I’m currently a customer of the bank known as National City. Like many banks these days, National City has an electronic banking website that allows you to check your accounts, pay bills, and do other management tasks so you don’t have to drive to the bank (as bankers keep banker’s hours). Below is the story of how a simple shipping calculator should work.
I’ve been pretty frustrated with them in the past 4 months for changing the way their online banking works. What makes me incredibly angry as a customer and a web developer is National City’s latest way of making my life easier: a shipping calculator. As I said, I’ve gotten used to the asinine way National City now handles online payment, and as many customers do, have gotten dependant on it. As many of you know I acquired a new car in the past 3 months. I’ve made two payments on it so far (only 58 to go!) I made both payments through Nat’l City’s online bill pay site (I was out of checks at the time of the first payment). I’ve discovered a great boon: National City has a secret option of doing a direct debit from account to account instead of mailing a check! And the best part is they let the payee of the check decide!
What happened was this: I log in and setup a payment. There’s a nice little suggestion of when you should mail the check in order to make the delivery date what you intend. It’s really helpful for when you do want to time a check with the first of the month or whatever the day is.
However, National City doesn’t take this into account when it directly debits your account. I scheduled my payment with VW to be received on the 1st of the month. Nat’l city suggested a travel time of 4 days for my check to make it. Taking their advice, I scheduled my check to be sent 4 days before. I didn’t have all of the funds in my account at the time of scheduling but I was to be paid on the 31st so it didn’t matter.
Sadly, I was mistaken. Those three dollars came back to haunt me.
That’s right, I was overdrawn by 3 dollars (and some change). You see, VW is a direct debit payee (which I overlooked the first time I paid them–you can only tell by the lack of a check to view). According to National City, Volkswagen chooses to have their e-payments directly debited and deposited, bypassing the paper trail (too bad if you actually depended on the check copy as a receipt). There was no indication given to me by National City that certain payees bypassed the mail system.
When I asked for the $34.00 back (the overdraft fee) I received a message that I read as “you shouldn’t write bad checks, no refund for you.” I’m appalled that the bank alters my transaction with my payee and then chides me for trying to schedule things as per their suggestion.
This pisses me off. I’ve been trying to keep a good record of my finances and then something like this comes along and threatens to ruin my spirits about it all.
Anyways, I’m in the market for a new bank. I’m not 100% sure I’m quitting National City yet but I’m pretty sure there are much better experiences out there to be found.
That sucks, man. If I were you I would keep complaining to them about the fee and keep explaining why you should get it refunded. You shouldn’t have to do that, of course, but often that’s what gets them to act.
I’ve been happy with Netbank myself, so you might want to give them a shot. There’s no reason not to switch from a bank that keeps frustrating you.
Yeah, you’re right. The only reason I’m still with National Shitty (now I’m sounding like a nerd talking about Microsoft…) is laziness.
Any referring bonuses for getting me to switch to Netbank?
Nat’l Shitty is the WORST bank i have ever seen! GET OUT!!