wachovia bank in belle glade,fla over draft fees Belle Glade, Florida

Sherrian, none of this is the bank's fault.  In fact, all of it falls on you.

To begin with, there is no lawsuit that you can file that would compensate you for that either in the past, present, or future.  In a case last year involving a failure to adequately disclose (Closson vs. BofA), the entire class received $78 each.  The bank paid a deductible to their insurance company and the lawyers made out like bandits.  In the most recent case involving Wells Fargo, the case was thrown out after the judge determined the members of the class exercised ZERO due diligence in preventing this from being an issue.  Specifically, it meant keeping a check register.  So there is no lawsuit you could file that would result in funds being returned to you.  The gov't doesn't see this as a problem because it is the vast majority of people in this land who don't pay overdraft fees.

Next, you keep looking online for your balance.  Online will show what the bank shows as your account balance and your available balance can be determined.  But it is not accurate, nor is it meant to be.  The accurate balance is in your check register.  If you don't keep a check register, then you don't know what your real balance is.  From what you indicated, the truth probably is that you were overdrawn before the bank ever showed you were overdrawn.  In other words, you real balance was not $115 when you called the bank - it was only the balance they showed.  The reality is that your balance was really less than ZERO (at least -$60.00 and possibly even less than that).  You needed to make another deposit when the bank gave you your balance.

Next, the bank was correct in telling you that automated debits don't show until presented for payment.  The banker does not have access to auto debit information that's going to post for an arrangement you made between yourself and the electric company.  Now, you knew this automated debit was coming; you knew the payment was coming from your account - but if you had kept an accurate register, you would have also known you were still in an overdraft situation even when the bank told you your balance.

Next, EVERY bank out there posts transactions highest to lowest and processes debits before credits.  If you don't believe that, I invite you to look on this website for BofA, Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Citizens, 5/3, and just about any other bank you can think of.  You'll find the same thing everywhere.  Now there may some people who think they may be able to find a bank that doesn't do this; if you find one....it won't be that way for long because they're all changing.  Credit Unions are about the only place left that doesn't, but they may be changing soon because many credit unions are financially faltering as well.  They've already raised overdraft fees to be nearly the same as a banks, they're refunding less fees, and their next move may be to resort transactions just like a bank.

Finally, you robbed yourself.  There is a lesson here for you....stop using your debit card for anything except the ATM.  Stick to checks and cash.  Debit cards should not be used by people who live paycheck to paycheck and who don't manage their cash balances at the bank very well.  If you do this, and start keeping a register, even if you overdraft (and it will really be your fault then), you won't be robbed of several hundred dollars.  But it will really be in your control.

Bank of America is number 2..and the list is getting longer. Expect a letter in the mail soon...Also in the search on the top right side of this page..enter in the names of banks and read through some of the other reports and info on steps you can take..good info there but you have to bear with some blaming thrown at the customer..they do share some responsibility agreed..but what the banks have been doing to encourage this is an outrage, unfair and in my eyes constitutes a rip off.



Seems that no matter how I explain the banks part in all this...that there will always be some..or a lot of insults and belittling of the VICTIM. Not to mention differences in opinion, different experiences..and comprehension issues.

I too would be satisfied if simply telling the customers they are irresponsible with their finances, don't know how to use a debit card..and a register is the answer..and perhaps in some..but not all cases, this is a solution. But it is only a band aid..the cure is in the banks playing fair..and changing some policies. This problem is wide spread..and will continue UNTIL something is done..because lets face reality...the way the bank has it set up..there will always be a consistent influx of victims, and even if the particular solution in some cases was a register, it won't matter a fart..because the damage was already done.

I got an email from my mom today asking me if I have been reading all this stuff in the news about "what happened to me a while ago" with the banks overcharging on overdrafts. She is in NYC, I am in LA..word is spreading quickly..my job here is almost done..then it's on to the courts and hopefully to congress this time..if not..we will do it again. this is the worst time for our "trusted" banks to be ripping off and duping and fleecing the poor and lower income..the economy NEEDS this money right now...it needs to be in circulation..not in the banks pockets..money is too scarce right now..and the scheme has been playing into the banks hands long enough...we are fed up.