I banked with Union Planters for many years and never had a problem until "Regions" bought them out.
My first problem was in December. The way they work is when you make a deposit (before the cut off time) via the ATM the first $100.00 is available immediately.in the past this $100.00 included transactions with my debit card. I know this because I've taken advantage of it on many occasions often going grocery shopping after going to the bank. All of a sudden one day I see a lot of charges on my account. Turns out that even though I could have taken the $100.00 in cash, that same $100.00 is not available for transactions (debit or checks) against it.??? I told them that makes no sense at all... I can take $100.00 in cash but I can't use it for transactions?
When I argued with then that I had a reciept that showed my available balance they then added insult to injury by telling me it's always been that way, when it most definately has not been, they had no idea why the ATM would show that money as available. I'm sure that banking with them for 4 years I would have been very aware of that policy. That day costs me over $60.00 in fees.
The next week I again used my debit card at the grocery store, unfortunately I had forgotten about a check written that was coming through. This day ended up costing me over $90.00 in bogus fees for going over $2.04 in my checking account. This is the time line... Just look at how these criminals put everything to their advantage.
I use my debit card on 2 transactions that day. As soon as the card is used that money is put on hold. That forgotten check comes through. With the holds that put my account negative $2.04. Annoying to get a $30.00 fee but it was my mistake, I'll just have to suck it up.
But no. It gets much worse! They still haven't "paid" the debits that are on hold. Because of the $30.00 fee they charged me there is not enough to pay the first hold. So they pay it, but charge me another $30.00. Now there's not enough to pay the 2nd hold because now I'm $62.04 in the hole. So they charge me ANOTHER $30.00 to pay that one.
Any attempt on my part to convey the lack of common sense met deaf ears. My reasoning was "But if you already had the money on hold thereby unavailable to me, shouldn't you have just used that SAME money to pay it?" Well of course not. They pay out from largest transactions first, checks before debits. "Because our customers prefer that system" I swear that's what they told me.
I don't know what customers they are talking about, seems to me the only people who benefit from that system is the bank. When I fired Union Planters I made sure to tell them this. "You're job is to protect my money. Of all the companies I choose to do buisness with, my bank should not be the one I have to worry about trying to suck every hard earned dollar out of me"
In hindsight I suppose the did me a huge favor. I left them and went to St. Johns Bank in O'Fallon. Imagine my shock when I walk in and am greeted by people who remember my name with smiles on their faces. I can make deposits until 6pm at their drive through and still have it on todays buisness! St. Johns is run by real people who take their responsiblity seriously.
I've often wondered if I should file a complaint with a goverment entity over their practices, but have no idea who I should contact. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
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