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I've said it before and I'm saying it again: If you want to se the biggest bunch of crooks and thieves you don't have to go into dark alleyways; you merely have to walk to your local bank. When they rob you they won't use a gun but money is taken front you just the same. Here is another example based on a true story.
I was updating my financial information on the computer when I noticed that I neglected to register a deposit. It's not a big deal, as I don't use the account except to collect the deposit in the first place but its good to be accurate. So I call the so-called "EZ touch banking" number. It wasn't as easy as it used to be but I digress. Anyway, before going through a list of options the balance is mentioned, which I noted. After verifying the deposit amount I hang up. When I turn to the computer I noticed that my balance and their claim for my balance don't match. So I call back. Because of some changes to the system I had to reset my pin to access the system. I accessed savings to do the same since I was on the phone and was horrified to realize that the savings account was short as well. Not only was it short but it had dropped to below the minimum balance without any withdrawals on my part. When I check withdrawals I learn that there'd been a withdrawal of ten bucks. They called it a service charge. Confused, I call the bank for an explanation. When I told them that I had free checking and the shoppers savings (which means no monthly fees for a minimum balance of a mere 300 bucks) and that there shouldn't have been any fees taken from the account. The chick who answered the phone said that the service charge was a "bad address fee." This is a fee they charge when they send you a statement but it comes back to them.
Excuse me? What the fuck warrants a ten-dollar fee for a returned statement? The paper, envelope, postage, and ink don't cost that much; who do they think they are that they can justify such a charge? I have never heard of such a thing. Frankly the concept is just too ghetto to contemplate. Is this bank so desperate for funds that they must steal ten dollars a month from customers who have difficulty with the address changing process? It was especially obnoxious since it was the bank that made it so difficult to change the address with them in the first place. I admit that I didn't change my address with them but it wasn't for lack of trying. I called the bank and they refused to do it. (Not like the bank at which my main account was held who was most accommodating) The bank in not allowing me to change my address over the phone claimed that it was for my protection, a complete crock if I've ever heard one in light of events which I will detail later. They said I could do it via snail mail if I get my signature notarized. Notarized? What makes them think that I would have time to hunt down a notary? I didn't have time to go to the now inconveniently located bank. The bank now lies about 10 miles from me. I didn't have time to go there to change my address in person what with bankers hours being nothing but inconvenient and being a second shifter. Besides, when I opened the account the fee did not exist. Because trust me, there was no way in hell I would have opened up the account if that were the case.
When I told the chick on the phone this bit of information she told me it was in the schedule of fees that was sent out after the merger. (Yet another reason why mergers are evil. There's a rant in there that I'm going to write one day.) Of course I didn't closely scrutinize the schedule of fees when it came in the mail I also don't remember receiving said item either. What I did was tell chickie that what happened was completely unacceptable and that I was going to close the account that day. (At great inconvenience as I had to go to work I might add. And yes I realize that I could have just gone and changed the address but they'd already taken ten bucks from each account for at least two months thus robbing me of 20 bucks a month. Once I feel as though I've been screwed by a business I don't do business with them anymore if at all possible.)
So I head to the bank. I approached the teller who informs me that there was a line I'd neglected to notice. So I stand on the line. This reminded me of another reason why I didn't go to the bank in person: Talking to a person was a long drawn out ordeal which entailed waiting while tellers dilly dallied on non-banking chit chat. The line is in an aisle of the supermarket so there's also the possibility that someone may need the items you're standing near. You can easily spend 30 minutes on the line at a time when other banks are empty. In addition there will always be one teller who appears to be working but is in fact taking up space. He or she usually fools newcomers into thinking they're helping customers. When I finally get to the teller I tell them I want to close out the account.
"Fill out a withdrawal slip to close."
After some prodding the teller pointed out the location of the withdrawal slips. I have to admit the whole encounter was rather anticlimactic. Usually when you tell a business that you plan to take your business elsewhere they usually try to find out why and see if they can change your mind. That didn't happen. So I fill out the slip. However, there was a problem. I didn't know my account numbers. So I go to one of the tellers. She wasn't the one who had told me to fill out the withdrawal slip.
"I don't know my account numbers," I tell her.
"Just put your social security number on the space for the account number."
My attempt to close the account however was thwarted again. The teller wouldn't help me because I'd made my original request to the first teller. She actually had the nerve to call someone else from the line who was behind me and help them. I was forced to wait until after the slow woman who was at the first teller I'd spoken to was finished. So after all that I finally get to withdraw my money. And I walk away.
Never once did they ask me for proof that I was who I said I was. I came in and filled out a withdrawal slip with an address they didn't have on file and no knowledge of an account number but they closed out the account and gave me the money without asking to see a driver's license. That means anyone can walk in with awithdrawal slip and a social security number and close out the account. What the hell kind of security is that? Do they have any clue as to how easy it is to get a social security number? Mine is on my timesheet. It is also on my pay stub along with my name and address. That means anyone could get a hold of that and rob me blind with the bank's help! Yet they refuse to allow me to change my address over the phone for "security reasons!" My security means nothing to them. Their being difficult with the address change is nothing more than a ploy to develop a pretext to take my money. Apparently the outrageous ATM fees, the obscene money order fees and the ridiculous service charge for being under the minimum balance aren't enough gravy on the bank's profits. They need to make up a reason to take a fee. Well I for one have no reason to deal with such a ghetto institution. That's why CFS is my former bank.
There's a lesson to be learned though: Pay close attention to the schedule of fees whenever they send them out. The fee changes are never in your favor.
That's my two cents take it for what it's worth.
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