In making the Economic Impact Payments (EIP) the IRS has directly deposited some payments into taxpayers’ bank accounts, has sent checks to some taxpayers and sent debit cards to other taxpayers. While undoubtedly some problems have occurred in the transmission of direct deposits and checks, the payment method receiving the greatest attention is the debit card payment method. According to press reports, here and here, some individuals receiving those cards mistook the cards for some type of scam and destroyed the cards as they might destroy other unwanted correspondence that arrives daily.
After destroying the cards, some of these individuals came to understand that perhaps they destroyed the stimulus payment from the IRS. Some individuals may still not realize what they have done.
The IRS has now published a phone number for individuals who lost or destroyed their debt card. Individuals in this situation should call 800-240-8100 and then select option 2. The IRS has indicated that the private vendor issuing the cards will waive the fee for the first reissuance of a card and will reverse any earlier-charged initial reissuance fees. See Q48 of the IRS FAQ here.
When the only mail you receive from the US Postal Service is junk mail, it’s easy to understand why individuals who were not expecting to receive the EIP via debt card should make this mistake. I hope that contacting the IRS at this number will result in recovery of the EIP without too much difficulty. We welcome comments from anyone who has experience with the process.
Update (06/06/2020): As pointed out below in the comments by Bob Kamman, the IRS has now released a new Q46 of the FAQs. The answer indicates that the amount limit on making ACH transfers from an EIP card to a bank account has been raised to $2,500 (the previous limit was $1,000).
How inept can the IRS be?
1. Both my husband and I receive SS benefits through direct deposit to our bank accounts.
2. My last name is different from my husband’s.
3. We have filed joint returns for 30+ years with him as taxpayer and me as spouse
4. We received our miniscule EIP payment (not the full amount) in the form on a Debit Card.
5. Both names were on the card and my husband’s used MY last name.
6. Activation requires taxpayer’s SSN, and it was my husband’s that did the trick.
At least two errors, both major as far as I’m concerned–debit cards are a PITA.
One of my coworkers had this exact situation today – the client shredded their EIP card, then later received a letter from the IRS stating they would be receiving their EIP by debit card. Realized their mistake, they came to our office. My coworker called 800-240-8100 on their behalf, but the automated message said it was unable to locate their account. It asked for the last 6 digits of their SSN & their zip code. She tried several different combinations of the spouse’s SSNs/zip, to no avail. We were pretty stuck. I’m curious to hear if others are experiencing any issues or are able to get EIP cards replaced.
Did you figure out how to get your replacement card cuz I have had no luck and when calling that number it told me the samething I am stuck and need help
I never received an eip card only received this letter about not activating card? Im trying to do this by calling or on line no luck cuz i don’t know eip card number please help
There is no number that one they have 1800-240-8100 does not work
Same Results that Number does not Work. What can you do? It says press 2 , and then says check http://www.irs.gov/eip which leads back to that number which you can’t do anything. If you find any info which works let me know via email
Call that terrible 800 number and choose option 2. I think that will work for w.
I just put that I lost my card now they’re sending me a replacement card when really it wasn’t this stimulus it was the last stimulus I need replaced. I hate computer crap.
Hello
Absolutely. It’s aggravating to say the least. I ran into the exact same problem. There should be a prompt to actually speak with a representative. I’m just curious as to how long it’s going to take them to figure the glitch out. 😩
Nope. The only recourse is to call an 800 customer service line, when you are prompted to press 2 for a lost card, it spews some rigamarole and disconnects you…I’ve tried several times to replace my lost card,
With the same result
Agree the same issue. Who do you complain to to resolve the issue for replacement cards. It hangs up on you.
Did you ever get card replaced???
Let me brief watch out for scams I ALSO contacted me the 800 and Rosie the comp asked for first 6 of my SSN ND zip and said not account can be found?
Meanwhile, the state of California Employment Development Department (EDD) sends out Debit Cards to ALL unemployment recipients. They are WAY behind in sending out the debit cards. Bank of America actually sends out the cards and they don’t show up until 10-14 days after you have received written notification from EDD. People are tremendously frustrated and have been complaining without resolution for up to a month. Telephone calls are not being answered and in the rare cases that a caller gets through, most of the EDD employees do not have the capability to resolve the problem.
The one good thing is that after the card is received, all other payments go electronically to that card and for the most part that part has been fairly smooth.
With little fanfare, IRS made these changes to its “Economic Impact Payment Information Center” web page this week.
Q46. Can I transfer money from my debit card to my bank account? (added June 5, 2020)
A46. Yes. The limit on ACH transfers to a bank account is $2,500 per transaction. This is an increase from the previously announced amount of $1,000 per transfer. You can easily transfer the money from your Card to an existing bank account online at EIPcard.com or using the Money Network Mobile App. You will need the Routing and Account number for your bank account. To transfer funds:
Call 800-240-8100 (TTY: 800-241-9100) to activate your Card.
Register for online or mobile app access by going to EIPCard.com or the Money Network Mobile App and click on “Register”. Follow the steps to create your User ID and Password. Be sure to have your EIP Card handy.
Select Move Money Out and follow the steps to set up your ACH transfer. Transfers should post to your bank account in 1-2 business days.
Q48. What do I do if my prepaid debit card was lost or destroyed? (added June 4, 2020)
A48. Individuals who have lost or destroyed their EIP Card may request a free replacement through MetaBank® Customer Service. The standard fee of $7.50 will be waived for the first reissuance of any EIP Card. Any initial reissuance fee charged to a customer from an earlier date will be reversed. Individuals do not need to know their card number to request a replacement. Individuals may request a replacement by phone at 800-240-8100 (option 2 from main menu).
The Economic Impact Payment Card is sponsored by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, managed by Money Network Financial, LLC and issued by Treasury’s financial agent, MetaBank®, N.A. If you receive an Economic Impact Payment Card, it will arrive in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” The Visa name will appear on the front of the Card; the back of the Card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A. Information included with the Card will explain that the card is your Economic Impact Payment Card. Please go to EIPcard.com for more information and additional FAQs.
How long does it take metabank to issue you a new one????
I am getting nowhere with you folks. IRS has routed me to Money Network for non receipt of the card sent. I cannot get a hold of anyone via phone. Just keep getting run around with the prompts which I have the option of choosing replace card which needs a valid card to talk to someone. I have not received my card…therefore I cannot give my number…why would I be calling if I had the card, which has the number on it. I have not received a card, therefore I have not number. In order to talk to someone there I have to have a card number. I just don’t understand this setup to call for a lost card replacement.
I spent hours on this yesterday between IRS and Metabank’s unhelpful website and phone prompts. I chose Option 2 and finally decided to choose option for “received a damaged card”. Even though I never got a card so had been choosing the alternate prompt which tells you to go to website and hangs up. When I tried that it accepted all my info which implies to me they actually had sent a card at some point. . So we’ll see if anything actually shows up in 10 business days. Based on the incompetence so far I’m not hopeful. Give that a try if you haven’t.
I have tried every option given even writing to the Money Network Financial in Atlanta, Ga.
No response. Now I am writing to the Economic Impact Payment Card to see if there are any live bodies there.
Samantha, please let us all know if you find an 80 IQ to talk to. I have not delved into this fiasco as far as you have; I just got a letter today letting me know I haven’t yet activated my (non-existent) card. Like Julia above, I called the 800 number they gave me and I need to enter my card number to talk to someone in customer service ….. HUH? Website no help either. Obviously nobody is driving this boat ……….. so what else is new? Ed Sievers, Denver, CO
After posting the above, I wrote to my state senator asking him (or his staff) to look into this mess. I will post back with any results.
Did u get a response?
I’m also trying to get a debit card that was supposedly sent to me.
On the 800 number I suggest x1x2x1x1x1 and have the last 6 digits of your social.
EIP.com will get you to Form 3911 for Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund and instructions that can be faxed to the IRS. 855-297-7736
On the 17th of July 2020, I had lost my wallet containing my EIP debit card. I then called
1. 800.241.8100 to report the card lost. I answered a question, giving the last 6 digits of my SSN. The automated phone service told me it will arrive in 7 to 10 days. Today is Aug 17 and i have not received a replacement card yet. Colorado has lifted the eviction ban and I will soon be facing an eviction because i owe money I was going to pay with card to prevent from facing an eviction at this time.?????????????????????
Contact your local taxpayer advocate.
Same happened to me apparently you have to call speak to a representative and upon your request they’ll send you a replacement. So confusing.
Selved, how did you get to talk to someone at that 8002408100 number? Just like everyone said above got letter saying my card not activated, chose option 2 , waited for those fn 10 days nothing it’s a month now. IRS has to ce up with a legit number otherwise it sounds like a scum of some sort.
How long did ot end up taking for you to get your card???
I too am trying to receive my EIP debit card. It was returned to the IRS. Called the IRS who told me to contact Metabank who is distributing the cards as the IRS can’t contact Metabank directly. Called Metabank who doesn’t have any updated information including my new address. Metabank is not allowed to contact the IRS on my behalf. A perfect catch 22. It is appalling that many of us are in the same boat. Looking for suggestions
my email indicated that my debit card was in my mailbox, every piece of mail was in my mailbox except debit card envelope.
I had submitted my comment but no reply, my debit card envelope was not in my mailbox with threst of my mail, my email comfirmed that the debit caed envelope was in my mailed box but all the rest of my mail was in my mailbox, it is lost or stolen
We received the eip card. I activated it. I tried to deposit it in our bank account. It kept giving an error code. I tried ATM, and it could not process my transaction and instructed me to take my card. The ATM machine would not release my card from the machine. The bank said to call and cancel the rip card. I reported it as lost (in the ATM machine). I was not able to speak to a human to ask a general question to find out why there was an error code.
I received a letter sponsored by the U.S. Department of the treasury entitled Economic Impact Payment Card Their address is PO Box 2360 Omaha, NE 68103-2360. I was told to activate the EIP card. I never received the EIP card. In the second paragraph on the letter it says “If you haven’t received your EIP card or if you may have accidently thrown it away, please call customer service at 1 800-240-8100 and report your card lost or stolen so we can send a replacement to you. There is no fee for the replacement card.” I followed the instructions and reported my card lost or stolen based on these instructions. I had also received a letter earlier from the IRS that I didn’t understand about the second EIP but I filed it. I then made the connection between the more recent letter with the IRS letter. I called the IRS at the number on their letter 1 800 919-9835 to get on the status on #1 did the lost and stolen card I reported get recorded #2 am I going to receive a replacement and #3 when will I receive that card. The first IRS agent I talked to after considerable amount of conversation with them could not provide the status I requested and so she transferred me to another agent. I got a recording when transferred to the second agent that they were flooded with backlog regarding EIP questions. The recording said to call on another business day. On two pursuits to try to get this status I got the same recording. Is there another way to get this status? I don’t want to use method one IRS.gov/eip because the warnings described in that method look like my personal information would be exposed. I am needing to get this stimulus check ASAP and the amount I am to receive is recorded on the IRS letter. My question is can you resolve this issue so I can get status?
March 26,21 my stimulus was mailed out never received it as of today. I have been receiving all my mail except for money. I feel the post office is stealing mail.. money mail only. Smh how am I suppose to contact the irs about never receivng my card? This is so messed up!! I need that money I’m facing eviction
Just got back from a 140 mile trip to an IRS office to speak to a human. A very nice lady and eager to help, but in the end all she could tell me was that that my third EIP was supposedly sent in March and that the follow-up letter sent in April. This is December 20, 2021 and I have never received either one. A month ago I downloaded and sent back a 3911 form but apparently it is in a bottle, lying on a beach somewhere. She could only sympathize and give me the Metabank 800 240 8100 number. The EIP card.com is no help at all and the number, and poke #2- Lost your card, says “Thank you for calling, Goodbye”
Folks, has this government ground to a complete halt or is it just me?
My next and ONLY step is to call my congressman but since he is not a relative or got my contribution, I’m not holding my breath. I’m about to kiss the $2800 goodbye.
Just to update from my previous post. After I emailed my congressman about this issue, I gave the 800 240 8100 number another try. Even tho I didn’t receive either a notice or a card number, I went ahead and pressed option #1 (instead of #2 where they hang up on you).
To my surprise, I was able to request another issue of the card after giving part SS#. We’ll see how this works out. Hope this helps someone. MS
I am an SSI beneficiary and the first EIP of $1200 was supposed to be direct deposited into my account, same as my monthly benefits. Instead, a letter from the White House was sent to an address of mine from 12 years ago, saying that I had been sent $1200. I created an online IRS account (verification sent to the same wrong address and former landlady provided me with verification code so I could access account, correct address, track payment, etc) and found out that the money was deposited into an account that is not mine. Problem with this is that the debit cards are supposedly recorded as account numbers in the online IRS account. Two years later after jumping through numerous hoops, I have received no replacement. They just ignore me. There is nothing but misinformation on how to resolve this. I need the money to move to a new apartment. Tomorrow I have an appointment an hour away with the IRS, but judging from previous commenter about going in person, that does not seem helpful either.
I never received an EIP card. I legally deducted the $1200 from my tax obligation for 2020. The IRS disallowed the deduction. I have fought the IRS for over a year and never have been able to speak to anyone. I went to my Congresswoman’s office for help. Five months later they IRS contacted her. Now the IRS has deducted $1200 and penalty from my 2021 refund. I testified to the Congressional IRS Oversight Committee. I appealed five times to the IRS and called Metabank. The message said they’d send me a replacement card. I am taking the case to the Tax court.
I need help trying to get my third stimulus I can’t get through to the bank I keep getting cut off and when I did talk to someone they said they sent it back to IRS IRS says they never received it I don’t know what to do