Telecheck Check declined for no reason Houston Texas
My personal checks have been declined more than once in stores in my small community! I have called the toll free numbers given to me and they conferm the fact there is really no reason to reject my personal checks that can be found in their files...seems now the ONLY reason is that my bank (credit union) refuses to disclose to them or any one other than the account holder the amount of funds in checking and or savings accounts. I spoke to my credit union and I was told that Telecheck knows better than to ask for such information because the credit union is obligated to protect their clients private information. I was also informed that not only credit unions have this policy but many banks are taking on the same policy.
For those that state...who writes checks any more? Many people write checks because they feel safer doing so. Period! My other complaint about Telecheck...the practice of stores running personal checks threw their Telecheck scanner with no requirement of the check being completely filled out or signed per the check writer and no ID of any form requested!!! That is complete insanity...any one can steal checks and have a shopping field day.
If there is a law suit against Telecheck I will jump in...not for any money but to slap Telecheck back down to earth and to quit causing shame to honest people. It is terrible to be declined per Telecheck in a local store, treated like a criminal by some and listen to other customers snicker as one calls Telecheck in the store to find out what the heck and still be turned down. Small communities gossip and I am sure my name has been slandered horribly!
Brenda
Dayton, Texas
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Hermitage,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Check Verification Systems
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, December 21, 2009
Hey everyone - here is a little info about retail pos systems and technology. I did retail for 16 years and finally got out and landed a tech job that I love. As your aware most retail stores from mom and pop to large chains use one of the following services: SCAN, Telecheck, and Certegy which none of these check to make sure that you have money in the account. These services only check certain things, is this an open or a closed account. If you have written a bounced check to a merchant, then you will not be able to write one anywhere else until this one is paid for, and yes it also checks for recent activity. If you have not written a check in forever and a day, then you could possibly be flagged as not being able to write a check, which I will admit its a catch-22 because which came first, the chicken or the egg, because you have to write checks to have activity. Also it will check and reject low check numbers like 101 - 300 for instance if this is a new account. So if you ever open up a new bank account, you can legally ask them to start the check number at whatever you like. I always tell people to start your check number in a new account with 1001 or something similar. Another reason banks like these three major companies because it stops a lot of fraud that the bank would have to get involved in. I mean its a great idea and these have been around for almost 15 years or so, there are some more tweaking that they could do to their system. Another new thing that a lot of people are probably aware of that depending on the retailer, they run the check through the register and hand the check bank to you and process the payment electronically, which then if your going to go through this, you might as well have just handed them a Credit or a Debit Card - lol - seriously - I hope everyone finds this message well and hopes everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year that reads this.
I Fig
Bay Shore,New York,
U.S.A.
I am in if there is a lawsuit
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, March 04, 2009
Ceadda":I am not sure what your problem is, maybe you should read all the other complaints against this company before voicing your opinion, or better yet you should get all your checks declined for no reason each time you try to pay online or in person in the stores, that should teach you what empathy is!
Brenda: I can not believe that this Telecheck co. can hold so much power and can hold us hostage to their whim. Every rep reads you a scripted answer that is not an answer and you are left unable to pay bills or make purchases, fear free. They can decline a check anytime for any reason they want, and give you no reasonable explanation as to why. They taunt you to try again to pay with your check at your own risk, to see if they will allow you to complete your transaction. You feel owned, helpless, humiliated and ANGRY!
I am looking into contacting the federal agency in charge of problems like this. This is a national problem. If they decline your check they should have a valid reason. We have to make the proper agencies aware of this problem and tell the merchants that have accepted your checks for years with no problems that you will have to stop sponsoring their business if they have no alternate method to Telecheck, as appreciation for your many years of loyalty to his business. They should be able to contact this company and demand a reason for declining. If we have proper ID and a good history with the merchant, they should be able to bypass the arbitrary actions of telecheck. I have experienced this insanity two times this week! one of them in a store that has been cashing my checks with no problems for years! This is crazy!
Can anyone help?
Ceadda
PrivateTown,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Your kidding right?
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, December 31, 2008
So you write a check.
The retailer uses Telecheck to help prevent people from ripping them off with fake/empty accounts.
Telecheck's computer asks your credit union, "Does account # blah blah blah have enough money to cover this check..."
And your credit unions response is...
"We're sorry that's private information to protect our customers."
WTF! Seriously! Sue your credit union or find a new place for your money cause thats just retarted.
And the second part of your complaint about not needing id/check filled out.
Yeah, sure. Cause no one who ever took the time to make up a set of realistic usable quality fake checks would EVER think about making up a fake id to go with them.
Idiot.