Complaint / Review
Telecheck Aka First Data
Telechek denied me the ability to make purchases

Since Oct. 2007 Telecheck aka First Data has made it so I can not use my checks at any of there merchants.

First I was told that I had a drivers lic number that was similar to someone who had a closed bank account. Then they blamed it on the merchants employees saying they entered data that was in error. Every time they said it would be fixed but I would be unable to cash a check at any of their merchants for two weeks as their merchants computers had to update. This has happened several time to me and my wife and according to google there have been hundreds (if not more) of people with the same problems.

The last time I called telecheck they were rude and abusive and told me that they did not freeze my checking account. True but denying my checks seems to be the same thing to me, especially since there are so many merchants using them. I was also told not to use checks anymore, just cash or credit. Imagine them telling consumers how to pay for goods and services.

The first time they did this to me was a sunday and I need to get gas and medications for an emergency. I was lucky with the gas in the fact I knew the owner of the station, however I was unable to get the needed medications.

I called my bank who was suprised since I had more than enough money in my account and my account was in good status. My bank called telecheck who refused to tell them (my bank) anything and told my bank to give me another phone number to call.

I called and was accidentally transferred to someone who thought I was a merchant, so I played along. I was told that they "telechek" and their larger merchants (Walmart being one) are making it as hard as possible for people to use checks in order to phase out everyone from using checks. They just want. Cash, credit, or debit cards. They claim that they are losing money from
guarantying checks to merchants, that are bad, uncollectible, or fraudulent.
I am not sure but this sounds illegal to me.

You might think that if they phased out checks they would be out of business however a quick look at what services / products the parent company provides show that they would not be hurt at all.