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Sept 2010 - Crossing off the to-do list!

How to get out of overdraft fees??

posted 2 years ago in Money
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    daniellemybelle    June 19, 2010   Baltimore, MD

    Ugh. I forgot I bought a flight to see FI and it went through and I got hit with two $35 overdraft fees. I am really broke now (college student here!) and so being out $70 is awful! I am going to the bank to try to get them to take the fees off. Anyone with experience either working at a bank or getting fees removed have advice on getting this done? I had overdraft fees taken off last year so I feel like my chances are not that great, but I feel like they can if I convince them!

     
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    MissAsB    June 6, 2009   Married in CO, Living in AL

    I would go to the bank and dispute the fact that they let the charge go through, that should remove the fees.  I think the new law says that they are supposed to deny any fees that overdraft your account.

     
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    JoJo Bananas    August 21, 2010   Santa Cruz, CA

    If it's the first time you're over drawn, you might get them taken off.  Also, it depends on who you talk to and what kind of mood they're in.  In my experience, getting overdraft fees withdrawn is hard if your excuse is that you've simply forgotten about a charge.  It's easier in a situation where you made a deposit and starting spending against it before it cleared.

     
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    Amaryllis    July 2, 2011  

    Why two fees? Maybe start out asking for having them both removed and bargain your way down to having one removed? I think since you had a fee removed last year, it might not happen, but it never hurts to ask. A few years ago, I got one off simply because I had my account with the same bank for so many years. Or it helps to explain what happened; with mine, there was some sort of hold up on a refund being processed, so really, I had thought the money was there, you know? If it is reasonable like that, they might be more inclined to see your side. Since then, I keep a cushion in my checking account so that it never happens again. Even if I forget about a purchase before I can get deduct it from my balance, I know I won't overdraft. I'm a student, too, so I know it's hard in college, but taking a little money from savings is worth the peace of mind and avoidance of such fees. I hope your bank can help you!

     
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    GirlWithARing    September 5, 2010   Living in NYC, marrying in Philadelphia

    This happened to me, and I talked to the manager at my local branch and got them removed. I had been a customer for the past few years and this had never happened before so I was able to plead ignorance (I thought my card wouldn't work if there was no $$ in my account!) I think it's honestly harder if it's not your first overdraft. 

     
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    otb    December 31, 2009   Chicago, IL

    Do you have overdraft protection set up with a savings account or credit card?  If not, see if that's an option.  A lot of times if you sign up for an overdraft protection, they will waive your fees.  But since you were overdrawn last year at one point, then they may not.  Good luck!

     
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    Amaryllis    July 2, 2011  

    Definitely talk to the local branch, not the bank wide customer service people! I forgot to mention that in my other reply, but GirlWithARing reminded me. That is why they took mine off that time I mentioned, because I'd been going there for so long and they knew me. A national hotline wouldn't have cared!

     
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    ejs4y8    June 20, 2009  

    Does your bank have a back up program? If you sign up for it (you link your checking account with another checking account), if you overdraft, it'll pull the money from your other accounta nd you won't get fined. They called it like Overdraft Protection or something if your bank offers it. But since you've overdrafted in the past, maybe you just need to be more cautious about how you spend your money, whether you use a savings account also or if you track your spending more carefully. If you're tracking, there's no excuse to never not know exactly what's gonig on...use online banking? It shows when things are pending or have cleared. Otherwise, enroll in a protection program. It's free with my bank, but i opted out since I don't cut it that close   

     
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    Gerbera    August 7, 2010   NY

    If it's HSBC they are really good about that! I've done that a couple times before they have been great about taking it off. Just explain to them and usually they will take it off. Just be super nice and super sweet. :)
    GL!

     
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    jhphi    January 1, 2008  

    If the bank manager says no in person, call into the customer service line to ask.  If they say no, send an email.  :)  Normally I get any charges taken off my account simply by emailing the customer service and asking them to remove the charge "as a gesture of good will," and they agree to it.

     
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    lilyfaith    June 23, 2012   Lakeview, Chicago

    You shouldn't have overdraft fees anymore, they should have denied the charge unless you specifically chose to opt-in to the program since the laws just changed. I'd express your concern over that fact, and highlight how long you've been with them, etc, etc. 

     
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    clarebee    August 21, 2010   Vienna, VA (wedding in Greensboro, GA)

    FI used to work for Bank of America and he said that it was VERY easy for them to remove the charges. In college i used to get overdraft fees all the time - and pretty much every time I would either call the bank or go into the bank and have them removed. If you are polite, know what you want and patient then you will probably be helped! It doesnt hurt to play the broke college student card (and cry) either!!!

     
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    daniellemybelle    June 19, 2010   Baltimore, MD

    Thanks for the advice! I really just forgot about the charge - I know I should be doing a better job of tracking my finances Embarassed Anyway, I can't really give any other reason than I've been really busy and I thought it went through because Southwest always hits automatically. I really hope they have mercy on me, because I have no idea what I'm going to do otherwise. I will send an email like jhphi suggested if they don't take them off.

     
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    ribbons    June 12, 2010  

    I've been hit by a few fees in the past -- I call and ask politely, and if they at first refuse, I say I will just close the account then. And then they very kindly remove it :)

     
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    Medina1111    November 11, 2011   Houston

    I work at a bank and the best way to get them refunded is talk to customer service if they wont do them talk to the manager and be persistant with them.

     
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    Medina1111    November 11, 2011   Houston

    and Actually there isnt a law where the bank has to deny the transaction. There is a law that says we have to pay it through Visa. However, this year that law has change and customers are going to have a choice. You can opted out and have transaction pay or not pay. that is good however if you dont have any money and need a tow truck visa will deny the transaction and you are stuck.

     
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    alishadhs4    June 5, 2010   Colorado Springs, CO

    @mrsab...the new law states that someone has to OPT OUT if they do not want the overdraft to come into play when making a transaction.

     

    I work at a credit union, and depending on the circumstance, i usually reverse the fees if its not repetetive.

     
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    lilyfaith    June 23, 2012   Lakeview, Chicago

    The caveat with the opt-out law is that they had to contact you with the change, and if you didn't respond, you were automatically opted out. At least, that's the way I read it. I think they kind of get sneaky with it, though. I almost opted in by accident!

     
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    Sep_Queen    September 4, 2010  

    Blah hate overdrafting! i think it depends what the fee is mine is whatever the amount is you over drew plus $26 for the fee itself..

     
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    2PeasinaPod       Philadelphia

    My thought is to maybe threaten to close your account and open another one with a new bank. A lot of the time, banks are afraid of losing customers, so this might scare them into crediting you those fees back. What bank do you have? (sorry if I missed it)

     
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    MissAsB    June 6, 2009   Married in CO, Living in AL

    Guess I was wrong.  I was under the impression that they would contact you and that you would have to opt-in to the overdraft protection.

     
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    msduck    August 2009  

    Discover, Chase, BOA has always been good about taking it off for first time, etc but not my experience with Citibank

     
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    lilyfaith    June 23, 2012   Lakeview, Chicago

    @MissAsB - that's the way I understood the law, too. I read a NYT article on it a month or two back. 

     
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    KIKI82    October 30, 2010   SoCal

    If this is the first time it happens I would call and say that this never happened before and it was just an over sight. Usually they accomadate you if it is the first time.

     
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    prettypinktress      

    @MissAsB and lilyfaith, you are correct about opting INTO overdraft protection (you're not crazy!), but that doesn't apply until July 1, 2010.

     
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    Ms. Caniche    September 18, 2010   Orange County, CA

    I use citibank.  I have small line of credit that is linked to my checking account.  So if I spend too much that day and there is not enough in my checking account then it will take it from the credit line.  Of course there is a small finace charge but it is literally 10 cents a week. 

    I think that it is insane that banks get away with charging $35 over draft fees.

     
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    kate169    May 21, 2011   Virginia

    Being young and poor myself, I would advise you to look into banking with a credit union. They often have lower overdraft fees. And lower fees overall. Mine charges about 25 bucks. Which in the long run would have saved you 20 bucks just this one time.

     
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    MissAsB    June 6, 2009   Married in CO, Living in AL

    I agree that credit unions are great.  They don't charge you crazy fees and the rates are usually better than banks.

     
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    Aug8Bride    August 8, 2010  

    Ive only had this happen once, and because it only happened once, my bank was pretty understanding about it. but in your case, it seems a little habitual, so I would not be surprised if they do not take off those fees. Just try harder not to spend beyond your means. But good luck trying to get them to forgive your fees.

     
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    Soon2beeMrsM    October 2010   NY

    With my bank I have a line of credit that gets $ taken out of if I ever go over also I can take money out of that for an emergency if I need it at a small interest rate.

     

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