My idiot bank Commerce Bank

I go in to cash one of my google checks from advertising banners

So the teller tells me I have to put a 6 day hold on this check because google is flagged.

what is twisted is they dont flag the check every time i try to cash it ... it just happens once every 6 months.

I tell her I had this problem and resolved it with the branch manager 6 months ago and I created Tickets at Citibank the company that Google writes their checks on for the Bank manager to call up and verify the account is good.

Commerce isnt a small bank but thinking about it Citi is bigger and google is probably bigger then Citi and Commerce.

So this is not bad enough that the teller is disrespecting the check ...the bank manager that fixed it 6 months before was standing right there and I go hey you were the one and he says

Yes I remember you...

Then he says call the 1800 customer support number to complain because I am not going to talk about this with you (his exact words) and there is nothing he can do.

Anyway anyone else ever had a google check refused ?

At this point Google is about the only place I trust.... they have been the best thing that has happened to Internet Advertising in 10 years..

I am seriously thinking of dumping Commerce Bank they dont seem to have a clue.

Just thought I would give my thursday rant :D

Just out of curiosity, why are you using 'mailed' checks instead of deposits?

I never even SEE a check from google, it always goes right into the bank itself (they take care of everything), and it's always 2-3 days from when 'payout' is supposed to happen.

Personally, I'd like to see google using paypal to payout advertisers, but something tells me that just aint going to happen.

Just out of curiosity, why are you using 'mailed' checks instead of deposits?

I never even SEE a check from google, it always goes right into the bank itself (they take care of everything), and it's always 2-3 days from when 'payout' is supposed to happen.

Personally, I'd like to see google using paypal to payout advertisers, but something tells me that just aint going to happen.

Something tells you? I think something tells anyone with common sense. ;)

Google, with a payment processor that is a competitor of Paypal... will use Paypal (a third party solution) to handle Payouts! Hmm, never gonna happen.

If Google can get money to your bank account quite fast, why on earth would anyone want it to be sent to a Paypal account?

If Google can get money to your bank account quite fast, why on earth would anyone want it to be sent to a Paypal account?

Fast-Er!
transfers take 2-3 days, and will always do so, due to bank delays. Paypal is instant.


Google, with a payment processor that is a competitor of Paypal... will use Paypal (a third party solution) to handle Payouts! Hmm, never gonna happen.

Paypal is pretty much the universally accepted payment method. Google, not so much.

Google's been "in competition" for only a couple years now, and I'm sure they're aware that people prefer paypal over them, simply because of the speed of the transaction.

direct deposite would probably be a solution but I never ended up doing it and I cant imagine dealing with a direct deposit problem with this bank

I just like having the check in my hand for some reason.




Just out of curiosity, why are you using 'mailed' checks instead of deposits?

I never even SEE a check from google, it always goes right into the bank itself (they take care of everything), and it's always 2-3 days from when 'payout' is supposed to happen.

Personally, I'd like to see google using paypal to payout advertisers, but something tells me that just aint going to happen.

I dont know that this is true
but google entered late

You remember Citibank and other banks that even had addon services like a temporary card number that wasnt the same as your personal card number for just online payments.

I mean i if you have to register with PayPal with a Credit Card
and your Credit Card offers a payment system like PayPal
Why even use PayPal

Paypal captured a lot of accounts and once they were established as the approved payment system of ebay they pretty much had things tied up.

I think the only thing that can be the downfall of paypal now is increased costs of transactions.


I'm sure they're aware that people prefer paypal over them, simply because of the speed of the transaction.

Now I'm in Canada, but I've ran into similar issues with regards to checks. Most banks have a 5-7 day hold on all checks or they're suppose to anyways.

The bank I deal with I had issues with depending on who I talked to I got hassled about holds on checks to. They finally decided they wanted to put a hold on a check from the same company who sends them every month. After arguing with the teller for 10 minutes I told them you know what I'll talk to the account manager and close all my accounts right this moment. Talk to the account manager and within minutes they take off the hold and I have not had an issue since.

So yeah I don't think it's just your bank I think it's every bank where it seems the person who processes the check is the one who determines if there is a hold or not.

Actually, I prefer google checkout over paypal. It's cheaper and more secure. I've had trouble with paypal and though I still offer it because people want it, most use google checkout.

it is up to each teller/bank to impose a hold and they can if they wish to hold for 15 days.

some banks act like there is some magical system that requires 100 man hours and half the company resources to cash a check. In this day and age, i find it hard to beleive that checks can not be cleared in seconds, not days.

they hold to make interest/money off of your deposit and feed you crap when you ask why.

i wouldn't put it past banks if they offer some sort of incentive(s) to employees who can "hold" the most $$$ in a day.

they hold to make interest/money off of your deposit and feed you crap when you ask why.

They're not the only ones. Paypal does the same thing, though they deny they do it. Doubt me? Try this:

Transfer funds to your bank. Depending on the bank, it'll get there the next day, 2 days later tops.

Now, withdraw funds from the same bank (for a purchase). It'll get taken out of the bank, and paypal acknowledges this, within 24 hours.

Now, have the person you paid refund that purchase. Paypal refunds the money, AFTER holding your funds for 5-7 days. Why? Oh, because they can, and they want to make money off of it. Forget the fact that the deposit's already hit the bank (proof the transaction is complete), or the fact that money's already left your bank (further proof). They simply want to hold your cash. They gain interest on it.

It's pathetic to see these individuuals playing this game, but it's how the 'game' is played, especially with no regulation going on (ie: paypal).

My idiot bank Commerce Bank

I go in to cash one of my google checks from advertising banners

So the teller tells me I have to put a 6 day hold on this check because google is flagged.

what is twisted is they dont flag the check every time i try to cash it ... it just happens once every 6 months.

I tell her I had this problem and resolved it with the branch manager 6 months ago and I created Tickets at Citibank the company that Google writes their checks on for the Bank manager to call up and verify the account is good.

Commerce isnt a small bank but thinking about it Citi is bigger and google is probably bigger then Citi and Commerce.

So this is not bad enough that the teller is disrespecting the check ...the bank manager that fixed it 6 months before was standing right there and I go hey you were the one and he says

Yes I remember you...

Then he says call the 1800 customer support number to complain because I am not going to talk about this with you (his exact words) and there is nothing he can do.

Anyway anyone else ever had a google check refused ?

At this point Google is about the only place I trust.... they have been the best thing that has happened to Internet Advertising in 10 years..

I am seriously thinking of dumping Commerce Bank they dont seem to have a clue.

Just thought I would give my thursday rant :D

I suspect he's not allowed to talk to you about it. If they're holding the check it means that the account it was drawn upon was flagged as potentially fraudulent in a central information center of some sort and the dissemination of this information would be illegal (eg. he's not going to tell you that some information provider thinks a Google account is fraudulent, this opens them up for liability).

I had a similar experience at a bank once. Someone drafted $5000 out of my account (fake check), so I walked in and asked to speak with someone about what to do, and they told me to call an 800 number. I said thank you very much, I will do that once I get home, meanwhile, please give me a cashiers check for all the funds I still have left in your bank because you will not be getting another dime from me. Suddenly, the bank manager was very helpful with my fraud situation. I let him help me out and then proceeded to close down all my accounts there.

Unfortunately, banks believe that they have you by the balls because it's too much of a hassle to get a new account else where (new checks, you have to update all direct deposits, direct payments, etc). They can systematically mistreat their customers because they know most are too lazy to do anything about it.

I would suggest that you get out of there sooner than later.

it's hard to find a bank that does NOT have lazy, imcompetent, non-caring employees.

Whenever there is a problem, tellers/managers always say call the 800# or my favorite "it's our policy, that's the way we do it".

I put up with 3 years of "abuse" with my last bank. Missing account for 4 months after merger, botched wire and account transfers, holding cash deposits for 5 days and posting cash after checks clear the following business week, applying payments to wrong accounts, repo'd my car 3 months after it was paid off, closed my $200k line of credit because "i havnt used it", refusing to allow $10k cash withdrawls, excessive fees for their incompetence and unwillingness to clear their own checks in less than 5 days drawn from the same branch. The list goes on, the folder got full and i got a lawyer finally. It's my turn now :)

If their lawyers cant find a settlement, then they can spew their crap to the judge and see how far that goes.

teller tells me I have to put a 6 day hold on this check because google is flagged.
....
Anyway anyone else ever had a google check refused ?

They didn't refuse your check, they put a 'hold' on it for a few days to verify it.

I imagine just about everyone knows that Google bank accounts have many zeros and it'd be an easy target for a fraudster to write a few thousand dollar checks without getting caught... the bank is probably going to verify the check and funds first which is a smart move

Well....lets see what could be a solution here....umm....move to another bank? People you don't have to let a company mistreat you, vote with your wallet!

I have 5 different bank accounts with five different banks and all of them are pretty great. I have direct deposits go into different accounts for different things as it helps me save money properly (I'm a spender). I have to say my favorite bank is www.ingdirect.com, these guys are truly awesome in customer service and their web interface is great (and secure).

Here in the US the Feds put in a new law about a year ago
Banks are no longer required to give you back your actual check when someone cashes it

so that means the checks are put through the system and a scanned version is sent back to the person that wrote it

This electronic processing means the money for checks is transfered overnight.

However for checks on non local banks most banks put a 1 to 3 day hold on the transaction.

HOWEVER this is totally different this was a teller and an assistant branch manager who knew the check was good but still put the check on an extended hold of 6 days.

So my bank had the money for 6 days and got interest on it before they put the money in my account.

If they get 1,000 google checks each one worth $100 that is $100,000 they are holding on to.

But it is probably more like 10,000 checks for $300 to $500


Its just like every person that gets a paycheck on Friday..
The companies they work for depend on people not making it to the bank on friday and then a day hold being placed on the check so the money is not transferd until the next week.

A big company like Walmart with a Million Employees each getting $1,000 pay checks

It adds up

anyway



Now I'm in Canada, but I've ran into similar issues with regards to checks. Most banks have a 5-7 day hold on all checks or they're suppose to anyways.

The bank I deal with I had issues with depending on who I talked to I got hassled about holds on checks to. They finally decided they wanted to put a hold on a check from the same company who sends them every month. After arguing with the teller for 10 minutes I told them you know what I'll talk to the account manager and close all my accounts right this moment. Talk to the account manager and within minutes they take off the hold and I have not had an issue since.

So yeah I don't think it's just your bank I think it's every bank where it seems the person who processes the check is the one who determines if there is a hold or not.

Actually a year ago they refused the check saying the account was closed

then I complained to the branch manager and the assistant manager

I even got someone at google to give me a phone number so the branch manager could confirm the check was good but he still ended up putting it on hold about a year ago.

since that time I cashed 10 checks on the same account

the same assistant manager that went through this with me a year ago still remembered me last week when they put the check on hold again

He knew the check was good
It was the same account used for over a year

but instead of telling the teller to override that hold
He said Call the 1800 number and talk to customer service.

This guy is an assistant branch manager getting paid probably $75K a year if not more to help people and he said in front of about 20 people in line

call the 1800 number.


I understand what you are saying about putting checks on hold
and I would understand if this guy did not remember me 8 month later from the time they refused the check last summer

But this idiot looked me in the eye and said
I remember you
I know the check is good
I will not help you
call someone on the 1800 line 500 miles away who has no clue of your situation.


Anyway as someone else suggested

I am looking for another bank

I am just so disappointed with them now I don't think they can resurrect my confidence in them no matter what they did.

And the fact is A year ago Commerce Bank was an American bank
but now they are a Canadian bank

If I have problems with them and I am in the USA I will have to fight with their executives in Canada and thats just way too much of a hassle


I talked with a Regional Exect about the problem and they said they have been having problems and my situation was just one more to add to the pile.

They suggested i drive to the other side of town way out of my way to another branch.

Thing is I would pass about 5 other banks on my way to that branch



....


They didn't refuse your check, they put a 'hold' on it for a few days to verify it.

I imagine just about everyone knows that Google bank accounts have many zeros and it'd be an easy target for a fraudster to write a few thousand dollar checks without getting caught... the bank is probably going to verify the check and funds first which is a smart move