Wachovia Bank Online Bill Pay Services Posts Checks Prematurely to Charge NSF Fees Sugarhill Georgia
I set up automatic bill pay with Wachovia Online banking services. All my payments are set up to be made on the 15th and the 30th or 31st to ensure my check's deposited by the time payment is submitted. Wachovia's teller sent my mortgage payment out several days before the due date and it apparently arrived at the mortgage company early. Even though the check was dated April 30, 2008, the check was sent to Wachovia on April 28, 2008 for processing and they sent the check trough charging me a $35.00 insufficient fund fee. I contacted the bank to ask that they refund my insufficient fund fee as the payments were not suppose to occur until April 30th. A copy of their email response is listed below. I have decided however to close the account (which I've had less than a year as I am a new customer with them). I'm looking for other banking institutions and am considering credit unions.
Wachovia's Response:
Dear SARAH XXXXXX(Last Name Removed by Poster),
Thank you for contacting Wachovia.
This message is in response to your recent communication, which was received on 04/30/2008 and assigned Case ID 27345620.
I have received your e-mail regarding the payment of check 5070 and apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced.
Please be advised our check processing equipment cannot detect a post-dated check (a check bearing a date later than the actual date it is written). At their discretion, a biller may hold a check for an
extended period of time. Unfortunately, we are unable to determine if they will do so.
Our goal is to ensure your payments arrive at the biller by the Pay Date you have selected. Check 5070 was mailed on 04/25/2008 in order to arrive by 04/30/2008.
To ensure future payments are not presented against insufficient funds, you may wish to schedule the payment with a Pay Date that falls several business days after your deposit is available.
Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience.
I value your business as a Wachovia customer and look forward to continuing to serve your financial needs. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us via e-mail or call 800-950-2296. Representatives are available to assist you 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
Sincerely,
Nancy B
Sarah
Sugahill, Georgia
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Nancy
Steilacoom,Washington,
U.S.A.
It is the mortgage company's fault
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, May 05, 2008
The mortgage company apparently presented the check for payment before the date on the check. They probably ahd a batch of checks that they sent at the same time. IF it is jsut one check and one deposit, then the teller MIGHT ahve caught it, but not if there were many checks. the bank is correct, the processing department does not look at dates ( signatures either) they just look at the amount, and not even the written amount unless they can't figure out what the numbers are. I used to work in the proof department for Key Bank until I got carpel tunnel and ahd to quit. My daughter still works there. When we are "running" the checks thru the MICR machine, the average operator is running about 2300 items an hour, we don't have time to look at the date. So next time don't blame the bank blame the insurance company.
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Other ideas
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sun, May 04, 2008
If you have already closed the account then ignore the rest. Another solution to this problem would be to have the bills payed thru the companies themselves. I do this with my utilities and other credit cards. I go online to their websites and pay thru them. No explanation as to why they would do the transfer several days ahead of time unless the due date is a weekend or holiday.
Something else you can try is direct deposit. That way you shouldn't have to worry about an check hold policies.
Edgeman
Chico,California,
U.S.A.
I'm not seeing the ripoff...
#4Consumer Comment
Sun, May 04, 2008
At least not on the part of Wachovia. They mailed your check on a Friday (the 25th) so it would have plenty of time to arrive due to the weekend and possible delays from the Post Office. If they had mailed it on Monday, it would likely have been a day late.
It sucks, but as the bank pointed out, you might consider adjusting bill pay dates.