Ripoff Report Needs Your Help!
X  |  CLOSE
Report: #763902

Complaint Review: SunTrust Bank - Atlanta Georgia

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Julie — Charlotte North Carolina United States of America
  • Author Not Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • SunTrust Bank 303 Peach tree street Atlanta, Georgia United States of America

SunTrust Bank suntrust bank, rip off free checking customers, changing terms and agreements without consent Atlanta, Georgia

*Consumer Comment: " they have resorted to sneaky and illegal tactics"

*Consumer Comment: Your consent not required

*Consumer Comment: SunTrust

Show customers why they should trust your business over your competitors...

Is this
Report about YOU
listed on other sites?
Those sites steal
Ripoff Report's
content.
We can get those
removed for you!
Find out more here.
How to fix
Ripoff Report
If your business is
willing to make a
commitment to
customer satisfaction
Click here now..

Well, it is no secret that banks are not doing so well. SunTrust Bank executives have apparently decided on a way to pull in some extra bucks. Unfortunately, they have resorted to sneaky and illegal tactics to do so. Current customers all over the country, who signed up with SunTrust Bank under a "free checking account", are getting emails or letters stating that the company has decided to change all free checking accounts to "pay accounts".

Funny, upon searching my terms and agreements, paperwork, and the like, I could not locate any terms that gives SunTrust the right to change my agreed upon service (my free checking account) to a pay account whenever they want. When I called I was told that "due to industry changes all free checking accounts would be converted...sorry". Being a law student, I explained that I did not consent to this change and nowhere in my agreements/terms/or disclosures is it stated that SunTrust has the right to do this. In fact, my terms state that the only change allowed is a conversion from a "student checking account" to a "free checking account" upon graduation. This is the agreement I signed. Changing terms after the contract is formed is illegal. I was transferred to a supervisor who told me that the bank reserves the right to change my account anytime. I ask her where that reservation was located. She put me on hold to "find it". After 20 minutes she came back on and said she would have to find out from someone where that legal disclosure was. I explained that if it wasn't accessible to their customers and it wasn't disclosed at the time of contracting the "free checking account" than it isn't valid. I further stated that nowhere in my paperwork is an additional legal document even referenced. If the management can't even find the disclosure that states "we reserve the right to alter your account" (i.e. change your contract) then how do they expect their current customers to know about it at the time they signed up for an account.

So, I understand that banks are hurting. They over extended themselves when loaning money to unqualified candidates and now they are attempting to stay afloat. But instead of scamming current customers who deposit their hard earned cash and place it trustingly into their hands why don't the executives consider cutting their own bonuses or selling a few of their Hampton estates.

I will no longer bank with SunTrust. Those of us that sign up for "free checking" or "students accounts" do so because we are living on school loans or something like that. Why should I pay and interest rate for my loan and additional pay SunTrust a monthly fee and check card fee when they are the ones getting my business and my money. They get my money...they get to make my cash work for them...hey suntrust, take my hard earned money I deposit each month and loan it to small business and investors who can makes some money for you.

If you currently have a free checking account with SunTrust, watch out. As of November you will notice monthly charges going to SunTrust. You will also be charged every time you use your check card. If you signed up for a free checking account and did not agree to any such change than file a complaint with the Federal Reserve (click on the link bellow).... that is, right before you find a new bank . . . a bank with some character and honesty.

https://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/index.cfm

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/11/2011 02:38 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/suntrust-bank/atlanta-georgia-30308/suntrust-bank-suntrust-bank-rip-off-free-checking-customers-changing-terms-and-agreemen-763902. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

Search for additional reports

If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:

Report & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Also a victim?
What's this?
Repair Your Reputation!
What's this?

Updates & Rebuttals

REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
3Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#3 Consumer Comment

" they have resorted to sneaky and illegal tactics"

AUTHOR: mr rik - (USA)

POSTED: Friday, August 12, 2011

Yes they have.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#2 Consumer Comment

Your consent not required

AUTHOR: coast - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, August 11, 2011

You are a law student and not yet an ambulance chaser. The agreement you signed was written by attorneys (not students) and certainly contains the disclaimer you are looking for. The bank does not need your consent to change their policies.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#1 Consumer Comment

SunTrust

AUTHOR: whocares911 - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, August 11, 2011

I also have the free checking with SunTrust. It only means no minimum balance is required and the checks were never free. The first order of checks were and after that it was like 11.00 for a new order. My branch explained that since I have a monthly direct deposit I still do not have to worry about a minimum balance and if i use my debit card for purchases I will have a five dollar fee. I don't use a debit card so my account is still free. The information you are looking for is in all the paperwork they give you at account opening.

Respond to this report!
What's this?
Featured Reports

Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.

X
What do hackers,
questionable attorneys and
fake court orders have in common?
...Dishonest Reputation Management Investigates Reputation Repair
Free speech rights compromised

WATCH News
Segment Now