Tuesday, November 13

You Can Bank On It!


Mr. kenju and I have a safe deposit box at our bank, which we have had since about 1982. We got the box when we got the checking account, which was a charter account when that bank first opened.

Having a charter account meant several things; mainly that we would never incur service charges on the account and we would get the use of a safe deposit box at no charge for the life of the account - even if - the bank was bought out by another bank.

For many years, that was true. Through two buy-outs; first it was called SBR then CCB and now BB&T. I have discovered it really pays to read your bank statements with a fine-toothed comb.

At least twice in the last 4 years, they have automatically charged us $35 rental on the box. First on my business account (which was not the charter account) and now on our shared charter account. When they charged my account for it, I went to the bank and discussed it with the customer service person. She agreed that I had been wrongly debited and she restored the amount to my account.

When the charge showed up in the account that we share - but mr. kenju administers - I made him aware of it and he called the bank. That was about 7 days ago. We heard nothing, so today he called again. Of course, it must be a rule that you can never speak to the same person twice, so we didn't get satisfaction, just the run-around.

I have no idea what they will say or how long it will take to get an answer, but if they don't remove the charge, I have decided to close my business account there and also close the safe deposit box. This bank has done nothing for me over the last ten years except raise the service charges to intolerable levels, and I am tired of it. So I will be happy to close that account and find a bank that will be happier to have my business account. You can bank on it!

Have you incurred problems with your bank? How did you handle it?







26 comments:

Unknown said...

I haven't had problems with my credit union, but I'm not a happy camper with WAMU where I have two accounts. When my CD comes due next year, I'm going to withdraw it. Everything is so damned impersonal these days, isn't it?

rosemary said...

We have had problems in the past with a local bank....deposit goes in on Friday morning at 11 AM...a payroll deposit that because it is direct deposit gives .5% more on the CD we have...the deposit is CLEARED but we can't access the $$ until Monday....because that is the rule. We left that bank and never looked back.

Diane Mandy said...

I'm with a fairly small, local bank and never had a problem. I can't say the same for Max who uses B.O.A.--who has offered nothing but TERRIBLE customer service. If you do change, do not go with them. Good luck!

Star said...

You have to read all your bils carefully, The other day I saw a new charge on my cell pone bll, for something I neither ordered or wanted. I called to haveit removed.

Jean Campbell said...

As inconvenient as it is, go in person to the bank. It also helps to have someone whose name you know, to ask for each time.

I have a WAMU story that would curl your hair. In short, it took two trips of 400 miles round trip each, but I finally got results. We spent a week on the phone before we figured out that showing up in person is the only way.

Banks have no allegiance to small depositors, why do they think we're going to be loyal customers? If small potatoes wins the lottery, who will hold their money? Surely not the big biz bank who didn't value them before.

Rick said...

Bank of America. Need I say more? I tried switching to the Bank of Afghanistan, but Homeland Security got all pissy.

Anonymous said...

um. who hasn't? Banks make me crazy with all the hidden charges. Because of Rich's business we use a private banker at Chase and I've slapped all of the kid's accounts under that umbrella to avoid various fees and charges. It seems as though they hit people with the smallest balances the hardest. So- you go girl!

Jamie Dawn said...

We have one bank account in CA and one in AR.
We've not had any problems with either account, other than the fact that there's not enough money in them.
:-)
Give 'em hell, Judy!!

awareness said...

I have an aversion to banks. I hate them and can't believe they get away with such unethical business practises.

There they sit drowning in their accumulated earnings and mergers etc with amounts of money unimaginable........earned off the backs of honest people.

good luck Judy. My prediction is that you will be changing banks.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh Lordy....Here is what I learned Judy. Banking AIN'T what it used to be, at all! There is NO customer service---In fact here, you cannot even reach a person at your branch, let alone at the bank phone whatever---And NO one is here in Los Angeles. I don't know where they are---India? Colorado" Texas? I just know they are not here. So YES, I have had nothing but trouble and quite honestly I have not found a bank that is any different here on this decade. It is so very discouraging to me, given that I cannot go into the Bank...If this is "progress"...deliver me, please.

Good luck to you my dear...maybe it is not quite as bad where you are...At least you can still reach a person at your bank. My tale is "shades of things to come"!

David Edward said...

credit union.
'nuf said

Anonymous said...

The one biggest problem I had with my bank was when my husband died. Instead of being helpful they kept requiring papers that I had already provided and that they had lost. It took three solid years to close the account and recover my money.
Bank clerks must be born with cottonwool in their ears. :(

Eddie said...

Shame on the buying out bank for not honoring the previous one's contracts.

Granny Annie said...

Find a high ranking Operations Officer at your branch. (Not a lender and at least a Vice President or above). Express your concerns and your desire to remain their customer after your years of loyalty to their financial institution. Ask for the address of the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) and let them know you wish to document your concern in writing to the bank and the OCC. Any complaint forwarded to the OCC has to be addressed in a timely manner by the CEO of the bank. Usually they will do anything to keep that kind of complaint from being made.

Anonymous said...

We've left banks before for similar reasons. THe worst was the old Barnett Bank in Florida. Their service charges were exorbitant. No wonder they went out of business.

I stick to credit unions where ever possible, but the bank my husband's company uses gives us a good deal because they want the business.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

We've been very loyal customers at our bank for years. They happen to keep a good chunk of my money for me. When I've had problems (not many), I just tell them I know I can get a better money market account rate elsewhere and they keep me happy. I also deal mainly with just the one girl who is a manager.

MaR said...

Don't get me started!!!

Moon said...

I did a whole comment on a bank prob I had but blogger ate it ARGHH

Also mentioned that I edited my blog post to include the recipe book name duh! It's called (The GI Diet Cookbook) by Rick Gallop...it has 200 recipes in it.

Carolyn said...

Judy, I left that very same bank several years ago. My parents both had problems w/it too. When I was Dad's legal guardian, I had to get the SHERIFF to make them get the guy to come in and open his safe deposit box so we could get out his CD's to cash in for his nursing home payments! BB&T sucks donkey dung! LOL, sorry ;)

We switched to First Century where services are free for hubby 'cause he's over 50, but I get to cash in on them too :)

Shephard said...

Yes, I've had problems. Unfortunately, they are teflon. The only power we have is to switch, and most of them could care less. I am settled with mine, but not happy with it.
~S

rennratt said...

I have had HUGE problems with banks over the years, even while WORKING IN ONE.

I finally gave up.

I joined a credit union over 6 years ago and haven't looked back.

Bud said...

Judy, I use the contact feature available on my on line account. Last time that I did this I received a quick response by mail.

Craver said...

Oh Judy.. BB& T = The devil.

I had A HUGE falling out with them just a few months ago..

RUN RUN RUN AWAY!!!!

Anonymous said...

We've fired a few banks for many of the same reasons. Funny how they started courting us right after with all sorts of "come hithers"! LOL

carmilevy said...

We turfed our old bank after they pulled the same thing: relentlessly higher rates coupled with down-the-drain levels of so-called service. It's depressing because these banks make billions off of poor shmucks like us.

We moved everything over to one of the new "virtual" banks that have no service fees at all. I've lost count how much we've saved in the ensuing years. And their online tools are light years ahead of the so-called big banks.

Canada's banking industry is dominated by five massive institutions, so finding alternatives up here isn't always easy. Thanks for the provocative question, Judy. I hope "your" bank wakes up and smells the coffee before it's too late for them.

utenzi said...

My favorite bank was Bank South but it got swallowed up by Nationsbank over 10 years ago. I have the State Credit Union and Wachovia now and they're both okay, but that's about it.