BB&T - Branch Banking & Trust Branch Banking and Trust Creating Situations to Cause Overdraft Fees Internet, Virginia

..near the end of his reply..he states something that is not exactly factual..and I quote...

 "In the end, there is no fraud, no scheme, no nothing other than YOUR improper handling of YOUR account! "

Now perhaps Jim was a bit harsh in the reply, but because this has happened to you more then once...where I feel you were careless is that you are letting the bank get away with this. After the first time you were hosed by this bank..you should have found out why, and taken precautions to prevent this from happening again.

Now it does not matter how well you "handle your account" or keep records. According to this report it seems you are using the account before deposits are clearing. Your personal records will only show that you made a deposit..only the BANK will decide when the deposit clears. And the bank statements are often inaccurate and undependable...for reasons....well lets not go there..but "scheme" is an understatement.

You may want to consider opting out of courtesy overdraft protection assuming this bank allows it. What will happen then if anytime a debit card is presented at a point of sale, or ATM and the funds are unavailable..the transaction will simply be declined..just like it used to do...before you had all these issues. This way you will avoid any fees, and be given a chance to investigate why the account has a low or no balance. As well, if you are a dinosaur and still use checks at the grocery or electronics store for example, the check is put through a reader and is either approved, or declined. Sure it may be embarrassing at the time if it is declined..but at least it won't cost you $600.00 to avoid embarrassment, if this was even an issue. You can then either chose another means of payment..or go without until the deposit clears. For many people this is a good defense to hedge you bets against the bank fleecing you further.

Of course if you also use this account to pay bills and/or write checks..you need to be exceptionally careful as an overdraft will become an NSF..and then both parties may charge a fee. In other words any electronic payments can not be "floated" until you make a deposit (and it clears) in most cases since they are instant..whether the bank puts it on the statement or not. Now if you mail a check you have a chance..but if your deposit has not cleared before the check is dated it is still considered floating..and not an ethical practice..and it is a legal gamble so I would avoid that if possible.

It does not matter to the bank that you have been with them for 30+ years..they do not discriminate by length of time a customer has been with them..everyone is equally subject to the "schemes", and there are many in place.

Try this...place a piece of black tape over the gas guage on your car.  When you run out of gas blame the tow truck driver for the towing charge.

 You were assessed overdraft fees because YOU overdrafted YOUR account.

YOU overdrafted YOUR accound because YOU don't keep contemporaneous written records of YOUR account activity.

Instead, YOU check an innaccurate balance on line and YOU spend money YOU don't have.

Until and unless YOU manage YOUR account properly, YOU will pay overdraft fees for using money YOU don't have because YOU don't know how much money is in the account because YOU don't keep records.

 In the end, there is no fraud, no scheme, no nothing other than YOUR improper handling of YOUR account! 

Its all about YOU!  Who?  YOU!!!