I WANNA STRANGLE MY BANK

longtimecollector

About a month ago, before I opened my store, I opened a new checking/savings accounts for the business at the bank thats located directly across the street. Huge banners welcoming new accounts, advertising "TOTALLY FREE BUSINESS CHECKING", you get the picture......... They present themselves like they'd come over and vacuum my carpet if I asked !!!!!!!!

Today, THEY PI$$ED ME OFF !!!!!!!!!!

I had a gent walk in with some items to sell, and I wrote him a check for $450....... This is also one of the reasons I went with the bank "across the street"........ When someone sells me something, I don't need to have copius amounts of cash on-hand, I figured I could just write a check and point them across the street if they'd rather have cash........... Anyway, back to the story........ I wrote the check for $450 and he decided to go across the street and cash it......... A few minutes later, he's back in the store telling me that the bank wanted $8 to cash his check......... I've heard of banks charging a dollar or two to cash a check if you don't have an account there, but $8 seemed ridiculous to me........... So across the street I went with the older gent in tow........... I asked the teller if she had told the gent that they would charge him $8 to cash the check, and she said "Yes"......... I asked her "Why ???? The check is drawn on YOUR bank"....... Thats our policy she said................ So I figured I'd outmaneuver her........... I told the older gent to endorse the check back to me, and I would cash it there since obviously I DO have an account there........... The teller immediately informed me that they dont accept "third party checks"....... "Not since 9-11"............ What a crock I said............ By now, the gent was almost laughing with me as I struggled to get thru to this teller........ I pulled my debit card associated with this account out of my wallet and asked her to give me $450 out of the account......... "So you want a Cash Advance" she asked.......... NO DAMMIT, I WANNA MAKE A FREAKIN WITHDRAWL, I said............. Her reply was that I should go outside and do that at the ATM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!............... By this time I woulda stuffed a bag of nickels up her nose if I had the chance, but I was trying not to go ballistic........... I walked across the street back to the shop, got a new check, made it out to "CASH" for $450 and presented it to the teller.......... The BIOTCH asked me for ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now mind you, I keep a pretty hefty balance in both accounts, but I wasn't looking for any special treatment......... just common courtesy / decency........... didn't find any at the tellers window today............ Anyways, after FINALLY getting the cash and paying the old-timer, I sat down with the branch manager (BIOTCH #2) and related this entire story to her........... She nodded and smiled and said "I understand" about 40 times, but in the end it was basically a STFU and get out of my office, I've got fingernails to file kinda meeting...............



ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Quoting Napoleon Dynamite...................... "IDIOTS !!!!!!!!!!! AARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH"

ER

Unbelievable! "Third party check".

Coinhusker1

Dump them and open an account with Bank of America. They are friggin everywhere, and they claim to cater to small businesses, depite being a massive behemoth of a bank. At least that's what their ads say!

TWODOGS

I like the B of A. The tellers always smile, are courteous and just fill the bag without screaming.

Bochiman

Jim,

Is this a big bank or a smalltown favorite?
I have a Bank of America that knows me by name (I don't keep more than $500 in both accounts with them) when I go in to get coins.
Now, the Credit Union I have....well, they don't know me by name, everything is majorly procedural there and it is a pain in the butt (and, I keep 5 figures there).

So, I will also say that BofA is a good choice.

Heh...I would go to the regional manager now and relate the story and then let them know I would pull my money out and see if the local news people are interested in this humorous story

PutTogether

B of A USED to drive me nuts. Somewhere along the line, they seemed to have change. The branches near me are full of helpful friendly people. I swear to god, about two years ago I started to think I was lost when I went in there.........so nice.

Their online banking is also top tier.

coppercoins

My accounts are B of A. Nuff said.

MikeInFL

I would have closed the account on the spot, but I might just be having a bad day...Mike

DNADave

Yep, I would have closed the account right there, or a least withdrawn most of the cash and been back later after everything cleared and then closed the account.

Atlantic

I feel your pain,,,,,,I have had the same $h1t with banks here in Florida,,,

TorinoCobra71

Dang! I cant believe you had to go thru all that crap, then the "third Party Check" what joke.......If it was me after all is said and done, time to find another bank.........

TorinoCobra71

From: Lebanon, Indiana: Boone County

MadMarty

I hate to say I told you so!!! Most little dealers keep a stash of cash in the safe for that reason. To only dealer in this area that will issue a check is Harlan Berk, and they do have arrangments with the bank to cash the check.

If your going to buy, you have to have CASH on hand.

IrishMike

No doubt those bankers need to learn some personal skills. As a long time banker, let me point out a couple of things. Banks do not generally cash business checks unless made out to cash and the owner presents it. Let me relate a story as to why. A local company had a bookkeeper who forged the owners name to checks and cashed them. She did this for 14 years and eventually was caught, having taken $30K. The company went after us but lost because they allowed her to balance the statement. You must make some sort of effort to ensure on your end none of your employers commit fraud.

She was prosecuted and rather than spend time in jail killed herself. She left behind a husband and three children.

Banks generally require business checks to be deposited, for instance if you decide to put a stop payment on it or the guy stole your check they can recover the funds from the deposting bank. Secondly why would you not expect them to ask for ID? What if someone stole one of your checks and tried to cash it and they didn't ask for ID? I would bet that you would be across the street in a flash questioning how could they be so stupid.

When ever you open any kind of account at a bank you need to ask what the fees are for transactions, NSF's etc. Don't expect any bank to cash your business check written out to another party, generally they won't if the customer does not bank there.

Edited to add: I have also seen business checks with the amount altered also, i.e. to $1450

quarterguy

WOW....what a story!

A third party check when only 2 people were invovled?

When I first moved to Florida from the Midwest I opened an account in my name only. A few weeks later I deposited a dividend check in the ATM. (if you use the teller for deposits they charge a $2.00 teller fee, something I have never heard of)

The huge dividend check ( $ .29 ) was made out to both me and my wife. A week later they mailed me the check back with a letter stating that my wife was not on the account I tried to deposit the check in and I would have to bring her to the bank with me in order to deposit it in my account. They are worried about a $ .29 check going bad?????

This never happened to me in the Midwest, even with checks of large amounts. When living in the Midwest I used to cash my son's paycheck for him from time to time. He would just sign the back of the check and I would deposit it in my account. Here in Florida, they will only do it if I take him to the bank.

Banks in South Florida have there own sets of rules. You would think that all banks would be required to have the same rules, but not true.

I could go on and on with bank horror stories but I just have one here, a true cluster ____.

I am a Real Estate Broker and often deposit commission checks into my business account. The last one I had, I deposited in person to a teller. I always just endorse the back of the check with "for deposit only" as the checks are made out to my business name. The teller tells me they have new rules and I must sign my name to the back of the check instead, which I did. Within 2 days the deposit shows as funds available on my account. Everything is cool at this point.

About 10 days later they subtract the check amount from my avaiable funds and show it as "on hold" I call the bank and ask why. They tell me the bank the check was drawn on refused to honor the check. I ask why. They say they do not know. I ask where the check is. They say they sent back to the issuing bank again. I ask why would you do that, they didn't cash it the first time they surely will not cash it this time. They say that this is a special feature I have with my business account. I say I was never told about this and didn't want their special feature, don't do it again. They assure me they won't.

I called the bank the next day to inquire again on the status of the check. They told me that after the issuing bank refused to cash the check the first time they mailed the check to me and since they mailed it to me 3 days ago I should have it, I don't. I ask why I was told yesterday that it was sent back to the issuing bank for cashing. They say they don't know but it is in the mail to me.

I wait a couple days more and call back. They say the issuing bank has refused to cash it a second time and that they returned it a third time for cashing with there guarantee. If it is a bad check my bank will cover it. I ask why I was told it was in the mail to me. They say they don't know. I ask why they sent back to them again when I was assured they won't. They say they don't know.

I few more days go by and I call again. They say the issuing bank refused to cash the check the 3rd time. I ask where is the check? They say it is being returned to my bank, then they will mail it to me. 3 days later I call and ask where's the check. They say they don't know. They should of had it back by now. I call again 3 days later and told the same thing.

At this point I call the attorney who wrote me the check and tell them the check is lost, stop payment on this check and give me another one. They say OK but it will take 3 days more then I can come get the new check. 3 days later I noticed that my account shows the deposit as off hold and the funds are available in my account.

I call the bank and ask what the hell. They say everything is OK, the check has been cashed and I have the money. I ask what the hell. They say the reason the issuing bank would not cash the check was because I signed my name to the back of the check and the check was made out to a business name. Excatly what the teller told me to do, according to their new rules.

I know I left out many other calls I made to the bank during this 3 to 4 week period. The key here is that everytime I called the bank someone told me something different. And each time I was told that "THEY knew what they were talking about, the last person was wrong"

This was no fly by night bank but the Bank of America.

The next commission check I got I went to the the bank manager and explained what had happened the last time. I had him take the deposit and told him if it doesn't sail through HE can be the one to fix it. ( like this would really matter) I also told him if this ever happened again, I am out of here.

longtimecollector......I feel your pain!!

mademan

"NOT SINCE 9/11--this is another example of people using the Patriot Act to be a bully-I work at a large nation brokerage firm and we have Patriot Act training yearly- The Partiot act has put limitations on what can and cannot be done but to use the old"not since 9/11" without expalining why gives the feeling that if you don't like these rules you must be a terrorist. I would say that you received very poor service but after all signing up new accts is what some banks view as priority one. I would be most upset about the way they made you look in front of your customer-time to find a new bank--thanks for listening -Don/mademan

BAJJERFAN

If you apply for a hunting license in Wyoming and don't get drawn your money is refunded by a state issued check/warrant. If you later decide to reapply for a license that is available they will not accept their own check as payment. Go figger.

tlhoy

The BIOTCH asked me for ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After all you went through, she says that.

Better find another bank.

LincolnCentMan

I'd probably go to kinkos and have the following banner made:

"I know longer keep my money in the bank across the street b/c of what was in my opinion a negative experience."

Of coarse, I'd close my account(s) with it before I posted it. A month of that on the front of the store would give them an idea of why costomer service is so darn important.

David

kranky

Well, I think that bank has made it clear they aren't all that interested in your business. Find another bank nearby and before you open the account, speak to the manager and see what it would take to make arrangements for them to cash your checks for your customers without a fee.

If you keep enough money there, they just might do it. If nobody will do that for you, then stick to the bank across the street and just go get the cash when you need it. All banks are getting fussy about check cashing these days.

tmot99

LTC, I would think you are looking for a new bank. That kind of treatment is not acceptable, IMO.

I sold off some coins to my local dealer in NW burbs of Chicago recently and needed the cash ASAP to go spend at a coin show (I knew I could get better money selling back to them). They wrote out a check and gave me a business card with instructions to the bank to cash check #XXX for a value of $YYYY with their signature.

I went to their bank which was a local bank and I had no problem. Of course, they wanted my ID, and a bank manager had to sign off on it, but it worked very smoothly.

Hope you can find a better bank to work with. I would explain to your customers why you are making them drive to bank ABC rather than walk across the street. Let them know that that bank, although convenient to get to, will be anything but convenient inside.

BAJJERFAN

I thought the bank that on which the check was drawn had to cash it whether the bearer was a customer there or not, tho I spose they can charge for the service. Frankly in retrospect, it would have been easier to have just walked across the street and withdrawn the cash from your account.

ritepath

made it out to "CASH" for $450 and presented it to the teller.......... The BIOTCH asked me for ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shamika

I'd tell them to stick it up there arse and close my accounts.

Barry

Another amusing, stupid bank story...

This dates back to college days.
There was a Marine Midland Bank in the Student Union bldg. They offered free checking to students. A friend of mine went in to open an account. They asked him what kind of checks he wanted, and he answered "the cheapest ones." A month later when his statement arrived, he noticed a charge for the checks. He goes into the bank and questions the charge, saying "I though the account was free?" The bank said, "You didn't request the free checks. You asked for the cheapest ones, which implies the next level up above free, where you have to pay for them." Duh!

What does he do? He stands outside the bank, and starts writing checks for 1 cent to people asking them to go in and cash them. After about 20 of them, the manager comes out and says she'll waive the check printing fee if he stops with the 1 cent checks.

beartracks42

No doubt in my mind, I would have told the Branch Manager BIOTCH to stick the PATRIOT ACT up her A$$ and left with ALL OF MY MONEY!!.

lloydmincy

Keep an account with a tiny balance open, and deposit $1000 worth of pennies every other day!

sumdunce

After the discussion with the manager I would go back to her (after all outstanding checks clear) and close the account and remit the remainder of the principal.

Just recently I dumped my old bank (about 15 years there) due to the same attitude. The funny thing is the new bank has so many perks that I would not have known about (would not have researched) if the old bank had tried to give at least some customer service.

Clankeye

Bank of America have improved their customer service so much in the last few years... that here I am actually recommending them in public.

When a business impresses me the way they have, I make sure they know about it, and I make sure that others know about it.

Clankeye

Stork

I'd probably go to kinkos and have the following banner made:

""I know longer keep my money in the bank across the street b/c of what was in my opinion a negative experience."

Of coarse, I'd close my account(s) with it before I posted it. A month of that on the front of the store would give them an idea of why costomer service is so darn important."




"This dates back to college days.
There was a Marine Midland Bank in the Student Union bldg. They offered free checking to students. A friend of mine went in to open an account. They asked him what kind of checks he wanted, and he answered "the cheapest ones." A month later when his statement arrived, he noticed a charge for the checks. He goes into the bank and questions the charge, saying "I though the account was free?" The bank said, "You didn't request the free checks. You asked for the cheapest ones, which implies the next level up above free, where you have to pay for them." Duh!

What does he do? He stands outside the bank, and starts writing checks for 1 cent to people asking them to go in and cash them. After about 20 of them, the manager comes out and says she'll waive the check printing fee if he stops with the 1 cent checks."







Maybe it's the, but ya'll are funny!!!! A little creative revenge is alway amusing

flaminio

New bank time. I think I would've just closed my accounts when the manager gave me the polite STFU.

ms70

<< <i>New bank time. I think I would've just closed my accounts when the manager gave me the polite STFU. >>

FatMan

Most banks threw out their customer service manuals years ago. In fact they prefer to do business without ever talking to or seeing a customer. Any time you walk in or call you are seen as an interuption to their work, not the purpose of it.

stman

<< <i>In fact they prefer to do business without ever talking to or seeing a customer. >>



Heh, sounds like how many of the coin dealers like to do business these days. This will change my friends!
Changed my mind.... I really don't care to see them either.

segoja

A few opinions:

B of A is just OK. They have improved, but not dramatically. Applied for a $10,000 signature line of credit for my checking account (just in case I wrote Madmarty a check and forgot to enter it). I'll also point out I have a fico score in the top 2 % and am debt free except my house. It took 4 months to approve. The irony was that the day I applied, they would have approved (on the spot) a $15,000 credit card. Problem with the credit card is when used for overdraft protection you get killed on transaction fees.

I asked the branch manager to get invovled after the first 3 weeks and related that I could get a $1,000,000 house loan fully approved in less than 30 mintues, but I can't get $10,000 in three weeks. We it took her 3 months + to get it through the system. Enough for B of A.

My high school bank horror story. I'm making maybe $2.00/hour. Go to my bank (which is know owned by B of A) and deposit $100 or so dollars. I go back a few weeks later and my account is virtually down to zero. I ask a few pointed quesitons, and get the response that there has been no activity in the last month. I point to the deposit and pointed out the teller and time of day the deposit was made. They pull the teller tapes for that day. Nothing. I'm about as PO'd as you can imagine. Literally my life's savings disappeared.

Well thank God for receipts. I have it as the house, bring it in the next day. They paid me. No receipt I would have been SOL. Think I keep my bank reciepts until they show up on my bank statements? YEP!

After these stories, suggest you change banks.

leothelyon

lol That was funny! Good story Bob! An unfortunate string of events there LTC but I have to agree with Mike, the banks have their policies!

Leo

19Lyds

<< <i>What does he do? He stands outside the bank, and starts writing checks for 1 cent to people asking them to go in and cash them. After about 20 of them, the manager comes out and says she'll waive the check printing fee if he stops with the 1 cent checks. >>



Now this one I like!

dizzyfoxx

Absolutely ridiculous!

lordmarcovan

I had a fella sell me some stuff at my antique mall booth recently, and I had no cash. I told him we'd have to go to my credit union so I cold pay him, as I had no checks with me, either.

But then I remembered I had my vendor check for that month's sales (I get a monthly check from the antique mall). I saw it was drawn on Bank of America, and their branch was right there, downtown. So in we went and they wanted $5 to cash the check, which was drawn on them, because I didn't have an account. I expected a buck or two from them (I hate them and most big banks of their ilk), but not five.

I like my credit union better. I never need a withdrawal slip or deposit slip or ID or anything. They know my face and name.

boston

I find that when they PEE ME OFF the first time. There is no problem the next time.
I'm not polite when I get dissed. I expect to get kissed or I'm going elsewhere.

100proof1957

i use a local credit union,i get change there for work quite often.

they dont know me from Adam and have never asked me if i have an account there !

pretty good service.

IwantNonCCs

Ok, I want to vent too.

If I receive a check that is drawn on bank A, says
"Pay to the order of IWANTNONCCS" the amount of $100.

and I walk into said bank, show my drivers lic. and they offer me some
amount less then $100, they have failed to meet their obligation.

It is CR*P when someone has an obligation, and then tries to charge
you a fee for them meeting their obligation.

I would add to the sign in the window.

"Check not accepted from Bank X because they are dishonest leaches."


(I got frustrated with this about 25 years ago when I was 18, my car was
hit by a drunk. His insurance company gave me a "draft" (Not a check?) for about $600.
I had no bank account at the time, so drove about 50 miles to the place it was
drawn on. They refuse to cash it in person.)

Conder101

<< <i>What does he do? He stands outside the bank, and starts writing checks for 1 cent to people asking them to go in and cash them. After about 20 of them, the manager comes out and says she'll waive the check printing fee if he stops with the 1 cent checks. >>


He could have just refused to honor the checks. Checks for less than $1 are technically not legal.



<< <i>If I receive a check that is drawn on bank A, says
"Pay to the order of IWANTNONCCS" the amount of $100.
and I walk into said bank, show my drivers lic. and they offer me some
amount less then $100, they have failed to meet their obligation. >>


No they haven't. They have an obligation to the writer of the check to honor it. They are under no obligation to the person cashing the check to do so for free.

LindeDad

Like the lady in the TV ad says. "How do you handle withdrawals?"

MICHAELDIXON

Bank of America for me!

oreville

I would walk into a B of A to pay my monthly credit card bill with checks from my bank. The assistant manager greets everyone with that huge fake smile and the free donuts. Of course, I always ask "but where is the coffee?"

But then everything is undone since the tellers always bark at me, "Can't you see I am busy?"

By the way, I happen to think as a Certified Fraud Examiner, that Bank of America has among the worst internal controls and protection against fraud in the bank system and their internet on-line system.

LALASD4

I like B of A also, but there is this one time where they removed funds from my account 3(THREE) months later after I deposited a very large check!!! Needless to say that made all kinds of things bounced, including my blood pressure!! when I ask them why, they just said the issuing bank returned it, and I ask them, "AFTER 3 MONTHS?" And one more thing, no one knows where the check is and it was never found.

Bochiman

I think all this does is say that no bank is perfect and they can vary by region and personnel.

Heh.....I hope that you guys keep those problems in your areas and they don't come this way

ibzman350

yup time for a new bank.

this is my best bank story, true story:


1st Virginia bank ran a mail campaign stating they would give me $50 if I opened a checking account with them, minimum amount to deposit was $100 and no service fees if the account balance was $300 or more the bank would add the $50 after 30 days. I went to the local branch and opened a checking account depositing $300, checks were free. After 30 days I went back and closed the account. The teller asked why I wanted to close the account and I told her I had several other bank account and didn't need this one, walking out with $350 and a big smile on my face I told the teller please remember to place my name on top of the next mailing list..

Only in America are the doors to banks wide open but the pens are chained to the counter, gotta love dem banks.



Herb

coinnut86

Didnt want to start a new thread since this is kind of related ...
I just got back from a bank, (there are 6 different banks in my 5000 population town) I am not a customer of the bank that I went to, but it's only about 2 blocks away from my house. Currently I am a customer of Commercial Federal, which is merging with Bank of the West. I went to this other bank with 6 bucks worth of nickels, and wanted 6 gold dollars back. The teller did not know what a Sacagawea dollar was, so I explained, she turned around and asked (wispered) a lady beside her if I was telling the truth. I heard her ask, so I explained they are only gold in color. The other lady went and got 6 of them and the first lady moved out of the way. She asked for my name. ... what was the reason for her asking my name? My thought was they were going to look and see if I was a customer of theirs. They were very rude and biotchy towards me.. do they not want my business... did they not think that there was a possibility I could open an account with them... When she gave me them, I smiled and said thank you, she gave me back one of those biotchy smiles where they give a big grin for less than 2 secs and then switch to a pissed off look... arrrr!!

ms70

It might have been worth going to the bank manager and telling him you were considering opening an account there but not after the treatment you got.

Small town service in banks is unfortunately far & few between.

numonebuyer

You should not have to explain to any teller in any bank in this country what the circulating coins look like. You should have immediately went to the Branch Manager and filed a complaint on poor training.