UPDATE: YMCA Says Credit, Debit Overdrafts Reversed

The sent an email to its members early this evening sayings that multiple charges inadvertantly posted to members' credit and debit cards early Thursday morning were reversed by the end of the day.

Andrea Williams, spokeswoman for the YMCA, said a "good chunk" of the YMCA's 22,000 members, those who have their payments automatically withdrawn on the first of the month, were affected due to a glitch by the organization's software provider.

However, she added on Friday morning that a relatively "small percentage" of the YMCA's 7,000 or so membership households were affected, and again added the issues had been resolved with affected bank accounts and credit cards.

Williams stressed there was no breach of security in the members' accounts.

The software provider had somehow charged members four or five times the usual monthly amount, she said. Some credit cards were thus canceled for security purposes, or the members canceled them due to the reports of unauthorized charges, she said early on Thursday evening.

"We are pleased to inform you that our software provider has confirmed that all incorrect charges to affected accounts have been voided; you may already see this reflected on your bank or credit card statements. The software provider advised us that there may be a delay in this being reflected in your account but to rest assured that the charges have indeed been voided. Any overdraft fees incurred will also be reimbursed in full," according to an email sent out to members shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Williams said the YMCA will be sending out statements to members whose accounts were affected with financial forms for resolving any remaining overdraft fees or other issues.

According to an email sent to members Thursday shortly after 11 a.m., "our software provider has alerted us to the fact that certain membership drafts (credit and debit cards) may have seen multiple charges occuring on their bank or credit card statements this morning from other YMCAs."

That initial email emphasized that the overdrafts are "not a hacking issue and the security of your account has not been compromised."

Both emails urged member with specific questions or concerns, to contact 908-630-3505. Early in the after noon, that number reached a recorded message, and asks for the caller to leave information for a return call.

"Please be assured that we are aware of the importance of this situation and are taking all steps to ensure that it is properly remedied," that first email said.

The second email added, "We fully appreciate your frustration and concerns, particularly as it may entail your own time and effort to remedy the situation. Please accept our sincerest apologies and those of our software provider."

At the YMCA late in the afternoon, members were approaching the front desk with questions about the situation. One woman said she had been charged for five times her usual fee.

Riverwalk facility without hot water, but remains open

Also, the YMCA's satellite facility at the Riverwalk center off Martinsville Road remained without hot water as of Friday morning, but the facility was open, Williams said. That means that no showers will be available at this time, she said on Friday morning.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story said that the Riverwalk facility was closed.