UPDATE (Thursday, Feb. 4): After this story aired, Contact Denver7 reached out to U.S. Bank and their customer service team was able to unlock the card almost immediately. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," Dickson said.
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DENVER — Vangi Dickson is living at a motel in Boulder while she waits on desperately needed unemployment benefits. She said the funds were loaded onto a U.S. Bank ReliaCard, but the card was locked in December and she's been unable to use it ever since.
"My frustration is they’re sitting on almost $2,000 of my money that is mine, it’s legit, we’re not fraud, I am who I say I am," Dickson said.
Dickson couldn't understand why the card stopped working, so she called U.S. Bank ReliaCard and said someone told her the card had been reported as stolen.
"I never reported it stolen, there’s nobody at the call center that can go back and give me a date or anything," said Dickson.
She said she made several attempts to verify her identity to no avail. That's when she decided to reach out to Contact Denver7.
Once Denver7 got involved, a spokesperson for U.S. Bank ReliaCard said the customer service team would be reaching out to Dickson as soon as they are able.
"Just to not release my money after everything I handed over to these people," Dickson said. "I have a letter from the shelter saying I am who I am. I just don’t know where else to go."
Editor's note: Denver7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Denver7 stories here.
