Wachovia Bank RIPOFF, THIEVES, UNFAIR, WORST BANK EVER, Birmingham Alabama

Jim, you are misinformed

Just because you report "fraud" tot he credit bureaus, does NOT mean no one can report a debt on your credit. It DOES mean they have to prove it is yours. And guess what? That little signature card you signed when you opened the account? That proves it is yours. Along with the fact that the account has your name, social, address, employment info ect. Falsely reporting fraud makes it harder for those who have legitimate concerns.

If you do not like the banks practices, who does anyway? Go to a different bank that does not practice those particular traits. Or a credit union. But the only way to not have any trouble is to read all terms and conditions BEFORE YOU SIGN! If you don't understand something, ask. Do not take a confusing answer. A good bank or credit union will want you to understand the rules before you use the account.

Also, even if the bank cannot report to your credit, they CAN and DO report to Chex Systems. Which will keep you from opening a new account, and can even cause your current bank or credit union to close your account with them. Its in the terms and conditions of most banks now.

Listen, I don't like banks either. And yes, I happen to bank with Wachovia. I live in Oregon now and there is not a single branch west of Texas that I can find. My solution? NO ATMs. If I need cash, I go to the store, buy something and get cash back. I also do not run my account under $50. I only buy what is absolutely necessary to live (which means I eat a lot of macaroni and top ramen and don't go out to movies and I don't buy a ton of new clothes and I don't go fun shoppping at all). I save my money. I work 30 hours a week for a crap wage (God, Oregon's economy sucks!) I pay rent, utilities, food, cell, and bus pass with that. I do not drive because I cannot afford it. And yet, I manage to not overdraw my account and at the end of the month, I still have money left over. That goes to my retirement fund. (I am 21...use me as an example...start saving NOW!)

I know it is not easy people! And the banks put the odds against us. But I am telling you, you can free yourself from their hell. All you truly need to live is food (one person can easily feed themselves for $150 a month -- you just have to shop right) shelter (if you cannot afford that beautiful apartment or house, get a roommate), utilities (turn things off!) and transportation (God gave you legs, the city gave you a bus). My total expenditures are:

Food: $145
Shelter: $400
Utilities: $150
Transportation: $35
Loans/Credit: $350

That is $1080.

You will notice that does not include any ATM fees or NSFs or ODFs. None. I do not pay them. Because I refuse to overdraw my account. If I do not have the money, I do not buy. When I do buy, I round up in my register (that is RIGHT I USE a REGISTER!) so that I have a little "cushion"

Alright, enough of the lectures. I just wanted to show that it IS possible to live within your means and still get by surviving.

Oh, and by the way, I don't use credit cards.

When you made the ATM transaction...

you were informed that not only would there be a fee for using the foreign ATM there may also be a fee from your bank.

It should also be disclosed in your account terms and conditions, so you should have known you would be charged. It should also explain the funds holding process when you use your check card to make a purchase.

As the consumer you have to be as familiar as possible with your banks policies so as to not get caught up in the fee trap.

The bank is correct in stating it wasn't their error. You should have known taht there would have been a fee for using a foreign ATM and accounted for it.

Perhaps you should consider opening an account with a local bank if you will be staying in the region for the foreseable future. Just be sure to read through the account terms and conditions (it really doesn't take that long). You will be surprised to learn that most banks have similar policies as Wachovia. Or consider a credit union. There may be one around in your area that you may be able to join.

NOTE, I said open another account BEFORE getting your money back

I'm well aware of the blackmail banks try to pull, threatening to ruin your credit report, or reporting you to checksystems.

That's why I highly recomend a credit union account be opened BEFORE any attempt to take back the money they stole.

I have done this exact same thing, and the bank whined, threatened and finaly gave up BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO JUSTIFY THEIR THEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

They robbed you, get it back

First you don't have to put up with this theft.
Go and open an account with another financial institution, I highly recomend joining a Credit Union, I've had bank troubles before with four different Banks, but since going to a credit union I've had absolutely no trouble at all.

Second, after the other account is opened, ask for the checks to be an advanced number, you do NOT have to take checks starting with 101, ask for the checks to start with a different number.
Example, whenever I changed banks, I'd ask for the check numbers to start with a number higher than the bank that I was leaving, say that the current check numbers were 1065, I'd then ask for the new bank's checks to start with 1100, or even 1200 so there was no confusion.
This is a free service, but little known.

Third, AFTER establishing the new checking(Etc) account GET YOUR MONEY BACK.
Here's how.
Empty your old account, (Leave a dollar or so) then go to the ATM of the bank you're leaving NOT ANOTHER BANK'S TERMINAL and withdraw the total that they screwed you out of, the ATM will let you do this, then ignore all bank calls, letters etc claiming that you're overdrawn.
Simply ignore ALL communications, they'll try to screw you further by adding all kinds of "Fees" and "Late Charges" but they can't do anything but holler, it's too small an ammount to sue over, at the same time write to all three credit reporting agencies and report "Fraud" this will keep the bank from screwing with your credit.

Fourth, do NOT ever talk to anyone at the old bank, never answer any communications at all, simply trash all letters and ignore telephone calls, they'll try hard to make you think they're going to turn you over to the Police, but they won't because then they have to defend themselves against the fact that they are really trying to justify their theft in the first place.

Good luck

Why not give a courtesy refund

I feel that Wachovia should REFUND as a courtesy the near one hundred dollars that resulted in NSF fees for being .70 some cents short. ESPECIALLY since they have SOOOOO many of the similar complaints. Hey lets be fair. Refund the money and allow the consumer to decide after that if they will close the account. What is it going to hurt the bank? That is unless they really are sharks. Afterall BANK OF AMERICA does work with it's customers.

In re: Jim being misinformed

Since you listed all of your bills and made the comment that you do not have NSF fees and you have legs and a bus pass, YOU should know that nobody wants to hear that crap. You don't have kids, and you don't live where Katrina made landfall. IN FACT we don't have busses here. All I am saying is that Wachovia should have given the NSF fees back this time as a courtesy. SEE first of all I was banking with SouthTrust and Wachovia took them over. ONE TIME I wrote my mother a check for 4,000 dollars and she cashed it at the branch. The bank made an error several days later and placed the money BACK in my account. I didn't ROB them by withdrawling the money and saying OH WELL, YOUR MISTAKE.... Afterall that is what they are telling their customers. They are saying that it is too bad if we had a little mishap over a service charge. They will take all they can from us. OH AND not all banks do this. JUST WACHOVIA IS FAMOUS FOR THIS. IF THEY WEREN'T THEY SHOULD JUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS ONE AND PROVE IT!! GIVE ME BACK MY FEES!!!