PHOENIX — Billions of dollars in the way of stimulus checks are going into the bank accounts of Americans this week.
Most people are seeing the money sent directly into their bank accounts. However, the rollout has not been flawless.
We talked with six people who all say the stimulus check meant for their bank account has not ended up there for one reason or another.
Mickey Glendenning-Loudin and Marcus Zimmermann both said they received notifications their stimulus checks had been delivered. The only problem, the money went to a bank account that wasn't theirs.
"The stimulus check was sent to an account ending in 4133. I do not have anything with that account," Glendenning-Loudin said.
Zimmerman said he doesn't even have a bank account, working in a cash-based construction job. So he doesn't understand how the error could have even been made.
For Kayleigh Byrne Kozak and Barbara (who did not want to be identified by her full name), they said checks were sent to old accounts.
Byrne Kozak said her check was sent to an account that was closed two years ago.
Barbara's check? To an account closed five years ago.
Both said they have done taxes since closing those accounts and have had funds deposited from the IRS into their current bank accounts in the past.
For Barbara, she is on Social Security and gets money from the government every month.
"I think it’s a hallmark of incompetence," Barbra said.
For Amy and David Leatherwood, the issue is more serious. The two said IRS told them their check was delivered yesterday, but they have yet to see any money.
The last month has been a difficult one for the Bullhead City couple.
The coronavirus outbreak led to Amy losing her job working at a nearby casino. She said she has yet to get full unemployment benefits as she adjusts to being one of the millions of Americans recently unemployed.
The Leatherwoods also felt heartbreak. On April 4, Amy's only son Christopher died in North Carolina.
Amy has been struggling to pay the added funeral costs on top of the recent hardships.
Everyone we talked to said they have had issues getting answers. Banks often send questions to the IRS. However, the IRS currently is working with smaller than usual staff as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
"So there is literally no one to call or talk to right now," David Leatherwood said.
“The government is not made to handle been an influx of challenges like this.” Tom Wheelwright CPA, CEO of WealthAbility.
Wheelwright has more than 40 years of tax experience. He said the issues with the rollout are not unusual when stimulus checks are sent out. However, short staffing with the IRS is creating more complications.
"There is no fast way to solve this" Wheelwright said.
Wheelwright said the best way to solve the problem is to see if a CPA or someone you know can help navigate the system. Wheelwright said many are doing the services for free or lower prices.
"I'm finding it's who you know more than what you know," Wheelwright said about the current situation.
Wheelwright said there is no easy solution. The system isn't designed for this and unfortunately, it will take time to fix.
For those who need the money to pay bills, Wheelwright does not have a perfect solution. He said persistence does pay off, as some callers are getting through, but said it is a headache to deal with.
"Change your focus from solving it today to solving it period."
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