The bank that I've used for around ten years charged me 7 bucks a month for checking. One day I was talking to a lady who worked there, she told me could get same deal for 5 bucks, if I asked for it. Last week I put a stop on a check, online. When I wanted to remove the stop I had to drive to bank and sign a paper. To me that sucks. You can do something online, but can't undo it? A bank here had around 18k of my money and I asked to buy a new pickup. Told me couldn't loan me money because I had a bad student loan. Which was forgiven when I became disabled. So I moved my money to the bank that I'm with now. Never a problem. Need money? Call and I've never been refused.

As I understand it, a bank card - to get money from a cash machine - is not a debit card. Often banks permit you to 'upgrade' your bank card to also become a debit card. But unless you request otherwise, the two are distinctly different.

Marichiko, I never heard of someone who could not get a credit card. They are so willing to get everyone as to even hand out credit card applications to those who should be on the verge of bankrputcy. Why have they targeted you for no credit card? I can understand why your bank would push their debit card on you rather than a credit card - it's their advantage. Are there not others willing to provide you a credit card even with a $400 limit?

Maybe different states have different laws. In Colorado a debit card lets you get cash from an ATM, as well as make purchases. Its draws directly off your checking account just as if you had written a paper check.

I have checked around and EVERYONE tells me that my credit is too bad to get a credit card. But its not too bad for the bank to allow me to over draw my account $300 - $400 before putting a stop to my debit card transactions. Again, this is NOT my habit or preference. Last month was just a quirky month.

Banks make a fortune by denying folks credit cards and issuing them debit ones instead, as my example above illustrates. Who wouldn't want to rake in a $60.00 profit on a 3 day loan of $8.00?

The answer is not to have a "Check Card". Nothing you have written about the experience indicates a real error on the bank's part. Your account is your responsibility.

I have a traditional MAC card. MAC is what we call ATMs in Pennsylvania, because the first ATM system here called them "Money Access Centers." (The first standalone ATM from a bank was called "George," which may have had something to do with the friendly name of MAC) Check cards are marketed as being "convenient." I do not find it "convenient" to have something that works like a credit card (i.e., requires no additional identification or presentation of even a 4-digit PIN) that will suck all of my money right out of my checking account.

I have the ability to check balances, deposits and withdrawals 24 hours a day, by phone or online. Point of sale purchases with my MAC card show up on my account, often quicker than it takes me to drive home from the store. (The vendor won't show up, but the correct amount does).

It is not your bank's fault that the person that was supposed to direct deposit money to your account did not do so. It is your fault for not checking. Pay up, consider it a lesson learned, and move on.

I have overdraft protection because in the midst of a horrible week in which my best friend died of cancer, I transferred money from checking to savings instead of the other direction by mistake. I had a reasonable story, an excellent banking record up to that point, and an obit ... and still paid $100 in bounced check fees. It happens. And at the time I was living on less than you are currently.

Oh yes, me too. A plumber friend of mine was getting me a deal on a water softener. I was to pick it up at the supply house but had to pay with his check. I transfered $1k from my checking to savings instead of the other way around, deposited my check in his account and paid with his check. Mine bounced, his bounced, cluster ensued. Very embarrassing indeed. :redface: