BB&T (Branch Banking & "Trust") ripoff! Fraudulant overdraft charges and nsf fees, unfair practice, money stolen, bad banking, cost me my check writing privileges. Louisville Kentucky

 I have been dealing with BBT bank for years and I have never once had an issue with this bank. First of all, you people should be using your check registers to keep up with ALL of your transactions and stop checking balances that can be misleading. Anyone with any real sense about them would know better than to rely on a computer balance over your own black and white balance. When you use ATM's that are not BBT machines too those have their own fees associated with using them. If you can't keep track of your money yourself better than you are doing to prevent all  the NSF and Overdraft fees then go back to using cash! Cash you checks, and pay your bills with cash or money orders!

When you run out of cash in your wallet you will then have no choice and you wont have fees you can't afford to pay back! Same thing happens with creidt cards, you can go over the limit they have set for you but you best bet that they will charge you and over the limit fee, and then I've known of situations where they will charge you a late fee when your cycle comes around if the full balance isn't paid to get you back under that limit and ANOTHER over the limit fee...these fees will continue over and over and over. It's crazy but that is how they stay rich and you stay broke and that is how they are on top and you will never be anywhere.

As far as the available balances you all keep talking about you know and have known how they work...stop complaining about how they took your money...if you are going to be mad at anyone, be mad at yourself for giving it to them. You did it, not the banks fault! If you are going to play the game you have to follow the rules !

I am a victim of bb&t overcharges and would like to consider a class action suit for lower income consumers being treated differently than higher income consumers. Let me first start by saying that I am an educated consumer and not looking to beat he system, but do what is right. I deposited $140 cash at an paperless ATM to cover a transaction going through that night. The deposit was made at 10 pm. However, I did not realize that cash was not immediately available no matter what time he deposit was made.

I was wrong! Why will a bank incorporate envelope free ATMs if not to verify certain types of deposits??? I was charged $35 fee for a charge be because they are unab,e to verify the deposit! Are you kidding me!!! I called customer service and they provided no service. They informed me to read the disclosure agreement I signed back in 2008. Well that is the set up for legL action.

Manager informed me that they could not give me a courtesy refund based on their courtesy model because I received on back in 2011. They could not refund me because it was not a banking error, due to the fact that it is in writing when I opened he account in 2008. So I am stuck with the fee. I ink we need a class actin suit against these practices which will make the bank inform their consumers of their traps. I will not let this go! The lower income consumers are not being treated fairly and not provided e same level of service which violates the fair lending act. Who is in with me? Please respond and let me know.

I used to think I was banking illerate, but it is more that they are just a bit smarter. They give you just enough information so you think you understand it all but not enough so you fully understand so when you mess up they can chage you left and right with fees.

What I have learned...if making a cash deposit it is usually credited instantly with no problems if a check come though. If it is a direct deposit (even after midnight) it may show as a deposit but the money really isn't actually there until the next business day which means, it will not be "actually" in your account until that night, or if your direct deposit is on a Friday you do not "actually" have the money in your account until Monday or Tueday. Checks will always go through their system first before any deposits.

Some banks have a cut off time, most are 2pm if you make a deposit before 2 pm you account is usually credited by midnight, if after that time you account will not actually be credited until midnight on the next business day. It is confusing.

When I banked with Wachovia, I ran into fee's and fee's and more fee's because I did not understand this, problem was they did not give instant credit for cash deposits or direct deposits (they stayed pending for 2-3 days)and when I had my account there, I made a cash deposit, then at the same time purchased 3 gift cards.(they told me that the only way I could purchase them was to have the funds debited from my account) The next day I was charged 127.00 in NSF fee's, mainly because the gift card debits went in before the cash credit. Same thing with my direct deposit. When I went to Wachovia and wrote a check to myself for cash, the next day I was charged a NSF fee BECAUSE the check went though while my direct deposit was still in pending status.

I then went to Bank of America, they gave me instant credit with my direct deposit even though it showed online as "pending" which it stayed that way until the next business day. As long as I used my debit card and not write any checks I was okay, but if I wrote a check and it cleared before the pending status went away..they would bounce it and charge me a NSF fee. That is not why I left BOA, I moved and the nearest branch was 50 miles away.

Now I have opened an account with BB&T and talked to the branch manager about their deposit policy. Their's is pretty much the same as the other in regards to cash, direct and counter deposits.

so what I have learned...even though I make a deposit or my direct deposit goes in, in no way means I have the full credit to my account until the next business day or 2 or 3. If I write any checks and they clear before they "actually" credit my account with my deposit they will bounce them and charge me a fee because debits come out first before "ANY" credits goes in.

I have 2 checking accounts now, one for my direct deposit, or any counter deposit to go into. Once that deposit is made I go online and transfer the money into my other checking account with instant credit and any checks I write will clear with no problems or if I am at the Bank I will withdraw the money from the one account and deposit cash into the other and pay my bills with the second account. When my spouse gets paid, we go the the bank it is drawn on and then go to our bank and deposit cash. It is a hassle at times but if you are like me, I cannot wait until the "pending' status goes away to pay my bills for fear of the bank bouncing a check.

1. Before you open an account at any bank ask for they rules on deposits. If they have a cut off time even for cash deposits.

2. If you have direct deposit ask when the money is actually in your account and not considered "pending" and if any checks come in while the deposit is pending will they honor the check or bounce it.

3. Use only your debit card while the deposit is "pending" .

4. Do not go to your bank and write a check to yourself for cash while the deposit is "pending". Their system will bounce it out, charge you a fee and then put it back in "after" they actually credit your account.

5. Cash your paycheck at your employer's bank and then go to your bank and deposit cash. Cash is usually instant but depositing your paper paycheck usually is considered pending until the next business day.

6. Open a 2nd checking account and transfer your deposits from one account to the other account to make it a instant credit account or just have one account but deposit cash only.

I hope this helps.

I have a different thread concerning BB&T located shortly below this one on the list.
I have had all that is mentioned above happen to me by this particular bank. I have closed my account with BB&T. I have opened my account with Bank of America. I have a mortage so my account is free. I sat and talked with the people there about all of the pitfalls that BB&T has. They told me up front. We will take out fees for overdrafts and NSF. A lot like BB&T by paying the big stuff first then the little if in fact it all comes through that day. They do not have a 2:00 cut off. Deposits count that day. They will not allow ATM withdrawls if the money is not there. They will not allow checks to go through before a deposit is approved, they will put it on hold until it clears. (personal checks). Business checks, Govt. checks will post that day or the next business day depending on the time of the deposit. if it is 5 min. before closing that type of thing. They are open for business Sat. They do not charge me a fee for ATM services. They will charge for foreign ATM's. Well I have been using them for one month. I used them 4 years ago, why I quit I can't remember it was nothing negative. I have been happy knowing that they won't rip me off behind my back, that they will do it telling me up front that this is how it works. If you don't like it go somewhere else. Not pretending to be my freind and sticking it to me while I am not looking.

I have been banking with BB&T for almost a year now. Just recently they have acquired my former bank known as First Virginia Bank.

Prior to the take over I've never had any problems concerning overdrafts or acquiring mystery fees. Since BB&T has taken over I may have paid an estimated $1000 in overdraft and NSF fees in the one year alone.

I'm writing this because I was slammed again today with $192 in overdraft fees and here's why.

I had over $1000 in my account when I used my card twice. Once to make a purchase for gas and another to make a purchase for lunch. I go home and check my online statement and it shows that they indeed have subtracted this amount from my available balance. I think everything is good and I go about my merry way.

Afterwords I withdrew $40 from a foreign ATM machine. I stuck my card in, pushed in my pin, money came out, and a balance statement followed. I was good to go. Or so I thought. I also made a couple of smaller purchases.

The next day I wrote a check for $938. This is the amount needed to cover my rent. The check gets sent into the bank and cashed. I check my bank statement and I see a line that reports a -$192 in overdraft fees.

Apparently (how it was explained by the csr), they cashed the check against my $930 available balance I had remaining in my account. And then cleared the charges for all of my other payments afterwards (that supposedly already had money set aside to be paid reflected in my available balance).

The way the system is supposed to work is that the money for the other charges are set aside and intended to be paid for. The money that is set aside is removed from your available balance but not actually paid, so it's still there in your current balance. But what they did was charge my check against the available balance instead which created an over draft and put my account into the negatives. Then they paid for all of the other charges that I made days prior afterwards. Each one received an overdraft INCLUDING the money I withdrew from the ATM.

Yes, the $40 I withdrew from the foreign ATM was charged with an overdraft. In all of my years in using ATM's this has never been a problem. I figure that if you don't have the money in your account to start with it won't give it to you right? Wrong, the way the BB&T system is setup you can keep spending money that you may not have acrueing overdraft fees on overdraft fees.

I was shocked to find out that I was being charged $32 in overdraft for a $40 withdrawl I made out of an ATM. They explaind that withdrawing money from an ATM works the same as if you were writing a check. Even if you are using a BB&T atm! The csr noted that they have signs posted out in front of the BB&T atm's that point this out.

Additionally, I was charged $32 overdraft for the monthly fee of using their online banking (which should be a free service anyhow) which comes out at the end of the unpredictable statement cycle. Not to mention the $2 fee for using a foreign atm.

Without a doubt I feel that I have been swindled for this is not the first time this has happened, but it will be the last. I am closing my account with BB&T effectively soon.

The way I worked out my balance everything should have been paid for with no problems. But because they have this weird system that seems to make them more money it totally screwed up my account balance and I end up paying more money in fees that I should never have been charged with.

There's a lot more I can write about this, but I am so furious and had to leave work early as a result. I would call them "again" or send an email, but I don't want to get charged an overdraft for a $2 fee I cannot cover.

I am a former customer service representative for BB&T, but I am not writing to rebut your report. To the contrary, I concur with what you reported. That is why I could no longer tolerate working for BB&T. Although I was making a reasonable salary, I saw more than I cared to know about how a bank such as BB&T operates. While working with BB&T, I had an account with them with no maintenance fees, supposedly a privelege for employees. But it was just too much of a headache trying to avoid all the traps that BB&T sets to get those NSF fees from its accountholders. Many may not realize just how heavily BB&T relies on "non-interest" revenue and perhaps they are not the only bank that employs unethical practices to take money from their customers. But things reached a point where I could no longer tolerate being a part of their operations. I closed my account with them, fortunately before they could take any money from me. I destroyed my own BB&T debit card while assisting a customer on the phone who was being screwed by BB&T for using her debit card. Shortly thereafter, I resigned because I got tired of going home from work every day with a guilty conscience and with dirty money in my wallet. All I can say is, if you can get into a credit union, your money would be far better off there. Otherwise, find a smaller bank. they are typically more honest than the big banks because they have to work harder to get accountholders. If you haven't gotten screwed by BB&T yet, it might be a good idea to get out while the gettin's good. With the interest rate that BB&T pays on your savings, it could take 10 years or more to make back what the bank takes from you on just one NSF charge.

I usually skip over these bank complaints. It's always the same thing. The bank stole my money. In reality, it turns out the loser who complained has no money. They put in $150, and take out $250. The bank charges them a big fee for the extra $100.

Most of these people use banks like paycheck loan companies. They're playing the float. Spending today, and depositing the money tomorrow.

All this adds up to one thing. Lack of money management skill. These people are spending so much that they are always broke. Always at $25 or less in their account. It's no wonder they always have to pay fees.

There's a simple way to solve this problem. First, go back to cash. On payday, cash your check. It doesn't matter where you do that. Bank. Check cashing business. Or supermarket. The bottom line is start with cash on payday.

Then, when you need gas, the $6 is in your pocket, not some bank account. You pay right there and then. So simple. Anytime you need to know your balance, you simple count what you have in your wallet. No fees. No calls. No emails. What could be simpler?

If you need to send money in the mail, use a postal money order. You know what bills you have every month. Make one trip. Buy all the money orders at the same time. Pay cash for them. So simple.

This just solves the symptoms. The real problem is lack of money management skills. You need to at least balance what you earn with what you spend. You can't continue to go on spending money that you didn't make. That's how this whole problem gets started. In addition, you need to maintain a savings account, for emergencies.

I suggest you go down to the library and check out some books on budgeting and personal finance. Find out what you're doing wrong.

As for the bank, I suspect they are merely charging you for taking out more money than you have. Yes, they're crooks. But, they are not that crooked that they steal money and charge fees for legitimate customers. Not yet, anyway.

In every case, it's always a situation where the customer is spending more money than they actually have. Perhaps, they only need a loan for a few hours, until they deposit a paycheck. Other times, it is for a few days. But, in all these cases, the bank's computers saw a negative balance, and assessed a fee.

Obviously, none of this can happen when you use cash. When you're down to your last dollar, that's it. There's no insufficient funds fee. You simply go home and sit in the dark until your next paycheck arrives.

In the end, you wind up ahead. You save all the bank hassles. Plus all the money lost to fees. Try this. It works, and it works well. You may think you need banks. You may think you can't live without them. You are wrong in both cases.