TCF Bank Predators! Minneapolis Minnesota

You were penalized over $500 due to your inability to control your spending habits. You knew the funds were not available so quit busting out that debit card and quit blaming the bank for your actions.

All banks are pretty much the same and they can't help you with the transactions in the manner you described.  In short, there are only 2 parties that can affect pending transactions:

• YOU - when you spend the money
• MERCHANT - you know...the person you bought stuff from....verifies the transactions

The bank has no control over how you spend your money or when the merchant verifies the transaction.  Therefore, the bank has no control over when an item is pending and when the transaction is confirmed.  Therefore, they have no way to be able to tell you anything regarding when pending transactions will post to your account.  There are 2 guaranteed ways for you to avoid these cascading overdrafts that you experienced:

Keep an accurate register:  Don't use the bank's reporting of your balance because they aren't responsible for the accuracy of your bank account; the bank provides the balance as a convenience, but it won't be necessarily accurate.  Write down every transaction you make in your register and every deposit should be dated for the next business day because that's when the deposit will be available to you in full.

Don't Use Your Debit Card unless the balance in your register exceeds $250:  Debit cards are a convenience when used in the proper way, and a costly way to do business when you don't.  When your balance is below $250, stick to using cash.  It is more inconvenient than a debit card, however - as you no doubt know - it is far better to have cash in your pocket than to give the bank $500 for all the overdrafts you did.

Since all banks are the same, and what happened to you would happen anywhere you bank, it would be best to settle with the bank now, close your account, and then switch to a credit union.  Best of luck to you.

What happen Einstein, is this is YOUR account containing YOUR money and YOU FAILED to keep a check register or similar written record WITH A RUNNING CURRENT BALANCE.  Then, YOU continued to use the ATM card or write checks when YOU had ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE as to what YOUR balance was at the time YOU used the card or wrote the checks!  $500 in overdraft fees?  Yep, YOU gave YOURSELF these fees by NOT managing YOUR account by keeping records!  No, I don't work for them.