Very annoying bank error

[cana]

I had about $400 on my bank account, and wrote a check for $250 to an agency.

But, for some reason, the bank took out $650! I can't figure out why.

Now that caused an overdraft. Of course I can't be cheated out of $400 for nothing.

It would take forever to contact that agency to resolve the matter, and besides it's the fault of the bank that this mishap had occured.

How should I fight the bank?

[FilingOnMyOwn]

If they refuse to refund your money you could take them to small claims court.

[pink_amulet]

I had about $400 on my bank account, and wrote a check for $250 to an agency.

But, for some reason, the bank took out $650! I can't figure out why.

Now that caused an overdraft. Of course I can't be cheated out of $400 for nothing.

It would take forever to contact that agency to resolve the matter, and besides it's the fault of the bank that this mishap had occured.

How should I fight the bank?

Of course it is the bank's fault. It is your bank's responsiblity..THEY were the ones who cashed the check for the wrong amount. My best friend just had $200 missing from their account, they found out that a teller cashed a check with someone else's name from their account. They went in and complained in PERSON with the canceled check in hand. Because it was the bank's fault (actually the stupid teller's fault) they got the $200 replaced plus a $50 cash card for their troubles. Their bank was La Salle I think she said.
So with that said...Your bank is in the wrong, they entered in the wrong amount, your check is PROOF how much the check was really for. It is then the bank business to collect the money back from the Agency...the Agency was over paid not you. Everything is in your favor. So YES by all means complain to the bank!!!

[miss puff]

I can access my checking account online and see daily transactions. I can also view checks that have been written out by me. If yours does this too, I would print out the check and bring it to the bank like Pink Amulet said. At that point, when they have the proof, I would think they would have to give you back the funds immediately and let them figure out for themselves how to get the money back. Otherwise, like FOMO said, take them to small claims court. Good luck

[cana]

@miss_puff:

Fortunately I had made a copy of that check (a habit I developed before filing).

I will send that copy and a complaint letter to the bank, and will probably visit the bank if the letter doesn't do the job.

[Danielle1981]

Well what ends up happening at times is the checks are electronically submitted and the paper statement is mailed at a later date. So if someone fat fingers a key.....they may get out more money than they meant to come out. So the problem may be on the end of the company you wrote it to as well.

[SinkingFast]

@miss_puff:

Fortunately I had made a copy of that check (a habit I developed before filing).

I will send that copy and a complaint letter to the bank, and will probably visit the bank if the letter doesn't do the job.

You have the copy in hand. I would do this one live and in person at the bank.

Also, you may have non-sufficient funds charges pinged on your acct as well. Be sure the Bank takes care of those for this and any other transactions that may have gone thru as well.

Plus, if other checks bounced as a result of the Bank's actions, get the Bank to send Letters of Apology to anyone you were deficient with. That way your Creditors, the dentist, the grocery, or whoever, knows the over draft was not your fault and won't hold it against you personally.

[JeepMom]

Forget letter writting, go in in-person.

[GoingDown]

You didn't mention what kind of "agency" you sent this check to. If you wrote this check to a collection agency, there is a good chance they did this on purpose. They are hopelessly corrupt. Get a copy of the cleared check from your bank to see if they were up to any monkeybusiness. If not, then it was your bank's fault and they should be held accountable. I agree with the person above, go in person and demand that they make this situation right. If however, it was the collection agency that made the "mistake" then you would be well advised to close the account and start banking at a different bank because this won't be the last "mistake" that the collection agency will make with your account.

This is why if you are going to deal with a collection agency-- which is like trying to pet a rattlesnake softly on the head in my opinion-- then by all means send them money orders so that they can't do stuff like this to you. Also, they now know your checking account information, and that's not a good thing.

[cana]

All resolved

Thank you for your help. All was resolved satisfactorily. I mailed it to the highest bank official's attention, the highest I could find.

The "Agency" is not a collection agency. If I had to deal with them I wouldn't have filed to begin with. It's a government agency; I had to pay some govt fees for something.

I always used to make money orders to deal with CAs; I know how they operate.

[pink_amulet]

Thank you for your help. All was resolved satisfactorily. I mailed it to the highest bank official's attention, the highest I could find.

The "Agency" is not a collection agency. If I had to deal with them I wouldn't have filed to begin with. It's a government agency; I had to pay some govt fees for something.

I always used to make money orders to deal with CAs; I know how they operate.

I'm glad that headache is over for you.