Minor Debit Card Suckage

[Ghel]

<RING, RING>
Me: Good morning. This is Ghel. How can I help you?
SC: This is Janine. <I recognize her voice; she's a regular customer.> My debit card didn't work this weekend. I understand I need to call <other branch> and have them look into it.
Me: Well, let me look. I might be able to see what's going on. <tap, tap on the keyboard; I see 2 checking accounts under her name.> Do you know what account the card is attached to?
SC: Hold on, let me get Sam. [her husband]
Me: Oh kaaaay... <Wasn't this your card? If it's his card, why didn't he call?>
Sam: Hi, we were having some trouble with my debit card this weekend.
Me: Ok. Which account is the debit card attached to?
Sam: The checking account.
Me: Right, but is it the account with you, Janine, and <daughter>, or the one with just you and Janine?
Sam: Oh, just the two of us.
Me: Ok, then I see the reason your card was declined. That account is overdrawn.
Sam: Ok. That explains it. We'll have a deposit on Thursday.

Ergh! Why do people always assume it's the bank's fault if their card gets declined? Keep track of your balance! Even if you don't, you can always check the balance at an ATM if your card gets declined for a purchase.

And he seemed so cheerful when I told him his account was overdrawn. Like it was no big deal. I'd be mortified if my checking account was overdrawn. I'd be transferring money from my savings right away or running in with a deposit to cover the overdraft so I don't get charged a fee. I guess he doesn't mind overdraft fees.

[downforit2008]

I would definitely care about an overdrawn checking account! My bank used to offer this plan where your card would still be accepted on funds even when you're out of money...for up to $500 in emergency cash. And each expenditure while in the hole would be the cost of what you bought...and $20 extra as a fee each time! Couldn't stand that program once I was running $150 to $200 in the hole, so I opted out. But ever since then, I've kept a better track of my account balances...and never blamed my bank for it either!!!

I guess I'm that kind of customer that many banks WISH they could have!

[KMCA]

It seems that when I accept the blame it's the banks fault, when I blame the machine or bank it's mine... odd but true

[Sapphire Silk]

The only time I ever got upset with an overdraft charge was when the original overdraft wasn't my fault. Twitterhead Wumpedup Cable charged my debit card for a cable box when I moved from one apartment to another, even though I had called the office, told them I was moving, told them my new address, to set up the service at my new place.

Some ding dong only saw that my address changed . . . and I didn't return a box. Well of course not, I never canceled the account.

The $500 charge overdrew my checking account and triggered an overdraft fee. Me not knowing things, was writing other checks to pay other bills, which were then overdrawn and also drew fees. I was oblivious to this initially, thinking I had a nice $100 cushion.

When found out, I was some kinda mad

TWC didn't want to refund the overdraft charges . . . any of them. I pushed and pushed, the first wasn't my fault but theirs, and the others would never have happened either if they hadn't overdrawn my account in the first place.

Other than that, though, if I"ve been over drawn, it's been my own fault :shame:

[Mystic]

I remember driving across country one time and something took out and caused my card to overdraw on the account (though I can't remember what it was now that did it). Every transaction I made put me further and further in the hole... even that $25 candy bar I bought at one gas station. Most expensive candy evar.

All in all, I had managed to spend $1200 in overdraft charges. I. Was. PISSED.

Luckily the bank corrected it for me so long as I paid the actual balance that week.

[Ghel]

My bank is usually good about working with customers when there's an error. But "Sam" wasn't upset or confused when I told him his account was overdrawn. He was downright cheery. It was so odd.

[Catwoman2965]

I would only call if I KNEW I had enough money in my account to cover wahtever I was trying to buy...but every now and then my balance gets really low, but I'm very aware and don't use my card until I get paid again!

[Kaibutsu]

I've a feeling Sam KNEW the account was overdrawn but his wife wouldn't listen to him... so was extremely pleased when you said 'uhm... overdrawn dude' and he could tell her to STFU.

At least what I'd hope for...

[Ghel]

NOW they're upset. They got their overdraft notice in today's mail.

Janine: What's this $36.04? Do I need to write this in my checkbook?
Me: That's your balance after your account went negative.
Janine: That's a negative balance?
Me: Yes. The fee --
Janine: <talking over me>But it's all right with the deposit yesterday, right?
Me: Yes, but you did have a fee of $33 that they charged your account for the overdraft.
Janine: $33! That's crazy!
Me: <Maybe, but it's right there on that notice you're holding.> That's a one-time fee that you'll need to write in your checkbook ledger.
Janine: And the most we were overdrawn was $36.04?
Me: Actually, no. Your balance went as low as negative $110.84 on Wednesday.
Janine: Is there any way we could have avoided this? <You could keep better track of your balance.> Do they ever take money out of your savings account to cover your overdrafts?
Me: We do have a product like that, but there's a $2 fee each time.
Janine: <to husband, in background, but just as loud as before> They can do that, but there's a fee.
<husband mumbles something>
Janine: I don't know how this happened.
Me: I don't have an answer to that, but you should be getting your statement in the mail within a few days.
Janine: I don't understand how this could have happened.
Me: ... <You just said that.>
Janine: Will our debit cards work now?
Me: Yes. <Now that your balance is out of the red again.>

What did they think, that because they had a direct deposit coming in within a few days that we wouldn't charge them for the overdraft? And the truth is, they weren't charged when they were only overdrawn $36.04; it was only the next day they were charged, when they were overdrawn over $100.

[MoonCat]

Maybe he was just glad it didn't turn out to be someone using their card fraudulently. Although from the second call, at least one of them doesn't understand how all this works.

What I hate about my bank is that by the time you find out you're overdrawn, it's happened several times. It can take them over a week to send a letter out for each transaction. I keep very close track now, and I have the account set up so the debit card declines if there's not enough money in the account.

[taxguykarl]

I've a feeling Sam KNEW the account was overdrawn but his wife wouldn't listen to him... so was extremely pleased when you said 'uhm... overdrawn dude' and he could tell her to STFU..

I think you may be right, K. One CW, had a similar situation with her now ex-husband. He couldn't understand how their debit card would get rejected when the account was empty or overdrawn.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Overdraft protection is definitely a good investment if you have a savings account in addition to checking. Best not to get overdrawn at all, of course, but if there's a slight goof it can be a godsend. It really doesn't seem like either of those people are the sharpest knives in the drawer.