I know there is no such thing as a friendly bank any more. I get that.

And i do not take the act of ranting about this particular heinous institution lighly. But my experience at Wachovia has been mirrored too many times by my friends and family in Westchester and the City to stay silent any more.

Another check just bounced. Embarrassing, I know. Except that we had $5000 in that Wachovia checking account (and an overdraft protection that could have kicked in at 24% interest, thank you very much.)

Calling Wachovia to ask for help is fruitless. The representatives clearly hear the same story every day. And the hold time averages the length of a good night's sleep.

Every single bank on Palmer or Mamaroneck Avenues or Purchase St. or Central Avenue is the branch of a Titan. Should I take my money elsewhere? What's a regular, hard working person like myself to do? 

After waiting on hold a good 20 minutes, with particularly bad musak, getting in just under the wire of the banking industry's 4:00 pm Friday escape, I managed to have the $35 NSF (non sufficient funds!) fee waived. But I am the one who will  have to explain it to the person to whom I wrote the check, and I am the one who will be dealing with a credit report that will show a pattern of such mistakes.

It's enough to make you want to put a stocking over your head and walk into the branch demanding my money. Because robbery is exactly what they are guilty of. 

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Comments (5)

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Mary said:

... I suggest you take the time to go into the branch on Boston Post Road and talk to the management there, because they are only too happy to listen. I have had an account with Wachovia for 10 years and find them to be extremely pleasant and helpful, exactly what you want out of a hometown bank. I have also had a few instances of bank charges for various things, and in every single instance I went to the branch, where they know my name when I walk in the door, and they have immediately withdrawn the charges and made necessary changes so it doesn't happen again, all with a smile and an apology. Frankly, I resent your attacks on them.

January 18, 2010

J. Mark Lane said:

... Yes, as a matter of fact, I have ridden an elevator! It was very exciting, too. We didn't have such fancy things where I grew up. I've also been to a dentist. It was not as much fun. The term "Muzak" is a trademarked term, owned by Muzak LLC, a company that licenses background music...for elevators, dentist's offices and other locations. There is no such word as "musak" in the English language. Hope this helps. M

January 17, 2010

J. Mark Lane said:

... Hm. Surprised at you, Editrix. How about "lighly" and "musak"? Not that it matters. I probably shouldn't even have mentioned it. Anyone can make a spelling error. It's the substance of the post that matters. editrix: Yup- you got me on "lighly" but musak? really? ever ridden an elevator?

January 17, 2010

J. Mark Lane said:

... OK, I've been checking in here for a couple of months and I'm tired of looking at this subject header. It isn't right that one person (who can't even spell, mind you) can maintain a sustained vicious attack against someone (anyone, even a banking institution), prominently placed in the public eye, with such scant and ill-stated "complaints". The whole thing looks suspicious to me. Pattern of such mistakes? Do you bounce checks a lot? Well, I won't hold that against you. I've done it myself. But to malign the people at Wachovia, in such a sweeping manner, is unfair and irrational. I have accounts at Wachovia, and I am in the Palmer branch at least once a week. In all my many years of dealing with banks, in various cities and states, I don't believe I've ever encountered such a polite, thoughtful, courteous and helpful group of bank employees. Going in there is always a pleasant experience. They call me by my name the minute I walk in, and cheerfully help me with whatever it is I need. I've never had a problem, and certainly never had a check bounce improperly (if at all). With all due respect and admiration for my friends at The Loop, I think this kind of "journalism" should be scrutinized a little more carefully before being allowed to sit, for months at a time, on the landing page of this site. Respectfully, Mark editrix: Mark, all opinions are welcome on theLoop. Glad you like your bank. That's a good thing. But I couldn't find any misspellings....

January 17, 2010

shell67 said:

... I have had a checking acct there for over 23 yrs. I had a tenant bounce a rent check on me on a Thursday.and they harassed me with several phone calls in 10 hours, I had cash in there Monday morning. In the meantime they had frozen all my accounts with no notification..including my 16 yr olds savings acct, refused to cash her 65.00 paycheck, unlinked my debit card from my other account and I was hung up on when I had a Wachovia CSR call their own customer service number. Banks are a dime a dozen and no one should stay when receiving that level of service

November 15, 2009

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