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LOS ANGELES () — At 90 years old Gloria Hutchins is still very active. She walks at a brisk pace. But she never expected the latest challenge to come from criminals stealing her bank information.
“I didn’t know nothing about this until the bank called me that my account has somebody trying to withdraw,” said Hutchins.
Gloria says scammers stole her account information earlier this year. Her bank helped her open a new account, but then that new account was also hacked. Finally, she got everything fixed, but she says that when she tried to update the payment information with SoCalGas it turned into an ordeal.
“And he said no ma’am we cannot do that because you did not pay for three months,” said Hutchins.
Her son says that with all the bank issues several payments didn’t go through and were late.
“We did end up paying it, but they said they could no longer accept, after two bad payments, automatic payments from her accounts anymore. And she would have to go in person to the gas company or one of their affiliates to pay her bills,” said her son.
“I felt as if I am a questionable citizen… for 50 years I have been with them and I feel a little bit insulted,” Hutchins said.
The closest office where she would have to go to pay the bills is located in Van Nuys. She lives in Sun Valley. She says it’s difficult to park and walk.
Hutchins says the gas company actually suggested she might want to use a money order for every single payment. She says that even though her bank is literally across the street, that would be inconvenient and get expensive.
7 On Your Side called the gas company to tell them about Hutchins’ issues. They wouldn’t comment on her account or their payment procedures, but they stressed there are many ways to pay your bills. They said they would look at the issue. A few days later Eugene Hutchins called us to say the company will now accept her automatic payments.
“Your problem is already solved. You do not need to go there personally every month. I said thank the Lord for those beautiful people of channel 7,” Hutchins said.
Now that Gloria has her billing straightened out, she and her son hope companies will begin to understand how hard all of this can be for seniors.
“When mistakes happen, particularly through no fault of their own, this needs to be, policies need to be adaptable or recognize the situation of what’s happening. It can’t be just a blanket policy,” said her son.
“I hope that their eyes are open, that there is somebody watching. And thank you very much, Mr. Granda. You are very, very effective,” Hutchins said.
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