Wachovia Bank Online Bill Pay Services Posts Checks Prematurely to Charge NSF Fees Sugarhill Georgia

I set up automatic bill pay with Wachovia Online banking services. All my payments are set up to be made on the 15th and the 30th or 31st to ensure my check's deposited by the time payment is submitted. Wachovia's teller sent my mortgage payment out several days before the due date and it apparently arrived at the mortgage company early. Even though the check was dated April 30, 2008, the check was sent to Wachovia on April 28, 2008 for processing and they sent the check trough charging me a $35.00 insufficient fund fee. I contacted the bank to ask that they refund my insufficient fund fee as the payments were not suppose to occur until April 30th. A copy of their email response is listed below. I have decided however to close the account (which I've had less than a year as I am a new customer with them). I'm looking for other banking institutions and am considering credit unions.

Wachovia's Response:

Dear SARAH XXXXXX(Last Name Removed by Poster),

Thank you for contacting Wachovia.

This message is in response to your recent communication, which was received on 04/30/2008 and assigned Case ID 27345620.

I have received your e-mail regarding the payment of check 5070 and apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced.

Please be advised our check processing equipment cannot detect a post-dated check (a check bearing a date later than the actual date it is written). At their discretion, a biller may hold a check for an
extended period of time. Unfortunately, we are unable to determine if they will do so.

Our goal is to ensure your payments arrive at the biller by the Pay Date you have selected. Check 5070 was mailed on 04/25/2008 in order to arrive by 04/30/2008.

To ensure future payments are not presented against insufficient funds, you may wish to schedule the payment with a Pay Date that falls several business days after your deposit is available.

Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience.

I value your business as a Wachovia customer and look forward to continuing to serve your financial needs. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us via e-mail or call 800-950-2296. Representatives are available to assist you 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.

Sincerely,

Nancy B

Sarah
Sugahill, Georgia
U.S.A.