraud reimbursement and he expected we would be stonewalled.
I am sad to report, the police detective was correct. The bank is unresponsive. They do not return my calls.
As the detective points out, the bank will be paid back by FDIC insurance. So why not just help out my aging parents like all the

Other bank will. Washington Mutual has the worst record of fraud protection according to the police. It is terrible the way the bank is treating my 80 year old parents.

Can you please help. The police officer suggested I report the bank to the media.

- Bev Sigler, a very concerned daughter of Claire and Jim Zivney.

Bev,

Very sorry to hear about your situation. Please try calling the numbers listed in this post: http://consumerist.com/consumer/washington-mutual/contact-wamu-executive-customer-service-244016.php
to help expedite your parent's claim. Another reader previously reported success with these numbers (see: "Dear Consumerist,

So I purchased a MacBook last year and it's been a nightmare. It's been replaced twice now, each time with multiple mail-out services before Apple would replace the laptop.

Each time Apple representatives told me that under warranty details they will refund at 'their discretion', which seems to mean never. Am I stuck with yet another lemon laptop now that I've run out of ways to escalate?
Does California offer me any good consumer protection? Can I take them to small claims court perhaps?"

When I encountered issues with the third machine, I took your column's advice and escalated to a supervisor on the technical line and asked for a refund, but met with a canned denial. So I escalated to Jean Toulouse, but met with a canned denial from a secondary. So I escalated to Steve Jobs, but met with a canned denial from a secondary.

Here's the timeline, I've tried to keep it as short as possible. I had AppleCare for the 1st MacBook, repurchased it for the 2nd, but did not repurchase it for the 3rd.

2006/05/27 - Buy new MacBook.
2006/05/30 - Called in regarding dead pixels and that the machine kept freezing even after nuke and pave. Apple would not refund but agreed to replace.
2006/06/05 - Get new MacBook.
2006/08/22 - Called in regarding the screen would dim and brighten
randomly. Also would sometimes wake from sleep with color bands across screen. Apple has me ship MacBook in for repairs.
2006/08/29 - Get MacBook back, still has the problem. Apple has me ship MacBook in for repairs.
2006/09/18 - Get MacBook back, still has the problem. Apple has me ship MacBook in for repairs.
2006/10/11 - After waiting, then a lot of phone tag, finally get in touch with Apple and told they wish to keep the unit for research. Apple would not refund but agreed to re