I returned stuff to old navy ($62) and then to target ($18) and they always want to return the money to your card. I went and bought something from each store the same day $10 something at old navy and $4 at target. those 2 extra transactions cost me an additional $32 EACH. I know I used my card as a debit card and entered my pin I figured I would get my money put back right away. I checked my online statement it was credited the SAME DAY but I still got an over draft. they say it was charged before I got the credit which wasn't true. both the returns and the new transactions were before 4pm.

I called to complain but I only got one credit of $32. this whole thing messed me up to the tune of $96 after the credit for one of the NSF fees. since I thought I still had money in my account I went and charged 2 more small things.


I have been working so hard to save money since I won't be working much longer and I got mad at my SO for getting a new cell phone.

is there anyway to contest this more? or have I just been screwed by my bank for the last time? I plan on closing my account and going to wescom credit union next weekto open a new account.

Edited to add that I normally keep a low balance in my account and keep enough to cover things I need weekly.

:wah:

Oh, I don't know- but just wanted to let you know that I read your post...
Isn't it frustrating when things like that happen. I hope you can contest it more or find a better bank.

Tawnya

Awww, I am so sorry! Things like that are SO frustrating.

Anyhow, credits can take up to 30 days to appear back in your account I believe. So, I always assume that money won't be back for several days.

I'd go to the branch and ask them to reverse the fees. I have found the branch has more leeway in that sort of thing than the phone bank.

My bank will refund you overdraft fees if they are caused by charges that were later reversed, including when you return things. The idea is that the overdraft was caused by an invalid charge.

if you ask at the store, they will tell you outright that refunds to cards generally take 5-7 business days to process.

has NOTHING to do with YOUR bank and everything to do with the store's bank giving the money back (electronically) to your bank. your bank can't (and won't) put money back into your account until they've received it back.

is it fair, since a debit comes out immediately? no. but it is how it works...i think you did well to get one of the overdrafts refunded since (honestly) it was your not knowing how standard store refund policy works, not your bank's error.

I have had better luck with the bank branch than the online or phone banking as well. And with a debit transaction, you can get cash back. With a credit transaction they have to put it on your card. Get the manager if you have to, but debit IS cash. Don't let them do that to you again.

I am a big advocate of credit unions, so I would switch to one. Even when I have gotten overdrafts from my CU, they are always easily explained and usually my fault. Also, becuase CU's are usually non-profit (at least mine is) they don't do things like wait 24 hours to post things, etc because there is no advantage for them to do so (like getting to charge you extra fees). I can come home from a shopping trip and see that transaction on my online statement, or in the "pending transactions" section. And it is ALWAYS posted with in 48 hours... usually checks too. They are super fast and super reliable. I say switch...

Go to your local branch and they may help you. I always make people give me cash when I return something I bought on a debit because of this. Since I paid with a debit (automatic) then I don't want to have to wait several days for my money (like a credit card). I am sorry this happened we are having to argue with amsouth over fees for a non authorized w/d on our account. They are a major pain.

Another suggestion - when you open the checking, open a linked savings w/overdraft protection and keep like $200 or so in it. It only costs $3 then anytime you get into a situation with overdraft. It's saved my a$$ several times on just those types of situations, something random didn't get credited back and something else went through in the meantime!

what is really getting to me is that the money was actually credited to the account the same day. I had a savings account but I just closed it. my bank actually charges about $26 rather then the normal NSF fee of $32. granted it's a little bit of savings. I have been planning on closing this account for a while now. I have been with them for about 8 years (only 6 NSF in that time including the new ones) and they always place a hold on my paychecks even after I have been putting them in every 1st and 16th of the month for the last 5 months. they won't even let me cash them and get some of the money back.

the credit union my SO is at totally rocks they know us by name even. service is excellent and benefits are as well. I only put it off is because I would have to go out of my way after work to put my check in. I take the bus home and rush hour on the street where the bank is sucks.

We use 2 local home-town banks, and the tellers know us by name. We haven't ever had any problems with them on anything. Do you have any good local banks (IE: not nation- or state-wide)?

Overdraft fees suck big time.

Here in England they recently made them illegal (though the bankers lobby is pushing to have them reinstated.) They say that in effect they are over approved interest rate loans without fair terms of repayment. They are allowing customers to go back 2 years a recoup overdraft fees. Very cool, IMO. :) But what is not cool is that the new rules were not widely publicized so banks are actually still charging them and then forcing customers to write appeals to get the money back. Many people don't have any idea that they are not supposed to be charged so they don't ask for it back. The BBC did a story recently though and linked to the details on how to request your money back. I forwarded it to everyone I know here just to be sure they are aware of it. Hopefully the banks won't be succesful in overturning the rules, but they will likely start to charge service fees on regular consumer accounts to offset their profit losses. That sucks, but then again I come from the US where it was getting harder and harder to find a truly free checking account so it seems like old-hat to me. Personally I would rather pay a nominal fee each month and not be charged if we accidently overdraw. We did get a few charges once and our bank charged us 50 pounds each! (That is apprx like being charged $100 !!!! ) You can rest assured we wrote and got it refunded asap after learning the new rules!


but yeah.... overdraft fees suck.

that happened to me this month. It was insane... I was in a really bad state of mind with Chloe's health issues and then I saw that I had $150 in overdraft charges. I called and argued and argued and argued adn they STILL insisted it was my fault (I had a deposit and withdrawals on the same day, my running balance shows I had $932 that day-my deposit was only $300 ) and they STILL charged me 4 overdraft charges for less than $80 worth of checks... it was insane. They refunded 2 of the charges "met me half way" in their words, and I am taking my business from them as soon as my car insurance clears this month. Gonna find me a good ol fashioned credit union. And maybe I will go work for them when the kids go to school ;) Iw as a good teller ;)

Come to WSECU... they are great. I have only ever had to pay for fees that I knew were my fault... and I probobly could have gotten those back too... but I KNEW it was my fault... you know? So come to WSECU... I will gladly keep my buisness there for the rest of my days (their on line banking is WONDERFUL too... and only $4.95 per month for as many bills as you want.)

Val