Some of you may know that I have just gotten back from vacation in New Mexico. While there I hit the Okhay Casino in Espanola(as I always do) for the buffet and to play some games.
I'd bought lunch with Mom and then needed to find an ATM for additional monies. There were two machines that were side by side up against the wall. Kinda hard to tell one from the other but I've since learned that one was an ATM the other was a Credit Card cash advance machine.
I mistakenly swiped my debit card in the CC Advance machine and entered my PIN thinking it was an ATM. No worries! A little message popped up on the screen and said that I was approved and that I am to go see the closest cashier(in the cage). So I walked over and asked what the deal was. The kind lady informed me that what I'd done was hit the Advance machine but no worries, if I don't retrieve the funds the transaction will cancel out within an hour(which it did). So I hit the ATM, get $20 and play for a bit.
When I got home from vacation I remembered that I had the $20 reimbursement and although shallow on funds, made two purchases totalling $16.52. One for $10.00(gas) and one for $6.52(sandwich at the diner). Come Tuesday I was overdrawn $43.00. A $33.00 overdraft fee on top of the gas that I'd bought.
Naturally I contacted the casino and in-turn spoke with the same gal I'd spoken with in the cage when I was there. She gave me an 800 number to the company that runs those machines and sure enough- the transaction had canceled and funds reimbursed.
Now I'm on the phone with my bank whom I now have learned is fully aware of the reimbursement/ canceled transaction but holds such transactions for 7-10 working days before redepositing the funds. WHAT!?!!
Washington Mutual/Chase customer service informs me that if I wish to dispute the charges that I need to file a claim. Kinda stupid when they can make ONE phone call to the party that runs the Advance machine for confirmation but, NO, I need to file one. Okay, so I do.
The next day I am overdrawn yet again, you guessed it- the $6.52 sandwich and subsequent $33.00 overdraft charge. I'm on the phone with the bank once again. They tell me that my claim is being investigated but by whom no-one seems to be able to give me a direct phone number. I once again ask the customer service rep if she'll make simple phonecall so that she can hear from the horses mouth that those monies were freed from the Advance party a week ago. No can do.
She hands me off to another office who I explain this whole thing to who tells me I need to contact yet another party.
At this point, I've been playing this game long enough to know that these paeons have no clue at all. They have alleviated my overdraft fees(temporarily) until the investigation is done which will take 7-10 working days.
TODAY IS DAY #9!!! The funds are going to post to my account tonight at midnight and all is well, right? WRONG!
I have caught Wamu at this same thing three times now. I have noticed in every screen shot that I've taken in each incident that if there are 'zero' transactions pending that any reimbursement fees apply and post within 3 working days. If there 'are' transactions pending at time of reimbursement- those reimbursement monies will be held 7-10 working days.
My dear friend Roald confirmed it! Overdraft fee's can and will apply even if the bank is already aware that monies are on the way and have record of it! If not disputed, those fees are passed on even if it's the bank themselves that are holding the reimbursement funds.
Watch your accounts folks! The banks do this all the time(playing dumb) and make $$$Millions of DOLLARS$$$$ in interest everyday with monies held from YOUR account!!!
