While I was still married, my ex-husband shared my checking account at Regions. We were only customers with Regions for about 6 months or more. I was specific in requesting not to have overdraft protection on the account.
My ex primarily used and maintained the account while I used cash most of the time. His debit card transactions were never declined after funds were depleted. The bank added a $500 overdraft protection policy as a "courtesy" with the first attempt at overdrawing the account... Without notifying us. My ex continued to use his card thinking everything was ok, until we started to receive numerous overdraft notices in the mail; several notices a day for several days in a row.
The overdraft charges imposed by the bank ranged in amounts from apx. $32 to $132 (on a $5 charge)!!! The "courtesy" policy of implementing an overdraft protection to an account without notifying the customer allows the continuation of transactions when no funds are available. That, in turn, helps the bank to rack up extra fees and charges against its customers. Oh, did I forget to mention how the bank will run the most expensive charge first to increase the chances of multiple overdrafts against their customers? YES THEY DO!
I immediately contacted the bank rep with whom I opened the account so that I could begin to correct the problem and ask the bank for any help they could allow in reducing the outrageous overdraft charges. He promptly stated that he would "get right to it". For nearly 3 months, I sent numerous emails (I have all emails saved) and phone calls to the rep and got the same response: "I'm working on it".
Around January I discovered that the rep had never touched my file or advised anyone of the problem. I also discovered that Regions Bank had sent me to collections on my account! So while I'm thinking the bank is working on my file and working with me to correct the overdrafts, they had actually sent me to collections!
I immediately contacted the branch manager at Regions Bank, Coral Gables, and apprised him of the situation. I never disputed any of the transactions because they were legit transactions. I advised him that I am willing to pay off what I actually owe for the transactions along with a portion of the outrageous overdrafts, but would appreciate the bank reducing the overdraft charges as a courtesy, seeing as I had specifically requested NOT to have overdraft protection in the beginning. I even forwarded to him all of the email communications between me and the account rep/csm who was "helping" me. The branch manager simply brushed me off saying there's nothing he can do.
I have been unable to open a bank account because of this dispute being in collections. I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau but they do nothing more than log and report my complaint. They do nothing as far as pursuing legal remedy. I would be interested in speaking with legal counsel regarding this matter.
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