ugh small banks suck.

[waggy]

we decided to switch banks. the one i was with was in a town we used to live in and was pretty big but is 20 miles out of the way.

we switched to a small local bank. they had a new account going on called "green account" as you can guess it is paperless. no checks, no paper at all. Everything was online or Debit/ATM.

so we opened it up. we deposited a 4k check from a different out of state bank on Monday. and had my pay deposited today for 900 (retired due to health but still get small paychecks).

Anyway i made mortgage+other bills and knocked the amount to $1500.

i went to make a payment (yesterday morning) to dish network (getting new box's! talked to someone who gave me a good deal finally) and they want a CC to order the new box and installation.

but the CC is not working. So i call the bank. They said they have to verify the check and they said it would be good today. nope its not. so i call today and they say wont be able to use the CC for another week. WTF! this is insane.

i have bills that need to be paid today (could do a check by phone but cost me $10-25). since it has no paper checks the only way to use the account is CC.

So i call and talk to the branch manager. he said there is not much he can do. so ic all the president. he has no fucking clue what is going on or how to find out. he keeps repeating they have to verify the check. i said fine have someone take 5 minutes and call the bank the check was issued on. he refused. i asked if taking 5 minutes to do something to keep a costumer. he just repeated they had to verify the check. i said so having someone verify the funds is not worth keeping a costumer? he just said he would transfer me to booking and the phone went dead. heh guess that answerers my question.

ohh got a call from the head of the local branch. he said there is nothing he can do about the funds. that it is law they be held.

funny part is i can go write a paper check (which we don't have) or go in and take out the 1500 in cash. I just can't use the at/debit card.

this is insane. a few years ago i had a 25k check (or more i can't remembeR) behing held. i called the bank and they were able to release the funds in 2 days. yet this bank can't release a 4k check (wich they have paid out 3500 out already) so i can use my atm/debit card.

 

[dullard]

Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

and every time i have ahd them hold them calling them up they release the funds.

also its not really a case of them relasing them. as i said they have already paid a few for a total of $3500 of it.


as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

 

[Tim]

Call them and ask them why they aren't using Check 21 to clear checks faster.
Also, check into Regulation CC and make sure they aren't holding your funds for longer than is allowed by law.

After this is over, close your account, and tell them that they can shove their green checking up their asses.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: waggy
i have bills that need to be paid today (could do a check by phone but cost me $10-25). since it has no paper checks the only way to use the account is CC.

All banks put holds on checks, but this part is the real bullshit and I would be pissed off.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: theplaidfad
Call them and ask them why they aren't using Check 21 to clear checks faster.
Also, check into Regulation CC and make sure they aren't holding your funds for longer than is allowed by law.

After this is over, close your account, and tell them that they can shove their green checking up their asses.

we have plans to.

the bank manager called back. he went over all the BS again. i said fine then at least refund me the fee im out if i do a check over the phone (dish network charges $10 i think). he didnt believe me that places have a fee for doing it.

he said if i can prove that i was charged it he MIGHT refund it back.

 

[Tim]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: theplaidfad
Call them and ask them why they aren't using Check 21 to clear checks faster.
Also, check into Regulation CC and make sure they aren't holding your funds for longer than is allowed by law.

After this is over, close your account, and tell them that they can shove their green checking up their asses.

we have plans to.

the bank manager called back. he went over all the BS again. i said fine then at least refund me the fee im out if i do a check over the phone (dish network charges $10 i think). he didnt believe me that places have a fee for doing it.

he said if i can prove that i was charged it he MIGHT refund it back.

Wow... at the bank I worked for, they would have bent over backwards to have helped you in this situation.

EDIT: And when you close your account, Remind the manager about how many people in your community will hear about how douchy this bank is.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

you do have the money, correct? so use a damn credit card and just pay it back when the check finally is available, then get rid of the bank

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

you do have the money, correct? so use a damn credit card and just pay it back when the check finally is available, then get rid of the bank

why? i hate Credit cards thats why. if i can pay for it without useing one i will.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

I had a similar thing happen - as in my insurance check(from flood damage) was held. I was pissed just as you are but I had just purchased a new washer and dryer with a check that would have come in before the 4 day wait. Anyway, it had nothing to do with the bank I used, it was because the bank the insurance company used does not verify funds on accounts over the phone. Luckily I had other funds to cover my purchase but I was pretty pissed when I first left the bank...and before I learned it really wasn't their fault.

 

[tk149]

Many Banks no longer verify checks thanks to regulations (I think it was Sarbanes Oxley?). That happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[Legendary]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

you do have the money, correct? so use a damn credit card and just pay it back when the check finally is available, then get rid of the bank

why? i hate Credit cards thats why. if i can pay for it without useing one i will.

But you can't pay for it without a CC or a check by phone fee it seems.

Banks won't release money on large out of state checks, especially on new accounts, without holding.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: tk149
Many Banks no longer verify checks thanks to regulations (I think it was Sarbanes Oxley?). That happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

It was Check21. And if anything, the law allowed for faster clearing of checks through electronic verification.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

you do have the money, correct? so use a damn credit card and just pay it back when the check finally is available, then get rid of the bank

why? i hate Credit cards thats why. if i can pay for it without useing one i will.

then why did you open a "green" account?

i hate using autopay or giving anybody access to my account. i got totally fucked over a few years ago using autopay and will never do it again.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

and every time i have ahd them hold them calling them up they release the funds.

also its not really a case of them relasing them. as i said they have already paid a few for a total of $3500 of it.


as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

...but you have the money, it's in your bank account. just don't spend it on anything else...

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
Just about all banks put holds on large checks (especially large personal checks from out of state). They have every right to do so, and by law they have the duty to do so. It sucks, but that is just part of banking.

Why not use a real CC instead?

as for the CC we have one but try not to use it. i am not a big fan of CC or not buying things unless you have the money.

you do have the money, correct? so use a damn credit card and just pay it back when the check finally is available, then get rid of the bank

why? i hate Credit cards thats why. if i can pay for it without useing one i will.

Why hate credit cards?

You can't handle credit wisely?

I see no reason to HATE credit cards. It makes life easier if anything and is 20x better than a debit card.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: tk149
Many Banks no longer verify checks thanks to regulations (I think it was Sarbanes Oxley?). That happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

lol, yes they do.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Citrixthen why did you open a "green" account?

i hate using autopay or giving anybody access to my account. i got totally fucked over a few years ago using autopay and will never do it again.

because you use direct pay, debit card, etc.

a Credit card has nothing to do with the account.

Originally posted by: vshah


...but you have the money, it's in your bank account. just don't spend it on anything else...

because i have seen far to many people (sisters, in-laws, friends) get in over there heads with credit cards. or hell just plain credit.

so i do whatever i can to NOT have any. I have purchased nearly EVERY car (only have had 2 car loans) with cash. i save for large ticket items i want. I see no reason to have Credit cards other then a emergancy.


to many rack up thousands in credit and think its ok. fuck that if i can't pay cash for something i really don't need it.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: tk149
Many Banks no longer verify checks thanks to regulations (I think it was Sarbanes Oxley?). That happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

It was Check21. And if anything, the law allowed for faster clearing of checks through electronic verification.

No, it wasn't. That was separate. I don't recall much else though, since I left the industry 3 years ago.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: tk149
Many Banks no longer verify checks thanks to regulations (I think it was Sarbanes Oxley?). That happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

lol, yes they do.

Maybe things have changed since I left the industry 3 years ago. At that time, we (the bank) were having trouble verifying checks with other banks, and then the bank I worked at implemented an official policy of not verifying checks.

 

[SunnyD]

I had a 10-day hold on a 32k check a couple years ago. Dealing with large amount, I think the bank would like to know the check is covered before you go ripping them off.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Some banks have a policy to hold checks 5-10 days depending.... I've had to deal with that before, but luckily most everything I do now is through wire transfers....even when I transfer money between banks it can take up to 5 business days even though it's supposed to be 3.

My best advice if you aren't happy with their service, look into local credit unions. Some have free checking to keep competitive with banks and often have online access as well.

I've got 3 credit union accounts and use 1 bank account. The bank allows me to transfer funds between it and the credit unions to make mortgage & car payments, and savings deposits for free without having to drive.... I just get checks from my 2 checking accounts to pay bills that I don't want to pay online. It's a ritual more than anything...but helps me keep my utility bills down because I have to handle the check and am more aware of what I'm being charged.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Citrixthen why did you open a "green" account?

i hate using autopay or giving anybody access to my account. i got totally fucked over a few years ago using autopay and will never do it again.

because you use direct pay, debit card, etc.

a Credit card has nothing to do with the account.

Originally posted by: vshah


...but you have the money, it's in your bank account. just don't spend it on anything else...

because i have seen far to many people (sisters, in-laws, friends) get in over there heads with credit cards. or hell just plain credit.

so i do whatever i can to NOT have any. I have purchased nearly EVERY car (only have had 2 car loans) with cash. i save for large ticket items i want. I see no reason to have Credit cards other then a emergancy.


to many rack up thousands in credit and think its ok. fuck that if i can't pay cash for something i really don't need it.

That's why you only charge the bills and then pay the card off after the funds are unfrozen.

I think this situation qualifies as an emergency. There's nothing wrong with using a CC if you spend within your means. It's just the idiots that spend more than they have that get up to their eyeballs in debt.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Some banks have a policy to hold checks 5-10 days depending.... I've had to deal with that before, but luckily most everything I do now is through wire transfers....even when I transfer money between banks it can take up to 5 business days even though it's supposed to be 3.

Are you sure you're doing wire transfers? Wires are supposed to be same day. That sounds more like ACH to me.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: theplaidfad
Call them and ask them why they aren't using Check 21 to clear checks faster.
Also, check into Regulation CC and make sure they aren't holding your funds for longer than is allowed by law.

After this is over, close your account, and tell them that they can shove their green checking up their asses.

we have plans to.

the bank manager called back. he went over all the BS again. i said fine then at least refund me the fee im out if i do a check over the phone (dish network charges $10 i think). he didnt believe me that places have a fee for doing it.

he said if i can prove that i was charged it he MIGHT refund it back.

Well that sucks. I like my credit union, even though I'm small potatos, they don't diss me when I have check issues from the occasional paper check going in.

You should go over to clarkehoward.com and go to his "Clarke Stinks" board and re-tell this story there.
He is such a big champion of local banks, it would be good to have some balance.
You usually have to go to a big bank to get dicked around like that.:thumbsup: