I'm a Special Snowflake!

[AtDIelement]

Had a customer call up and talk to one of my employees... I managed to sneak out for a cigarette in the hope that he would handle the whole thing. I was wrong.

Me: This is AtDI, how can I help you?
SC: Yeah, I wrote a check for $300,000 and you guys bounced it because I was $5,000 short! I have the money in my other account, why didn't you call me and then just let the check clear?
Me: Well, we don't really have any kind of system that tells us when anyone overdraws their account, the computer takes care of them all.
SC: Well, that's awful customer service, what are you going to do to keep me from coming down there and closing my accounts right now?! I have alot of money with you guys and you should be bending over backwards for me!
Me: Like I said, we have no control over it, if we did I would be able to help you out. But other than that, I can return your overdraft fee.
SC: Well, if that's the LEAST you can do.
Me: I can also have my manager call you tomorrow, he has left for the day.
SC: You better have him call me, oh, and he can't call me before 3:00, as I have a *snotty tone* very important meeting before that.
Me: Will do. Have a great day.
SC: I'm not do- *click*
Me: Oops.

Sigh, I hate dealing with other people's money sometimes.

[searssoulslave]

I can understand her annoyance if she had been intelligent enough to set up overdraft protection on her account and that system failed to prevent a bounced check. But getting upset because the money wasn't in there is pointless. I had a customer at the bank I used to work at who acted like that ALL the time. He had like over a million dollars with us but my god did I hate dealing with him. Biggest EW ever and the best part is the guy looked like he lived in a trailer park.

[iradney]

If you write a check for amount X, and you have amount X - Y in your account, isn't that illegal? Surely one would think that one would ensure one has enough money in one's account cover one's check...
Oh wait...Sorry, I was living in my fantasy world for a second there

[cinema guy]

If you write a check for amount X, and you have amount X - Y in your account, isn't that illegal?

Not in the UK. In fact the banks will allow it (to a certain level) and then levy a hefty charge for the priviledge.

[ZedOmega]

If you write a check for amount X, and you have amount X - Y in your account, isn't that illegal? Surely one would think that one would ensure one has enough money in one's account cover one's check...
Oh wait...Sorry, I was living in my fantasy world for a second there

For that much of an overdraft, that guy may have a warrant for fraud with his name on it by now. Of course, that's just the In A Perfect World (say those four words in the voice of the late Don LaFontaine for extra awesome) in me speaking up. Plus, I don't have a clue what check-related fraud laws are up there.

[EricKei]

If you write a check for amount X, and you have amount X - Y in your account, isn't that illegal?

In the US, at least, yes. It's called "Kiting a check". One can avoid the problem by doing what others have suggested -- by setting up Overdraft Protection such that any overage gets pulled from a secondary account automatically (they usually still get a fee tacked on...this fee is called something other than "NSF Fee", but it usually just happens to cost the sane as an NSF Fee >_> ($29 at my bank). If this lady woman failed to prepare, that's her problem.

[Estil]

If you write a check for amount X, and you have amount X - Y in your account, isn't that illegal? Surely one would think that one would ensure one has enough money in one's account cover one's check...
Oh wait...Sorry, I was living in my fantasy world for a second there

I think that's only if you do it on purpose.

[chainedbarista]

did she say at any time, "how can i be overdrawn? i still have checks..."

special stupid; she's short and it's your fault how, exactly?

oh, you'll take your account elsewhere? please come in *right now* and i'll personally help you out *of my hair permanently*.

[Darkforge]

SC: Yeah, I wrote a check for $300,000 and you guys bounced it because I was $5,000 short! I have the money in my other account, why didn't you call me and then just let the check clear?

Why didn't you write a check for $295,000 and another one from your other account for $5000?

[houdini]

Why didn't you write a check for $295,000 and another one from your other account for $5000?

That would be the logical course of action. However, this also means you are expecting a customer to think logically and do something sensible...excuse me while I laugh hysterically in the corner for a moment.

[Seriously?]

When you do it on purpose, I think the actual criminal charge (at least in the US) is something like Negotiating with a Non-Negotiable Instrument...fun facts like these come from having a mother who does bail bonding...

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

SC: Well, that's awful customer service, what are you going to do to keep me from coming down there and closing my accounts right now?!

Not a goddamned thing. In fact I'd sacrifice small furry animals to Pagan gods asking them to encourage you to do so in the hope that you'll never darken my path ever again.