Foreign Service people, do you give a local foreign phone number to USAA every time you're deployed to a new country?

[Anonymous]

A Foreign Service member who is stationed in a tiny third world country owes me a lot of money. He claims that he cannot ask USAA to wire me the funds because USAA has difficulties validating his local mobile number that he just got. That seems suspicious to me. I would think that Foreign Service people keep their US mobile number and use that phone number exclusively when dealing with USAA and other similar financial institutions that verify people's identity over the phone.

I really don't know what recourse do I have. I'm not going to sue him in that tiny third-world country that doesn't even have a functioning postal service. He does not maintain a residence in the US, at least he claims so.

[Anonymous]

Tell him to ask the Consulate for help or you will.

[Anonymous]

He's stalling of course. I believe we did give USAA our local number when we were overseas, but you can two factor authenticate with your email as well - or he should be able to set that up. And guess what? You can call the United States right from your desk phone at work. Or if not from your particular desk, from somewhere in the Consulate.

Basically, this could be done if they really wanted it to be done.

As far as suing him, was the money lent/financial transaction done in the US?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your replies, very illuminating.
It was not a loan but a professional service contract.

[Anonymous]

1) Please don't use the "third world country" phrase
2) He may or not have a US number -- many don't, but USAA is usually pretty good about workarounds
3) He should be able to do this, but it is definitely more of a pain especially if he has moved recently. You have no idea how many authnetications you have to go through and it is most certainly harder when setting up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Please don't use the "third world country" phrase
2) He may or not have a US number -- many don't, but USAA is usually pretty good about workarounds
3) He should be able to do this, but it is definitely more of a pain especially if he has moved recently. You have no idea how many authnetications you have to go through and it is most certainly harder when setting up

Quoting myself, I should also say: I suspect he is dodging you. You can threaten to call the State Deparmtent and report him. Owing money can jeopardize security clearances. On the other hand, please realize the guy has likely been working in the service of your nation for a month now and not getting paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Please don't use the "third world country" phrase
2) He may or not have a US number -- many don't, but USAA is usually pretty good about workarounds
3) He should be able to do this, but it is definitely more of a pain especially if he has moved recently. You have no idea how many authnetications you have to go through and it is most certainly harder when setting up

Quoting myself, I should also say: I suspect he is dodging you. You can threaten to call the State Deparmtent and report him. Owing money can jeopardize security clearances. On the other hand, please realize the guy has likely been working in the service of your nation for a month now and not getting paid.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

He’s probably stalling. However, I’ve had some pretty poor customer service from USAA in the last few years, some involving international transfers and banking.

Still, he doesn’t have to do this by phone. He can mail papers/use DocuSign/even authorize a POA who can do this stateside.

[Anonymous]

USAA doesn't wire money.