Regions charged my Mom $400 in OD fees, when it was their fault.

[Dennis S]

She changed account numbers because of some weird activity and they didn't tell her SHE was responsible for notifying companies drafting her account and depositing to it. Yes, she should have known, but at 78, she didn't. They told her something like, "We'll take care of it."

Also, I'm not sure if they even closed the account. If it was closed, you would think the drafts would simply be returned as "no account". So, it must have been still open for them to add the OD charges. They were supposed to close it.

She talked to a woman at the local bank who said they have to let the big bank in Alabama make the decision. Well, I think you know how that will go. If she threatens to leave, they will figure they'll never make $400 off of her checking account from now on and not refund the charges.

So, since she will never put up a fight, I need to know what I'll do when I have to walk in the local president's office and try to negotiate with him.

I know the final decision hasn't been made and I should wait, but I want to be resolved and not tend to fly off the handle when the bad news comes.

[DavidS]

The banks are trying to get all the overdraft fees in before the new rules go into place.

[Buzz]

USE A VERY LOUD VOICE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE LOCAL BRANCH, BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE. IT WILL HELP TO ESTABLISH THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT RESOLVING THE ISSUE IN YOUR MOTHER'S FAVOR.

[Jack D.]

Just remember the Presidents tie makes for a great hand hold. This would also make a great human interest piece for the local newspapers and TV stations on how a large Bank charges 78 yo woman $400 in OD fees. Don't roll over on this one.

[Jimmypoo]

They pulled something similar with a friend of mine because THEY couldn't read the
check's numbers. (They got them wet and it smeared or tore).

They put it through, the check bounced - because they GUESSED at the account numbers, and
they not only laid up high $300s in fees, they said it wasn't their responsibility to call the bank
it came from and get the correct information in the first place.

She went in - had a letter from the bank that said "account XXX has more than enough funds to
clear the check you have in hand" - and they still pushed around blame.

I had to go in and mention "atty general" and "state banking regulator" in addition to "I don't deal with
peons, and your corp office ain't too far to call."

Before we were out the door, it was all fixey fixey.

[Dennis S]

I have been toying with the idea of making an 8.5 X 11 PDF that tries to get the townpeople to tranfer their accounts to one of the 2 smaller local banks. I left a couple of years ago because I knew what Regions was all about. A few of their loan officers and their ex-president went en masse to one of the locals when Regions merged with an even worse bank.

I would make the page where it could be e-mailed and copied. I would try to get them spread around town and maybe even put them on windshields at the Wal-Mart parking lot.

I'm not sure if all of that would be legal, though. Also, I really can't think of how to make the case on one page.

Back to the showdown with the president - I want to sit across from him with a calm resolve like James Baker has and just lay out to him how it's going to be.

Anyway, I know I getting ahead of myself, but I think it's better to have a plan and be calm than to stew about it for several days and risk a scene.

[Jimmypoo]

I don't think you'll have to tell him how it is supposed to be. You get through to the secretary, let
alone the guy - and mention your mother's age, heart palpitations, atty general and bank regulators,
and it will be fixed within 15 minutes of your making the call.

Wasting your time on this other stuff dissolves your credibility. They don't care about people with
so little they'd move their checking accounts. They fear the press that would result from any moves
regarding state authorities.

You say what is wrong, and let his office fix it. Don't threaten with petty stuff. That gets the reply,
automatically, in the minds of most idiots, "is that all? Not even worth my time to bother with. Let him."

It's like the supposed Neimann Marcus cookie recipe. Don't duplicate that. Call to speak as
one pro to another, without stating what you want - because it's obvious what is needed. And it isn't
your place to suggest what or how employee discipline be handled. Just stick with the problem and
your alternatives. the Law and the News. And even that only needs be stated ONE TIME. Stick with
only the problem after that.

[Jimmypoo]

ps.... remember, that if TECHNICALLY, your mother was wrong, you're depending on their officer to
fix up the mess as a benefit to you. Keep that at the front of your mind when you try to work this out.

[Dennis S]

The problem is the local guy's "hands are tied". That's what he will say. It is the head office that runs everything.

[Dennis S]

P.S. The PDF was just an idea I had before. It wouldn't be involved with this case directly.