I was an SC

[friendofjimmyk]

I called my bank first thing the other morning and the conversation started out nicely, however, I ruined it.

Now, I could blame the fact that I called the bank first thing in the morning, before I even got out of bed or even had my first cup of coffee, however, there was no excuse.

Last Friday, I noticed that something was pending in my checking account that was going to overdraw me. I called the bank, I asked some guy, wish I would've gotten his name, that if I transfered funds into the account right now, will that stop the overdraft. He said, "Yes, if you transfer funds right now, there will be no overdraft charges." So, I did. I went online, transferred the funds and it showed on my side - THE SCREEN I WAS LOOKING AT - that my checking account was now at X balance and there will be no negative balance. Whew...close...I was bit upset with myself that I allowed something to overdraw me, I am trying to be Miss Polly Perfect Banker these days.

Monday night, I checked my balance online and saw three overdraft charges pending. What? I figured that I'd call the next morning and figure out what the heck happened.

So, I did. First thing in the morning, without even getting out of bed, I rolled over and picked up the phone and called.

I was told that my transfer did not actually go through until the 26th (not on the 22nd as it had shown on my side) I asked how this was possible as I had made the transfer on the 22nd and it showed online that I had successfully transferred the funds ON the 22nd and before the transactions that were going to over draw me posted.

I was told that the transfer didn't take place until the 26th and that their side is "true and accurate" and that what I see is not.



I became very angry. I told the lady that I spoke to someone the day I made the transfer and they were looking at my account and they said that if I made the transfer that day, it would be okay.

Again, she told me that their side is "true and accurate" and the transfer didn't post and she apologized for the misinformation.

Yeah, misinformation that is now costing me $60!!!!!!

Here's where my suckiness came in - I again stated to her what I was told and then I asked, "so if my side isn't "true and accurate" that means I'm fucked!" and I excused myself for language as I realized that cursing at her was not going to help matters, but I was mad! MAD I tell you!

I stopped my inquisition with her and said, "Get me a supervisor"

After holding for what seemed like an eternity, she politely came on the phone and told me that one wasn't available and she could take a message and they'd call me back. I told her no, that wouldn't be necessary, I'd just take my complaint into a branch - (that way no supervisor could tell me they aren't there when they really just don't want to deal with me.)

I still haven't taken my complaint in. I figured I messed up and I need to be more diligent with my banking.

Coincidentally, the stupid transaction that was over drawing me was withdrawn my the vendor. I use ProActive skin care system and for some stupid reason, they run a charge through once and it won't post and then they run the actual charge through at a later date. The first charge overdrew me and then it DIDN'T EVEN POST!

[Anthony K. S.]

I have one question.

From the moment that you discovered that your checking account was going to be overdrawn, was there ANY possible way to prevent the overdraft?

It seems fairly clear now that transferring additional funds into the account immediately was not, in fact, going to do the trick . . . So was there anything else that could have been done?


If there was, then you obviously have a legitimate reason to be angry at the misinformation you were given. Had they correctly informed you that transferring money into the account that day wasn't going to work, you surely would have taken other actions to prevent the overdraft.

But you didn't, because of their misinformation, and thus missed your chance to do so.

So, in that case, I would say that you have a legitimate reason to be angry . . . Although this does NOT, in any way, excuse you for being an SC to the luckless representative who had to deal with you. None of this had been her fault, after all, and she certainly didn't deserve to bear the brunt of your frustration.


However . . . If there was not, in fact, any way to prevent the overdraft from happening, then I really don't see what harm was caused by the misinformation.

Oh, yes, it is pretty messed up that the information you get when you access your account online is not "true and accurate." I totally agree with your "WTF?" about that. And they need to remedy that, ASAP.

I also agree that it's very disappointing (and extremely annoying) to be told that you can prevent something bad from happening, only to find out later that you really couldn't.

But as far as the overdraft itself goes . . .

Suppose that the first person you spoke to had correctly informed you that there was no way to prevent the overdraft from happening.

What, then?

I presume you would have been disappointed, but accepted what he was telling you and left the matter as it was.

You certainly wouldn't have wound up feeling as disappointed or as angry as you did . . . But from a "dollars and cents" point of view, how would this have been any different from the situation as it is now?

Either way, you would have still wound up paying the overdraft fees.

Now, the main reason I am addressing this point is because of this rather curious statement :

Originally posted by friendofjimmyk:

Yeah, misinformation that is now costing me $60!!!!!!

The only way that this statement would be accurate is if there had been some other way (apart from transferring additional money into your account that day) to prevent the overdraft.

As I said above, if that was the case, then yes, you have legitimate grounds to be angry at the misinformation.

But if it wasn't . . . Then the misinformation was NOT costing you that money.

The first representative you spoke to gave you incorrect information, and you are right to be annoyed about that, but it is not accurate to say that his mistake cost you $60. You would have had to pay that fee in any event.

You said it yourself :

Originally posted by friendofjimmyk:

"I was bit upset with myself that I allowed something to overdraw me, I am trying to be Miss Polly Perfect Banker these days."

"I figured I messed up and I need to be more diligent with my banking."

You have the right to be upset at the first representative for giving you incorrect information, but the $60 fee was not his fault.

[Sacknahalf05]

You know, this may sound SC'ish of me, but if you've already started out being an sc with them, go all out. Go into the bank and talk to someone, see if you can't get those charges waived. I mean, if they can't be troubled to make sure their representatives are giving correct info to their customers, then why should you be troubled to pay any overdraft fees?

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but my money is one thing I don't take to being messed with

[Anthony K. S.]

Originally posted by Sacknahalf05:

". . . if you've already started out being an sc with them, go all out."

Well, this is just my humble opinion, of course, but . . .

If you've already done something wrong, then I don't think that compounding your offense is really the way to go.

Originally posted by Sacknahalf05:[/I]

"Go into the bank and talk to someone, see if you can't get those charges waived."

Now, I would actually agree that the OP should do this . . . but ONLY if there actually exists some alternative means (apart from transferring additional money into the OP's checking account, which was clearly never going to work) of preventing the overdraft.

(Before I replied to this thread, I actually did try to think of some such alternative means . . . and I couldn't come up with any. But I don't presume to think that one cannot exist, just because I couldn't think of it.

Which led to my asking the question . . . Was there one?)

As I said in my previous post, if there WAS, in fact, some other way of preventing it, then the OP certainly has legitimate reason to be angry about the misinformation she was given.

Furthermore, if that is the case, then she does, indeed, have grounds to argue that the overdraft fees should be waived.

It may not have been the bank's fault that she inadvertently overdrew her account, but it WAS the bank representative's failure to provide accurate information that resulted in her missing her chance to correct the situation.


But . . . If no such alternative means existed, then, in my opinion, the OP has no grounds for asking that the overdraft fees be waived.

It all goes back to what I said in my original post . . .

If there was no way to prevent the overdraft in the first place (from the time that the OP realized it was going to happen), then the bank representative's misinformation had no effect on the outcome.

At least, not in terms of dollars and cents. The OP would, in this situation, have wound up paying the overdraft fees in any event, whether the representative she spoke to had given her the correct information or not.

It did, of course, have an emotional effect, in that the OP wound up feeling far more disappointed, frustrated, and upset than she would have if she had been informed up front that there was no way to prevent the overdraft.

But, in my opinion, the proper remedy for that would be an apology (which the OP already received from the second representative she dealt with), and for the supervisor to correct whatever misinformation that the bank representatives had been given.

(And, of course, the bank should also update their website so that it will give their customers accurate information . . . What's the point of having it, otherwise?)

It does not, however, justify expecting the overdraft fees to be waived. As I said before, the OP has every right to be upset at the first representative for giving her incorrect information, but unless there actually does exist an alternative means of preventing the overdraft from happening . . .

The first representative's actions (even including the misinformation he gave the OP), were NOT the cause of the overdraft fees, nor did they contribute in any way to making those fees happen.

They were not his fault, and the bank should not be expected to waive them.

[AFpheonix]

Well, it's always worth a try to ask, but you don't have to be SCish to do it, just go in, explain what happened nicely, and perhaps they can do something for you. Who knows?

[NightAngel]

Okay, so I agree that you were an SC for using harsh language as that is never necessary and usually just makes the other person less likely to help you.

I agree with you also that if you were misinformed there is no reason for you to pay the penalty. You made an attempt in good faith to transfer the funds as the Rep told you to do.

I would also like to point out that everyone on this board is human and therefore has had an SC moment at some time in their lives- or will.

I have, probably more than once- I'll absolutely admit it.

What will define you as being a TRUE SC vs. having a SCish moment is how you handle yourself from this point forward.

Just my

[Anthony K. S.]

Originally posted by NightAngel :

"I agree with you also that if you were misinformed there is no reason for you to pay the penalty. You made an attempt in good faith to transfer the funds as the Rep told you to do."

Transfer the funds . . . as the Rep told her to do . . .

Now, wait a minute, that triggers a thought . . .

The OP tried to transfer money into her account online, because the representative had told her that that would solve the problem . . . It didn't, because the transfer wasn't actually completed until it was too late.

But suppose that she had, instead, gone down to the bank and just deposited enough money, in cash, into her account to cover the pending charges.

Because it was cash, the funds would have been available in her account immediately, and the overdraft would have been prevented . . . Wouldn't it?

And the OP might have done just that, if she had only known that the online transfer wasn't going to work as a solution.

(And, of course, assuming that she had enough money in cash available to her to do this.)

That being the case . . . I would agree that the bank really should waive the overdraft fees.

Please note, I still stand by my original position that if it hadn't been possible to prevent the overdraft in the first place, then the bank should not have been expected to waive the overdraft fees. I do realize that people will disagree with me on this, and I suppose that this will just have to be one of those "agree to disagree" moments.

However, since it seems clear that the overdraft might, indeed, have been prevented if the OP had been given accurate information . . .

Originally posted by NightAngel :

I would also like to point out that everyone on this board is human and therefore has had an SC moment at some time in their lives- or will.

What will define you as being a TRUE SC vs. having a SCish moment is how you handle yourself from this point forward.

This is true. I've had a few SC moments in my life, too.

Friendofjimmyk, I'm sorry if I ever came across as being too harsh or judgmental in any of my posts in this thread. I didn't mean to.

I agree with the posters who advised you to just go to the bank, explain what happened, and see if anything can be done for you here. Good luck.

[Sacknahalf05]

But suppose that she had, instead, gone down to the bank and just deposited enough money, in cash, into her account to cover the pending charges.

Because it was cash, the funds would have been available in her account immediately, and the overdraft would have been prevented . . . Wouldn't it?

This thought had crossed my mind as well. In my bank's case, cash deposits are immediately available. I've had problems with this in the past as well, for example accidentally using my debit card instead of credit card, and making a mad dash to the bank to cover the charge before it goes thru.

Of course, knowing that may have had a different outcome, who knows?

[wagegoth]

FYI, I've noticed that one bank I bank with does not complete online transfers on Fridays. But if I did go in and deposit cash it would be credited that day.

My other bank actually checks to see if money has been transferred in before charging any overdraft fees, even if the transfer was on a Friday.

[friendofjimmyk]

I don't think anyone has been too harsh. I feel a bit ashamed that I allowed my account to get screwed up.

The thing about the transfer is confusing to me. I wanted to transfer funds that were in another checking account into the overdrawn account to cover the transaction that was overdrawing it. This means, the funds are already in the bank - have been for some time - why would that transfer need time to clear - the funds cleared a long time ago from that account.

At any rate, I messed up. The worse thing about the whole ordeal - the merchant that was running the auto withdrawl from the account sent it in for payment - then TOOK IT BACK - the freakin' thing NEVER EVEN WENT PAST THE PENDING STAGE - and I still have to pay for it?!?!?!?! The merchant sent the "real" one through days later at an amount different from the original amount (smaller) that was going to over draw my account - HAD IT POSTED!

Grrr.

I should be more diligent and I should not have used bad language with that representative. I was just angry and took it out on some poor soul on the other end of the phone in a call center.

[wildcatgrrl]

At my bank, I can go in and deposit cash. US currency. Greenbacks. And the deposit won't be credited til midnight that night. But if I do an online transfer from hubby's account to mine, or vice versa, it goes through immediately, both on what I see AND what the bank sees. Weird as all get out.

[Solace]

I work in a bank, and if you explain your side and what happened nicely to the management, they usually will waive the fees. They normally are pretty understanding that their staff makes mistakes and normally side with the member rather than the teller.

Also if you never have had fees refunded before normally a teller or member service rep can refund them for you as well. If your nice lol...

Also, what a weird bank system. Here, if you give us money.. or transfer its all ready to go when you do it (Not considering check holds and other things that are exceptions to that rule.) No waiting till three or midnight. Lol, go get an account at a credit union.. I think you'll be happier.

Also, if I was reading that right, the merchant got you charged a fee on something they didnt go through with? Did they charge it then refund it, or was it pending and declined? Anyways, you might want to talk to the merchant about that since they should refund you if they overdrafted your account when they shouldn't have.

[friendofjimmyk]

Yes, the merchant tried to explain to me once thier crazy way of billing, but I thought that they only meant it was going to be for the one time that I spoke to them about it, but they crazy bill like this always I guess. They put the entire amount through first, then take it back to bill it in separate payments. I thought it was only for the first time, but they did it again. I am about ready to cancel their product...but I love it so much.

[HYHYBT]

This is *exactly* why I only use my debit card at ATMs. Pay cash and the nonsense never starts; pay by credit card and it's only a reduced available credit for a few days, but debit and the money's gone even when it's still there! Will that company take a check?

[SuperDan]

hehe not exactly thread necromancy, this thread is only "mostly dead". Or maybe I shouldn't have let myself get over a month behind on reading this particular board...

Anyway, I've been in the situation before. I bank at the bank that both my sister and mother work for (my mother has been there about fifteen years or so, and has had an office job for most of those years, my sister is in a branch and has been in two over the past year or so), so I do know a bit more of their inner workings than your average customer off the street.

Like you, I immediately did an online transfer to cover the balance. Like you, it didn't post quickly enough to do me any good, and I was hit with two OD fees.

At the particular bank I bank with, online transfers usually take a business day or two. Transfers in the branch will post at the next proof time (which is after the branch closes each business day, weekends go on Monday). The nice thing about this is that pretty much everything else won't post until then either. In-bank checks and in-person withdrawls do, but debit card transactions for instance won't post to your actual balance until proof. A check deposit is usually held until they verify the check is good, although sometimes they don't hold it. Cash deposits in person are always credited to your actual balance immediately.

What did I do to fix this? I went to the Personal Banker on duty at my sister's branch, explained my situation, and asked to set up OD protection. Now if this were ever to happen again, the bank will automatically transfer money from my savings in $50 incriments to cover all posted transactions as of the close of the business day the transfer is made. It also takes a $7 service charge for the transfer (no matter what the size of the transfer), but that's way better than paying $15 per transaction OD fees. At that point I did politely ask the Personal Banker to consult the branch manager about waiving the fees. I wasn't sucky about it, I just reminded him that I thought I had the issue taken care of before it happened, and would J possibly waive the fees (yes I called the manager by the short version of her first name, I guess you probably couldn't get away with that one). J asked the Personal Banker if I did anything to prevent this from happening again and the Personal Banker informed her that I had set up an OD protection link to my savings, and she said yes she would be happy to take care of the fees for me. She knew I was my sister's brother, but I was expecting no special treatment and they will do this once for anyone who asks, provided they set up OD protection on the spot. Everyone makes mistakes and they know it, they're not going to be out to milk out every penny you have over what basically amounts to a learning experience. Do learn from it though.

So don't be afraid to take it to the branch, as long as you aren't an SC at the branch you'll be fine. I'm not sure who you bank with and therefore not sure what their policies are, but the worst they can tell you is no. And for goodness sakes set up some OD protection either way. They can usually set it up to draw from any account you have with that bank... a savings, another checking, even a credit card. It will show them you really mean to be more responsible and it will save you plenty of headache (and money) should this ever happen again.