1 Posted by Vanessa Baker at 01/27/09 10:20 AM

I have had many many overdraft fees this past year due to bank error. The bank has been reluctant to correct these fees even though they were in error. I had overdraft protection and was charged anyway. I changed banks and not eligible for overdraft protection, or told so, and I am once again having the same problem. They charge a customer and charge a customer over and over before the customer receives notice. This puts the customer even more into overdraft problems and it never ends. The fees can accumulate to above $200.00 before the customer even knows what has happened. So a small overdraft of under $25.00 can end up costing the person over $200.00. This is very unfair and tandamount to the same tactics to the high % put on loans at "Pay Day" lending businesses.

2 Posted by JAMES G LOBRACO at 01/27/09 10:27 AM

I FIRMLY BELIEVE ALL BANKS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL CUSTOMERS OF OVERDRAFTS VIA TELEPHONE,E-MAIL AND LAND MAIL.(THE BANKS CERTAINLY SEEM TO HAVE THE TIME AND PERSONNEL TO USE THESE COM LINKS FOR ALL THEIR LATEST SALES PITCHES)

THE CURRENT NOTIFICATION PROCESS USES ONLY LAND MAIL SO THAT THE DELIVERY DELAY (2-3DAYS) MAXIMIZES THE NUMBER OF OVERDRAFTS CHARGES BEFORE THE CUSTOMER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE BANK TELLERS SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT THEIR ACCOUNT IS SHOWING A NEGATIVE BALANCE AFTER COMPLETING A TRANACTION.

3 Posted by T Conour at 01/27/09 10:44 AM

I made a simple mathmatical error in my checking account. Because my banking is done electronically and debit card -- The bank allowed me to run a deficit of over $450 before they stopped me -- this was over a 2 month period including all the overdraft fees. I would say that by the time I caught up with it, the deficit was primarily the overdraft charges. Luckily I had the money to cover the overdraft in my savings account which was in the same bank.
I would have preferred that they stopped me right away. But then they would not have had the income my mistake generated for them, would they?

4 Posted by Ellen Jensen at 01/27/09 11:12 AM

Overdraft fees are completely exploitative. A person could be short one or two dollars in their account and accrue hundreds of dollars of overdraft charges. I have seen people almost lose their housing because they got into an overdraft fee situation. I myself, have switched banks when I realized that in one year, I had paid the bank over 500.00 in overdraft chargers. I did not qualify for the overdraft protection service. The only other option they offered me, was to automatically charge my credit card should I be short necessary funds to cover ATM or Bank charges--this was at a 25 dollar fee per transaction, plus the interest charged on the credit card. Twice the exploitation. Please do something! I have been living in Europe occasionally and working and have an account in Norway. They do not charge such fees and no Europeans I have ever asked have ever heard of such a thing in Europe. If you are short in your account, you simply can't use the card until you get some money in the account. That simple. These fees are just another get rich sceam that we consumers have tolerated for too long, right up there with sub-prime mortgages.

5 Posted by B Sloan at 01/27/09 11:19 AM

I firmly oppose allowing banks to control whether customers opt-in to programs such as overdraft protection plans, which charge enormous fees for what amount to short-term loans.

Individuals and businesses MUST have the option, rather than banks choosing for them.

Thank you for considering my opinion.

6 Posted by Leslie Anderson at 01/27/09 11:43 AM

Dear Federal Authority,

With all sincerity in my heart, I implore you
to please cancel this horrible practice, that can be likened to a demon seeking to grab and grub all the money they can from a nation who's people are already financially challenged.
PS: I am more in favor of the opt in option. The opt out version doesn't seem to be different than what we are already dealing with. So what is this more double talk!!!?

7 Posted by Patrick Redko at 01/27/09 12:14 PM

Bank overlimit fees are a disgrace! If my account does not have sufficient funds to cover a transaction, the tramsaction should be denied, or I should be able to have overdraft protection if I so choose, not have it imposed. I also object to some banks (HSBC) to posting a due date, but if that date falls on a Sat,or Sun, the payment is due on Thursday effetively compressing 30 days to 27 days or less.

8 Posted by Meg Brizzolara at 01/27/09 12:16 PM

Banks make a fortune for allowing us to gain access to OUR OWN money! More and more, higher and higher fees are tacked on to every transaction, every aspect of a transaction! It's no wonder my grandma kept her money in her mattress!
Banks are engaging in an inside robbery scheme!

9 Posted by peggy at 01/27/09 12:55 PM

I am tired of the 30 dollar rips I get, especially on holidays where my disability check is going in the day before the holiday,but they still charge me a 30 dollar rip even though the money should have been in the account....it's direct deposit after all. Also sometimes they don't even credit the entire amount....I don't get that much and they wait till the end of the month to charge all the fees............by then it's always over 100 dollars and sometimes 200.00.........it's crazy.

10 Posted by Lauren at 01/27/09 01:01 PM

I work 2 jobs and barely make it. If I blow it, the bank makes more money on me than I can ever make on them. Yes, I would opt in to save my credit rating which i have to struggle to maintain. And since I have never left my bank hanging in over 40 years, I would expect some mutual respect - like a lesser charge. $37 is usury, punishment and simple blackmail. Please make them stop. I don't mind paying $10 on a $3 overdraft. I do mind paying nearly 4 times that. Over the course of a year, I end up paying as much as a whole paycheck to my bank because a couple of times a year I miscalculate. Do they pay me for being able to use my money? No. I get no interest on a simple checking account. But I certainly pay for it, over and over and over.

11 Posted by John Jago at 01/27/09 02:03 PM

Consumers, you have the power if you would only exercise it. I think bank's ATM/Debit overdraft policies stink. If we just exercised the power we have as consumers' we could bring about change. DON'T use your debit card for purchases. Instead, USE a credit card that gives you cash back and pay it off every month. Let the banks PAY YOU!! As for using ATM's, check your balance before making a withdrawal...duh! End result - no overdraft fees!!

Consumerreports.org - why can't you put up a webpage that screens credit cards? Most of the websites that allow credit card comparisons are biased.

12 Posted by Stephanie Mitchell at 01/27/09 02:05 PM

I would like the option to decide if and how I want the bank to pay any overdrafts. Currently, my bank has a variable fee. The fewer the number of overdrafts in a 12-month period, the lower the overdraft fee. I find this practice paternalistic and punitive. There should be just one fee for each overdraft, no matter how many or how often.

In the last 10 years, my bank changed its overdraft policy to pay first the largest charges that are presented for payment in a day, which effectively results in more overdraft fees paid each day. If the largest charge causes the overlimit, then the bank charges an overdraft fee for each charge presented that day; whereas, if the smallest items are paid first, then the only overdraft may be the largest charge presented, resulting in one overdraft fee for the day. A better alternative would be to mandate a daily maximum overdraft fee.

The overdraft policy should be changed to allow the accountholder to decide if and how they want their overdrafts paid. It should be the consumer's option, not the bank's.

13 Posted by Charles Floyd at 01/27/09 02:26 PM

I don't want to have ANY fee assesses that I have not agreed to in advance. That means ANY!

If I go overdrawn (and I haven't yet using my debit card, I simply want the bank to refuse to allow me the money unless I have pre-authorized a line of credit to tap into (which I have).

14 Posted by robert at 01/27/09 04:23 PM

My daughter has been hosed several times by high overdraft fees. She is paying very high charges, $39, for each overdraft. She did not sign up for this and I am sure she did not think it would happen. I really think the customer should have opt in rights and know exactly what the fee will be to provide that service, not have it as an addenum buried in the acount agreement. My daughter does not have time to read the fine print and probably will have to have the reason to opt in or out explained to her. At least someone would underline the fee and the fact overdrafting is expensive. Hopefully the opt in would make her aware of it.

I'm for opt in.
Thanks for listening
Bob Smith
Clifton Park,NY

15 Posted by Wendy at 01/27/09 04:35 PM

As a single parent, it's difficult enough to make ends meet. It's insane that my bank charges $28.50 for every transaction. The bank gets it's funds back the minute I get paid again. There should be a block on the atm card so you know not to use it. I pay hundreds of dollars a month.

16 Posted by Don at 01/27/09 04:36 PM

A .85 cent overdraft that I caught immediately before the bank opened I thought was covered when I ran down at 8:30 a.m. and deposited $30 in cash. But the next morning I found two $35 charges. ONE for the .85 cents and the second on the $30 I deposited because it didn't cover the $35 over draft...but wait there's more the next day they hit me with another $35 Over draft fee and $5 per day on all three for one day because it was not taken care of in 12 hours. Total fees for being over drawn .85 cents came to $35 times 3 = $105 plus $15..grand total on .85 cents $120 The greed of these financial institutions is unbelievable something has to be done to stop them. I was told by my bank as long as I was overdrawn .02 cents there would be a $35 fee and they're raising their OD Fee to $40 this year and daily charge to $7.00. We are now living in a communist country where the money changers rule. I'm afraid that it wont be long before people start popping off bankers. The blogs are filled with hate for these greedy banker boys. I've gone to checks and cash to walk around with. Debit cards make it to easy to fall prey to the greed merchants.

17 Posted by Steve Blakely at 01/27/09 06:35 PM

I'm tired of the abusive overdraft charges and the lack of 'opt-in' overdraft protection when I'm requesting a cash advance and do not have the funds on hand. unfair and abusive atm and banking practices and fees MUST STOP NOW!

18 Posted by Dave Tascott at 01/27/09 10:56 PM

My son used his debit card one day for six (6) purchases each less than $2.00. Unbeknownced to him his girlfriend had depaeted the account earlier in the day. the bank charged them $162.00 in overdraft fees for less the $12.00 in overdrafts! That is a crime.

19 Posted by vickie at 01/28/09 07:03 AM

I've over drawn my check book several times and had to pay alot of money for overdraft fees. This has put a great hardship on me since I just get a SSI check to live on. Banks are making a killing in overdraft fees. My bank charged me a 34.00 fee I was overdrawn two pennies. They Rob people without a gun and get by with it. Please! Help!
They are stealing our money!

20 Posted by Danielle Barbour at 01/28/09 08:40 AM

The Opt-in option really helps the consumer. I believe that the federal government should be doing more to protect the consumers, while also reducing the ability of these banks to make drastic profits at our expense. As you know the practice of when and how to charge for overdrafts vary by banks. There needs to be more uniformity. For example, I used to bank with one institution that would hold transactions if I were within 1 to 2 business days of my paycheck being deposited to avoid charging my account these fees. Regardless as to deposits, they will perform overdraft actions on the same day as a paycheck being automatically deposited. Both banks are major banking institutions..

21 Posted by Kathleen Howell at 01/28/09 09:24 AM

My bank charges $30 for an overdraft which to me is rediculous if I may be overdrawn less then $5. I have automatic deposits both from my job and Social Security so they know when a deposit is coming. They charge od fee the same day. I usually check my balance on line in the evening and if I see that I am overdrawn I usually will make a deposit unless I am going to be paid within a day or two. In that case I will not use my debit card or check book.

22 Posted by Sarah at 01/28/09 11:39 AM

It doesn't matter whether it's opt-in or opt-out. If I do have overdraft protection, my bank charges me a fee to cover a transaction that overdraws my account. If I don't have overdraft protection, my bank charges me the same fee for a insufficient funds fee when a transaction bounces. What difference does it make. The bank screws you either way. I acidentally forgot to write a transaction in my check register and overdrew my account by about $30. Unfortunately it was 3 transactions, so they charged me $90. That's rediculous. What they should do is charge a percentage of the overdraft amount, so if you overdraw by only $2, you aren't charged $25-30 in fees.

23 Posted by GLORIA J. O'REILLY at 01/28/09 12:51 PM

i HAVEN'T PAID OVERDRAFTS FOR ANYTHIG BECAUSE I WATCH MY MONEY--BEING IN MY 8TH DECADE. HOWEVER, I HEAR AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO LIVE PAY CHECK TO PAYCHECK AND WORRY OVER LOSING JOBS OR HOMES. THEIR LIVES ARE SO SCRAMBLED, NO WONDER THEY OVERDRAFT. DON'T MAKE THEM MORE MISERABLE BY EXORBITANT FEES. LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING ENOUGH, THEY DON'T NEED ROBBER BARONS TO ADD TO THEIR MISERIES.

24 Posted by Larry Layman at 01/28/09 01:16 PM

PLEASE:

Stop banks from charging me fees for services I didn’t sign up for.

Require banks get my permission before covering ATM and most debit transactions (called “opt-in” overdraft service).

Require banks to give me the same terms and conditions on my account whether or not I choose to pay overdraft fees.

Require banks to give me the right to choose the type of transactions that may trigger fees (such as ATM withdrawals vs. writing a check).

Thank you,

Larry Layman

25 Posted by April Bapst at 01/28/09 03:12 PM

Don't the banks make enough off of us as it is? They can't seem to manage their money properly anyway...

26 Posted by Kathy Albondante at 01/28/09 06:16 PM

With the economy in the shape it is in, the last thing I needed was the bank (5/3 bank) to use the little funds I had left for an overdraft. I calculated what I could spend with my debit card because I knew I had a debit for 600.00 coming in to my account. The bank came up with 3 OD's at 33.00 a piece and 7.00 a day on each one. This was after I told them I would bring in the money in 3 days, when I got paid. The charges were not suspended and I was charged for Saturday and Sunday when my bank isn't even open. Please work this issue out so hundreds of dollars, which could be spent, don't go to the bank for an OD I was already addressing.

27 Posted by Beth Rupe at 01/28/09 06:17 PM

My son is 21 years old, struggling to get a handle on his finances, "to live within his means" as they say. The unfortunate thing is, whenever he uses his bank debit card, even if he doesn't have enough $ in his checking account, the bank "honors" his request for the transaction at hand. Instead of a message back saying "not enough $ in your account", the transaction is allowed to go through & he gets the notice later - "you've over spent, here's an extra fee too!!" No, I'm not justifying his behavior. He SHOULD know how much is in account at all times. But if he doesn't, he's penalized twice & the bank makes out BIG time. They need to just say "no $ to cover this transaction" & my son will very quickly learn to know how much he has (or doesn't have) to spend. And the bank won't get richer while he's learning!

28 Posted by Brent Gilliland at 01/28/09 08:39 PM

Since the Banks are already profiting from outlandish daily intrest rates, I would think that overdraft protection should be a monthly nominal flat rate, like $10.00/month. Banks are making money hand over fist, even at that they can't seem to make ends meet, even with the Billions given to them by "We the People". I think I've given them my pound of flesh already.

29 Posted by DINORA MEJIA at 01/28/09 11:52 PM

I WAS REALLY SICK LAST TIME THAT EVEN HAVE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CHECK MY BALANCE ON MY CHECKING ACCOUNT WHEN I DID IT I FIND THE BANK CHARGE 4 TIMES $35.00 FOR OVERDRAFT CHARGES. I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAIN MY SITUATION AND TOLD THEM I NEVER HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS THEY CAN SEE MY RECORDS ALL THE TIME I HAVE THIS ACCOUNT NEVER HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO I JUST HAVE TO WATCH MY ACCOUNT MORE CAREFULLY TO AVOID THIS. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT IF YO ARE SICK OR YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY FROM HARD WORKING PEOPLE.THEY DON'T CARE LEAVE ME AND MY KIDS WITHOUT FOOD BECAUSE ALL THAT MONEY WAS WHAT I HAVE TO EXPEND ON FOOD. WE REALLY NEED SOME REFORMS AND ALL THOSE CHARGES FROM BANKS AND CREDIT CARDS. WE NEED THE GOVERMENT TO PUT A STOP ON ALL THIS ABUSE FROM BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THE ECONOMY IT'S SO BAD LATELY. THANK YOU FOR LISENING AND HOPING SOMENTING CAN BE DONE.

30 Posted by sherrie at 02/03/09 11:33 AM

I agree that you should have to opt in for this, but I also agree to what good would it do? They will charge you whether they pay it or not. I think the real practices that need to be looked at are the banks reordering your debits in order to make money. Clearing the largest amounts first. Also Wachovia bank likes to charge you for amount in "holding" Which means they have not cleared yet, they have not paid the vendor. I had a positive balance in our account and had to take my son to the doctor and seeing as we live an hour from town had to get my groceries at the same time. Our direct deposit was pending and we were charged $245 in fees for transactions that were in holding while a deposit is in holding. I think they should not be able to charge a fee unless the amount has been cleared through your account and paid to the vendors. Also they should have to put the transactions through as they come in not in order of amount from largest to smallest. Now do to this I have to try to decide which bills get paid and which do not. It also takes away from what little we could have put back into the economy. I also believe flat rate fees are unfair as well. A $4 purchase should not result in a $35 fee! It should be a percentage. Especially if they are going to rearrange your purchases to benifit them.

31 Posted by Lauren Ayers at 02/04/09 12:24 AM

Do your job. Why do we have to write any letters at all? It is obvious whose side the SEC is on, and that means greed has overtaken a sense of civic duty.

I honestly don't know if the SEC can cleanse itself. We don't need to know the details of revolving doors and mutual favors to know that the SEC is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

The push for double-digit annual return on investment is part of the problem---it's nearly impossible to make that kind of ROI without hurting the "little people."

How can you live with yourselves? Do the right thing or quit.

32 Posted by Pat at 02/10/09 05:59 AM

The commercial banks are sleazier than the corner payday loan office...worse than a drug dealer. They have managed to make us entirely dependent upon online banking, bill pay and debit cards. It's tough to even imagine how to return to a cash-only lifestyle. The $38 overdraft fee is bad enough, but worse yet, is their manipulation of our deposits and withdrawals to maximize their ability to charge these outrageous fees. This system is especially punitive to those of us who are living on a small income and do not have an ample cushion to allow for this predatory practice. It's the landslide effect that is most damaging. They often will credit you for one fee when you go in and insist upon it...if you are willing to endure their paternalistic subtle shaming and pity, but just when you think the problem is corrected, there are usually two more fees waiting to slam you after-the-fact. They are the big brother, George Orwell warned us about. It's time for a revolution!

33 Posted by Don at 02/10/09 09:21 AM

My son experiance same problems as those listed above (overdrafts caused by bank taking funds without his knowlege according to him)to pay small bills that generated the large overdraft fees leaving the larger ones to be returned marked (insufficent funds). I am 86 years old,hate having to use a credit card for practically every purchase. This past summer my wife and I stayed overnight at a Nice Hotel,went to pay upon checking out using personal check,clerk would not take it. Offered cash she refused,she asked for a credit card. I lied telling her that I DID NOT HAVE ONE. I should have walked out but my daughter in law was becoming embarressed over my problem with the clerk, telling the clerk to put it on her card. Credit cards make it possiable for the business to have instant payment where they can turn the funds faster. They are causing horriable problems for those that have to finally pay the piper. Possiably the only reason I ever started using one was the fear of carrying cash. In my mind as a 86 year old,cash is king.

34 Posted by umer at 02/12/09 11:29 PM

My bank made me sign up for overdraft because I would pay my bills the same day I got my check. This whole transfer would apparently work out in the banks favor everytime (even though both transactions were on the same day) and I wouldn't have enough funds in my bank for a day causing me to pay late fees. I signed up for overdraft protection and ever since I have been paying at least 39 dollars everymonth in overdraft fees. Last month I paid my credit card off online, due to a glitch in their software..the money went to someone elses account...after 3 days they call me and tell me I haven't paid...I quickly pay again thinking I've missed payment somehow and my account went 30 dollars over...guess what..I get charges 89 dollars in overdraft...35 dollars for a late fee and 89 dollars in a mysterious finance charge...I hope you burn in hell for thi bank of america!!!!

35 Posted by Lisa at 02/19/09 08:21 AM

It is legal loan sharking - you can borrow money on the street from 'Vinnie the Shark' for less points than Bank of American. But I guess we now know where they obtain all the money to pay their CEO's millions and milions of dollars a year.... off our over-worked backs. If we stole a dollar's woth of food from a convenience store - we would be incarcerated - but these criminals not only roam freely - but they do so with the support and blessing of our government.

36 Posted by Av at 03/26/09 06:02 PM

I currently have checking accounts at two banks. The first bank which I've been with for 6 years would constantly allow me to exceed my account balance and charge me a fee per overdraft which would add up to almost $200 at times. Typically transactions don't show up until two days after and it would appear as if there was enough money in my account. It amazed me how my bank would allow me to even overdraft up to $1500 and then freeze my account for days. I eventually switched to another bank where transactions showed up within a few minutes online and my debit card would not work if the transaction was more than my accout balance. There is less confusion and no account freezes to worry about.

My only other frustration is when a bill payment is set up externally and if here are insufficient funds, the bank keeps attempting to withdraw payment even when there is still insufficient funds and then charges me a fee per attempted withdrawal.

37 Posted by Linda at 03/30/09 06:33 AM

I just re-opened my savings account and opted out of having my checking account tied to it for "overdraft" protection. I know the banks charge exorbitant overdraft fees so I make sure I am aware of every penny I spend and what is outstanding. That way, I don't have to worry about incurring the bank fees. I know this sounds stupid, but I actually know what I have in the bank, what is pending and what I can spend. Novel concept, but it works quite well. I also check my balance online everyday to keep up with what has cleared, what is pending, etc. I can't remember the last time I had an overdraft fee. I would think if people just paid attention, I know, simpler said than done, the banks wouldn't be making billions of dollars on overdraft fees.

38 Posted by alexis at 04/01/09 07:16 AM

I do pay attention to our balance and regularly check my online account. I just found out that what it tells me online is not what the bank is actually doing. My account had a positive balance, with 4 pending debits, that would have pushed it into the negative by only a small amount, plus I deposited 500. The avail bal said i was negative 327.00 I went to the bank to clear this up, Apparently you cant trust your online statements, as they dont match what the bankers get to see on their computers. They had taken those 4 transactions, that have not yet been paid to the vendors, and put a hold on them-even though my statement did not reflect that, thus causing 9 transactions-all under 20.00, one was for 1.00, to incur 35.00 overdraft fees 315.00 in over draft fees!!! when there was more than enough money in my account to cover everything that I spent. The banker told me this was the new way they were doing things, and would not refund any of the fees to me, saying I have had too many fees in the past- well gee, if you arrange the debits and credits that way to maximize the amount of fees you can charge, of course I will have more fees. So technically they charged me fees for being overdrawn due to transactions that werent paid yet- money was still in my account, and I was depositing more money. I feel like I have been cheated and stolen from. That is like charging you to simply write out a check but not use it. The banks know exactly how to manipulate your debits and credits to cause the highest number of fees possible which then results in a snowball effect causing more fees, taking all your hard earned money, causing financial hardships on people who need every penny they earn to survive. I do not overspend my account carelessly, or write bad checks, and no amount of perfect bookkeeping will work if the bank can move your transactions around in time and charge fees that they dont even show they have charged on your online banking. This is immoral and should be illegal, we are now in the process of closing our account at commerce bank and going to a credit union. I am tired of this bank taking my money anny way they can, and then giving me the"you need to be more responsible" speech like I am an idiot. I also am never using plastic again, going to the cash and money order state of mind, since I can no longer trust what my records or the online banking balance records say, eliminating the oppurtunity for banks to steal my money that I desparately need to pay my bills.

39 Posted by Amy at 07/22/09 10:41 AM

No need for me to repeat what everyone here is saying about how banks are robbing us, I agree and the point has been made. What I would like to add that hasn't been said, is that if ANYONE suggests I am unfair or irrational for believing that we should tax Americans according to what they earn, I am going to hand them my bank account statements and tell them to figure out how much of my annual pay goes to what I consider unauthorized deductions by banks. The people who are being charged these fees repeatedly are the people who don't have 2 dimes to rub together... and the people who have all kinds of money and never get charged are laughing at those poor folks, while they drive their Hummers and go home to their city penthouses & modern-day mansions. It doesn't make any sense, and amounts to punishment for anyone who isn't either a brilliant mastermind or a slimy shark. Banks are repeatedly targeting the people who don't even have the money in the first place, when they should be targeting the people who have all kinds of money to burn. Why don't they charge those people who make over $250,000 annually a fee based on the concept that it's more work for the bank to administer all those transactions those rich folks produce every day! Charge a person who HAS the money, not a person who doesn't have the money!!! If a customer is living dime-to-dime every day, have a little compassion and understand the stress they are under EVERY SINGLE DAY just to put a PB&J sandwich in their kid's belly at lunch or an $8.00 pair of sneakers on their kid's feet so they can walk to the schoolbus. Don't just automatically charge them $35 and say "oh gee, sorry for your hardship, but you've got to learn to manage your money better." What money??? Get your fees from the people who have an endless supply of it!!! Oh, but wait... that would mean you would be charging fees on yourself! It's crap like this that makes me embarrassed to be an American.

40 Posted by Raina at 10/02/09 10:43 AM

I completely agree with Amy!!. It's becoming ridicules. I don't know who to be more afraid of - thieves or banks? Unfortunately I am more afraid of Banks. Everyday they stilling hard earnd money from poor people and no one can't call police on them. Please government do something about it. I hardly have money for food. Help us!

41 Posted by Jerry Mackie at 10/27/09 01:16 PM

Agreed!

42 Posted by cm at 11/30/09 01:56 PM

its pure corruption at its finest... richer get richer and tax the poor with more fees and confusion. I would really LOVE to know how any one can consider it fair to charge $35-40 dollars on a 3.00 purchase. And when I went to my bank to tell them I want to opt out of this services they told me I couldn't... leaving me in a position to find another bank which is hard when you don't even have a car. USA is home of the crooks... and the American dream is exactly that... A DREAM!

43 Posted by wisewon at 10/15/10 12:39 AM

I think its real clear Banks can not be trusted to manage peoples money and are clearly jiggling accounts in order to cause over drafts, The Congress knows, this, as does the Fed, as do lawyers who choose to exploit citizens into class actions suits wherein layers make all the money and if victims are lucky they get refunded and in fact drawn into doing more business with whoever the industry that got sued its a scam. Victims should get paid for damages, pain and suffering and somebody in the Banking anf Phone industries who seem to be the biggest two lately in over charges towards their customers due to scams of some sorts wearher its over billing for services not ordered or made aware a bill would result Known as Phone Craming via text messages, or banking overdrafts, These people are planing, scaming and willfully out and out steeling the money from poor people, why? because they know no laws with teeth are really present, that you can't afford lawyers, that lawsuit lawyers won't take these cases because there are little damages that can be awarded due to the fact they are often small claims, They steel a little from this guy a little from that guy what that in fact is, is Organized Crime more than 2 or more persons in the Banking and Phone industries conspire to steel money from their customers jiggling their accounts to cause overdrafts or allowing 3rd party charges in the matter of phone companies to rack up millions in charges.The crimes they are committing fall under the RECO ACT, They Fall under Elder Abuse and Disability Abuse in the matters of the Elderly and Disabled often this money comes from Government Checks such as retirement or SS Retirement or SSDI or SSI which bottom line should make it also not just steeling from the elderly and disabled on limited incomes anyway but explitation of them as well besides fraud. Its time to demand that these types of Criminal who have well thought out their acts/actions making their crimes 1st degree offenses be charged under the RECO ACT and the other above said criminal acts and that when Money is issued to victims by the States or US Government that both step in and charge these offenders for steeling State and Government funds as well for those who have direct deposits it no different that steeling or check from your mailbox or part of your checks. The Mafia used to strong arm businesses to pay protection money in order to safely conduct business the business owner who refused saying I don;t need protection would be lter paid a visit by vandels and each thime they'd refuse their damages got worse until they paid. This is the same types of actions being made jiggling peoples accounts to cause damages in the case of Banking its been to automatically take your money, now its the opt in or out which only covers card transactions which they don't tell you and soon as a check or other transaction occurs without your knowing again jiggling the accounts to cause overdraft to take place and BAM your hit with a few overdrafts even though you said you did not want overdrafts paid then they will in the case up BB&T pop up on your screen that they don't cover such transactions something that did not show on your screen before or error messages like with bill pay you did not enter the amount, so you 2nd guess yourself knowing you did so you trust the screen re=enter the amounts, if you don't check it in time what happens, you now have duplicate Bills being paid, if you don't catch it quickly, you have to pay the same fee as a overdraft to cancel each Bill you paid online. Or you pay your bills 1st its the banks pattern to deduct transactions from your available Balance a few days later a couple bills are paid, and amounts again deducted from aval Bal then as the month runs on you know you said not to cover overdrafts so you use your ATM card then its turned down, ok I must be out of money better check my account let me get to a computer BAM there is 2 overdrafts on your Bills you paid online come to find like all other transactions being deducted from you daily available Balence however your Bill Pay was not breaking the banks normal pattern of how the deduct your transactions daily to purposely cause you to overdraft then claim when you said to to pay overdrafts that did not apply to Bill Pay or Checcks or other transactions on your ATM, Debit Card. People its time to demand lawsits with damages for the victims paid even if its one simple $35.00 fee may em pay 1000's in damages and send these criminals to prison for a very long time due to the elements above said involved in carrying out these crimes and the scattered amounts of victims and amounts of victims to rack up millions one petty crime at a time to build a total crime that amounts to the millions they steel making these Acts Organized crime and Grand Theift using muli Victims. If you don't demand, and defend and protect your money its already clear the states and government is not doing it because you have to get angry and demand and protest and boycot what ever it takes. awisewon@netscape.net

44 Posted by danetta at 10/22/10 01:42 PM

i feel everyones pain and cry for help, i'm in a similar crises with my bank. They let me overdraft over $1000.00, and i'm on social security and they have already taken one check,because i opt to have my check direct deposit, what a huge mistake! I don't know what to do, nor what my rights are, i surely do not want to go to jail. P.S. Scared and confused.