Compass Bank rip-off! Excessive NSF! Liars! Rude employees! Gilbert Arizona
Compass bank is notorious for charging their customers with NSF charges and they admitted to me that this is how they are able to bring FREE checking to their customers! When I opened up my account, I also opened a savings account. Unbeknownst to me, my savings account became my overdraft protection account. This means that if I don't have the available money in my account, transactions will be approved and I will be charged an NSF rather than transferring the money to the checking account to cover the charge.
I went on vacation and called Compass to check my available balance. I was told that I didn't have to worry while I was on vacation, because if I didn't have the available balance, the transaction would be declined. This is what I wanted.
Of course, that was incorrect information and I was charged a $35 NSF for each of the 15 charges that were approved. I was never informed that the money was not available; they just kept authorizing all of the charges. And these were small charges, $2.32, $9.51, $6.65, $18.35, etc. And each of them held a $35 NSF!
When I returned from vacation, my account was over -$600 overdrawn. I immediately called them and asked what happened. I was told I had to speak to the manager of the Gilbert branch of where I opened my account. I called them and was told that I was given incorrect information (if it was even given to me at all) and they would refund 1 NSF fee. I was livid! I called every day for 10 days and the manager finally agreed to refund the NSF charges. I asked her to cancel overdraft protection because it didn't protect me from anything. She stated that she did that.
Again, about a month later, 2 NSF charge appeared because I was approved for charges when the funds were not available. I called to complain and was told they would not be refunded because this is how they make their money!
Unbelievable! Compass Bank is not there to serve their customers. The people they have working for them are incompetent and have no problem being rude and flat out calling you a liar. And keep in mind, they have a ridiculous rule that only the branch at where you opened your account can assist you. This is very inconvenient if you ever plan on moving. My account is closed, and I have told everyone that I know to stay away from Compass Bank.
Christina
Troy, Michigan
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Christopher
Rolla,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Stay away from these jokers....
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, November 05, 2004
I recently graduated from Auburn University and got married all within the last couple months.
After the honeymoon, we moved from AL to MO. During the move I contact Compass's 800 number to check that my account was in good standing and to change the address on the account to my new address. I also asked that the remaining balance on the account(I only had a checking account) be transfered to my new local bank in MO.
Three months later I receive a NSF notice in the mail, so I call the 800 number again to find out what is going on, since I thought that the account had been closed(effectively at $0). The customer support lady said that my account was over-drawn by $216, and that my over-draft(a credit line attached to the checking account with a limit of $750) was maxed out.
I asked how this could be since I had called in September to close the account, I hadn't used it since then, and it was now November and I was receiving my first NSF notice, which had been sent to my old address, and forwarded by the Postal Service to my new address.
She told me that I had never called to change my address, and that Compass doesn't have the ability to transfer money to other banks so there is no way I had been told that my money would be transfered. I told her that I had a copy of the phone bill showing I had called on Sept. 17 and talked to their 800 number for over 30 minutes, and that I would fax her a copy of it so that she could see that I called in.
To make a long story short, I refused to pay. They are still sending stuff to the wrong address, and how they say they will be sending it to a collection agency. I wrote a letter with a copy of the phone bill to show that I had called and asked for the account to be closed.
I banked with them for four years and never hada problem. I had thousands of dollars going in and out of my account(it was a business account) and never had a problem. I transfered money to other banks numerous times. They are straight up liars, and I will never deal with them again.
Shawn
Pensacola,Florida,
U.S.A.
Please, contact Bruce Watterson, Consumer Financial Services with me...
#4REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, November 04, 2004
Hello there! I am in the same boat with you. I just posted my complaint and it exactly what you're victimed with.
Please, write a brief statement to the below Florida State Department, as I am, to further the pursuit of compensation and force Compass to change policy since, it appears to me, to be borderline mobster practices...
Florida State Department of
Consumer Financial Services
Attn: Bruce Watterson
200 E. Gaines St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0362
You may referrence to me Shawn Rainbolt. I just talked to him today and I'm sending my revised statement to him asap - tomorrow am.
Any questions - contact me. [DELETED] [Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.] or do a search on this site by "Compass, Compass Bancshares, Inc." and you'll see my report...
Former Store Jack
Tempe,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Funny
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, August 18, 2004
I used to be employed with this jacked up bank. I was an honorable employee. I can vouch and say that when I worked there I didn't really appreciate taking advantage of customers. I didn't like the idea of charging someone for an authorization. Is that legal? They treat their employees just as bad. A lot of senior account holders were robbed of their retirement checks because of the "fees" Just don't bank with them Go to a credit union and read their cardmember agreement as well as price schedule.