WRAL's Cullen Browder reports that most banks can't stop creditors from taking stimulus check money when there's a debt owed. NC Attorney General Josh Stein and others want to stop that.
WE HAVE 156 DEATHS REPORTED STATEWIDE INCLUDING TWO IN WAKE COUNTY TODAY AND TWO IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. STIMULUS CHECKS OFFER HOPE BUT IT TURNS OUT THE MONEY CAN BE INTERCEPTED BY DEBT COLLECTORS. THE QUICKLY PASSED CARES ACT DOES NOT GUARD AGAINST PRIVATE CREDITORS. >> MOST FEEL THIS WAS AN OVERSIGHT BY CONGRESS. BUT IF THERE'S A COURT ORDER TO GARNISH YOUR WAGES, PRIVATE DEBT COLLECTORS CAN TAKE THAT MONEY. BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS ARE TRYING TO HELP OUT BUT THEY CANNOT LEGALLY STOP IT. >> THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN WAITING ON STIMULUS CHECKS FOR WEEKS. >> BILLS AND THINGS WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF. >> I NEED IT FOR ESSENTIALS LIKE WATER AND RENT. >> MILLIONS ARE GETTING CASH AND THE CARES ACT DOESN'T PROTECT THE MONEY FROM PRIVATE DEBT COLLECTORS. >> PEOPLE NEED MONEY TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND PAY BILLS. THE 12 SHUNDZ MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE. NOT TO GO TO A CREDITOR. >> NORTH CAROLINA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL. >> DO YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SHIELD THE PAYMENTS. >> UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT. >> Reporter: HE JOINED TWO DOZEN OTHER A.G.s CALLING ON THE TREASURY SECRETARY. >> THIS SOURCE OF FUNDS IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE GET BY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. >> BANKS MUST ABIDE BY COURT ORDERS. BUT A SPOKESPERSON FOR WELLS FARGO TO DO OUR PART WELLS FARGO IS PAUSING FOR 30 DAYS THE COLLECTION OF NEGATIVE BALANCES EXISTING AT THE TIME WHEN STIMULUS PAYMENTS ARE DEPOSITED. OTHER INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING BANK OF AMERICA ARE TAKING SIMILAR PAUSES IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, HE WANTS ALL CREDITORS TO STEP BACK. >> DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GIVE YOUR FOLKS BREATHING SPACE. >> THE STIMULUS CHECKS ARE PROTECTED FROM UNPAID TAXES. THEY CANNOT BE PULLED FROM THE MONEY. I HEARD FROM THOM TILLIS' OFFICE AND THE MONEY WAS NEVER INTENDED TO GO TO CREDITORS, AND HE URGES THE TREASURY SECRETARY TO ISSUE GUIDANCE TO
