Denny
Brazil,#2Author of original report
Sat, December 19, 2009
Thanks to involvement by the originator of the check and the BBB (don't know which had the most to do with it), this one at least has been resolved. I returned to the branch today (12-19-09) with the check, being just stiff-necked enough not to simply go to my own bank and cash it, and was immediately directed to the branch manager's office. She apologized profusely and cashed my check at once. Nothing at all was said about the $5 "non-customer" fee.
I told the BBB to let the complaint drop, and I'm putting this one behind me. I'm not totally satisfied, because the "discrepancy" the bank referred to (on the check) in their reply to the BBB consisted mainly of a teller with a bad attitude. She was not on duty when I returned, unfortunately - I was hoping that she would be required to deal with the situation. I had looked at the check extensively since the initial episode on 12-15-09, and I saw nothing at all out of the ordinary. I've seen the originator's signature many times over the years, and this one looked like his usual legible scrawl. Nothing was outside of the lines, and the amount and payee were quite legible. I'm putting most of it down to a corporate attitude that they can do as they please and forget about the rest of us, and a teller who apparently had a vinegar cocktail for lunch.
I do still disagree with the $5 fee, and I don't like their attitude, though my primary complaint wasn't with the fee, but with they way I was treated, or mistreated, if you will. I'll probably continue to take checks drawn on Harris in and cash them there for awhile, just to see if they continue being nasty, now that they know that I'm not going to put up with their static.
I'd like to publicly thank the BBB for their assistance with this matter. Also, thanks are due to the originator of the check, who just about went through the roof when I told him what had happened, and was on the phone to the branch, probably melting some wiring in the process, first thing the next day.
WTF
North Aurora,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, December 16, 2009
I am a non account holder with Harris Bank; unfortunately I work for a company that issues me a check issued by Harris Bank. My boss is a customer of Harris and he pays a service fee and keeps his money at Harris to issue me a paycheck. My paycheck is a debt owed to me for my work form a Harris customer who is paying Harris to service his accounts and customers. Harris is wrong to charge a $5 fee by inconveniencing their customers customer. Think about it, say that you go to buy gas for your car and you pay with cash the note is legal tender for all debts, public and private and the gas station charges you a fee to process your payment after you pump the gas.
Yesterday I cashed two checks at Harris Bank one was a paycheck the other a bonus check. I had to pay two $5 fees one for each check. I also requested a receipt for the service fee for cashing the checks and the bank teller refused to issue me a receipt as it is not customary. The money was taken out of the total amount prior to completing the transaction at the window. I am not sure if Harris is processing the fee as revenue in their books or what? But I hope that the tax on that business transaction is being claimed or paid to the federal government. If not I think that is called skimming.