I got a checking account 15 years ago from SouthTrust. The bank was absorbed by Wachovia several years ago. I got a Wachovia Over 50 checking account after the merger. The brochure (and the Branch manager) told me that the overdraft protection would be a FREE service. I have used this service many times in the last 2 years, and NEVER been charged any service/usage fees. Yesterday, I recieved a letter (dated 25 Nov) from E.J. Cummings (Senior Vice President - Wachovia) which stated I had never been charged a $10 overdraft protection transfer fee due to a computer system error. But now that the error is fixed, any overdraft protection transfer will have a fee added to it against my checking account. Min you, this is a fee on a bank service that was advertised as FREE when I got the account. There has NEVER been any notice given online or by mail of any changes to this service. I telephonically contacted Customer Service. They also could not tell me when the service became a fee-charging service - and the rep even agree she wouldn't pay it. The rep DID try to get me to change accounts (my present over50 account is FREE - she wanted to have me change to a $20 per month executive-type account so I could again have FREE overdraft protection). This type of banking sales pressure on over 50 people is NOT REASONABLE!!! If you are over 50, I highly recommend you find another bank - we seniors don't make enough as it is!!! We sure don't need high-pressure salesmenship from our banks.
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