DETROIT – What should have been a time to grieve has turned into a financial nightmare for Sheri Divers, a teacher in Detroit, and her elderly mother.
“Daddy was amazing, and I miss him every day. Every day,” said Divers.
Her father, Dr. Arthur Divers, spent decades as a teacher and counselor, and later as a union representative. He died in December at 97.
“Even though he was 97, it’s never a good time to lose your daddy,” Sheri said.
In the months since his death, Sheri stepped away temporarily from work to care for her 95-year-old mother, who has dementia.
At the same time, funeral costs and home care bills have been stacking up.
And the money, she says, her father left behind to help cover it all? She says she and her elderly mother can’t touch it.
“This has been a horror show for me,” Sheri said.
Sheri said her father was a loyal member of Michigan First Credit Union for over 50 years and had ensured that she and her mother were listed as beneficiaries.
But when she went to access the funds, she said she hit a wall almost immediately.
“They said they had serious concerns about my dad’s identity because my dad changed his name like 40 years ago,” Sheri said.
So she brought in more paperwork. Then more. Even a death certificate.
She said they even called the funeral home. Still, no resolution.
Reporter: “Why are they uncertain about your identity?”
Sheri: “Good question.”
Reporter: “And your mom‘s?”
Sheri: “Good question.”
At one point, Sheri said she had to bring her elderly mother in a wheelchair into the bank branch near 7 Mile Road and Wyoming Avenue.
Once there, she said she was asked more questions and told to provide more proof.
“We would feel more comfortable if you got guardianship over your mom,” Sheri said she was told.
So she did. But she said that wasn’t enough either.
“What does it take?” Sheri said.
Sheri said after the Investigators on Local 4 reached out, she received an email from an attorney representing the credit union the following morning.
“As we have now begun to receive inquiries from the media, we remain focused on resolving the uncertainty regarding the authorized beneficiary designation as quickly as possible,” Sheri read, in part.
“The money is my dad‘s. How arrogant!” Sheri said. “It makes me angry, and it’s unjust, and I wonder how many people have they done this to?”
Michigan First Credit Union declined to discuss the specifics of the case.
It said it is bound by law in how it handles accounts.
“At Michigan First, the financial well-being of our members is our top priority. We are prohibited by law from confirming if someone is a member or sharing specific details about accounts, transactions, or claims. We follow established legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure the proper and lawful administration of all accounts, remaining dedicated to protecting the interests of our members,” said Jennifer Glenfield, Chief Marketing Officer of Michigan First Credit Union.
In a separate statement, the credit union added, after Local 4 asked specific questions, and for a phone call:
“While we respect your outreach, it is our longstanding policy not to comment on matters that are subject to legal review or involving private individual data. To ensure the integrity of the process and out of respect for the privacy of all parties involved, any further steps will be handled through the appropriate formal channels.”
For Sheri, she said, the legal language only adds to the “horror show” she’s living through each day, amid the confusion.
She’s still grieving her father and now caring for her mother, while watching bills pile up. Waiting.
“What does it take?” Sheri said.
Sheri has retained an attorney and is working toward getting a conservatorship and hopes the bank will work with her before then.
She is worried the credit union will come up with another reason she cannot access the funds once she does that, however.
The Investigators on Local 4 are continuing to work on this.