Since when does $12.32 - $4.94 = negative $22.62?

United States
October 12, 2012 6:37pm CST
Our bank is doing it again! This is what our statement said. We were charged $120 in late fees!! We had a balance of $12.32 and two debits that were $4.94 and $5.38 $6.34 which leaves a balance of a positive $2.00. The bank charged a $30 fee before the $4.94 and another $30 fee before the %5.38 which brought the account to a (negative) . They've done this way too many times in the past. A couple of years ago they 'upgraded' their system but it's still happening. I called them and they refunded the $60 but no apology. I always want to change banks, but my husband doesn't want to go through the hassle because his check gets automatically deposited and we have automatic bill pay that we will have to change. Ugg!!!
3 people like this
8 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Oct 12
I would certainly not put up with that type of performance on more then one occasion. I accept that mistakes do happen but surely a bank should have a computer system capable of basic arithmetic, so it is inexcusable. If this happens to enough people then many will not notice and the bank could stand to make huge profits, although I would suggest that it was actually intentional. Changing banks may cause a little hassle, but it is simple enough to inform your place of work of the new account number and also create the automatic bill payments through another bank.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Oct 12
I completely agree with you! I might have to just go ahead and change banks, go through all the hassles, then tell my husband. Not too fond of that idea, but not too fond of the bank ripping us off!!
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
13 Oct 12
If your husband is apprehensive about changing his bank details at work and setting up new bill payment data, then you could suggest a compromise. Open up an account at another bank, but keep the present one open until you are satisfied that everything is running smoothly.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
Good idea!
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
13 Oct 12
I agree with everyone else changing banks might be in your best interest.. Granted there is a lot of hassles that come along with changing.. Even though your husband may get frustrated at first; I bet he will apperiate the extra money in your new account and less hassles in the long run.. With my bank I have had one major mess up in the past two years.. They ended up refunding me the bank fees.. They told me that everyone slips up every once and a while.. I was relieved... Banks that are more concerned with getting their fees then keeping a custumor is not a bank that I would ever use.. I may not be a millionare or a business person.. But I though banking is more of a numbers game then anything.. The more accounts that stay open for long periods of time is more likely to gain other accounts with that person; and/or new customers just by the word of mouth.. In any business customer service is a big priority.. Without customers businesses go under.. Granted; with bigger banks they are corporate accounts, which may keep a business a float just is not going to be the most successful..
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 12
"Well that's not fair to me".. What is that all about.. That employee has no right to say its unfair.. It has nothing to do with the indivdual person; its the company as a whole.. On top of that its your money you can do what you want to do.. Some people these days.. Shake my head..
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
Speaking of customer service - I called and talked to the manager about switching banks because of the errors in fee charges and his response was "Well that's not fair to me"
1 person likes this
@lampar (7584)
• United States
13 Oct 12
May be it is time to close your account in that bank, but if you refuse to do that, then you must be prepared to put up with this continuous mistakes from the bank's computerized system that can't do simple arithmetic of add and minus or just simply hope that you will catch the error whenever you receive your monthly statement and get them corrected with refund or bank credit. I trust that your bank is going to business as usual on all these negative monthly statement balance since it obvious help a lot in the bank's bottom line by generating so much fee from account holders, there is no reason for it to decomputerized its accounting system.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
Their computerized system stinks, but 'people' wrote those computer programs and installed them. We are in the process of changing banks.
@koopharper (7600)
• Canada
13 Oct 12
I'm not sure I would continue to put up with that. If I were in your shoes I would make a list of everything that has to be taken care of to switch banks and then see if you can't get it done relatively painlessly. I've changed banks after a representative gave me the run around and a very condescending lecture. I didn't make the change right away but I have a long memory when it comes to garbage like that.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
We are in the process of changing now. It's not painless, but it has to be done.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
13 Oct 12
Hi i can understand it and I would like to suggest you to change the bank. They are just taking your hard earned money like that. Better go and complain and ask them to give your money back. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
I have wrote to them and the president of the bank. Never got a response from either.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
13 Oct 12
When I lived in usa I had that problem with a bank every month. I never was in negative. But once I made 2 deposits. One was 518.00 and another was 100.00. Clearly should have been 618.00. Tey showed 603.00. And never mad eit right.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
How wrong! The bank never admits they made a mistake. It's kind of a scam - banks lose money when people can't pay their house payments and let it go into foreclosure. So the fees we have to pay (for their mistakes) helps make up for other peoples' unpaid debts.
• Philippines
13 Oct 12
Well, better go through the hassle of changing banks than continuously receive erroneous statements! At least you just have to change bank once and then everything should go smoothly rather than staying put but but continuously rage about it. Hope it will get fixed!
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
Yeah, I'm in the process now of changing. It takes quite awhile to let everyone know and wait for their response because some of them need a month or more to start automatic debit payments from a new bank. Oh well, it's got to get done!
• United States
13 Oct 12
If this persists to happen then it is definitely worth the hassle to move banks. It will suck to have to move everything but it will be easier for you in the long run. Imagine the accidental fee charging occurring when you really need the money in your bank but it not being their and you getting charged more fees. I wish you all the best in possibly getting this done or at least convincing your husband to take a look at other options.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Oct 12
That HAS happened when we really needed every penny in the acct to cover bills, gas for vehicles, etc. This has happened more than a few times: our checks get sent back for 'insufficient funds' because the bank charged fees(because of their messed up accounting skills), then the company to whom we wrote the check charges us! A vicious circle!