How NOT To Bank.

[Steppenwolfe]

It's amazing it was still available to claim. Many states only hold them for a few years. Five to seven seem common.

Yeah, I have no idea when it was paid. We moved from SC in 2012, but I didn't sell my house there till late 2013 and then switched DL to VA. So, I assume it got paid sometime after 2014. Who knows??? I was completely shocked...

 

[Looking4new]

Up here the bank wants you to sign one of those stupid little cards (sample signature) then completely ignores that card when someone forges your signature and wont reimburse. That is the main reason why I don't deal with RBC anymore.
The money must have gone into the friendly bank managers' retirement fund.

 

[tallyho8]

A few years ago I went to Chase Bank to deposit some checks from my business. I went to the drive up window as I have been doing the last 20 years and after they got my checks they called me and said there was a problem and asked me to come in the bank and see an officer about it. I replied "I will be right in" and went and parked in the lot and went in. The officer had another customer at his desk and I had to wait 10 minutes for him to see me.

When I asked what the problem was he told me that my checks were not fully filled out. The name of my business was Jefferson Refrigeration Enterprises but my customers always made the checks out to J R Enterprises because the name was too long to fit on the check. He said after 20 years they changed their policy so I would have to go back to my customers and get the new check written out correctly. I said OK, give me my checks back and I will go. He went to the teller to get the checks and she said she sent them back to the drive up window after she told me to come in the bank. No one knew what happened to them so the officer told me I had to go back to my customers and tell them to put a $25 stop payment order on the checks and to write me up a new check. No way. Why should my customers pay for your mistake? I asked him to credit my full deposit and I would go. He replied he could do nothing for me.

At that point I sat by his desk and put my feet up on it and said I'm not leaving until I get my money or the cops throw me out. He phoned the police who arrived in about 15 minutes and they asked me what the problem was and I explained then they went outside searching the area for the checks and found a couple of them in the bushes where evidently the next person in line had dumped them out. They gave me those check back short about $110 and told me all I could do was file a claim in small claims court against the bank and they asked me politely to leave now. I said OK as soon as I cancel out my checking account and savings account at this bank and I will also cancel my 2 Chase credit cards. Then I left.

I had one good customer who had given me the $110 check and who happily wrote me a new check and said they didn't even have to cancel the old one because no one would be able to cash it with the new bank rules.

I now try my best to only use local banks and stay away from the mega giant ones.

 

[ultrarunner]

I got $95.oo worth of gas free that way. Attendant said he wouldn't accept the 100$ bill for $95.oo worth of gas. So I left
with my C note in my pocket. Cops came to my work and asked about it, I told them the whole story and they told the attendant he was on the hook for the 95. bux. Even the legal tender wouldn't budge the clerk.

Wouldn't work here... pre-pay or no gas... no exception and nothing bigger than a $20 and if credit card most only allow max $75 and shut-off... Use card 3 times for gas in same area and card frozen...

 

[ultrarunner]

A few years ago I went to Chase Bank to deposit some checks from my business. I went to the drive up window as I have been doing the last 20 years and after they got my checks they called me and said there was a problem and asked me to come in the bank and see an officer about it. I replied "I will be right in" and went and parked in the lot and went in. The officer had another customer at his desk and I had to wait 10 minutes for him to see me.

When I asked what the problem was he told me that my checks were not fully filled out. The name of my business was Jefferson Refrigeration Enterprises but my customers always made the checks out to J R Enterprises because the name was too long to fit on the check. He said after 20 years they changed their policy so I would have to go back to my customers and get the new check written out correctly. I said OK, give me my checks back and I will go. He went to the teller to get the checks and she said she sent them back to the drive up window after she told me to come in the bank. No one knew what happened to them so the officer told me I had to go back to my customers and tell them to put a $25 stop payment order on the checks and to write me up a new check. No way. Why should my customers pay for your mistake? I asked him to credit my full deposit and I would go. He replied he could do nothing for me.

At that point I sat by his desk and put my feet up on it and said I'm not leaving until I get my money or the cops throw me out. He phoned the police who arrived in about 15 minutes and they asked me what the problem was and I explained then they went outside searching the area for the checks and found a couple of them in the bushes where evidently the next person in line had dumped them out. They gave me those check back short about $110 and told me all I could do was file a claim in small claims court against the bank and they asked me politely to leave now. I said OK as soon as I cancel out my checking account and savings account at this bank and I will also cancel my 2 Chase credit cards. Then I left.

I had one good customer who had given me the $110 check and who happily wrote me a new check and said they didn't even have to cancel the old one because no one would be able to cash it with the new bank rules.

I now try my best to only use local banks and stay away from the mega giant ones.

Lots of changes and guess my age is showing...

Walk in the bank where I have had an account since High School but ownership changed and greeted by name by all and then have to surrender my ID through the plexi to teller for consecutive transactions at the same window and teller said she would be fired without it.

The 6 month manager ask what I expected and I said to stop with the nonsense when everyone knows me and ID already presented.

Manager said they treat everyone the same... no exceptions as anything else would not be fair...

A few days earlier I deposited the sale proceeds from a home and at that moment went back to the window for a bank check for 389k and moved to credit union to wait for escrow on the new house... all I could say is actions have consequences...

 

[MoKelly]

A few years ago I went to Chase Bank to deposit some checks from my business. I went to the drive up window as I have been doing the last 20 years and after they got my checks they called me and said there was a problem and asked me to come in the bank and see an officer about it. I replied "I will be right in" and went and parked in the lot and went in. The officer had another customer at his desk and I had to wait 10 minutes for him to see me.

When I asked what the problem was he told me that my checks were not fully filled out. The name of my business was Jefferson Refrigeration Enterprises but my customers always made the checks out to J R Enterprises because the name was too long to fit on the check. He said after 20 years they changed their policy so I would have to go back to my customers and get the new check written out correctly. I said OK, give me my checks back and I will go. He went to the teller to get the checks and she said she sent them back to the drive up window after she told me to come in the bank. No one knew what happened to them so the officer told me I had to go back to my customers and tell them to put a $25 stop payment order on the checks and to write me up a new check. No way. Why should my customers pay for your mistake? I asked him to credit my full deposit and I would go. He replied he could do nothing for me.

At that point I sat by his desk and put my feet up on it and said I'm not leaving until I get my money or the cops throw me out. He phoned the police who arrived in about 15 minutes and they asked me what the problem was and I explained then they went outside searching the area for the checks and found a couple of them in the bushes where evidently the next person in line had dumped them out. They gave me those check back short about $110 and told me all I could do was file a claim in small claims court against the bank and they asked me politely to leave now. I said OK as soon as I cancel out my checking account and savings account at this bank and I will also cancel my 2 Chase credit cards. Then I left.

I had one good customer who had given me the $110 check and who happily wrote me a new check and said they didn't even have to cancel the old one because no one would be able to cash it with the new bank rules.

I now try my best to only use local banks and stay away from the mega giant ones.

Holy cow. What amazingly poor customer service.

Makes my incident with US Bank seem minor.

Went in the bank to the teller. Asked for my account balance on an IRA. She said she can’t tell me - I have to see an account manager. Really?

OK. So I wait 15 minutes to see an account manager. Ask for my balance. No problem —- but first how about these 5 services we provide? No, I just want the account balance. But we’ll give you the services for free for 90 days! No, I just want the account balance.

Finally, she gives me the amount balance. I ask for a printout. OK but that costs $15. Huh??? You have it on the screen, you have a printer, just print the page. Nope —- $15. I said write it on a piece of paper.

Needless to say, the IRA went to another bank.

Who runs these places?

MoKelly

 

[ultrarunner]

US took over my bank too...

So far not as bad as Wells Fargo

Wells wanted to charge me a fee to cash a check because I happened not to be in the Wells Fargo Branch that had my account.

 

[JethroB]

When I was just starting out I moved to Atlanta to seek my fortune in the mid 80's. No credit history, credit card, nothing. I started shopping for a car and my new Atlanta bank insisted on a co-signer for a $10k loan. I get a call from my former small hometown bank's assistant manager and. She said she'd mail me a check and to stop by to sign the note the next I was in town visiting my family.

 

[two_bit_score]

US took over my bank too...

So far not as bad as Wells Fargo

Wells wanted to charge me a fee to cash a check because I happened not to be in the Wells Fargo Branch that had my account.

That must be the Cali version of WF. The Texas WF banks I’ve used aren’t like that. I’ve cashed checks, made deposits, used notary services, ATM, had photo copies made at different branches in different counties than my WF branch where we opened the account and was never charged anything and always got prompt, polite and professional assistance.

I don’t understand the fee to cash a check at a branch of the same bank where you have an account. Was it a third party check or on your account?

 

[ultrarunner]

It was a deposit check made out to me for a residential Rental and drawn on Wells Fargo.

I don't release keys until funds clear and simply depositing have been burned...

Only way to pull from makers account that moment is to cash...

I did like the WF Stagecoach Credit Cards and used to dine at the Stage Coach grill at WF San Francisco headquarters ..

The branch manager said they are a small branch it would be overwhelmed without charges...

She offered to open or move my account...

 

[two_bit_score]

Seems like they should have been able to work with you on that one.

 

[ultrarunner]

She gave in when I said open a new account but I will close as soon as funds available and then I got the explanation about being a small inner-city branch with limited parking, etc...

 

[3Ts]

I had a business account at a bank with 2 signatures required. The bank got bought out and as part of the changes in the small print was that they were not going to check signatures anymore. If the check was presented it didn't matter if it was even signed, they were going to process it. Essentially, your checkbook was an open door to your account.

 

[ultrarunner]

I wish credit union not so far away as I really like them and they do have the best sweep account...

 

[two_bit_score]

I had a business account at a bank with 2 signatures required. The bank got bought out and as part of the changes in the small print was that they were not going to check signatures anymore. If the check was presented it didn't matter if it was even signed, they were going to process it. Essentially, your checkbook was an open door to your account.

A lot are pushing you to EFT’s as much as possible. It’s convenient sometimes but there are usually good reasons someone wants to require two signatures on checks.

The annual report of the bank holding company I have stock in has a decent amount of info dedicated to on-line banking habits of customers and how they are trying to increase the use of online service use. It’s very interesting. Just for fun I try to drive those metrics up by frequently checking my accounts at random hours.

 

[Looking4new]

About 40 years ago I went into the bank I dealt with to cash my paycheck, when the teller counts out the money to herself I count it to myself. She counted it out to me and I told her that I thought she made a mistake. She told me very clearly that she NEVER made mistakes. I shut up and went home. Got a phone call about 9 P.M., the bank manager saying there was a 'discrepancy' in the books and they have narrowed it down to me. I told him it wasn't me, that my teller NEVER makes mistakes. I kept the extra $20.oo

 

[Frankenkubota]

Not sure who brought up the escheatment issue first, but I owe you a nice steak dinner... Thanks! :drink:

Me tooooo. thx

$110.00 from some insurance rebate!

A long time ago a guy rear ended me and drove off. I got his license and eventually had to sue. Found a lawyer to take it on contingency and won. The guy who hit me had since gone to prison for something else so SOL.

15 years later I receive a letter from the county telling me they have a check for me for the amount I sued for. I had to drive 1000 to get it but worked in a vacation. I assume the guy straightened out and had to clear his credit record?

I tried to find the lawyer to give him his third. He was dead.

There was a guy on late nite radio, Bruce Williams I think? A financial adviser. I called him and asked if i should sue for interest. He thought that was so funny and told me to be happy i got anything, i was. He then asked what I as going to do with the money. I said buy a new bumper to replace the one that was damaged. Mr Williams couldn't believe I had the same car 15 years later, 1968 Catalina convertible, white with red interior, what a car!

 

[riptides]

I just cleared up a banking issue with a major US bank yesterday. The customer service from corporate was backazzwards. I took out a loan about a month ago, and paid it off shortly thereafter. Trying to get an acknowledgement of pay off was like - h o r r i b l e. Their phones don't work, you get two different stories from two different people, they tried to fax information, but could only fax to their local branch, security they say. Guess what never arrived? They finally tried to send the info via eMail, but somehow, the "secure eMail" got cleaned by some content inspection service they use.

All for a simple piece of paper. And one wonders why banks are closing up and merging. A FAX machine? Are you flipping kidding? And re-learn basic customer skills and basic technology.

Rant off....LOL

 

[dougtrr2]

I like my small town bank. At one point I was in every week to deposit my paycheck and get cash. One week the teller and I were talking and swapping money. As we finished up I told her "I think you shorted me a dollar". I wasn't absolutely sure and it wasn't worth making an issue over. But I told her "If you come up a dollar over on your drawer tonite, it's mine". Three days later I got a dollar bill in the mail.

Doug in SW IA

 

[MoKelly]

I like my small town bank. At one point I was in every week to deposit my paycheck and get cash. One week the teller and I were talking and swapping money. As we finished up I told her "I think you shorted me a dollar". I wasn't absolutely sure and it wasn't worth making an issue over. But I told her "If you come up a dollar over on your drawer tonite, it's mine". Three days later I got a dollar bill in the mail.

Doug in SW IA

Nice story. I liked my smaller, home bank as well —- but then they get bought out by Bank Of America last year.

MoKelly