Posted: 3/7/2008 5:59:45 PM EDT
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.... and not putting up with any more bullshit. It's coming up on a year that I haven't stepped foot in to a walmart, since they pissed me off, (for the final time). And earlier this week I spent almost two hours closing all 5 of my accounts at my personal bank. (and another hour at the new one, restarting new ones) But it gets me thinking. Has common sense and service taken a huge nosedive..... or am I turning in to my father? Discuss. |
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I think that common sense and service flaws have always been there. As we get older and more set in our ways, it's easier to make a stand whereas in our younger days we may have blown it off. I recently walked off the job without a word because of issues I couldn't tolerate. It helped that I had something else lined up, but in my youth I may have stuck around and just bitched about it. It sounds like your dad is still getting smarter! 
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He still keeps me in line.... Both matters were over new 'blind policies'.... The merchants changed their policy for their own protection.... I think I'm still the same customer.... Hell, I understand, and am no stranger to having to enforce policy either. But, being treated like a potential criminal just makes me want to find out who's really in charge, and beat them to a pulp. (no one, in both cases  )But no worries.... I'll live  Doing without a checking account, or any bank cards this past week has been interesting. I have the weight of coins pulling my pants down again. 
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I got pissed at Bank of America once when I went in to take out some cash. I think it was $700 or something. I showed them my Driver's License and they said they needed more ID for anything over $500 or something like that. I had just started the account about a year prior with only my Social Security Card. I let them know this and said it was utter bullshit that they would take my money, over $500, with one piece of ID but not give me my money with one. The manager noticed the comotion and said 'well we can do it this once but next time bring two forms of ID.' I went straight to Wells Fargo and started an account. Luckily I didn't close my B of A account since I found out Wells Fargo is full of much more BS. They charged me a fee for 'free savings account' that I started with my 'free checking account'. Deposits didn't show up as available for almost a week. 
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If everyone here were to close all their bank accounts and switch to a credit union, you would probably all be much happier. I initially had Rainier bank. Then Seafirst, which was bought by Bank of America. BoA screwed my account over badly in the 2 years that I had them, charged rediculous fees, made several errors on a regular basis, and finally made an error in which they withdrew all funds from my account, supposedly mailed me a letter saying I was overdrawn, sent me another letter threatening to take me to collections that I DID get, which after receiving I went straight to the bank to find out what the hell went on. They admitted their mistake, but said that it was my responsibility to check my balance, and I had to pay something like $200 in overdraft fees. I argued for about an hour, then called their HQ office and argued for an hour, the entire time being told there was nothing the bank could do to waive the fees. I finally told them I wanted to close my account and it was as if I had pulled a greased magic wand from my ass and started waving it around. Magically, if I kept my account they could waive the fees, and they were all smiles. I agreed to keep my account, walked out to my car, waited 10 minutes, walked back in and closed my account after I was sure the fees were gone. I've been with a credit union for the last 7 or 8 years and haven't had a SINGLE problem or fee. |
Bank of America? Sounds vaguely familiar...   So as the banks manager was explaining why they wouldn't deposit the check, (not asked to release funds.... just deposit, and hold as long as they like) I asked if maybe she was misinterpreting the policy. So she fired back, "I've been doing this for 30 years!" I lost composure for a few seconds and mentioned that I've had an account there for 31 years. (my father started an account for me there when I was 8 years old).She went in to some BS that I didn't hear, and when she finished, I requested all of my accounts be closed immediately. ....Hell broke loose, people watched, etc... an hour or so later I moved on, permanently. wish me luck
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How'd you know that?  (Check was written to Chelle and I, but she wasn't there with me. Even though the tellers all know me by first name, she also has her own account there, and I had more than the check was for in my savings... )
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If it was an insurance check, it needs to be signed by all parties on the check, as it is the acceptance of an insurance claim. Just a guess. Sorry about your troubles. Worked at Seafirst/BofA for 10 years. Went to a tiny bank after the BS kept on piling up as an employee. There are some great people there still, but the leadership sucks ass. Centralia or Raymond? |
Centralia. (original account was with Seafirst, in Alaska) The check was proceeds from a joint account stock sale with an established broker. Further odd, is that one of the tellers pointed out to the manager that the check was also written from a BoA account.  ETA, I had her sign it the night before. |
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Shouldn't have been an issue, but that branch has seen 4 managers in the last 5 or 6 years, so it doesn't surprise me that you got a rookie answer. They are hiring managers who came from retail stores, with limited banking experience. They cut most of the people with banking knowledge and experience through a number of culling operations. I saw the writing on the wall when my region went from 16 to 7 ccommercial bankers, and cut my office from 3 to me. Security State is getting bigger, but from what I've heard, they still have some common sense. Only issue when using a small bank is if you travel out of the area often. For this reason I still have accounts with BofA, but most of my stuff is done with my little bank. Always develop a relationship with your banker, just like your accountant, doctor, and lawyer. If you have $100,000 or more in personal loans, $50,000 in business loans, have a business that has revenues over $500,000 per year, or have average deposits in excess $25,000 you should have a dedicated officer. They will be the person to go to bat for you when the BS rises to the top. |
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Fuck BofA. If BofA were a person, I'd wish for their death just so I could shit on their grave. We sold our house in California, bought the house here and were in the process of moving. My sister suggested that I take the checks from the sale of the house to a bank that had branches in both states, deposit them in California and when I got here to Washington have the account transfered to the local branch. That way I wouldn't lose that money should something happen and the checks get lost or stolen. I took the checks to BofA and explained what I wanted and why. I was assured my the bank person in California that there would be absolutely NO problem whatsoever to do what I requested. When I got here in WA and went to the local BofA and asked to have the account transferred I was told they couldn't do that. I was told I would have to go to the California branch, close the account and have the money issued as a bank draft/check/whatever, come to WA and re-open a new account at that branch. Exactly what I was TRYING TO AVOID in the first fucking place! After explaining these things to the brain-dead fucktard, she gets this 'deer-in-the-headlights" look on her insipid face and tells me that Washington state BofA banks don't do interstate transfers. If I'd had a baseball bat at the time I could have easily recreated the ending scene from The Natural with that stupid bitch's head. I then asked if I could close the account. The deer too another step into the light and said that I would have to close the account at the branch where I'd opened it. I wondered if it were possible to stab someone to death with a pen while it's still chained to a desk. Then she told me that I could withdraw the entire amount and that would effectively close the account.  So, that's what I did. I haven't been back to BofA since, and I'll never knowingly deal with them ever again. Fucking bastards! |
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My BoA story is this. As stated I was in a decent car wreck and got a nice injury settlement after suing Progressive. Got a fat injury settlement in the form of a cashiers check and went to BoA to stuff it in savings. They told me I would half to wait three weeks to see the full funds. They looked me strait in the face and told me any bank would hold it for significantly longer. I told them to f- off and went to U.S. Bank and got the money put into a brand new account on the spot. I went back across the street told them I found a new bank who honored the check and cashed out all my accounts. Now Odt, what is your Wallmart story? Was it you who got banned for open carry in Wallmart or was that someone else? |
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My personal motto is PEOPLE ARE STUPID, it gets reinforced as true every day, with this in mind its hard not to expect moronic behavior from them, and yes customer service along with chivalry is on the endangered species list. I don't bank with BoA either, I did have an account their when then bought out SeaFirst bank, but closed my accounts when they screwed up. I was living on my own for the first time and in the mail I start getting bounced check letters, apparently I didn't have overdraft protection. I had just gotten paid and sent out my bills so I knew the $ had been there, I contact the bank and after quite a runaround I found out that the bank had mistakenly deposited funds into my account that were not mine, so until they could fix the error they locked up my account...w/o any notice to me of course, so when all my rent/utilities etc checks went to get paid they bounced, needless to say I closed the accounts after I made the bank reverse their charges and made them fax letters to the companies that got the rejected checks explaining how it was not my error and eventually got all the NSf charges reversed. It was a royal pain in the ass. Been with a small credit union ever since. |
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I had Rainier > Seafirst > BoA. Had FSNB and a couple others too. Now I have a local CU, an out of state CU (for the low interest CC), and WaMu (not for long, but it does make road trips easy). I just don't see why anyone with multiple accts. would put them all in one bank. If you have multiple accts, you want them to be seperate right? |
If it had been Oregon you wouldn't have had any problems. From what my local teller tells me Washington is the only weird state with their accounts. My current account is Washington. I have to use 'out of state account' deposit slips here in OR. My plan is to join a credit union when I get my company to become a member and do half-and-half of my banking between there and Bank Of America. I looked at some of the 'public' credit unions and they had weird fees and such for checking accounts so I asked the bosses wife to join a credit union where you have to be an employee of member companies. I was a member of this one back in '99 but I worked for a different employer then. |
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Though I am getting older I think service is getting worse! BofA SUCKS Always have always will... I had them back in th 80s and they sucked then... I had interwest bank and they where AWESOME!!! then fucken Wells FuARGO bought them out... Six month later things got crappy with their so call "customer Service" I now Have BECU... Much better There is one company I have dealt with for many years... They are the BEST in every thing they do. They are called McMaster Carr... I use to use Gainger but they screw yup their service... Getting older yes but the service has taken a nose dive... |
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Back in 1995 I recevied a check from my Grandmother for $5700. It was a check she wrote from fer WSECU account. I went to my BoA branch in Everett to deposit it and was told by the teller that they would hold funds for up to three weeks. I was like uh up yours. I took the check back, went to the Everett WSECU branch and they cashed the check on the spot. I was so impressed I opened an account right there and then. CREDIT UNIONS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Right on, I've watched their managers and loan officers come and go over the years. Meanwhile, the policies increased in volume, and the level of personal banking evaporated. In the past, if there was a policy hurdle, it was just a matter of getting approval from someone across the room. But not anymore. This was just a small personal account.... more on that in a later post. |
These were just personal accounts, for paying home finances, and managing some small savings accounts. Credit Card (only one I had) Checking Savings (linked) 2 other savings accounts (JT/ROS) for my sons, for their birthday-card money and such, until they're old enough to take over themselves. I have other personal and business accounts spread across a few banks, and agree with you completely. For the business accounts, (RE: Amesos advice), I've met and had coffee with the founder and CEO of the bank. I'm encouraged to call whenever I need anything. Great advice Ameso. 
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Been a BECU member for 20 years now. We have our mortgage, auto loan, and lines of credit with them. They have alway been very reasonable and accomodating, we have always received excellent service and have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. I also have accounts with a small local bank based in Snohomish. No complaints there, either. Of course, owning a decent amount of their stock and being on a first name basis with the president might be a factor. 
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Strike 1 They took over 7 months to pay their account with me. (a little over $9300) I called and stopped by dozens of times each during the ordeal, especially towards the end. Finally, after my adding ridiculous interest rates to the balance, we negotiated, and I got the principle paid in full. Before anyone asks... the reason I didn't use a collection agency is because... it's walmart. My opinion is that a face-to-face local pressure was better than an abstract corporate level one. It worked. (read: I wore them down to a nub, by NOT going away or ever leaving them alone )Strike 2 They leave their cashiers powerless, and then in the event of needing help (often due to ignorant policy), the entire line of customers, and the embarrassed cashier, wait for a CSM to casually stroll up with the magic code & key. The arrogance and ultra-important attitude of this title and the people left to enforce it has always aggravated me to no end. IMO, A CSM should show up dripping with sweat, and apologize to the customer and the clerk for walmart relying on a system and policy that requires  Strike 3 I took a business check down there to replace some supplies for my biz. After the typical walmart shopping experience. (meaning store packed with customers, parking lot full, and only 4% of their cashier terminals open, so everyone will be forced to shop for 20 more minutes while standing in line, waiting for their turn to escape walmarts last ditch marketing in the aisles) So after all that, the CSM strolls up casually, again. Now she informs me that they don't take business checks. "Um, you have in the past." "No sir, we've never taken business checks here." "I've written several here." "No you haven't." "Do you think I'm lying to you?" "Well no, but I'm just not sure how you've been getting away with it." "Getting away with what?" "Writing checks. Your name isn't even on the check." "Since when do businesses put personal information on their checks?" "They all do sir." "Most don't." "You need another form of payment." So I supplied the other form of payment, and have never returned. I went back to my office, and ran a quick report. I had written about 55 checks to walmart, totaling approximately $8500 since opening. So now, walmart doesn't have any credit with my biz. I don't take my business business there anymore, and I sure as hell don't go there for myself. Dunno what that measures up to in lost revenue. But I'll bet neither one of us gives a shit. |
Yup, having that cap off standing in line for 20-30 minutes would be enough to make a guy snap. |
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I guess I am a lucky guy, the older I get the less I expect out of others, so when I get good service I'm a happy guy. And when the service isn't good I'm not to upset. I remember when a lot of companies had service like Dillon still does. Now when I was younger I went to a lot trouble to express my opinion about a stores or banks policies and took my business some where else. I once had a few thousand dollars in a bank and went to a different branch with a check from a car dealer that was next door to the bank. I wanted to deposit the check and get no money back. SHE ask for my ID and I showed my WDL she said it was expired by 6 days and couldn't except it for ID. My lic was expired and I didn't know it. I went to my branch 23 miles away and closed all my accounts and told them why. I miss that bank they new my name and when something was wrong they would call me, but I had to show them. |
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I recently sold my big truck. Not knowing the commies who bought it, I figured cashiers' check was option #1. The guy shows up with a fistful of $5000 cashiers' checks, all made out to me, from three different local banks. We both go to my neighborhood branch of Columbia bank, where I have 1 bus acct, 2 checking accts, 1 savings acct. Been with 'em for 15 years. I ask if the teller can verify funds before I fork over the truck title and keys. Insert deer-in-headlights-look here. I shock her by telling her there are phony checks floating around. She tries Wamu. They can't verify their own checks cuz the "paperwork" is "in transit". Call back in 7 business days". Two checks are from Key ank, across the street. They give a similar line of BS. The commie says he walked into Key the day before with $15k CASH, asking for a cashiers" check. They take his money and deposit it. He asks for the check. They say he has to wait at least 3 business days to "verify funds". Anyway, we end up walking across the street and cashing that part. Meanwhile, CB says I gotta wait 3 bus. days for any money. Ok, I find it difficult to comprehend, in an age where I can make an online purchase in New Fucking Delhi in 5 minutes, but can't get cash 2 miles from home. So, we write some checks, figuring they'll be ok, since it takes almost a week to get them delivered by mail. Mommity spoke with the bank, 3 days is their promise. One check bounces, she calls CB, they say, oh no, it's gonna be another 14 days. She threatens them with a personal appearance, they fold. It's been 2 weeks to the day, still waiting on the last $15k. And they wonder why people rob banks. It ain't to get the money, it's to fuck with them back. Jeeeeeeebus!!!
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I don't usually like to jump on other businesses, (I wouldn't like it if it was done to me/mine), but these banks have been screwing the public for years. Even worse, with this more recent sub-prime lending mess. Reading others stories here in this thread, and then watching banking institutions go broke every day, and I do think there's a little bit-o-Karma taking place. Walmart I don't know much about, 'cept they don't do business like I do, so I don't do business with them. Dell, is on strike # 2.999 with me right now, for very similar reasons to the others. (ever take anyone else here 11 months to pay cash upfront for a computer? ) If they so much as misspell my name at this point, I'll need therapy.But yeah, a guy does need to remember to not wind himself too tightly.  On a lighter note, Home Depot has a hospitality supply division that is catalog only (HD Supply, no storefront). (I'm not really a fan of their regular stores.... just prefer traditional lumber yards) I swear, whoever is responsible for deciding their business style and policies, needs to be given an award and a job teaching other businesses how it's done. Professional, accurate, courteous, complete, honest, lightening fast shipping, huge inventory, techs that actually know their shit, special orders are a breeze for hard to find items.....and on and on. I've never been more pleased with any company. From their billing department, to their prices.... perfect! Dunno if they have other divisions like it in other industries or not, but they sure should. 
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