PNC Bank N.A THIEVES Internet

at one point i had an account with pnc when i was in jersey--i moved to florida--i paid my bills online at the merchant website--i went to pay a sears bill and forgot to add the new account # from a different bank--there was no pnc bank in florida at the time--so i went to pay sears 20$--i think i had like 5$ in this account--i realized it a couple days later--i said i wanted to close the account--they said i had to pay the balance-which was fine--so i asked the person on the phone how much do i have to send you to be straight--i forget the exact amount but they said 25$ for the sake of arguing--again-no pnc banks here so i had to mail my payment and i could not pay them online--so i sent the check out the same day--a couple weeks later--i see more charges being applied for not having money in the account and they would not let me close the account--i told them i just talked to someone not long ago and they said if i mail his amount i will be good--they also took a few days to deposit/clear this check-i believe it was a week--during this week+--they added charges for not making a deposit in an overdrafted account--then they wanted me to mail them another check to cover it!!!!!!--i keep explaining to them i can't just deposit this money-there are no branches around here---eventually they closed the account but it took literally 2 hours of arguing and being polite(which was very hard i may add)--and finally i talked to some kind of "manager"--argued with him for a half hour!!!

so, you do need to keep a more accurate register..any human being can make a mistake. Why your register does not coincide with the online statement is another story..we will get to that.

The re-sequencing the bank does to maximize fees, cause fees to transactions that did have the funds at the time of the transaction, and causing all the confusion with the online banking..which the banks ENCOURAGE you to sign up for, use and depend on UNTIL you are hosed is being investigated and several of the major banks are currently defendants in a class action lawsuit regarding these very practices. Also, they are in trouble for automatically enrolling every checking account customer into overdraft "protection", even if the customer did not want or need it, which in turn allows a mistake to be covered by the bank...and then compound the fees by re-ordering from highest to lowest.

The bank will normally tell you this was a "courtesy"...but all the courtesy really did was line their pockets with fees.

Some will tell you that it is all your fault because if you didn't overdraft it would have been impossible to get a fee. This is a half truth. While it would be more unlikely if you didn't overdraft you wouldn't get a fee, it is not impossible due to unknown merchant holds, unauthorized charges etc to cause an overdraft the customer was unaware of on their register.

As well, it is certainly not your fault that the bank is re-ordering transactions to increase fees and charge unjustly on transactions that did have the funds available at the time.

If you have a Chase bank near you, I would consider looking into it. Although they have had their share of ethics issues, and are also defendants in lawsuits, they have recently voluntarily changed some policies. No more auto enroll on the debit card (checks and autopay are subject as always since those are ACH transactions), and Chase will not re-sequence debit card transactions at a point of sale or ATM, which means the bank online statement will be comprehensive and real-time, and in the event of an overdraft, you can only get a fee for the transactions that actually caused it if you choose overdraft coverage.
If you do not choose to have overdraft coverage on the debit card (a better choice since who needs a fee), the transaction will be declined at a point of sale or ATM withdrawal, giving you fair and ample time to find out why, and save you from the proverbial "$35.00 cup of coffee".

Transactions will be posted as they occur..just like my Paypal mastercard (it's not a bank I know, but the card is used like a debit card) which I can not tell you how many times has saved me from unauthorized merchant holds at gas stations, restaurants, nightclubs and others. There are law changes coming in a few months that will require all banks to disclose OD protection on the debit card and not auto enroll (you will be receiving notice if you have not already), but the re-sequencing which is a major reason for the additional unjust fees, will still be legal. Hopefully that will change as well in the future, or more banks will voluntarily cease this unscrupulous practice to compete with Chase.

As far as the online statement... with any bank..it does have a useful purpose although it is confusing if the bank is manipulating it..if a merchant puts a hold that you are unaware of..it will be on the statement, as well as any fraudulent transactions or use of the card. Always wise to check it in the AM, midday..and in the PM (right before midnight). Just don't depend on for an accurate available balance it if your bank is playing slot machine with the balance and transaction times.