Complaint Review: Wachovia Bank N.A. - Charlotte North Carolina

I was going to suggest that you close your account, but don't do that.

Do this instead, keep $5.00 in the account, to keep it open, that way you will be able to cash other checks when you need . And run your life with cash only. So when your wallet is empty, you're done.

We all realize that the bank has to pay their employees to "clean up" the mess as you say...I'd bet my paycheck it doesn't cost them $35! Come down here with the rest of us, and think a minute. Use your college logic, and you will understand (after a few hours) it is a legal crime they are pulling off here! And as for you preaching to us to watch our money better...have you ever lost a few pennies and found them later on under the couch, car seat, washer? It's 3 cents...use a little common sense!

Usually if an overdraft leaves the account balance at under $3 - $5 overdrawn (depending on bank policy) banks will reverse overdraft fees for you when you call in. After all, such a small overdraft could have easily been caused by a wrong amount posting, or simply forgetting to carry a 1 in your checkbook. The bank doesn't want to lose customer goodwill over a relatively trivial overdraft amount. Now, that being said, if you overdraft more often, then banks are less likely to extend this courtesy. Call in, state your case calmly and you're likely to get the fee back, as you did.

As long as your Wsav was linked for odin and your Wsav account had 3 cents in the account the money would have transferred over. Wachovia no longer (RarelY) gives full refunds unless its a bank error or if you have been a long time customer who never overdrafts.

If this had been your first overdraft the fee would have been $22. Since you report the fee as $35 then you have had at least one other overdraft within the past 12 months. Your Way@Save account can be linked as overdraft protection. Have you called to confirm it is? Was there any money available in the Way2Save the business day your account became overdrawn? If there was no money available to transfer to the checking account then you would get the overdraft fee. And yes any amount overdrawn causes the $35 fee to be accessed. Whether the rep personally feels it's ridiculous or not, that's the way the fee system was set up. It was provided to you in Terms & Conditions and your Schedule of Fees and Services. I happy the rep did give you a courtesy refund, but as they said please watch your account. Keep your register and keep your balance positive so you aren't accessed any more fees.

If you've been a loyal customer for more than three years and NEVER overdrafted, at MOST OTHER banks, I believe it's a common practice in the industry to grant something called a one-time courtesy overdraft. Especially given the track record and the especially given the obvious honest mistake with 3 cents. But just like they did with the Unavailable Funds Fee, here again they have lived up to their name and proven to be in a league of their own as they..... Walk-Over-Ya with this ripoff here. But they appeciate your loyalty and your business.

I am not trying to defend Wachovia because I have no account with them but, they have to pay employees to catch and clean up your mess. Manage your money better and this would not happen. Banks are a business not a welfare.

They weren't picking on you -- these things are set up to be automatic, and any negative balance will trigger an overdraft charge. You're lucky to get it reversed; some banks wouldn't have.