Sun Trust Bank overdraft fees are outrageous! Fort Myers Florida

"Getting $20 cash back at the grovery store can be dangerous to your pocket book. Getting 420 cash back at a publx cost me a $32 overdraft fee. Not once but the bank allowed this to happen 3 times in a 3 day period so that they could charge me $96 to loan me $60 for a few days."

Indeed, it can be costly. This is why it is so important to keep a check register.

"First of all the grocery is connected to the bank computer (if not they should be) This is just shady as hell and borders on being criminal. My guess is that this is done on purpose because it is just too good of a maoney maker."

The grocery is connected to the bank's system, but the bank's system may not always be available. In many cases, the network through which PIN based transactions are processed (Cirrus, Novus, Star, etc) is given an authorization limit which can be approved if the bank's system can't be contacted (due to high traffic, or system outage for example). So, if the network is programmed to automatically allow $60 when the bank's system is unavailable, you will be able to withdraw $60, even if you don't have it in your account.

"To try and insure that this didn't havppen again I walked over to the suntrust bank and ATM that is in this particular grocery and was informed by the banks own ATM that they could not be held responsible if they did not know my balance and that I would also be responsible for overdrafts even from their own ATM!!!"

Now, with your own bank's ATM, authorizations don't occur over the ATM network, they occur directly with the bank. This notice is there in case you're making a withdrawal against already spoken for funds. For example, you have $100 and you write a check for $60. You then go and withdraw $80 before the check clears.

Obviously, the bank cannot know that there is an outstanding check until it is presented, and if the bank chooses to honor both the check and the withdrawal, then you will be charged fees in accordance with your deposit agreement.

"I now have proof postitive that the electronic swipes at the grocery store and elsewhere can check a balance on an account and refuse to give cash/sevices if one over drafts that account. The bank appologists have long maintained that this was not possible."

I don't think anyone has ever stated that it's impossible for you to overdraw on a PIN based transaction. In fact it's very possible if certain circumstances occur.

"To me this sheds light on my claim that the credit card companies and banks are criminal in their allowing over drafts and then hitting one up with userous charges when it happens.

My proof: Elecronic food stamp cards. they use the same swipes at the grocery stores but NEVER ever ever, will let you withdraw more food credit than you have in your account. This once and forever shoots down the arguement that this can not be done for bank cards or credit cards. It also dispells the arguement that banks are NOT criminal enterprises."

When you swipe a card at the grocery store, you're given the option of selecting Debit, Credit, or EBT. EBT is not run by a bank, and the authorizations don't work the same way as a bank debit card. This is a complete non-sequiter.

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"just got a $50 gift card from Suntrust bank.

Guess what? I does what they say their own bank card can not do. it actually checks the balance before it allows you to make a withdrawel."

Again, a gift card is not a bank debit card, and doesn't function off of the same type of authorization system. A gift card doesn't have the network authorization feature I explained above, it MUST connect to the bank's server in order to work. If it fails to connect, then the card will not be honored even if the funds are available. Again, this is totally irrelevant to the question of debit card transactions.

(((ROR REDACTED CONTENT INSULTING TO AUTHOR)))

Banks are not a "trust." A trust is another word for a monopoly (or in some cases a very restricted oligopoly or cartel) which exerts anti-competetive market pressure. Currently there are about 10,000 banks in the US (not sure if this number includes credit unions or not), so I think you'd be hard pressed to call banking a trust.

"Since I discovered that Suntrust is using overdraft fees as an income source in its business model I have been watching my balance online. With no checks or visa charges used - so the the online balance should be correct I find that the online balance is off by over 100%.

I have never seen online balances off this much and it looks like Sunstrust does this on purpose in order to entrap one into making overdrafts that they can then charge you rediculous overdraft fees for. Not once but 2 or 3 times before you catch it!

Wonderful we now have free checking but the criminal Banksters set it up to charge you $100 worth of overdrafts after they set the whole system up to make it very likely that you do so.

Where are the class action attorneys?"

So you're saying that you have absolutely no outstanding checks or debit items and your check register balance doesn't match your online balance. Ok, well then why aren't you using your check register? Why are you relying on your online balance? Additionally, if you think you have proof that Suntrust is intentionally misleading its customers (not due to how normal transaction processing occurs) then you should forward your info to your state's banking division and the Office of Comptroller of Currency.

Since I discovered that Suntrust is using overdraft fees as an income source in its business model I have been watching my balance online. With no checks or visa charges used - so the the online balance should be correct I find that the online balance is off by over 100%.

I have never seen online balances off this much and it looks like Sunstrust does this on purpose in order to entrap one into making overdrafts that they can then charge you rediculous overdraft fees for. Not once but 2 or 3 times before you catch it!

Wonderful we now have free checking but the criminal Banksters set it up to charge you $100 worth of overdrafts after they set the whole system up to make it very likely that you do so.

Where are the class action attorneys?

Joe, in some cases, when a transaction is made at a merchant, they system that delivers it to the bank may be temporarily unavailable. This is pretty common, actually. In these situations, the magnetic stripe on the back of the card is read. The information there includes an available 'offline' balance, and the amount of your purchase is deducted from that balance....right on the card. The problem is that the balance available on the card has nothing to do with the balance in your account.... it is sort of the amount they are willing to trust you with if your true balance cannot be accessed.

I am not saying that they cannot or do not check online balances, just that there are instances when they don't. I believe in the case of gift cards, it is even more prevalent to use the information encoded on the card.

just got a $50 gift card from Suntrust bank.

Guess what? I does what they say their own bank card can not do. it actually checks the balance before it allows you to make a withdrawel.

Since they can't steal an over charge fee off of you they dont bother.....

When are the antitrust attorneys going to focus on this group of criminal preditors?

I now have proof postitive that the electronic swipes at the grocery store and elsewhere can check a balance on an account and refuse to give cash/sevices if one over drafts that account. The bank appologists have long maintained that this was not possible.

To me this sheds light on my claim that the credit card companies and banks are criminal in their allowing over drafts and then hitting one up with userous charges when it happens.

My proof: Elecronic food stamp cards. they use the same swipes at the grocery stores but NEVER ever ever, will let you withdraw more food credit than you have in your account. This once and forever shoots down the arguement that this can not be done for bank cards or credit cards. It also dispells the arguement that banks are NOT criminal enterprises.

Class action attorneys should be all over this one...