This page is dedicated to the "legion of fans" that have already contacted me about my mission!

• We had 3 or 4 accounts with Wachovia including a money market account, with total balance about $125,000. The service on the money market account got pitiful anyhow. They decided to only send statement to people with bigger balances than ours, but no-one would or could tell us why we were not getting statements any longer. It wasn't even really possible to get our phone calls returned. $100K is not enough to impress them. That's not even the major suck reason. My son was in the Army. Prior to enlisting he had an account with Wachovia with most of his bills being paid automatically. He switched to the Credit Union at MacDill and did what he thought was necessary to switch his automatic payments. Then he closed the Wachovia account. Some of the automatic payments continued to be issued to his supposedly closed Wachovia account. Wachovia honored those payments and charged fees for overdrafts and for insufficient balance. The total damages was about $1300. Then they took the money from OUR account, saying they had a right to do it. My question to them was "why honor the overdrafts?" but it's pointless talking to them. We closed our accounts and took our money elsewhere. wachovia can kiss my ass.

  ---

• I am sitting here at work in Houston, TX after dealing with Wachovia all morning long. I called back home to my parents in St. Pete to tell them about what happened and my dad told me about your site. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one this is happening to. On Friday 10/13/06, I made a deposit at the ATM for around $708.00, this included my payroll check of $693 and two small checks people had wrote out to me. Well Saturday morning all my funds were in my account so I began to use my debit card just like any other day. I come in to work this morning Tuesday 10/17/06 and my account is in the negative by $701.08. I very quickly called the 800 # and was told that my payroll check was put on hold until the 18th when it cleared. I was then charged overdraft fees totaling to $175.00 due to the transactions that I made over the weekend. When I explained to her the money was in there Saturday morning she said it "really" wasn't in there. I was so IRATE that I went to my local branch and spoke to the branch manager and she told me that I needed to have more money if I was worried about that stuff like that and that there was nothing she could do. I am so upset as I do not get paid again until the 31st. I asked her if she would back out the charges since it is really the banks fault. She told me no because that is only a curtosey they do for customers who have had their accounts longer than 6 months. I believe if they do not want to clear you deposits through the ATM immediately then do not make the funds available until that time, not the next day then back them out and charge you TONS of fees. I really truly hope that your site and story make some kind of impact on the bank. Thank You-ND

  ---

• Dear Little guy, I too have been screwed by Wachovia. I don’t know by how many thousands over the years, it would be difficult to add it up. A few months ago, a Wachovia VISA transaction was posted to my account twice. I didn’t notice this for a while because VISA transactions are on hold for a few business days. This time, by chance was a weekend and holiday of some sort, so it was on hold for about 6 days. During the time this dual debit was on hold, I made over 35 transactions between my debit card and bill pay. By the time I noticed the problem, my account was over 1,000 in the red. Once the problem was reported to Wachovia and the company I had made the original VISA purchase from it took two weeks to resolve. The resolution? No one knows why my account was hit with a double transaction. The great Wachovia agreed to credit my account with one of the transactions, but no fee refunds since they do not believe they were the cause the double transaction. During the two weeks that it took Wachovia to come to this conclusion, several more debits hit my account from various auto payments I have set up. When all was said and done, my negative balance exceeded my next paycheck. Any idea how steamed I was? I can’t express it. I don’t know why I didn’t close my account and move on to a better bank, I guess I’m a gluten for punishment. I got really screwed last week by Wachovia’s reordering of debits against the account. I made an accounting error and over drew a single transaction before a deposit cleared. But by reordering the days transactions, putting the largest debits first, Wachovia was able to get 9 NSF fees out of me for transactions under five dollars. After the reordering and the NSF’s, they put my deposit through. The deposit wasn’t enough to cover the NSF fees, so my account was still negative. Of course I didn’t notice this until I check my account online the next evening after I had made another 10 debit card purchases. The Customer Service folks at the bank refuse to give back a dime so my account sits at a negative balance until I get paid next Friday. Thank God my wife and I have never gotten around to merging our bank accounts after getting married. I took a few bucks out of her account and opened a new account at WAMU. I’ve put in to have my checks deposited there and am trying to move everything over to that as fast as possible. I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and pay off the negative balance at Wachovia so I can close the account. Until then, I’m trying to think of a grand way to make my exit. Keep up the Good fight. I’m with you brother.- RM

  ---

• Well you go boy!!! Good for you for standing up to this Bank.. I loved the site!!! It's all soooo true!! My husband saw your write up in the TBT and brought it home for me to read.. It reminded him of an experience I had with them as well.. I had $300.00 worth the bounced fees.. Why??? Only Wachovia knows.. Friday night I checked my balance online and it was what I thought it was $56.00.. My husband and I had a hectic week so neither of us got are checks deposited until late.. So we had $56.00 dollars to live on thru the weekend.. I made several small purchases with the first 30 dollars and then I remember going to the gas pump and hubby pumping gas.. He accidently started putting super unleaded in my truck.. after 19 cents worth he shut off the pump and began filling it with regular. The pump shut off at 26 bucks since my account was then drained.. ok I knew I was outta money.. Monday morning a check went thru my account.. Ohh noo.. well instead of just bouncing the check as they should have "They bounced everything" (including the 19 cents worth the gas..) It racked up to 300.00 worth the fees.. Remember if I went to a teller on Friday she would of given me the $56.00 and the only thing that would of bounced was the check... But since I used the debit card... Wachovia claims they don't post to your account right away and the biggest purchase goes thru first which was the check.. I yelled and yelled but it got me no where.. But I give it to you for doing what your doing!! Keep up the good work.. Dana Brozik / Spring Hill, Fl

• I too am a business owner who is experiencing the same problem. I made a deposit in the ATM on October 11- a large amount, and am still fighting to get that money released. I was NEVER told the funds would be held- not by the ATM's notification screen or the teller that suggested I deposit it into the ATM!!! I now have returned checks to several vendors, government offices, etc. who now will never take another check from my company. Who can do business that way? This large corporation (Wachovia) really is ruing things for the "small guy." Good luck to you getting your funds back. I have to now fight the same battle.....

  ---

• I read on your site that an attorney from the Tampa area had contacted you about possibly litigating your issue. I am actually an attorney myself, but I was only admitted to the bar a year ago. I was wondering if you might ask the attorney who contacted you if I might get in touch with him/her. I, too, have a serious dilemma with the way in which Wachovia does business. Here's the situation...sometimes around October 5th I used my debit card two too many times and ended up with a negative available balance due to a couple of holds. Before these holding transactions were completed, I deposited my payroll check and I assumed everything was okay. However, the next week when I looked at my account, it said I had been charged $70 in "unavailable funds fees." This, of course, caused me to overdraw (and rack up more fees) due to scheduled payments that would have been covered, had that charge not occurred. According to the less than helpful people at 800-WACHOVIA, this was because technically I overdrew my account, even though at no point had I ACTUALLY overdrawn. My posted balance remained positive the entire time. To make sure I had the situation straight, I posed this hypothetical to the "telephone banking associate",....."Say I have $50 in my account and I make a purchase for $40. If a mistake is made and $70 is charged to my account but a correction is also made afterward for the accurate total, I will receive an unavailable funds charge, right?" His answer was "Yes, and then you should call the bank so we can refund the fee." So it also stands to reason that if I make a purchase at a gas station or restaurant where the merchant often authorizes more than will actually go through( e.g. I have $20 bucks in my account and want to get $10 worth of gas, but the gas station authorizes $50), and that causes my available balance to go negative, I will again receive a charge. Now I'm so pissed that I'm ready to see if I can get people together for a class action (or something) against Wachovia because I know of no other large bank that does this and it seems like there MUST be some aspect of the law under which this is not allowed. I completely feel your pain, Attorney RD

  ---

• "Much like a poster you had on 10/14/06, I had a problem with Wachovia credit cards. I have been a customer of theirs for many years and a card holder for at least two years. I have not paid my bills late, nor missed a payment. Without notice or warning my credit card rate jumped from 13.52% to 25.24% and the structure and look of my bill changed. I contacted Wachovia and they said they had mailed me some sort of notice in June about the switch over, and that my credit card was actually held by another company. They said that company had reassessed my standing and determined I should have a higher rate. The woman I talked to admitted that I had done nothing to received the higher rate. She stated that I had not paid the bill late, or missed a payment, and that it was because I had maintained the same balance for a set amount of time. She also admitted my credit rating was high and did not warrant the percentage increase. I asked Wachovia to return the difference between the 13% and 25% that I had been charged but they refused. I have now sent a letter to the Better Business Bureau and am awaiting a reply. I am very angry about what has happened and will take every avenue available to get my money back. I am not rich, but I do keep my bills paid! If anyone else has had a similar experience please post your problem here. I will be canceling my Wachovia account within the next six months and I will cite your website as a reason in my decision. I will also send an update when I get the results from the Better Business Bureau. Jason C.

  ---

• I am not currently a Wachovia customer. I have however been thinking of switching over to them. Thanks for your story. I will definitely steer clear of them. Stephen Briggs

  ---

• A moving company used my check card number and withdrew 1,300.00 from my account without my knowledge, I disputed the transaction while it was in processing, Wachovia went ahead with the transaction 3 days later and their response was it's to late now you need to contact the merchant. Now i have a trial date for Nov. 2nd I'm prosecuting merchant for fraud. If the bank had stopped transaction like i asked i would not have to be going through the expense of all this. I closed all accounts with Wachovia.-No name, via email

  ---

• What a PITA (PITA=Pain in the ass) this bank is eh? I scrolled down to the bottom of your page and almost puked when I saw that you'd said they used to be Barnett Bank. They really screwed me over when they were Barnett. I would deposit my paychecks on Friday (sometimes before, sometimes after) 2, yet the bank would not credit them to my account until Tuesday causing any checks I wrote over the weekend to bounce. Even though the signs on the counter said, "All deposits made after 2 p.m. will be deposited the following business day." No one could tell me why the money didn't go in on Monday. It was a business day was it not? Yes, but apparently they didn't count it as one even though they were OPEN FOR BUSINESS and paying employees to conduct BUSINESS, and doing BUSINESS with customers. No one could explain it. I came in the next day and took a picture of the sign on the counter. The cashiers got upset, called a manager over and acted like I was a terrorist or something. I got the feeling they all would have liked to try taking me down. I informed the manager that I would be promptly closing my account after they returned the bounced check fees which would be done on the spot else I would have an attorney contact them. BTW the amount they tried to get me for was 6 overdraft fees in one day due to this whole thing. I got it all back, and they did close the account that day. So it doesn't surprise me at all that this bank stemmed from Barnett. I currently have a Wachovia account (too bad- had I realized they were once Barnett....) and not surprisingly, they have pissed me off with a bounced check fee. I had over $40 in the account. It had no outstanding ATM uses or checks. I hadn't used the account in over a month. I wrote my daughter's school a check for $30 and guess what. They bounced it. Couldn't explain why, or where the other $10 went. Just gone. They won't fix it, so I am closing the account. Best of luck, sorry for the long sob story!-K

• i have been a wachovia visa customer since 1985 and have always had good credit. recently my monthly statement included an "amendment" that i actually read instead of discarding. the amendment stated that unless i disagreed by written notification (phone calls are unacceptable) before my october 2006 closing date, my interest rate would jump from 17.99% to 23.99%! i immediately called wachovia and asked why they were changing my interest rate. i was told that although i always paid on time and had a good history with wachovia, my debt to income ratio was high (i own my own business). there was another caveat. if after submitting my objection in writing to the higher interest rate, i ever had another charge on my card after the october 2006 closing date, my account would automatically default to the higher 23.99% rate increase! i told the customer service rep, "so basically, i might as well close my account". his reply was, "basically, yes". i will never do business with wachovia in the future and they continue to mail me pre-approved credit offers every week - for my business no less. i agree that wachovia treats their customers poorly.-HR

• I heard about your story on the radio early this morning and read it in tbt. Tampa Attorney Wants to help...

  ---

• I have not been wronged by Wachovia, but am so sick and tired of huge corporations screwing people.They spend hundreds of millions to get your business, and then when they have it, treat you like dirt. I'd love to see a huge revolt in this country against these goliaths, and urge everyone to support small businesses even if it costs you a few dollars more. If we do not stand up to these corporations, then we are responsible for dealing our and our kids futures away to these greedy, monopolistic, communist-like regimes. Our government certainly does not help, standing side by side with these monopolies. I applaud you for standing up for what is right. I'd love to see about 100-million other Americans doing the same. Stephen, thanks for the note. Sure, print my name, I am not bashful. I hope the story in the paper this morning gets you some satisfaction, and again, thanks for standing up to these wicked corporations.

  ---

• In the "for-what-it's-worth" department, one of my co-workers hails from South Carolina, home state for Wachovia and she tells us they are affectionately referred to as "Walkallovia" by the folks up there. Fight the good fight and hang in there. Jerry Frissell

  ---

• Keep up the good work. My bet is on you. These big companies think they always have the ball in their court. I wish I had the guts you do. They all want to hold your money and get their bucks before you can use it. This is a crime against the general public. God speed Donna

  ---

• Good luck to you and your quest. This sounds like total BS to me and those corporate policy shmucks need to get a grip and do the right thing. Having worked a a large bank at one time, I know how inflexible they can be. Beat em down, they will cave. Brad

  ---

• Mr. Woodin, I too am a small business owner in much the same situation you are, my bank however, is Amsouth and they are doing the exact same thing. This is a scam all banks subscribe to in an effort to steal money from the customers they pretend to value. I am taking your cue and I will do the as much of the same thing to Amsouth as you are to Wachovia. Hopefully the voices of the small will prevail. A.K.

  ---

• Steve, I love the site man! Screw the people who say "your responsible for your account" and other crap like that, there probably people from the bank anyway. The fact is, and I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know, This is how they make their money. Charging outrageous fee's to us shmoes. I'd like them to tell me what costs them $33.00 in the process of returning a check, especially since it's all done by computer. And hey, while their at it, maybe they can explain why they "Hold" deposit checks since check 21 was instituted. The answer they won't give you is that the money sits in the bank and earns them money for a few days. Gotta love those SOB's. Dude, hang in there. I'm gonna write a letter to Wachovia myself, and post a link to your site on the community web site I webmaster. www.chapelpines.net David Soskin

  ---

• Steve, saw the article in the business section today and immediately logged on. Why? Because a very similar thing happened to me (I’m sure you’ve heard this before). My story is different; I had my wallet and checkbook stolen and even though I knew this within hours and did all of the things people are taught to do (stop payments, cancelled cards, etc) I received in inordinate number of fees from Wachovia due to the fraudulent transactions. After a grace period where they were understanding and cooperative, I fell into a cycle when the fraudulent checks started pouring in where not only was I initially debited the fee for the checks (since they were passed fraudulently and my credit was not yet ruined from this action) but of course charged fees for them bouncing out of the account that Wachovia closed on purpose! Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I, like you had written real checks, and even though I informed all the creditors I could think of, some slipped through the cracks, including my power bill. Now, even though I can prove everything was fraudulent (the guy who stole my stuff was apprehended and is in jail) I must pay my power bill in cash and I can’t write a check nearly anywhere because I’m in the national database of bad check writers (I’m sure there’s an official name for this- this guy passed the bad checks only to Publix and Wal-Mart- and of course Wal-Mart is still after “me” even though they’ve been informed otherwise). Anyway, kudos to you for your efforts. Believe me, I feel your pain…-Steven Levy

  ---

• Great story! I too bank at Wachovia, had a similar incident about 5 years back, same type of teller trying to figure out why my deposit was "gone". Fortunately, I found it (the wrong balance) before writing any checks - raised holy hell and got it put back. But here's my question that has irked me for years and in light of the publicity you are getting, supposing this might start (hopefully for you) some changes, perhaps this can work into some kind of reform. At times, I've often thought it was class action suit worthy... Wachovia's policy, and most other banks as far as I can tell, is to pay the "highest check first" out of your account, should more than one come in on that day. When I once questioned this, they said, "We assume that the higher the check, the more important it is..". Why do they get to assume what is important with my money? But, for someone like me who runs a very close balance, that means if I have $100 in my account and 3 checks come in - one for $105, one for $10 and one for $5 - they will pay the $105, charge me $35 then pay or bounce the other two at another $35 a pop - netting them $105. Why not pay the two little ones and then charge or bounce the larger one?? I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. And from a logical standpoint, it just doesn't make sense. Pay what you can, hell pay in check # order, pay any way BUT the way they do it which is obviosly designed only to maximize their fees. Anyway, I know it is not totally related to your incident but I thought I'd throw it out there in case you got a bandwagon of reform rolling from the St. Pete Time's article this morning. Good luck! Sue Rodenbeck

  ---

• I have not been wronged by Wachovia, but am so sick and tired of huge corporations screwing people.They spend hundreds of millions to get your business, and then when they have it, treat you like dirt. I'd love to see a huge revolt in this country against these goliaths, and urge everyone to support small businesses even if it costs you a few dollars more. If we do not stand up to these corporations, then we are responsible for dealing our and our kids futures away to these greedy, monopolistic, communist-like regimes. Our government certainly does not help, standing side by side with these monopolies. I applaud you for standing up for what is right. I'd love to see about 100-million other Americans doing the same. Jeff Francis St. Petersburg, Florida.

  ---

• I have been going thru a similar problem with Wachovia I guess in the last 3 months I have about 3000 in nsf charges. I have 3 direct deposits going into my account yesterday was a deposit day they returned a payment to the electric company yesterday after my automatic deposit was made but they still charged me 35 dollars it doesn't make since to me either but when I go into the bank they tell me what amounts to that just to bad for you alan*****@aol.com

  ---

• For what its worth, after reading your saga , I wouldn't bank with Wachovia even if they were offering 5 year CD's @ 10% APR! You, Sir, are and inspiration of which I may soon make use of myself in my own dispute with LG HI-MACS Counter Tops. Seems our dialogue has run into a brick wall. Another Goliath. Dave Niemuth, R.PH. New Port Richey, Fl.

  ---

• Hi Steve! I saw your article in TBT today. I applaud you! I'm glad you are standing up to the banks! I'm sure other banks do the same thing as well. I don't have a story worth writing, but here is something I just don't get, and I just needed to say. We are in the age of computers! There is NO NEED TO HOLD A CHECK that has been deposited. I'll give a little if you deposit it the night before or over the weekend. But as soon as the next day comes and the bank people process the check, your funds should be there ASAP! And if a check is no good, then you should get a phone call! What is with the HOLDING A CHECK!?!?! What do these bank people do while they are holding your check?? Looking at it!?!? Can't be used as a paper weight! So why HOLD it!?!?! Processing should be a snap with a computer. Go Figure! My husband and I have a business too. We can't wait for the banks to hold our checks. It's a hassle, but we go right up to the bank and cash the check and then deposit the money into our account. It sucks to run around like that because we don't want to wait the 7 to 10 business days for it to clear! I'd still like to know what they do during those 7 to 10 business days!! It's so easy these days to take out, but to put back in is a no no. I hope you get your money back!! They know they are in the wrong....they won't admit it! Good Luck again to you!! Thanks for letting me vent! Karen

  ---

• Man I got the hell out of that bank to they did the same thing to me I ended up oweing 502 dollars for mistakes that they did also I wrote a check one time and they never put it through ended up costing me 800 dollars in late fees on my rent Mike Esposito InterviewUSA

  ---

• In the "for-what-it's-worth" department, one of my co-workers hails from South Carolina, home state for Wachovia and she tells us they are affectionately referred to as "Walkallovia" by the folks up there. Fight the good fight and hang in there. Jerry Frissell

  ---

• Last year I had a similar problem with that joke of a company. They actually tried to hold my PAYCHECK for 10 days. It got so ridiculous that the HR department from my work, myself, and Wachovia had to do a three way call to straighten the mess out. The HR department from my work could not believe that a payroll check could legally be held for 10 days. The customer service rep claimed it was common (yeah right) and a lengthy argument ensued. Eventually Wachovia broke and allowed (how nice of them) my work to wire my check into the account. It is unreal that a bank would hold my damn paycheck. Was I supposed to call my creditors and tell them that I will be late on my payments this month because my bank won’t let me deposit what I work for? Within a week I had closed out my account and switched over to Achieva Credit Union. MUCH better. I’ll never use a regular bank again. Keep up what you are doing, don’t get discouraged by any setbacks and let’s hope they get what they deserve. Dave

  ---

• A similar thing happened to me when I was up in Indiana, selling my home and moving down to Florida perminently. I was investigating an online site. They requested a local bank account number to make an offer on a house I was interested in, here in Saint Petersburg. Before leaving, I cleared out my account here and deposited it in my Indiana savings union account, except for 99 cents. In order to verify the account the Realtor, unbeknownst to me, made a $1.00 charge to my account. And Immediately made a $1.00 credit. Because the $1.00 charge did not go thru, they tried it two more times. For which I received three $35.00 NSF fees. And because I was not getting my forwarded mail (another story), they closed my account and charged me another $70.00. Because no other bank in Florida will allow you to open an account with this hanging over you, I had to pay them off to open an account elsewhere. No one there cared or wanted to make this right. Now I have a new bank, and a different realtor, and a new house. All of my friends and relatives have left Wachovia for this reason. K.W., St. Petersburg

  ---

• Steve, I am certainly interested in a shirt should you have enough interest. Love the representation you have shown. Short, simple but sweet! Saw your story in the paper today and have been riveted to your web-site since reading the article. While I am not a Wachovia customer, I certainly believe in your cause and wish you the best! Keep up the good work and I will continue to monitor your website daily. Darlene
  The graphic that Darlene is referring to is below, shirts will be available if there is demand. Contact me with your shirt size L or XL adult. Cost will be determined soon:
    

  ---

• Every time I go cash my paycheck it cost me $5. It's a Wachovia check from a Wachovia customer. Of course they're not the only ones that do that. I use to live in an Oxford House (www.oxfordhouse.org) and we used signature cards for two people at any given time to cash/write checks for the house expenses. Wachovia never honored them. Finally one guy embezzled a pile of cash with a forged signature that looked nothing like the real one. Yes, Wachovia sucks... Your site will be listed here: http://www.yourfreespace.net/users/sungraffix/tampa/GoodAndBad/ProsAndCons.htm#NOT when I get around to it. R. Heston

  ---

• I understand your frustration with Wachovia Bank, NA. I have two issues with them and they are still festering. First: When I moved to FL in 2001 I opened a checking/savings account with then Southtrust Bank. I really liked Southtrust...the people remembered your names, your kids names, etc. It really had a small town feel to a large bank. Shortly after this, my wife and I began the process of buying our home here in FL and were pointed to First Union Bank. Another bank I liked. Small and efficient yet large enough to meet our families growing needs. When First Union mortgaged our house, I opened a "totally free" checking account and savings account. About a year or so after moving into our home, First Union "merged", (and I used the term lightly), with Wachovia. It has been a nightmare ever since. Lost checks, electronic payments taken out twice, some of the rudest employees I have ever had the misfortune of meeting and on and on and on. Anyway, about a month or two after the "merger", my checking and savings accounts were closed by Wachovia...why? Because of this. After moving my money out of Wachovia and into my Southtrust accounts, (I left about a $5 balance in the checking account and a $5 balance in the savings account), Wachovia hit me for a $20 "fee" for having the account which placed the account in the red, when this happened, they hit me for a $30 NSF fee because I didn't have the $20 in the account to cover the fee. So, $5 - 20= $-15 - $30 NSF fee = $-45, right? Well, they must have taken a different math class because they claim the account was a $-55. The savings account was also closed and I was never given, to this date, an accounting of that money! So, I ask Wachovia why the account was closed...(mind you, no notice, no warning given, just done)...and they said it was because my account was NSF'd by their fee's - something about that automatically closes the account - and I asked them "What fee's? This is a "totally free" checking account. Totally free means no fee's. They said nope. To this date, despite Wachovia sicking a collection agency(ies) on me, I have refused to pay them anything on this so called "delinquent" account! But what was I to worry - I had Southtrust Bank as my "home" bank. Well, we all know what happened there! All I would say to someone looking to buy a home with financing through Wachovia: If you can get a home financed do it through ANYONE and I mean ANYONE other than Wachovia, than do it! (I don't care if it's a loan shark named Tony with an Uncle Vinny from Sicily; he's more tolerant than Wachovia and easier to get along with!) Thank God for Bank of America! E. Johnson

  ---

• ...You have "kahoonies" my friend. It's a shame Wachovia is putting you through such crap but it could almost be expected. The way things are done in banking today is a testament to "progress" in the form of computerized banking, online billpaying, online purchases, etc, etc, etc. Banking online is not too different from the "chat rooms" that are so notorious today as the means that some perverted individuals are using to take advantage of our kids these days. It's the anonymous nature of the medium that allows that to happen. Well banking is no different in my eyes. The people who are responsible for handling your funds and accounts can be as anonymous as the "perverts" are to our kids. They strike and run without those being affected ever knowing who the bad guys are or why they are doing the injustice. Just like the "Bank"...someone there knows full well that an "injustice" was done...they are however "anonymous" and apparently wish to remain as such...after all...it might affect someone's "bonus' or position in the company or merely their stature in the eyes of their peers. Stick to it my friend...you can be sure Wachovia won't be getting any business from me...Good Luck. Darryl S Hudson, Florida

  ---

• Steve, I have one word that I think describes your crusade....AWESOME!!! Thanks for sticking it to them. I had a similar situation happen to me a couple of years ago when I was in school. My mom was helping me pay for school and basically survive while I was in school and she would send me money to pay for school and bills. At the time I had an account with Wachovia, so I deposited the check and after checking my account balance, by calling in and at an atm machine, it showed the funds cleared.., A day later I go back and try to withdraw 20 dollars for gas and the screen read "insufficient funds". So I called customer service and had it out with the operator after I proved to her that the bank was wrong,( they tried to tell me that it wasn't past the ten days that out of state checks need to clear-my question was why would the atm and automated service tell me the funds cleared then?) but they still did nothing about it. Granted the sum I lost was nowhere near the amount they got you for but still, the bull they put me through and the fact that I was late paying bills and tuition stressed me out like, well you know exactly how I felt. I was so angry because they were basically like "there's nothing we can do, have a nice day, thank you for banking with wachovia...". I still cringe when I pass by one. Anyways, when I read the story I was like...what the?? I only wish that I could have gotten back at them like you did. Thank you!! and keep fighting the good fight!!! Best of luck to You and your family. Vito Caricati

  ---

• Thank you from all who have to kowtow to Wachovia and their beauracratic policies. My experience hasn't cost me as it has you, but an extreme frustrating and inconvenient experience. I have been banking with Wachovia for two years with only problems of putting holds on my deposits occasionally and delaying deposits made on Friday till Monday at midnight. Yesterday was different. I received a check from my retirement account with TD Ameritrade pay to the order of GET Video, LLC attn; Gary Todd. I am a sole proprietor of my one man company for tax reasons and I do not require a business license. So I set up my retirement account this way for tax purposes. They would not cash my check because it was made out to GET Video, LLC even though it had my name on it. Even my drivers license as proof of identity would not suffice. They said I needed a business license as proof or set up a separate account as GET Video, LLC with a business license as proof. Bottom line, I have tree direct deposits to my account, so it would be very inconvenient to change these for this purpose. To maintain a separate account with GET Video, LLC just to cash checks would not be cost conducive. And again, I do not require a license, so how would I be able to furnish a license as proof when I have no possible way of retaining one. So I had to notify TD Ameritrade to cancel this check costing me $25 and to reissue another pay to order of Gary Todd only. And it's all about new Homeland Security precautions, and their ineptitude to use their common sense in certain situations. Steve, we're just victims of the corporate giant and it's lack of concern of it's customers who made them a corporate giant. I'd change banks, but I seriously doubt if they are anymore competent than Wachovia. I feel your frustration man. As I've said before, the terrorists have already won, when our freedoms have been compromised as a result of safety precautions installed to protect corporations and their assets. Good luck Steve with your fight. Don't quit!!!! G. Todd

  ---

• Hi there Steve, I read your story in the St. Pete. Times about your problem with Wachovia Bank. I just wanted you to know that you are not the only one they let slip through the cracks. I used to bank with Southtrust until Wachovia bought them out, I NEVER had problems with Southtrust. I started using a checking account I had at another local bank more actively when I found out about the buyout, I don't like big banks and have NEVER had a good experience with any of them in the past, so I left a little money in the Wachovia account and meant to close it out at some point in the future. Well, not long after the buyout took place, I realized that I had some checks about to get sent out because I had previously set them up for a future automatic date online....yes this was my fault, I admit it, but I chose to immediately call them and see if I could get them stopped as they were to go out the next day and the online system wouldn't let me stop them from being processed and sent. When I called I was told that they could take care of it for me and stop the checks from going out. I asked the lady several times, "Do I need to put any money in the account because I don't want to incur charges and I don't have enough in the account to cover those checks", she assured me it would be ok and that I wouldn't need to put money in the account, that the checks were not going out at all. Well, she/they lied, I got charged by Wachovia for overdraft fees, returned check fees....I also incurred fees from the City of St. Pete. and Florida Progress for returned check fees...it ended up costing me more than the original 2 bills combined. Needless to say, I to this day have not paid them and they have attorneys calling me all the time, I told them I was not paying, they could put it on my credit report, but I was standing by my prinicples. No one ever called me back, I called them 3 times afer it happened to discuss it with someone and every time I was put on an endless hold, one time I waited for an hour and 20 minutes and no one ever came back on the line. I really think something fishy is up over at Wachovia and I tell everyone I know or run into not to bank with them! I completely understand that I set these checks up myself to go out, but I did call to see what I could do and I offered to go and put money into the account and they said they would take care of things for me, I trusted them to work with me, after all, I tried to work with them by calling in the first place so many times. I've come to realize that they just don't care, I see them as the "abusive bank" of the banking world. I also wonder if this should lead to an investigation by the governement, after all, aren't they scamming' people to get their money?! I had a feeling I wasn't the only one, I figured they had to have done this crap to someone else too, and I was right. Hopefully they get bought out by a better company who will do some 'clean-up' over there, they got me thinking I could run a better bank. Not sure there's much we can do being the little guys and all, but at least you know you are NOT alone in your feelings toward Wachovia! Take care! Kimberly K. St. Pete., Florida WACHOVIA BANK SUCKS!!!

  ---

• Hi, I haven't had problems with Wachovia but respect and support what you are doing. Another cost to you because of this, is that your credit report will show late payments on the checks that bounced. A lot of banks feel totally justified in lining their pockets by charging their customers ridiculous fees, when THEY benefit from holding checks. Jane

  ---

• Wholeheartedly agree with your position on Wachovia. Have never given them a chance to mishandle my assets. Now Wachovia is poised to take over World Savings where I have CDs. I have told World Savings that I will cash out immediately when this wretched Wachovia takes over! Good Luck with your quest for justice. s/Richard Nolte

Yes, I said it. Wachovia Bank Sucks!

How can I make this statement you might ask? Well, being an account holder since 1998, I can honestly say that since their merger with First Union, they SUCK. They take money from your account and then expect you to know where it went. They can show the deposit going in ... look at your withdrawls (both checks and bank card) but not show where the deductions went and leave it up to you to pay them $65 an hour to find errors that they made. You can use accounting programs (Quicken, Quickbooks, etc), accountants, do your own perfect monthly reconcilations BUT .. they will still lose your money and tell you it's your loss since their system doesn't show where it went.

Think I'm wrong here? NOPE .. they've done this to me 3 times ... and actually had me convinced that even though I can manage 2 accounts at a lawfirm without a single descrepency - that the error was on my end. they convinced me sooo well that I went and purchased the same accounting program I use at the office that has had ZERO errors for my personal use and you know what?? There is still mess ups .... MAJOR Ones - this time, they LOST $285 of my money. Last Year this time, they lost another $200+, the year before? same thing ... but it's my accounting/mathematics, etc ... their excuse last time?? Even though I deduct every penny (even their stupid fees) that come out of my account, since they hit the system at different times, it's my fault.

Explain this one to me. I deposit X amount of dollars. I deduct Y amount of dollars. According to my accounting program and my math, I'm left with +XYZ amounts but their figures shows -abc amount. How in the hell is this possible?? If I deposit $100 and deduct $50, I still have $50, right? Not according to WACHOVIA standards .... they have different mathematical equations that you and I do .. hell, theirs is even different from any accounting program on the market .... can anyone out there tell me how in the hell this is possible and better yet .. who in the hell to report this to so that they dont' STEAL anyone else's money again???

posted by Angel Bear Kiss @ 8/22/2006 08:10:00 PM

Has anyone been ripped off by Wachovia with NSF fees, unavailable funds fees, etc. I and others have experienced many conflicts with them and have ended up having them refund these fees because they illegally charged them in the first place. They seem to make their $ by charging us these fees and bank on us not noticing or keeping track. I've seen other complaints of a similar nature, to the T, and I'm wondering how many of us have gone through this BS?!

Also, I would look into a mutual fund that does not have an annual fee.

9/29: ugh...i agree, Wachovia sucks big time! when jim and i moved from S. Carolina back here to Ohio, we closed the account we had with Wachovia. when we got internet hooked up, Jim decided to see if he could access the account online and come to find out, the account was still OPEN with a negative balance. wtf? so jim called and asked them why theyre still taking money (that wasnt in there cause we "closed" the account) and charging us overdraft fees (there were like 4 charges ) it took over a week and lots of daily phone calls before they FINALLY closed the account

Wachovia, I "walk all ova ya"!

- Grinner

So lately since Southtrust Bank was taken over by Wachovia I have had nothing but problems. I continually get attacked with $10.00 overdraft protection fees for overdrafts under a 1.00. I mean come on, they're going to take $11.00 out of my savings and put it in my checking account to cover the say $.93 cent overdraft and their $10.00 fee. My most recent hassle took place over an ATM transaction. I went to a Wachovia to withdraw 100.00 but when it came time to dispense the cash I get a message saying cannot process at this time. I tried again, this time $60.00, same message. I ended up having to go to an AmSouth to get the $100.00 and was charged a $2.50 fee. I get home to find out that it's showing $160.00 missing from my account. I immediately called Wachovia and they placed a dispute. Did they refund the money to my account? No! That night after I placed the call I transferred $160.00 from my savings to cover the $160.00 until they figured it out. In the process a transaction I had made was now considered overdrawn so they moved money to my account and slapped me with a fee. I called and they refused to refund the fee, even though they screwed up. I detailed the explanation of how had I originally got my $100.00 I would have had more than enough to cover the transaction. Still refused to give me the fee back. I've decided that enough is enough and I'm switching banks.

Today though I read in the Tampa Tribune about a group of nuns whose account was frozen under the Patriot Act because they didn't have a social security number or picture ID on file. Which bank did the freezing? None other than Wachovia.!

posted by Michael @ 12:08 PM