Posts tagged ‘overdraft’

On one occassion, I checked my account balance at the ATM and it showed a positive amount of over $200. We went on our trip, ate at a restaurant and purchased a few other items the same day. I was shocked when we got back to see 5 overdraft fees at $33.00 each posted on our account. When I contacted BOA and told them I had a bank receipt showing my account in the positive before we made the transactions, they told me I had some transactions ‘pending’ that had not yet been posted to my account and therefore did not show up when I went to the ATM. Yet they still insisted that my account balance at the ATM was ‘realtime.’ This was what they had advertised, and of course, what I believed. How can they advertise that their online and atm balances are up to date if there are still transactions on hold? We also would not have been hit with so many fees if they had posted them by the time of day and not the amount! The bank continues to allow use of the ATM card to make purchases even if there is a negative balance. It would be easy enough for them to decline payment if a card with a negative balance is presented, but thier excuse for this is that it is a ‘courtesy’ to their customers. Hogwash! It’s so they can wrack up more service fees – their bread and butter. We’ve been customers of BOA for over 10 years and have NEVER had this problem before.

Recently, we got hit with 5 overdraft fees because they posted the transactions, not at the time they were presented, but based on the transaction amount – higher to lower. The ‘best’ part though is that we deposited enough money to cover all the transactions the same day. I of course contacted them through their mail system online (which is the only way to contact them via the Internet) and they refused to refund the fees because we had deposited the check AFTER the transactions had presented. Can you believe it?

Continue reading ‘Bank of Americas Bread and Butter’ »

Having a current account has become the norm for most people nowadays. Indeed, offering a secure way to store one’s money, as well as carrying out a range of day-to-day transactions, they have become an integrated part of society. Yet, with the range of different accounts out there, it can often be challenging to find one that does your money justice.

That’s why it makes sense to take the time to understand the current account marketplace and search for one that not only works hard for the cash you have, but also one that doesn’t heavily penalise you should you go into the red. With a bit of research, it may even be possible to find an account that gives you a better financial return than some of the savings accounts out there!

The key factor to be aware of when searching for an appropriate deal then, is the rate of current account interest. This applies to the amount you would earn on your credit, as well as any charges associated with your overdraft.

Consequently, it’s important to consider both the account’s AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) – the amount of interest you can expect to earn – and the overdraft’s APR (Annual Percentage Rate); what you’ll be charged for any money that’s overdrawn. To reap the best return, it would be ideal to find a current account that offers you a competitive AER on your money and a low APR on your overdraft facility.

In addition to the interest rate, it’s also essential to be aware of the account’s terms and conditions. Whilst there are hundreds of attractive-looking deals in the marketplace, many come with pre-conditions attached. For example, you may be expected to pay a set amount into your account each month, or your interest rate could go down after certain period of time.

Continue reading ‘Three Top Tips for Finding the Best Current Account’ »