Welcome to a Better Banking Experience
That's what the ad said.
I got a bank account in my local county when I was fresh out of college 20+ years ago. That account was bought by First American, which was bought by AmSouth and more recently by Regions. Ah, the soothing green ads, with promises of serenity in banking. I left my account with them, figuring nothing would change.
They immediately started hitting me with crazy off the wall fees. I went down to the branch, and the branch manager said I wasn't in the right account settings. So he changed them, then he made phone call after phone call, read off secret numbers, identify verifications to give me the news that no fees could be reversed--it was my responsibility to read the 20+ pages of tiny legalese I was sent when they bought out my account. I left thinking, oh well, at least it's set up correctly. This all changed with a phone call.
"I calling to speak with Mr. Shawn Garbett," said the voice.
"That's me," I replied.
"I'm in the collections department of Regions, and we see that you didn't make your minimum payment of $7 on your home equity loan," came the response.
"Do you have a listing of transactions before you?" I asked.
"Yes I do, sir," came the reply.
"What day was the payment due?" I asked.
"The fourth," she said.
"Do you see a payment on the fourth for $1000?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Okay, then I paid didn't I?" I queried further.
"No. Our computer can't post it that way. I need a payment of the exact amount," She stated.
"Well, your banks inability to keep books is not my concern. I paid, and I paid extra, so you work it out and don't bother me." I stated.
"We know how to keep books here!" came the indignant reply.
"No you don't, or you could simply apply the payment I made correctly and this wouldn't go all the way to collections. Just imagine I refuse to pay, and this goes before a judge. What would the court say? The judge would laugh at you with something like 'Mr. Garbett has obviously paid with diligence and this case makes no sense'." I replied.
"You have to pay the minimum or the account is in arrears," came the impervious to reason reply.
"Okay, is it true that if a customer uses profanity toward you that you don't have to deal with them further?" I asked.
"Yes," came a nervous response.
"Nothing personal, but GO F*@% YOURSELF" I shouted.
>>click<<
They managed to get $65 in fees before I could get my accounts closed and refused to refund them. This is bottom feeder behavior.
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