A California bankruptcy Judge has reportedly issued a warning to MongoDB, a database company, against deleting sensitive customer data.
Ongoing efforts to give back millions to clients currently locked out of their Fintech apps are now linked to a heated dispute between Fintech platform Synapse (recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy) and database service provider MongoDB, which is currently owed a substantial amount by Synapse.
The disagreement between the two firms was brought up during a bankruptcy hearing this past Wednesday. During the hearing, the former FDIC Chairperson Jelena McWilliams, who has been tasked with overseeing Synapse’s ongoing wind-up of operations, cautioned the court that MongoDB may be getting ready to permanently delete vital customer data.
The data, which is about 4 terabytes, is needed for accurately distributing over $100 million to affected clients and also probing a possible shortfall of a sum anywhere between $65 million and $96 million, McWilliams noted.
The disagreement related to the data is now adding more stress for clients of companies like Juno, Yotta, and other Fintechs. These consumers have reportedly not been able to access their money since May of this year.
During the recent court hearing, a number of Juno and Yotta clients revealed the challenges they encountered because of the lack of access to their funds.
One particular customer, who has been fired from her tech role, was really stressed about dealing with the possibility of losing her home because of unpaid bills.
Meanwhile, another client was concerned about a possible delay in her education since she is depending on the $7,000 in her account in order to pay for her college tuition.
McWilliams has emphasized the importance of holding onto the data residing on MongoDB’s database system, while informing the court that the huge amount of critical information makes it impractical to easily migrate it while also making sure its integrity for use in the foreseeable future and any related probes.
But MongoDB said in an official July 2, 2024 letter (that was shared publicly during the hearing) that it rejected McWilliams’ assertion that Synapse should get “open-ended” access to the data and informed the court that it’s owed around $140,000 and will only provide access until July 7, 2024.
Judge Martin Barash, who is presiding in the California Central Bankruptcy Court, has warned MongoDB of the serious consequences if the Synapse data gets deleted, reaffirming the fact that the data residing on its system belongs to Synapse and is protected by the bankruptcy court, adding, “the data better be preserved” and noting, “you’re playing with fire.”
In spite of the stern warnings, the Judge noted the significant challenge of the ongoing bankruptcy case, where the funds are held by banks, and not with Synapse, which serves as a third-party.
He asked McWilliams and others to work on the resolution but also realized the very limited consolation it offers to fintech app customers who urgently need their funds in order to pay for their everyday expenses.
Judge Barash has now asked MongoDB and Synapse’s representatives to work on a quick resolution to the matter.
McWilliams noted the reasonableness of MongoDB demanding payment while realizing the difficulties encountered by Fintech app users who desperately need to pay their bills.
She promised to do whatever it takes to “preserve the data” in a timely manner.
Given these issues, it is clear that it’s never a good idea to keep all yours eggs in one basket. Perhaps Fintech app users should consider maintaining their funds with various service providers to ensure they can access money when they need it the most.
Fintech startups may offer fancy perks and use other ways to onboard new users, however, consumers should be very careful about who they trust with their hard-earned money. By holding funds with several different platforms, one can ensure they have the best chance of ensuring financial stability in the long-term. It may also be a good idea to hold a significant amount of cash / emergency money at your home.
