Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Name confusion

This is Lisa Lake. She’s always been Lisa Lake and she has all kinds of documents to prove it. So knowing that, listen to this.

Lisa, remember, Lisa Lake, had been leasing her white sedan, but in 2002 decided she wanted to make it her own.

Lisa Lake
"I wanted to purchase the car."

She filled out the auto loan paperwork, but when the payment book arrived there was a problem. It had the wrong name.

Lisa Lake
"It came in James Ryan’s name."

Weird. The book said James Ryan, so Lisa called the bank and, no problem, they sent her a new book with her name.

Now fast forward to summer 2005. Lisa mailed in the last stub from her yearly payment book and called to get a new one. Problem.

Lisa Lake
"They told me, well you don't exist. This account’s not under your name."

That’s because once again the bank records showed:

Lisa Lake
"It’s under this James Ryan."

She explained it was her account, her car and her money. And she, Lisa, needed a new payment book. And soon it arrived, but it was wrong.

Lisa lake
"The payment book came in James Ryan’s name."

Lisa called the bank again. This time they wouldn't talk about it at all because she wasn’t James Ryan. Well, duh.

Lisa Lake
"I said that's the problem. That's why I’m calling."

So she went online searching for a different name.

Lisa Lake
"I e-mailed Help Me Hank and said I’ve had enough."

We knew Lisa’s name should be on the account, if not, when she took ownership of her car, the title would also be in the wrong name.

The bank finally realized they had put James’ social security number on Lisa’s paperwork.

Why, we wondered. How?

According to the bank’s apology letter, it was a manual data entry error. The letter also promised that Lisa was all set.

So Lisa put the name game to the final test.

Lisa Lake
"I have sent a check to pay off the car."

Would it work? Two weeks later Lisa’s title arrived with the correct name: Lisa Lake.

We also suggested Lisa check with the credit bureaus to make sure the mysterious James wasn’t lurking there, too.

(Copyright (c) 2005 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)