SunTrust Bank My Head is about to explode... Atlanta Georgia

 Guys give it up. Its not about this posters ability to learn. Its about the standard self entitlment EVERY consumer has. You could type until your fingers fall off. Until the behavour that caused this issue is addressed, this WILL continue to happen to them. Dont feel bad about not being able to assist this poster. Youre "speaking", but there is no "Listen" on the other end. Its all about business with Banks. They dont need to know your personal life experiences when you cant pay your account. They ONLY care about the money. THATS THEIR JOB!!!! So all things being equal, this event will continue to happen reguardless of the advice you guys give.

Sorry...Whale biologist..............

There are a few items which you have stated which are incorrect.  One of those is the balance listed on the website is almost correct, to paraphrase.  It isn't and even the bank will tell you that.  Why?  Because it does NOT take into affect what debits they have not yet received.  The Netflix for example. When you subtract the debits from your running balance, then YOU have the most accurrate balance known to man because that debit is already removed from your own balance and you already know how that debit has affected your account, even if its not reflected in the on-line total.  Your sister's mistake, yes that is a problem. If you would have known that, then you could have subtracted that debit as well. There is absolutely no question about it, keeping that written record and a running balance WILL keep you from overdrafts, unless you or the bank makes an error.  If the bank does make an error, without written records, you have no way to catch it until its too late.  One thing you're going to need to modify is your attitude toward learning.  Sorry, despite what you may think, you don't know everything and everyone is not beneith you.  You write very well.  I am certain you have the capability for much learning, no matter what the subject.  Although on the surface, using the website to check an available balance may seem correct, there is absolutely, positively NOTHING which surpasses keeping a running balance.  Only those who are incredibly lazy will not do so.  Finally, both myself and Robert made great points to help you here.  Your response was not, "thank you guys, you've given me something to learn and think about".  Instead, its the same old dodge immature people have used, "you must work for them".  I just have a feeling you are much better than that.  If only you would be open to seeing your mistakes rather than telling everyone how much you think you know and how much better your ways are without question.  Your ways led you to overdraft fees.  I rest my case.  Oh yes, to the best of my knowledge, Robert is not a Suntrust employee, ex-employee or retiree.  I am self employed and have never worked for any bank nor has any bank been one of my clients.  One more thing, Lizzie, at one time in the distant past I kept my accounts just like you did and ran up tons of overdraft fees.  I learned my lesson and haven't paid one in mucho years.  In my office, I have an older lady who does nothing but keep track of our accounts, balances daily as well as keep track of our client's accounts.  When it comes to our accounts, she is the boss and I don't spend a penny until and unless she say's we have the money to do so. 

So okay, perhaps these gentleman 'yelling' at me are disgruntled employees of Suntrust who are sick of people coming/calling in and yelling at them over something that is CLEARLY the customer's own irresponsible fault, believe me I have posted a rebuttal [or two] at my own customer's stupidity myself-BUT- I am not stating any of that here. I have successfully managed to keep track of my checking accounts for over 18 years now without incident. And to respond to the most recent rebuttal YES, I did have the bank refund an overdraft charge previously, which WAS my fault and if they had said no, I would not have gone crying ,stomping and angry internet posting away. And before anyone breathes another word about their precious check ledgers,[and I should not even have to further explain this but this berating is a bit infuriating] the reason for the overdraft was that while I was incapacatated due to major surgery, I signed up for a free trial of Netflix to pass the time . I was planning on cancelling, but forgot(maybe I was too busy being in pain IDK). WHICH I KNOW WOULD HAVE BEEN MY FAULT FOR NOT REMEBERING NOT TO DO SO. I am not one of those people who say that banks are out to get you and that checking accounts are evil, but this is a crazy situation.

And as far as the previous poster(s) said not everyone uses a check register! Banks dont even really give those out anymore! There are different ways of keeping track of your accounts.(WHICH HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR ME) I learned how to use a check register in the second grade while we were still writing checks and swiping our cards through an old fashioned carbon copy card reader! And saying that banks dont want to give you fees? Are you serious? They are counting on snafus and irresponsible people for fees! That's kind of a bread and butter thing. And like I stated previously, I am aware of gas purchases and e-checks that are delayed and I TAKE THAT IN TO ACCOUNT! I have not seen where I have made a check card purchase and it is not at least pending on my online banking. I am not soley relying on online banking. THE THING THAT STARTED THIS WAS AN ONLINE PAYMENT NOT PROCESSED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. MY SISTER THOUGHT SHE WAS DEBITING FROM HER OWN ACCOUNT. And yes, I know that a deposit does not magically clear on a Sunday night! I was stating that as a reason that I checked my balance again! I really do not need to be 'schooled' on funds availablity and check writing processes (which again few people do nowadays)which I am clearly versed on. You are not speaking to some silly, angry girl who just got out of high school. Save your 'life lesson' lectures for your children who still probably did not listen to you!

 Okay you are free to wallow in your own ignorance, but the fact is that you are not properly managing your account.  On-Line banking was NEVER meant to be the sole method(or even the primary) method of account management.  Because it can not be guaranteed to be accurate 100% of the time.  Oh and evey you admit that this is the case.  "online banking is up to date almost to the second."  It's that almost that is going to "bite you" every time. 

On-Line banking is up to date as to what has been sent to the bank, if the merchant hasn't submited an item to the bank the bank has zero idea you have spent the money.  But if you keep a register YOU know.  Just a few examples.  If you write a check, it could take several days for the bank to receive it, until then your on-line information is wrong.  There are also cases where a merchant may be "off-line".  That is instead of submiting a debit immediatly it may be a batch mode at the end of the night(or later).  While it doesn't happen often I have seen several merchants(mainly gas stations and smaller stores) take 3-5 days for the debit to actually post.  But because I keep a register it doesn't matter when it gets posted because I know what I have spent.

Now just a couple other things.  Making a deposit on Sunday Night is NOT a banking day.  It won't get posted until overnight on Monday(or Tuesday if Monday is a Holiday).  This is not just them but ANY bank.  Yes even the debits you see that come in during non-banking hours(Weekends/night) won't get posted until the next banking day. 

The only reason this happened I'd b/c my wonderful sister processed the wrong account for an online payment

- Ummm..this was your SECOND(at least) overdraft this year..because per your original report they already waived one overdraft earlier.  Did your sister cause that one as well? 

My whole point is, if one has a positive balance, how can they be overdrawn ?

- Because you in fact did not have a positive balance and since you didn't keep a written register and relied on on-line banking you "paid" the price for that.  Oh and yes as stated before until you learn how to properly manage your account you will have this happen again.  It may not be this week, this month, or even this year..but it will happen again.

So while I am sure you won't follow any of this advise, why not go into this bank(or any bank) and ask them how to use a check register.  They will be glad to help you. In fact they will probably even give you a register to use.  Because guess what..banks actually don't want you to get fees.   Oh and one other thing to ask them about is their funds availability policy.

Oh and this goes for your sister as well.....

I'm sorry I forgot that someone out there would assume that I am financially irresponsible , but why is checking one's balance so absurd? (with the exception of gas purchases and e-checks) online banking is up to date almost to the second. And for your information, while I do not keep an old fashioned ledger I DO keep track of my purchases! The only reason this happened I'd b/c my wonderful sister processed the wrong account for an online payment . Knowing that this is not the banks fault ( and that they would not give a flying fig) I sought to make my balance positive again. When I logged onto my online banking it told me I had a positive balance. So before you go assuming things and accuse people of having a fit akin to a five year old, you might want to consider that something unexpected happened. My whole point is, if one has a positive balance, how can they be overdrawn ?

"I checked my balance."  How did you do that?  Did you look at the RUNNING BALANCE in your check register?  Nope!  Not one mention by you of checking your WRITTEN RECORDS or that RUNNING BALANCE.  Then you ridicule the consultation with the people in the bank.  I'll bet they were attempting to tell you to maintain a CHECK REGISTER, mark down each and every debit, do the subtraction at once and keep a RUNNING BALANCE.  Nowhere in your complaining do you say you keep written records.  What you do with this account is you use the card WITHOUT having ANY clue what your balance is. 

Now, you want to stomp your feet, take your toys home and open another account at another bank.  Go ahead!  Until you learn how to manage a checking account, you will CONTINUE to run up overdraft charges then complain the banks are "out to get the little people".  However, you can avoid all this ONCE AND FOR ALL.  You keep written records.  You write down EVERY usage of that account and do the subtraction right then and there (or addition for deposits when they post), keep a running total and then check that total BEFORE you use the card so that you are 100% positiveyou have the money in the account to handle the debit.  The choice is yours.