Bank Trying to Rob Me

Relentless pricks. I had a similar fee show up on my online banking like a month ago. Apparently if you purchase movie tickets with fandango online it automatically signs you up for some site that offers discounts on various services but really does nothing but fucks you out of like 12 bucks. And I got no email notices that the service began. I had to google the name to figure out wtf it even was. So gay. Sorry dude. I feel your pain.

banks are bullshit

thievin' bastards

i just paid $150 for my credit card annual fee wtf thats pricey

This used to happen to my parents accounts and mine a while ago too. They simply threatened to switch banks... never happened again.

On August 20 2009 23:11 Baal wrote: i just paid $150 for my credit card annual fee wtf thats pricey

that's about normal. i'm thinking of switching from my non-fee cc to one like yours, due to air miles alone. i spend a bunch on my cc (and pay it back every month usually) so it'll be worth it.

I noticed Chase was charging me the same thing a few months ago. When I called and questioned them about they claimed it was a monthly " account maintenance fee". Not to mention they doubled my APR and when I refused to agree they threatened to close my account!

Banks lately seem to give a shit less about keeping customers

lol 1$

K2, you are going about this all wrong.

yeah the bank is wasting your time and hitting you with these fees but your goal should be to get a fair deal and the fact that you are getting all worked up will not help you at all. the goal is simple here, to get the fees to stop and to get a refund of the fees already charged. your letter is written in a way that it gives you just about the worst possible chance of that happening.

what you wrote in your letter reflects a thought process that is common in that people treat the bank as a person. You say things like "When you ask someone" and the fact is that the bank is not a "someone". It is a corporation and has a system and that system is out to maximize profits and will often make mistakes along the way. But like it or not, most of us will need the services of a bank and the smart consumer does what is necessary to ensure that the system works best for him.

The first line of communication will most likely be an entry level customer service associate. Yeah they are supposed to represent the bank but the reality is they are also human beings with biases and emotions. Your best bet for them to help you to the best of their ability is for you to have them empathize with you. Show them that you are a nice guy that can't afford these fees and you are being treated unfairly but that you also will not tolerate being walked over and that you will take your business elsewhere if the problem is not solved. Customer service will do a better job for you if you do it that way rather than blaming the person for the faults of the system.

I just want to say that from presonal experience, 99% of the time where fees are being charged, it is actually a legitimate charge according to the terms and conditions of the bank. The fault almost always goes to a bank employee for either misrepresenting things or not explaining how to avoid the fees, or to the customer for ignoring what they were told. You might be charged fees if your balance falls below a certain level or if you do not have direct deposit or countless other triggers. The first reaction to the charge should not be to anger but rather to ask why you were charged in the first place and to find a solution to it. You may need to change to a different type of account or you might even need to change banks altogether.

I worked my way up from the front desk at the bank to manager to a private banker dealing with high net worth individuals. At the risk of sounding biased, it was really an interesting experience dealing with people from various backgrounds and many generalizations held true. The rich successful guy, when he had a problem, would respectfully inquire about why the problem was happening and how to fix it. If there was a bank error, it would be fixed and if it was something that he did wrong that caused the problem, he would correct it. Bottom line is that the problem gets solved and the system works very well for a guy like that.

On the other end of the spectrum, you would have some high school dropout 18 year old working @ starbucks making 200 a week and they would be overdrafting like crazy and paying fees left and right. She would scream and shout, berating the bank staff and demanding a refund. She didn't even bother to consider that many of the fees would be waived had she gotten direct deposit rather than waiting in line to deposit her check every week or if she didnt bounce checks. No one particularly cared to help her since she was so abusive so she didn't get the fees refunded and she ended up closing her account with a negative balance sent to collections and a strike against her credit record. There are so many cases of people that can't get the system to work for them and they end up paying exorbitant fees at check cashing stores to perform simple financial transactions. Their credit score is also poor as a result and they end up paying more for a wide range of products from car insurance to mortgage interest.

K2, I'm not trying to compare u to the starbucks girl so I hope you don't take offense. I'm just trying to illustrate a general point regarding dealing with systems and getting it to work for you. Regarding your specific situation, I'm 99% sure that the charge is "legit" in that it is stated somewhere. The problem most likely is that something is not linked properly or some other technicality and no bank employee that you've spoken with has been able to troubleshoot the account effectively to determine the cause of the fees. I can assure you though that if it is happening repeatedly, it is not some random thing they threw in there and there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

private banking is legit

ugh double post
friggin lag

"I just want to say that from presonal experience, 99% of the time where fees are being charged, it is actually a legitimate charge according to the terms and conditions of the bank. The fault almost always goes to a bank employee for either misrepresenting things or not explaining how to avoid the fees, or to the customer for ignoring what they were told. You might be charged fees if your balance falls below a certain level or if you do not have direct deposit or countless other triggers. The first reaction to the charge should not be to anger but rather to ask why you were charged in the first place and to find a solution to it. You may need to change to a different type of account or you might even need to change banks altogether."
word


Only thing I could think to add to that is don't think the first people you talk to within a corporation is customer service - especially when calling or emailing in.
Think of it more as a first line of defense of strong mentality types that can handle against the type of people tenbagger just described who won't break down or cause a bigger problem.

For most basic and simple problems these "filters" usually have the capability to help tell you and correct the error but if you have been here before with them or you know what the issue is and want something done, it's often best to just skip past them and start going up the ranks until you find who is capable or allowed to help you

so from the sound of it here, the only other thing besides what TB said is you aren't talking to the correct people

On August 21 2009 00:55 TenBagger wrote: K2, you are going about this all wrong. yeah the bank is wasting your time and hitting you with these fees but your goal should be to get a fair deal and the fact that you are getting all worked up will not help you at all. the goal is simple here, to get the fees to stop and to get a refund of the fees already charged. your letter is written in a way that it gives you just about the worst possible chance of that happening. what you wrote in your letter reflects a thought process that is common in that people treat the bank as a person. You say things like "When you ask someone" and the fact is that the bank is not a "someone". It is a corporation and has a system and that system is out to maximize profits and will often make mistakes along the way. But like it or not, most of us will need the services of a bank and the smart consumer does what is necessary to ensure that the system works best for him. The first line of communication will most likely be an entry level customer service associate. Yeah they are supposed to represent the bank but the reality is they are also human beings with biases and emotions. Your best bet for them to help you to the best of their ability is for you to have them empathize with you. Show them that you are a nice guy that can't afford these fees and you are being treated unfairly but that you also will not tolerate being walked over and that you will take your business elsewhere if the problem is not solved. Customer service will do a better job for you if you do it that way rather than blaming the person for the faults of the system. I just want to say that from presonal experience, 99% of the time where fees are being charged, it is actually a legitimate charge according to the terms and conditions of the bank. The fault almost always goes to a bank employee for either misrepresenting things or not explaining how to avoid the fees, or to the customer for ignoring what they were told. You might be charged fees if your balance falls below a certain level or if you do not have direct deposit or countless other triggers. The first reaction to the charge should not be to anger but rather to ask why you were charged in the first place and to find a solution to it. You may need to change to a different type of account or you might even need to change banks altogether. I worked my way up from the front desk at the bank to manager to a private banker dealing with high net worth individuals. At the risk of sounding biased, it was really an interesting experience dealing with people from various backgrounds and many generalizations held true. The rich successful guy, when he had a problem, would respectfully inquire about why the problem was happening and how to fix it. If there was a bank error, it would be fixed and if it was something that he did wrong that caused the problem, he would correct it. Bottom line is that the problem gets solved and the system works very well for a guy like that. On the other end of the spectrum, you would have some high school dropout 18 year old working @ starbucks making 200 a week and they would be overdrafting like crazy and paying fees left and right. She would scream and shout, berating the bank staff and demanding a refund. She didn't even bother to consider that many of the fees would be waived had she gotten direct deposit rather than waiting in line to deposit her check every week or if she didnt bounce checks. No one particularly cared to help her since she was so abusive so she didn't get the fees refunded and she ended up closing her account with a negative balance sent to collections and a strike against her credit record. There are so many cases of people that can't get the system to work for them and they end up paying exorbitant fees at check cashing stores to perform simple financial transactions. Their credit score is also poor as a result and they end up paying more for a wide range of products from car insurance to mortgage interest. K2, I'm not trying to compare u to the starbucks girl so I hope you don't take offense. I'm just trying to illustrate a general point regarding dealing with systems and getting it to work for you. Regarding your specific situation, I'm 99% sure that the charge is "legit" in that it is stated somewhere. The problem most likely is that something is not linked properly or some other technicality and no bank employee that you've spoken with has been able to troubleshoot the account effectively to determine the cause of the fees. I can assure you though that if it is happening repeatedly, it is not some random thing they threw in there and there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

Did you even read his post? First of all he does not sound angry at all to me. Just annoyed that it is continually happening. Secondly if the fee was legit why would every time prior to him complaining would they issue an apology and refund his $1? Also if it has happened 5 times during this year, then indeed it is pretty fucking random (it's not even monthly and he never uses the card). Banks do this shit all the time. I'm amazed that his email was as cordial as it was.

TenBagger already answered that and I would be willing to bet that it's either because k2 didn't read the fine print for his account or he isn't getting the correct change done when he talks to "customer service"
if it's c and it's because his bank is indeed trying to screw him over, then as TB said he needs to withdraw his monies and relocate business

however, if everyone they screwed over did this, the bank would have no money to play with and then we might need another bailout -.-

[edit]
^was a joke btw

On August 20 2009 22:35 asdf2000 wrote: banks are bullshit

+1

has happened to me alot, and alot of other BS charges

On August 21 2009 02:27 Funktion wrote: Show nested quote + On August 21 2009 00:55 TenBagger wrote: K2, you are going about this all wrong. yeah the bank is wasting your time and hitting you with these fees but your goal should be to get a fair deal and the fact that you are getting all worked up will not help you at all. the goal is simple here, to get the fees to stop and to get a refund of the fees already charged. your letter is written in a way that it gives you just about the worst possible chance of that happening. what you wrote in your letter reflects a thought process that is common in that people treat the bank as a person. You say things like "When you ask someone" and the fact is that the bank is not a "someone". It is a corporation and has a system and that system is out to maximize profits and will often make mistakes along the way. But like it or not, most of us will need the services of a bank and the smart consumer does what is necessary to ensure that the system works best for him. The first line of communication will most likely be an entry level customer service associate. Yeah they are supposed to represent the bank but the reality is they are also human beings with biases and emotions. Your best bet for them to help you to the best of their ability is for you to have them empathize with you. Show them that you are a nice guy that can't afford these fees and you are being treated unfairly but that you also will not tolerate being walked over and that you will take your business elsewhere if the problem is not solved. Customer service will do a better job for you if you do it that way rather than blaming the person for the faults of the system. I just want to say that from presonal experience, 99% of the time where fees are being charged, it is actually a legitimate charge according to the terms and conditions of the bank. The fault almost always goes to a bank employee for either misrepresenting things or not explaining how to avoid the fees, or to the customer for ignoring what they were told. You might be charged fees if your balance falls below a certain level or if you do not have direct deposit or countless other triggers. The first reaction to the charge should not be to anger but rather to ask why you were charged in the first place and to find a solution to it. You may need to change to a different type of account or you might even need to change banks altogether. I worked my way up from the front desk at the bank to manager to a private banker dealing with high net worth individuals. At the risk of sounding biased, it was really an interesting experience dealing with people from various backgrounds and many generalizations held true. The rich successful guy, when he had a problem, would respectfully inquire about why the problem was happening and how to fix it. If there was a bank error, it would be fixed and if it was something that he did wrong that caused the problem, he would correct it. Bottom line is that the problem gets solved and the system works very well for a guy like that. On the other end of the spectrum, you would have some high school dropout 18 year old working @ starbucks making 200 a week and they would be overdrafting like crazy and paying fees left and right. She would scream and shout, berating the bank staff and demanding a refund. She didn't even bother to consider that many of the fees would be waived had she gotten direct deposit rather than waiting in line to deposit her check every week or if she didnt bounce checks. No one particularly cared to help her since she was so abusive so she didn't get the fees refunded and she ended up closing her account with a negative balance sent to collections and a strike against her credit record. There are so many cases of people that can't get the system to work for them and they end up paying exorbitant fees at check cashing stores to perform simple financial transactions. Their credit score is also poor as a result and they end up paying more for a wide range of products from car insurance to mortgage interest. K2, I'm not trying to compare u to the starbucks girl so I hope you don't take offense. I'm just trying to illustrate a general point regarding dealing with systems and getting it to work for you. Regarding your specific situation, I'm 99% sure that the charge is "legit" in that it is stated somewhere. The problem most likely is that something is not linked properly or some other technicality and no bank employee that you've spoken with has been able to troubleshoot the account effectively to determine the cause of the fees. I can assure you though that if it is happening repeatedly, it is not some random thing they threw in there and there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed. Did you even read his post? First of all he does not sound angry at all to me. Just annoyed that it is continually happening. Secondly if the fee was legit why would every time prior to him complaining would they issue an apology and refund his $1? Also if it has happened 5 times during this year, then indeed it is pretty fucking random (it's not even monthly and he never uses the card). Banks do this shit all the time. I'm amazed that his email was as cordial as it was.

Did you even read my post? I'm not debating the fact that he has a right to be annoyed and angry. I'm just saying the way the letter is written is not effective and the fact that this has happened so many times already is indicative of the fact that the problem is not getting solved. The shit that happens all the time is bank employees setting people incorrectly so that they get the charges and a customer comes in to resolve an issue and a bank employee doesn't do it properly. Especially with bank accounts and not credit cards, it is rarely a fee out of the blue. Obviously the bank is out to profit but I can tell you from experience that a large percentage of unexpected fees are due to bank employee ignorance/incompetence.

My whole point is to resolve the situation, best course of action is to ask why you were charged in a calm manner and work from there. If you go there angry demanding a refund, the root of the problem never gets addressed and the razzled underqualified customer service person will say sorry or whatever it takes to make you leave and you get hit with the charges again next month. Again, I'm not saying the system is effective or good, but there is a way to work it to your advantage. K2 obviously chose this bank for a reason, most likely due to proximity of branch and to take a fuck you I'm leaving attitude without trying to make their system work for you is only to your disadvantage. Worse yet, taking a fuck you to banks altogether and resorting to check cashing places ultiamtely fucks you even worse. All I'm saying is that there is a method to the madness and working the system will produce a lifetime's worth of benefits.

At the risk of sounding like I'm trynig to defend the banks (which I'm not), just want to tell everyone here that most of the BS charges that you were hit with could have been avoided with greater diligence from your end. In a perfect world, the bank would be an honest generous place and make it easy for everyone. In the real world, they are not, and your bank is the center of your financial picture so take some time to try and understand it. Again, the banks often make it confusing, but it is not rocket science and just a little bit of effort will eliminate most of the fees and you will be able to make better use of the bank to serve your needs.

lol tenbagger =)

I actually overall agree with you. Every message I've sent till this one took the route that you suggested, the very kind, polite, tone that asked why I was charged and worked it out. One time they said it was some sort of account protection thing and I said I didn't want it so they said they'd cancel it. Another time it was like some sort of annual fee but the guy at the bank told me there were no annual fees, so they refunded it. Another time the guy couldn't even explain it so they gave me the money back.

And I literally cut that credit card up, so it's not like I'm using it for shit and then not paying it back. I keep that balance at 0 and the only time it goes over is when I have an overdraft, which I agree is my fault. I had an overdraft like 1 month ago and immediately paid the CC off, and now 1 month later there's a 1 dollar fee. Not sure how that could be connected.

As for the tone of this letter, I thought it would probably make the customer service guy laugh. I know I would if I got that message.

Anyway, end result is I got my monies:

Dear Brett, We appreciate this opportunity to assist you with your inquiry regarding the finance charge recently billed to your account. We have credited your account $1.00 in finance charges. You will see this adjustment on your next billing statement. If your previous balance was zero, and you pay your account in full by the due date on your statement, there is no finance charge for purchases. If you do not pay your balance in full, finance charges will accrue beginning on the first day of the billing cycle until we receive the payment in full. These are referred to as "residual finance charges." Residual finance charges are assessed on the purchase balance that was on the account between the date the account cycled, and the date the payment in full was received. The minimum finance charge that may be assessed is $1.00. If you have any further questions, please reply using the Secure Message Center. Thank you, Lovina Fernandes E-mail Customer Service Representative