Complaint Review: Washinton Mutual Bank - Coeur D'alene Idaho

The OP wrote this in a rebuttal: "Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, and the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again." That is completely incorrect. It happened to me. In November of 2002 I received a check drawn on a BofA account and out of convenience, I stopped at the nearest BofA to cash it. The teller told me there would be a fee and I just accepted it. Now, if BofA does not charge that fee, why was I charged when I presented a check six years ago? You call me ignorant for reporting the truth? Unbelievable!

From the Office of the Comptroller off the Currency FAQ : (this wasn't my question , ye comprehension challenged; Its a "frequently asked" question. "Q: I went to a bank to cash a check that was drawn on the bank. I do not have an account with the bank and they refused to cash the check. Can it do this? A:Yes. There is no federal law or regulation that requires national banks to cash checks for noncustomers. Most banks have policies that allow check cashing services only for customers who have an account with them in order to protect both themselves and their customers from forgeries. Once a national bank cashes a check that has been forged by a noncustomer, they may lose money if they cannot collect from the person who cashed the check. Also, if a national bank agrees to cash a check for a noncustomer, it may legally charge the presenter a fee. " While I maintain that Banks should honor their checks, and that fees to do so are unreasonable, also the relevance issues.. IT IS relevant that the check draws on the bank, as I've discovered through experience. Usually check that draws on bank= no fee to cash by that bank. Also, in my experience,(30 years of having bank accounts and using major national and some local banks throughout the west) it's not standard practice for a bank to charge a fee for cashing a check drawn on that bank, as some of you have claimed. Tada! none of my assertions are supported by laws or regulation. I'm surprised that at least one of you bank employees or advocates didn't direct me to this information as a "public service" :-) were you unaware of it? It's now apparent that there's no requirement that they even cash the check! This seems ludicrous, since a check is accepted as payment on the assumption (assuming good credibility of the writer)that it will be made good by the bank it draws on. I would have thought that at least checks passing tests of authenticity presented by persons with proper ID should legally be required to be honored. It seems that the only regulator then, is what parasitic fees people and businesses are willing to endure. If consumers allow banks to charge a fee for accepting payment in the form of their bank checks, then that's what we'll be paying. could state law explain the difference in treatment I received from the same bank in different states? More research will tell. Consider this: just because some banks do it, and people like Truth deflector, Striderg, Jim, and Edgeman endorse it, doesn't make it a non rip off.

It appears there are 2 distinct categories of "consumer" comments here-- anonymous bankers, or Bank sympathizers, and simply ignorant individuals who are quck to comment without having comprehended what the report said. "truth" detector, If all of your rhetoric is true, why is it that the WAMU branches in Washington aren't charging this fee? I presented a check drawn on WAMU the week before, from the same individual at a Washington branch, and no fee was charged. (remember, the teller stated this new policy was enstated in Nov 08) also, if your claims were true, seems like there would be a fee when my bank presented the check if I deposited it, since I have no account there. It is obviously very relevant that the check draws on WAMU.. because if any check I cashed at WAMU had just been a payroll check or something, I would have been charged a fee each time., even at the Washington branches. I wasn't charged a fee, because the check drew on their bank. You are either ignorant of banking practices, or simply a WAMU advocate, attempting to diminish the credibility of this report . A bank charging a fee for honoring a check drawn on their bank, written by one of their depositors is NOT standard practice. neither Wells fargo, Bank of America, or any of the local banks here assess this ridiculous fee for cashing checks drawn on their banks, Idaho ,Washington or otherwise. some of you are confused. If I try to cash say, a payroll check, drawn on some other bank, and I'm not an account holder, then IT IS standard practice to charge a fee, and a hefty one.. if the bank will even do the service. that's not what this rip off report was about. And I never said I don't have a bank account. I use 2 other banks, and have 3 accounts each at them. I don't need to justify demanding WAMU honor the check in cash, and it's not an unreasonable request. I may need cash, I may not trust the check writer fully, or the bank it draws on fully, whatever. It's entirely up to me, the person who accepted the check in good faith. They charged a "fee" for the loss of the use of the money for 24 hrs. that's all. Striderg, *sigh* typically Fees are only charged to non account holders when they are trying to cash a personal check or a check not drawn on the bank they are asking to cash a check. Jim of Anaheim, you should read the report again, and then if you still have a comment, you can submit an informed critique. .. also research some other stories about banking.. for instance, INDYMAC cashiers checks are being put on hold for 8 weeks at WAMU. (look it up) Bottom line: apparently, they don't have the confidence you do, regarding the federal insurance of deposits. ha ha Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, and the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again.

It appears there are 2 distinct categories of "consumer" comments here-- anonymous bankers, or Bank sympathizers, and simply ignorant individuals who are quck to comment without having comprehended what the report said. "truth" detector, If all of your rhetoric is true, why is it that the WAMU branches in Washington aren't charging this fee? I presented a check drawn on WAMU the week before, from the same individual at a Washington branch, and no fee was charged. (remember, the teller stated this new policy was enstated in Nov 08) also, if your claims were true, seems like there would be a fee when my bank presented the check if I deposited it, since I have no account there. It is obviously very relevant that the check draws on WAMU.. because if any check I cashed at WAMU had just been a payroll check or something, drawn on another bank, I would have been charged a fee each time., even at the Washington branches. I wasn't charged a fee, because the check drew on their bank. You are either ignorant of banking practices, or simply a bank gouging advocate, attempting to diminish the credibility of this report . A bank charging a fee for honoring a check drawn on their bank, written by one of their depositors is NOT standard practice. neither Wells fargo, Bank of America, or any of the local banks here assess this ridiculous fee for cashing checks drawn on their banks, Idaho ,Washington or otherwise. some of you are confused. repeating fagain or the poor readers...If I try to cash say, a payroll check, drawn on some other bank, and I'm not an account holder, then IT IS standard practice to charge a fee, and a hefty one.. if the bank will even do the service. that's not what this rip off report was about. And I never said I don't have a bank account. I use 2 other banks, and have 3 accounts each at them. I don't need to justify demanding WAMU honor the check in cash, and it's not an unreasonable request. I may need cash, I may not trust the check writer fully, or the bank it draws on fully, whatever. It's entirely up to me, the person who accepted the check in good faith. Striderg, *sigh* typically Fees are only charged to non account holders when they are trying to cash a personal check or a check not drawn on the bank they are asking to cash a check. Jim of Anaheim, you have poor reading comprehension. you should read the report again, slowly, and then if you still have a comment, you can submit an informed critique. .. also research some other stories about banking.. for instance, INDYMAC cashiers checks are being put on hold for 8 weeks at WAMU. (look it up) Bottom line: apparently, they don't have the confidence you do, regarding the federal insurance of deposits. ha ha Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, poor reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, anf the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again. my simple solution: I just don't accept WAMU checks. I recommend others avoid them as well.

It appears there are 2 distinct categories of "consumer" comments here-- anonymous bankers, or Bank sympathizers, and simply ignorant individuals who are quck to comment without having comprehended what the report said. "truth" detector, If all of your rhetoric is true, why is it that the WAMU branches in Washington aren't charging this fee? I presented a check drawn on WAMU the week before, from the same individual at a Washington branch, and no fee was charged. (remember, the teller stated this new policy was enstated in Nov 08) also, if your claims were true, seems like there would be a fee when my bank presented the check if I deposited it, since I have no account there. It is obviously very relevant that the check draws on WAMU.. because if any check I cashed at WAMU had just been a payroll check or something, drawn on another bank, I would have been charged a fee each time., even at the Washington branches. I wasn't charged a fee, because the check drew on their bank. You are either ignorant of banking practices, or simply a bank gouging advocate, attempting to diminish the credibility of this report . A bank charging a fee for honoring a check drawn on their bank, written by one of their depositors is NOT standard practice. neither Wells fargo, Bank of America, or any of the local banks here assess this ridiculous fee for cashing checks drawn on their banks, Idaho ,Washington or otherwise. some of you are confused. repeating fagain or the poor readers...If I try to cash say, a payroll check, drawn on some other bank, and I'm not an account holder, then IT IS standard practice to charge a fee, and a hefty one.. if the bank will even do the service. that's not what this rip off report was about. And I never said I don't have a bank account. I use 2 other banks, and have 3 accounts each at them. I don't need to justify demanding WAMU honor the check in cash, and it's not an unreasonable request. I may need cash, I may not trust the check writer fully, or the bank it draws on fully, whatever. It's entirely up to me, the person who accepted the check in good faith. Striderg, *sigh* typically Fees are only charged to non account holders when they are trying to cash a personal check or a check not drawn on the bank they are asking to cash a check. Jim of Anaheim, you have poor reading comprehension. you should read the report again, slowly, and then if you still have a comment, you can submit an informed critique. .. also research some other stories about banking.. for instance, INDYMAC cashiers checks are being put on hold for 8 weeks at WAMU. (look it up) Bottom line: apparently, they don't have the confidence you do, regarding the federal insurance of deposits. ha ha Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, poor reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, anf the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again. my simple solution: I just don't accept WAMU checks. I recommend others avoid them as well.

It appears there are 2 distinct categories of "consumer" comments here-- anonymous bankers, or Bank sympathizers, and simply ignorant individuals who are quck to comment without having comprehended what the report said. "truth" detector, If all of your rhetoric is true, why is it that the WAMU branches in Washington aren't charging this fee? I presented a check drawn on WAMU the week before, from the same individual at a Washington branch, and no fee was charged. (remember, the teller stated this new policy was enstated in Nov 08) also, if your claims were true, seems like there would be a fee when my bank presented the check if I deposited it, since I have no account there. It is obviously very relevant that the check draws on WAMU.. because if any check I cashed at WAMU had just been a payroll check or something, drawn on another bank, I would have been charged a fee each time., even at the Washington branches. I wasn't charged a fee, because the check drew on their bank. You are either ignorant of banking practices, or simply a bank gouging advocate, attempting to diminish the credibility of this report . A bank charging a fee for honoring a check drawn on their bank, written by one of their depositors is NOT standard practice. neither Wells fargo, Bank of America, or any of the local banks here assess this ridiculous fee for cashing checks drawn on their banks, Idaho ,Washington or otherwise. some of you are confused. repeating fagain or the poor readers...If I try to cash say, a payroll check, drawn on some other bank, and I'm not an account holder, then IT IS standard practice to charge a fee, and a hefty one.. if the bank will even do the service. that's not what this rip off report was about. And I never said I don't have a bank account. I use 2 other banks, and have 3 accounts each at them. I don't need to justify demanding WAMU honor the check in cash, and it's not an unreasonable request. I may need cash, I may not trust the check writer fully, or the bank it draws on fully, whatever. It's entirely up to me, the person who accepted the check in good faith. Striderg, *sigh* typically Fees are only charged to non account holders when they are trying to cash a personal check or a check not drawn on the bank they are asking to cash a check. Jim of Anaheim, you have poor reading comprehension. you should read the report again, slowly, and then if you still have a comment, you can submit an informed critique. .. also research some other stories about banking.. for instance, INDYMAC cashiers checks are being put on hold for 8 weeks at WAMU. (look it up) Bottom line: apparently, they don't have the confidence you do, regarding the federal insurance of deposits. ha ha Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, poor reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, anf the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again. my simple solution: I just don't accept WAMU checks. I recommend others avoid them as well.

It appears there are 2 distinct categories of "consumer" comments here-- anonymous bankers, or Bank sympathizers, and simply ignorant individuals who are quck to comment without having comprehended what the report said. "truth" detector, If all of your rhetoric is true, why is it that the WAMU branches in Washington aren't charging this fee? I presented a check drawn on WAMU the week before, from the same individual at a Washington branch, and no fee was charged. (remember, the teller stated this new policy was enstated in Nov 08) also, if your claims were true, seems like there would be a fee when my bank presented the check if I deposited it, since I have no account there. It is obviously very relevant that the check draws on WAMU.. because if any check I cashed at WAMU had just been a payroll check or something, drawn on another bank, I would have been charged a fee each time., even at the Washington branches. I wasn't charged a fee, because the check drew on their bank. You are either ignorant of banking practices, or simply a bank gouging advocate, attempting to diminish the credibility of this report . A bank charging a fee for honoring a check drawn on their bank, written by one of their depositors is NOT standard practice. neither Wells fargo, Bank of America, or any of the local banks here assess this ridiculous fee for cashing checks drawn on their banks, Idaho ,Washington or otherwise. some of you are confused. repeating fagain or the poor readers...If I try to cash say, a payroll check, drawn on some other bank, and I'm not an account holder, then IT IS standard practice to charge a fee, and a hefty one.. if the bank will even do the service. that's not what this rip off report was about. And I never said I don't have a bank account. I use 2 other banks, and have 3 accounts each at them. I don't need to justify demanding WAMU honor the check in cash, and it's not an unreasonable request. I may need cash, I may not trust the check writer fully, or the bank it draws on fully, whatever. It's entirely up to me, the person who accepted the check in good faith. Striderg, *sigh* typically Fees are only charged to non account holders when they are trying to cash a personal check or a check not drawn on the bank they are asking to cash a check. Jim of Anaheim, you have poor reading comprehension. you should read the report again, slowly, and then if you still have a comment, you can submit an informed critique. .. also research some other stories about banking.. for instance, INDYMAC cashiers checks are being put on hold for 8 weeks at WAMU. (look it up) Bottom line: apparently, they don't have the confidence you do, regarding the federal insurance of deposits. ha ha Edgeman, Bank of America DOES NOT charge a fee when a check drawn on their bank is presented for cash. You're another confused, poor reader. I would certainly expect to pay a fee if I didn't have an account, anf the check I was trying to cash was drawn on another bank. this isn't the issue. read again. my simple solution: I just don't accept WAMU checks. I recommend others avoid them as well.

This is fairly common, at least among the larger banks. Bank of America has been doing this since at least 2002, so you didn't exactly stumble onto something new. I'm actually surprised that WaMu took so long to begin charging the fee. I appreciate that my banks charge this fee, it cuts down on the number of non-account holders in line and that means we (the paying customers) don't have to wait as long for service.

Thw fact you feel the bank has an obligation to cash the check is irrelevant; what if the check were fradulent? With all the fake checks out there, no bank is obligated to do squat until the check is presented and its veracity determined through the normal electronic processing. Your reasoning that you were concerned over WAMU's "relaibility" is a sham as well; even if they were going through bankruptcy, the Federal Government insures all accounts to $250,000. Bottom Line: The fee is charged to non-customers of the bank. You're not a customer, so you pay the fee. If you were a customer, you would not pay a fee.

is charged when a non account holder cashes a check. Charged by most if not all banks. If you don't want to pay the fee, open an account there or deposit the check through your regular account. No ripoff here.

Banks exist to provide services and products for their customers...period. When those customers utilize products i.e. accounts, loans, investments, etc, then the bank waives fees related to cashing checks as a reward for the business that he or she brings to the institution. You, on the other hand, are NOT a customer of Washington Mutual. You walked into the bank to make use of the human and electronic resources WITHOUT having any relationship with the bank. Ergo, you pay a fee for the resources you requested to use. The fact that the check is drawn from the bank is completely irrelevant. Present banking regulations allow banks to set a schedule of fees for both account holders and non-account holders. The fee to cash a check at a bank that you are not a member of is not only LEGAL, but standard practice at nearly every bank and credit union nationwide. Now, if you do not like this regulation, feel free to lobby to have it changed. Until that time, try cashing your checks at YOUR OWN BANK. There you have it - problem solved. No rip-off here... FYI...You asked: "Some people don't have bank acounts. What about those people? you are punishing them for having to cash the check .. a check that draws on your bank. " Let me reply to that with a question of my own: Why don't you have a bank account? Could it be that you bounced checks or overdrew accounts at other institutions - thus placing your name on the Chex list and leaving you unable to open an account of your own? If that is the case, then the answer to your question is, "Those people need to be more responsible for their accounts and STOP OVERDRAWING THEIR ACCOUNTS".

Banks exist to provide services and products for their customers...period. When those customers utilize products i.e. accounts, loans, investments, etc, then the bank waives fees related to cashing checks as a reward for the business that he or she brings to the institution. You, on the other hand, are NOT a customer of Washington Mutual. You walked into the bank to make use of the human and electronic resources WITHOUT having any relationship with the bank. Ergo, you pay a fee for the resources you requested to use. The fact that the check is drawn from the bank is completely irrelevant. Present banking regulations allow banks to set a schedule of fees for both account holders and non-account holders. The fee to cash a check at a bank that you are not a member of is not only LEGAL, but standard practice at nearly every bank and credit union nationwide. Now, if you do not like this regulation, feel free to lobby to have it changed. Until that time, try cashing your checks at YOUR OWN BANK. There you have it - problem solved. No rip-off here... FYI...You asked: "Some people don't have bank acounts. What about those people? you are punishing them for having to cash the check .. a check that draws on your bank. " Let me reply to that with a question of my own: Why don't you have a bank account? Could it be that you bounced checks or overdrew accounts at other institutions - thus placing your name on the Chex list and leaving you unable to open an account of your own? If that is the case, then the answer to your question is, "Those people need to be more responsible for their accounts and STOP OVERDRAWING THEIR ACCOUNTS".

Banks exist to provide services and products for their customers...period. When those customers utilize products i.e. accounts, loans, investments, etc, then the bank waives fees related to cashing checks as a reward for the business that he or she brings to the institution. You, on the other hand, are NOT a customer of Washington Mutual. You walked into the bank to make use of the human and electronic resources WITHOUT having any relationship with the bank. Ergo, you pay a fee for the resources you requested to use. The fact that the check is drawn from the bank is completely irrelevant. Present banking regulations allow banks to set a schedule of fees for both account holders and non-account holders. The fee to cash a check at a bank that you are not a member of is not only LEGAL, but standard practice at nearly every bank and credit union nationwide. Now, if you do not like this regulation, feel free to lobby to have it changed. Until that time, try cashing your checks at YOUR OWN BANK. There you have it - problem solved. No rip-off here... FYI...You asked: "Some people don't have bank acounts. What about those people? you are punishing them for having to cash the check .. a check that draws on your bank. " Let me reply to that with a question of my own: Why don't you have a bank account? Could it be that you bounced checks or overdrew accounts at other institutions - thus placing your name on the Chex list and leaving you unable to open an account of your own? If that is the case, then the answer to your question is, "Those people need to be more responsible for their accounts and STOP OVERDRAWING THEIR ACCOUNTS".

Banks exist to provide services and products for their customers...period. When those customers utilize products i.e. accounts, loans, investments, etc, then the bank waives fees related to cashing checks as a reward for the business that he or she brings to the institution. You, on the other hand, are NOT a customer of Washington Mutual. You walked into the bank to make use of the human and electronic resources WITHOUT having any relationship with the bank. Ergo, you pay a fee for the resources you requested to use. The fact that the check is drawn from the bank is completely irrelevant. Present banking regulations allow banks to set a schedule of fees for both account holders and non-account holders. The fee to cash a check at a bank that you are not a member of is not only LEGAL, but standard practice at nearly every bank and credit union nationwide. Now, if you do not like this regulation, feel free to lobby to have it changed. Until that time, try cashing your checks at YOUR OWN BANK. There you have it - problem solved. No rip-off here... FYI...You asked: "Some people don't have bank acounts. What about those people? you are punishing them for having to cash the check .. a check that draws on your bank. " Let me reply to that with a question of my own: Why don't you have a bank account? Could it be that you bounced checks or overdrew accounts at other institutions - thus placing your name on the Chex list and leaving you unable to open an account of your own? If that is the case, then the answer to your question is, "Those people need to be more responsible for their accounts and STOP OVERDRAWING THEIR ACCOUNTS".