Tales from the CitiCrooks

Published on March 15, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

I bank at a large bank. Oh, it wasn't a large bank when I started going there, but you know, the buying and selling of financial institutions is and has always been big business. Anyway, I go there, and I haven't had a lick of trouble with them. Really. Honestly.

Until today.

See, I went in to cash my paycheck and the cashier dutifully informed me there is a balance of -$15 something on my account. Really? I had a couple of debits since my last deposit (LAST Thursday) but there should have been ample funds.

Yes, she informs me. She then details the charges, including an overdraft fee of $30.

OK, I about lost it right there, except she's just a teller. She doesn't control their computers. An OVERDRAFT FEE of $30 leaving me with a negative balance of $15?????? Can ANYONE ELSE tell me what's wrong with this picture?!?

Suffice it to say, I'm looking for a new bank.

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Mar 15, 2007

Heh. It took me a minute to figure that one out.

I don't know if I would have caught it on-the-spot like that. Banks suck.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 15, 2007

Banks suck.

Yes, they do. That one was just wrong.

Sugar High Elf

on Mar 15, 2007

Been there, done that, royally pissed me off. Sorry mate.

Dr Guy

on Mar 16, 2007

I like small banks too, but like you, it is hard to find them these days.

I would fight that one. I think you have a solid case.

just john

on Mar 16, 2007

I have an idea how it could happen...

If it were a check transaction and they returned the check because it would have caused an overdraft, you still have to pay the fee.

So:
Account balance: $15.00
Check presented: $45.00 - the check is not honored and returned
Overdraft fee: $30.00
Account balance: -$15.00

I switched to a credit union because the large bank I was using had a policy of up to $700.00 in electronic transactions could pass through with a $0.00 balance.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 16, 2007

Rather than refuse a charge that puts you in the red by a couple of bucks, they'll accept it and then hit ya with the overdraft fee. I've paid over $36 for a can of orange juice that put my account eighteen cents in the hole!

No, my point was I was $15 IN THE BLACK when they charged the $30 overdraft fee. I wasn't even in the red. Otherwise, my account would have been more than $30 in the red.

Their fee wasn't justified. I didn't overspend. $15 in the black isn't an overdraft.

If it were a check transaction and they returned the check because it would have caused an overdraft, you still have to pay the fee.

So:
Account balance: $15.00
Check presented: $45.00 - the check is not honored and returned
Overdraft fee: $30.00
Account balance: -$15.00

Except, I don't use checks. Every transaction went through.

Dr Guy

on Mar 16, 2007

Except, I don't use checks. Every transaction went through.

get nasty and fight it. Sometimes I meet deaf ears. Every once in awhile, I actually get satisfaction. But with Banks? I never banked with the precursors of Sun Bank. I wont have anything to do with them to this day. But they screwed me 3 times.

I once related the story to a friend. He was in banking, and worked for them. He told me that the CEO told all the workers "20% of our depositors own 80% of our deposits. Make them happy and ---f the rest.".

See why I like small banks?

just john

on Mar 16, 2007

Except, I don't use checks.

I realized that fatal flaw after I hit submit...

but that way it is actually possible

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 16, 2007

get nasty and fight it.

Oh, yesh, they refunded it (without admitting they were wrong, of course). But I'm still miffed that it happened in the first place. They goofed, plain and simple.

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