Mike
Radford,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, April 01, 2006
First the bank should have given you cash immediately since it was already in your account. It doesn't matter if the check is bad or good, or even if you bring a check at all, since you had enough good money already in the account. They can put a hold on the suspicious check, but you're still leaving the bank with your cash. Unfortuantely it took an hour to find someone who was adequately trained to understand that, which is unexcusable. It was the restaurant though that messed up with the gift card. Their system tried to authorize $100 + 20% tip, or $120. This was of course declined because the card is only worth $100. Pre- authorizing a tip is I believe not allowed any more and the restaurant needs to upgrade their system. Many merchants are not set up to split a purchase between two credit cards or part cash and part credit (That practice is discouraged, if not oughtright banned, by the major credit card companies). When you want to pay for a large pruchase partly with one of these gift debit cards, you should first buy a store gift card with the bank gift card. Then use that store gift card along with another method of payment to make the purchase.
M.
Delran,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, April 01, 2006
I am an X-employee. I don't doubt you for one minute!! They harrass the people that shouldn't be, and let fraud go thru!! Need I say why I am an X-employee. They were so against my morales!! Wish you all the best. There are some other wonderful banks in that same area. I work at one!!