Complaint Review: BB&T

I would HIGHLY encourage you to go to any report on this site for BofA, Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, etc....  Not only will you find these same types of people (you know, the kind you can't manage their money like the OP) making complaints, you'll also find people like Robert, Ashley, and I (and others) making the exact same comments.  It's not because we're employees - it's because we KNOW how to manage our money (and sometimes - others as well).

It is the intellectually bankrupt person who can only respond with the old "must be an employee" canned answer.  The reason it's bankrupt is because there is no other reason for the problems consumers are having - except for the fact they happen to mismanage their money.  To make the assumption we must be employees assumes the consumer must always be right in the situation.  The truth is - the consumer who posts a complaint here can be found to be wrong virtually 100% of the time - as the OP demonstrates so well.  So far, you're batting in the same league as she is.

The only part of your report that made any sense is when the bank said to you that online banking isn't accurate.  Welcome to the real world - there is not ONE bank that has an accurate online banking tool.  It's one reason a consumer should NEVER use an online tool to figure out your account balance.  But there is one tool to insure 100% accuracy and if you use that tool properly, you'll never overdraft an account.  That tool is a check register - use it. 

Finally, stop being a tool for the bank and stop giving them your money.  A bank is only there to administer your account and if you overdraft, it's on you - not the bank.

Just a piece of friendly advice to Graycladlady.....

Just wanted to let you know that "Ashley from Springfield", "Jim from Anaheim" and "Robert from Irvine" are either PR employees of B B & T, or they have a vested interest in trying to repair the horrible press that B B & T is recieving on these boards.  Look at more of these complaints, and just about EVERY post there is a rebuttal by one of these people (Ashley, Jim or Robert).  Their advice is almost ridiculous:  (1) they tell you to keep a check register (good idea in theory, but in practice how do you do that correctly?  When you make a deposit....just when can you post it to your register when B B & T decides how long they WANT to "HOLD" it; (2) if you go online to see if your deposit has cleared...guess what?....even BB & T employees admit that online banking is "unreliable"...the deposit will show up as "available" in your balance...but go ahead and use your debit card based on that fact and watch the Overdraft fees start rolling; (3) electronic deposits are another "grey" area that BB & T loves....there are federal guidelines (FDIC regulations) that state these electronic deposits must be posted within 3 days.....but somehow BB & T is also "holding" these transactions (including my Social Security disability deposit)....there is a 6 business day range when my SS check may or may not post (not including weekends).  One again, how can you keep an accurate check register when your transactions are not posted in "chronological order" but in "B B & T Overdraft Maximization Order"??? 

Basically, online banking to see when or if your deposit/transaction has posted is USELESS!!  The advice to keep a register is pretty much useless too since B B & T decides when and how your transactions are debited/credited (CONTRARY TO ASHLEY, JIM AND ROBERT'S ADVICE...THEY ARE NOT POSTED AS THEY OCCUR...THEY ARE POSTED HOWEVER B B & T CAN MAKE THE MOST MONEY FROM YOU...PERIOD...THAT'S IT!!! PERIOD!! AND THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BOIL DOWN TO.)  But, as usual, just like their fellow b b & t employees, all you will get from Ashley, Jim or Robert, is the same CRAP your local branch hands you....."learn to manage your money better, etc. etc"

Its hard to manage your "money" when B B & T has ALL the CONTROL over when, where and how your transactions are processed.  Your check register means NOTHING to them and they will tell you that.  They don't want to give copies of their computerized printouts BECAUSE IT SHOWS PROOF OF THIER "RE-SEQUENCING" practices.  Also, don't let them intimidate you.  BANK OF AMERICA was just fined MILLIONS for this very practice in a class action lawsuit...and it looks like BB&T is next.  

From some of your comments I really don't know if you are serious, or really do not know how a bank account work. But if it is the later, hopefully you will take this as advise on how to avoid this issue in the future. This goes for any bank because all banks have very similar terms.

"I bounced some checks in the beginning b/c of my own unintelligence an not having an acct foe 7 yrs. things have changed since I'd had one"
- Yes things have changed. But what hasn't changed is that the bank is not your babysitter. It is YOUR money and YOUR responsibility to understand the terms. After all if you hadn't driven in 7 years would you just get back behind the wheel or make sure you understood the laws and any new laws of the road? Why would banking be any different?

"..In the last month I've noticed that they continue to tell me that they can put my transactions in as they wish..hi to low....low to hi....its THEIR decision"
- False, they ALWAYS process transactions highest to lowest. But the fact is that this only matters if you overdraft your account.

"My most recent interaction is having me to totally sever ties with this bank."
- No other bank will be any different.

"I wrote 4 checks Thrus afternoon. They normally DO NOT PROCESS UNTIL MONDAY B/C BANKS TELL YOU THEY DONT DO ANY PROCESSING ON SATURDAY RIGHT....right."
- WRONG..WRONG...and if you didn't figure it out WRONG. This is actually the biggest point you need to understand, so sorry if this comes off harsh. There is NO float anymore. You wrote a check on Thursday and they either were posted on Thursday Night or Friday Night. If you write a check you must have the funds AVAILABLE when you write the check. If you don't you have the possibility of overdrafting your account.

"you WILL get charged 2.00 for every customer service phone call you make where you talk to a rep....every time you call...You WILL get charged if you use their ATMS plus the fee if its not theirs"
- Yes, but this is becoming standard at just about every bank. As for the ATM there is not only your bank's charge, but the bank that the ATM belongs to charges you a fee also.

If you do move banks be sure to understand the following items. If you don't understand them keep asking them until you do. Then until you do DO NOT open the account.
- Funds Availablility Guidelines, including Deposit Cut-Off times
- Posting Order - Highest to Lowest, and if they do Debits before Credits
- Fee Schedule - All of those "extra" fees.
- Pending Transactions vs. Posted Transactions.
- Available Balance vs. Posted/Ledger Balance.

Once you understand this, just remember a couple other items. There is no float, so unless you have the money available don't write that check or use a debit card.

I would not blame the bank for this situation; it is a universal practice with every bank. Whatever bank you go to will treat your transactions in the exact same manner. I would also question whether it's really the bank in the case of your husband's paycheck; often times it is the company itself that doesn't pay it's employees on the day it should. For many companies who claim they pay people Friday, the DD is processed on Friday, meaning it isn't available until Monday. If companies did this correctly, the DD would be done on a Wednesday or Thursday AND it would be available Friday. But companies went away from doing it correctly so they could hold the money over the weekend.

Switch banks if you wish. Just remember, these practices will be at your next bank and the one after that. The practices are legal and lawsuits have already been decided in the bank's favor on this. You will need to adjust your spending and your ideas as to how the bank works. When you do that, you won't OD again.

I would not blame the bank for this situation; it is a universal practice with every bank. Whatever bank you go to will treat your transactions in the exact same manner. I would also question whether it's really the bank in the case of your husband's paycheck; often times it is the company itself that doesn't pay it's employees on the day it should. For many companies who claim they pay people Friday, the DD is processed on Friday, meaning it isn't available until Monday. If companies did this correctly, the DD would be done on a Wednesday or Thursday AND it would be available Friday. But companies went away from doing it correctly so they could hold the money over the weekend.

Switch banks if you wish. Just remember, these practices will be at your next bank and the one after that. The practices are legal and lawsuits have already been decided in the bank's favor on this. You will need to adjust your spending and your ideas as to how the bank works. When you do that, you won't OD again.

I would not blame the bank for this situation; it is a universal practice with every bank. Whatever bank you go to will treat your transactions in the exact same manner. I would also question whether it's really the bank in the case of your husband's paycheck; often times it is the company itself that doesn't pay it's employees on the day it should. For many companies who claim they pay people Friday, the DD is processed on Friday, meaning it isn't available until Monday. If companies did this correctly, the DD would be done on a Wednesday or Thursday AND it would be available Friday. But companies went away from doing it correctly so they could hold the money over the weekend.

Switch banks if you wish. Just remember, these practices will be at your next bank and the one after that. The practices are legal and lawsuits have already been decided in the bank's favor on this. You will need to adjust your spending and your ideas as to how the bank works. When you do that, you won't OD again.

Why does it matter what order the process transactions? If you have enough money in the account to cover your purchases, then that is unimportant. read your account agreement, it states that they can do this.

Also, let me see if I understand you right, you wrote 4 checks on thursday counting on a deposit friday to cover them and got mad when they did not cover them.

How about this:

You spent money on thursday that you knew was not in your account. The deposit you hoped would cover them did not get processed before the checks did (which check can be processed same day or next day these days depending on the retailer) and you got stuck with fees.


Sorry, this is 100% your fault. If you would stop writing checks for more money than is in your account, you would never have this problem. Never write a check for more than is in your account RIGHT THAT SECOND. You can't beat money to the banks anymore.