Complaint Review: PNC Bank

I am an avid banker, by saying this, I mean that I check my bank statement at least 3 times a day because I use bill pay, I have an ATM card, I have a husband who has an atm card, and uses it without telling me, and I a huge amount of bills for 3 companies that I own...

So I go forth to respond by saying, I wasnt even aware that people had physical paper check registers any longer, why would you when all you have to do is  go to your bank account online, and download your transactions onto excel, quickbooks, or microsoft money etc...these programs will litterally balance the account for you!  You may also call a 1-800 number to check balances at all times.

It is extremely unrealistic to write down every transaction that one would make during the day in this day and age.  That is archaic!  Also, NSF fees are very lucrative for big banks! Keep that in mind at all times.  So to combat the problem, bank with an institution that offers 24 hour overdraft protection for free.  I know it exists, because my bank has it.  It is so wonderful...if you see that you will be in the negative, you have 24 hours to right the wrong.  Remember cash deposits show up the same day.

This discussion is about PNC checking, so I will refrain from telling the nightmare of  mine about the loans that PNC bought of mine that were previously National City Loans....PNC banking practices are below par, what they did to me should be illegal...and I for one will never bank with them again.

In your last post you comment: "Although a check register helps keep track of charges it's only good for the ones you know and remember".

Clearly you don't understand how to actually use a check register. You enter the transaction amount at the same time you initiate the transaction. You enter it if it is a debit, an ach, a deposit, a check or whatever method(s) you use to access your account. You are not supposed to remember anything since the transaction is recorded at the same time you authorize it. If its a post dated transaction, you put it in when you authorize it and deduct the balance prior to the date it is supposed to clear. If you do this one step you won't bouce anything else...

I completely and totally understand how banking works. My sister works for a major bank and calls what PNC did "double dipping" I had a positive balance until they applied their NSF fees. I had a charge through paypal that was a recent recurring charge that I forgot about because oh wait I'M F***ING HUMAN.

PNC took into consideration pending items when they assessed the NSF fees. Even as pending items had I made a deposit prior to the posting I STILL would've accrued the NSF's even though the items hadn't posted yet. So I want you to think about this idiotic way of banking and times that a pre-auth that isn't for the full amount goes through knowing it'll drop off can easily cause you to get overdrafts.

In addition to that PNC will not charge any NSF's if your ACCUMULATED end of day balance is under $5.00, but will charge you for each INDIVIDUAL one if it exceeds $5.00. For example You have 3 charges sending you negative $4.99 at the end of the day no charges. If you have 6 $1.00 charges you will receive 4 (because that's the max allowed) $36.00 charges.

If I said I appreciate your input I would be lying. Save your soapbox and judgmental attitude for someone who cares. I also ask that you do some research into the Virtual Wallet by PNC bank. It is advertised as having everything at your finger tips and not needing a register. I didn't even receive a register when I got the account, and it was the reason I switched banks. Although a check register helps keep track of charges it's only good for the ones you know and remember. Trust and believe if I had the ability to not live paycheck to paycheck I wouldn't be. I'm glad you're in a better financial position that you can respond the way you did.

Do you suspect the bank may have made a huge error?  Do you think someone has gotten into your account as the result of identity theft?  Did you review your records and see if they correspond with the bank's records so you can fully and without ANY question show the bank of their error?

What's that???  You don't have "records" to review?  What does your check register say for a balance on the day of the overdrafts?  Don't have a CHECK REGISTER or other records, do you?

Just like EVERY complaint about overdraft fees, the cause...the ONLY CAUSE is the account holder (YOU), not keeping a check register...using the ATM card repeatedly WITHOUT knowing what the balance is BEFORE you use that card.  Not only that, if the bank did make an error, you would have no way to prove this because you don't keep records!

Do you want to AVOID NSF fees in the future?  Here's how.  You write down each and every use of the card or checks you write and you do the subtraction or addition in the case of deposits, and maintain a RUNNING BALANCE.  When you plan to use the card, you check the balance to see if you have the money in the account BEFORE you use it.  In this way, it is GUARANTEED you will NEVER have an overdraft fee again.  EVER!  There is no magic to this.  The bank is not playing games with the figures.  You used the card or wrote checks without having knowledge of the balance in the account.  You overdrafted the account and you gave yourself an overdraft fee.  Its your choice now.  Make it wisely!