First off, I acknowledge some fault in this event and have attempted to work with Fifth Third to resolve it equitably to no avail. They appear to 1) not want to resolve the issue, and 2) want to continue it so that additional fees may be added.
I am a student at the University of Cincinnati, but do not live there when not attending school. When the Spring Qtr ended I drew my account down to about 1 dollar and went home for the summer not intending to use this account until school resumed in the fall. Early in July I received a notice of an overdraft of $37 which occurred on June 21, about a week after I left Cincinnati. (This was actually an unsanctioned use of my account which has since been reversed).
I was notified by the bank via mail, which took about three weeks to arrive since it had been sent to the dorm at U.C. And had to be manually forwarded. Fifth Third had been adding an additional 6 dollars per day for each day overdrawn, in addition to normal overdraft fees! The bill was now well over $100.
After speaking to a bank employee I sent a check for $70.00 covering the overdraft and the $33 fee which I certainly felt responsible for. I also faxed and mailed a letter explaining that I did not feel responsible for the accumulation of the $6/day fees but that I was paying the overdraft and inital fee.
The bank certainly could have mitigated the fees by contacting me by e-mail or phone rather than by mail, something they seem to be able to do now. They also could have kept a happy customer by ending things with the amount I paid. They seem to be so big that thoughts of customer satisfaction have no place in their bank.
At this point the only money owed is related to the $6 per day fees they have continued to add. The debt is self perpetuating.
Warning to University of Cincinnati students! There are many banks in Cincinnati. Steer clear of Fifth Third Bank.
0 comments