- Report: #191687
Complaint Review: Branch Banking And Trust - Columbia South Carolina
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Branch Banking And Trust
Broad River Road Columbia, 29210 South Carolina, U.S.A.
Phone:
803-251-1600
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Branch Banking And Trust Fees kick loyal customer ripoff Columbia South Carolina
Last week, my mother was hospitalized. She's 75 and has been suffering from COPD and heart trouble most of this year. We've consolidated our accounts at BB&T to make them easier to manage.
My paycheck is directly deposited into this account, so things are normally okay; however, last week, I had to stay with my mom at the hospital and had no access to the Internet to keep up with my running account balance, and my paycheck was shorted by $200. Since I've had to take FMLA leave to help mom this year, there was no margin for error and around ten checks, all of which were of the 5-10 dollar variety, were paid in overdraft.
The problem with that was that on Friday, I finally had a chance to look at my account balance. At that time, it was $142.62 but had an available balance of -76.08. I IMMEDIATELY called BB&T Phone 24 and made the represenatative aware of the situation and that I needed her help to avoid being punished to death with overdraft fees and that I would even borrow money from a family member if needed to avoid these.
She said "If there ever has been a case for reversing charges due to extenuating circumstances, this is it. You'll have no problem at all. Just call a local rep on Monday."
I did, but by Monday, this account was showing overdrawn by $404 and it still is. What happened was that my paycheck went into the bank but these charges were processed first, resulting in a $360.00 overdraft fee, which, when added to another $280 overdraft fee to go along with it, not only wiped out my paycheck but sent the account into the red and us with no way to buy groceries, pay bills or anything else.
I faxed an urgent plea to a CSR at the bank who we've known for years, but there was absolutely no response. This bank should be ASHAMED of leaving good customers like us out in the cold.
I wish this bank had never come to South Carolina.
Joe
Columbia, South Carolina
U.S.A.
My paycheck is directly deposited into this account, so things are normally okay; however, last week, I had to stay with my mom at the hospital and had no access to the Internet to keep up with my running account balance, and my paycheck was shorted by $200. Since I've had to take FMLA leave to help mom this year, there was no margin for error and around ten checks, all of which were of the 5-10 dollar variety, were paid in overdraft.
The problem with that was that on Friday, I finally had a chance to look at my account balance. At that time, it was $142.62 but had an available balance of -76.08. I IMMEDIATELY called BB&T Phone 24 and made the represenatative aware of the situation and that I needed her help to avoid being punished to death with overdraft fees and that I would even borrow money from a family member if needed to avoid these.
She said "If there ever has been a case for reversing charges due to extenuating circumstances, this is it. You'll have no problem at all. Just call a local rep on Monday."
I did, but by Monday, this account was showing overdrawn by $404 and it still is. What happened was that my paycheck went into the bank but these charges were processed first, resulting in a $360.00 overdraft fee, which, when added to another $280 overdraft fee to go along with it, not only wiped out my paycheck but sent the account into the red and us with no way to buy groceries, pay bills or anything else.
I faxed an urgent plea to a CSR at the bank who we've known for years, but there was absolutely no response. This bank should be ASHAMED of leaving good customers like us out in the cold.
I wish this bank had never come to South Carolina.
Joe
Columbia, South Carolina
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
First and foremost...
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
I hope that your mother is doing better. I know how difficult taking care of an ailing parent can be for both you and your mother. From your post, it sounds like you wrote those ten checks prior to your deposit posting to your account and the funds becoming available to draw against, therefore the fees accessed. Since you will need to spend so much of your free time tending to your mothers needs, and not have ready access online to your account, it would probably be better to maintain your own account register so that you will know exactly what the balance is of your account before you go off writing checks against unavailable funds. Only check online or by phone to determine if your deposit has posted. Unfortunately, banks make alot of their income from fees. An account holder has to be very diligent with maintaing their accounts and having a fairly good understanding of their banks policies in order to avoid being charged fees. Perhaps the next time your mother is napping while you are visiting her at the hospital or at home, you could read through you deposit account terms and conditions. Other than the bank's fee schedule there is alot of other policy information in there that you may not be aware of. It also helps in that if there is a mistake made by the bank (and they do make them) you will have the necessary information to back up your argument. Try going to the branch where you opened your account and speak with the branch manager and plead your case. Perhaps they may refund some of the fees (the worse they can say is no and you will be no worse off than you are now). I think that fortunately, banks charge fees guided by their policies equally to all accounts regardless of the person's situation. I would seem to be pretty difficult for bank personel to review each account holders personal situation for every account that gets fees accessed to determine with account holder was more deserving than another. Good luck.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
First and foremost...
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
I hope that your mother is doing better. I know how difficult taking care of an ailing parent can be for both you and your mother. From your post, it sounds like you wrote those ten checks prior to your deposit posting to your account and the funds becoming available to draw against, therefore the fees accessed. Since you will need to spend so much of your free time tending to your mothers needs, and not have ready access online to your account, it would probably be better to maintain your own account register so that you will know exactly what the balance is of your account before you go off writing checks against unavailable funds. Only check online or by phone to determine if your deposit has posted. Unfortunately, banks make alot of their income from fees. An account holder has to be very diligent with maintaing their accounts and having a fairly good understanding of their banks policies in order to avoid being charged fees. Perhaps the next time your mother is napping while you are visiting her at the hospital or at home, you could read through you deposit account terms and conditions. Other than the bank's fee schedule there is alot of other policy information in there that you may not be aware of. It also helps in that if there is a mistake made by the bank (and they do make them) you will have the necessary information to back up your argument. Try going to the branch where you opened your account and speak with the branch manager and plead your case. Perhaps they may refund some of the fees (the worse they can say is no and you will be no worse off than you are now). I think that fortunately, banks charge fees guided by their policies equally to all accounts regardless of the person's situation. I would seem to be pretty difficult for bank personel to review each account holders personal situation for every account that gets fees accessed to determine with account holder was more deserving than another. Good luck.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
First and foremost...
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
I hope that your mother is doing better. I know how difficult taking care of an ailing parent can be for both you and your mother. From your post, it sounds like you wrote those ten checks prior to your deposit posting to your account and the funds becoming available to draw against, therefore the fees accessed. Since you will need to spend so much of your free time tending to your mothers needs, and not have ready access online to your account, it would probably be better to maintain your own account register so that you will know exactly what the balance is of your account before you go off writing checks against unavailable funds. Only check online or by phone to determine if your deposit has posted. Unfortunately, banks make alot of their income from fees. An account holder has to be very diligent with maintaing their accounts and having a fairly good understanding of their banks policies in order to avoid being charged fees. Perhaps the next time your mother is napping while you are visiting her at the hospital or at home, you could read through you deposit account terms and conditions. Other than the bank's fee schedule there is alot of other policy information in there that you may not be aware of. It also helps in that if there is a mistake made by the bank (and they do make them) you will have the necessary information to back up your argument. Try going to the branch where you opened your account and speak with the branch manager and plead your case. Perhaps they may refund some of the fees (the worse they can say is no and you will be no worse off than you are now). I think that fortunately, banks charge fees guided by their policies equally to all accounts regardless of the person's situation. I would seem to be pretty difficult for bank personel to review each account holders personal situation for every account that gets fees accessed to determine with account holder was more deserving than another. Good luck.
Robert
Wallingford,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
First and foremost...
#5Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
I hope that your mother is doing better. I know how difficult taking care of an ailing parent can be for both you and your mother. From your post, it sounds like you wrote those ten checks prior to your deposit posting to your account and the funds becoming available to draw against, therefore the fees accessed. Since you will need to spend so much of your free time tending to your mothers needs, and not have ready access online to your account, it would probably be better to maintain your own account register so that you will know exactly what the balance is of your account before you go off writing checks against unavailable funds. Only check online or by phone to determine if your deposit has posted. Unfortunately, banks make alot of their income from fees. An account holder has to be very diligent with maintaing their accounts and having a fairly good understanding of their banks policies in order to avoid being charged fees. Perhaps the next time your mother is napping while you are visiting her at the hospital or at home, you could read through you deposit account terms and conditions. Other than the bank's fee schedule there is alot of other policy information in there that you may not be aware of. It also helps in that if there is a mistake made by the bank (and they do make them) you will have the necessary information to back up your argument. Try going to the branch where you opened your account and speak with the branch manager and plead your case. Perhaps they may refund some of the fees (the worse they can say is no and you will be no worse off than you are now). I think that fortunately, banks charge fees guided by their policies equally to all accounts regardless of the person's situation. I would seem to be pretty difficult for bank personel to review each account holders personal situation for every account that gets fees accessed to determine with account holder was more deserving than another. Good luck.
