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Certegy Check Services Complaints - Declined checks!

Review all Certegy Check Services complaints

Certegy Check Services

Posted: 2006-10-23 by L. Wittner [send email]
Declined checks!
Complaint Rating:  97 % with 155 votes
My wife tried to cash a $22.00 check at Albertsons Grocery store and the check was declined. Upon talking to a manager in the store I determined that they are using a check verification service called Certegy. I located a phone number and called them with a response that there was no derogatory information about my checks and that I was declined due to my check writing profile. We are retired and hardly ever write checks since we do all our purchases by credit card. This experience of being turned down in a store full of people was very embarrassing for my wife. Albertsons gave her a $40 gift card in an attempt to get her back into the store since we are regular customers (she still will not return).

I am a member of the Board of Directors for America's Credit Union and there was never a question of available funds to cover my check. In talking to our Credit Union CEO his wife was turned by Certegy for the same reason when writing a check at T J Max . I was unable to contact a real person at Certegy but he CEO was able to get to a real person by continually punch numbers that did no exist on automated menu. He was told that he did not have sufficient funds to cover the check and he told them they were liars since he was the CEO and new that he had more than sufficient funds to cover his check.

I am still being ignored by Certegy and we are afraid to write more checks due to the embarrassment that we might endure. We need a class action suit to prevent these folks from doing what they are doing to honest hard working American citizens.
Comments United States Business & Finances
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Comments

301 days ago by Annie E. Bordallo [send email]
This is Christmas time and have spent more then $400.00 at Macy's. Today I wanted to buy $200.00 worth of gift certificates, and my check was declined. Needless to say, I will never go back to Macy's again. However, I do want to know why my check was declined. I have never bounced a check in my life and my credit is excellent. What do I need to do to get a credit report from you to understand this embarassing situation.
298 days ago by Frank Byles [send email]
I was just turned down at Harbor Freight for a $64.89 check when my bank balence is well over $2,000. And people wonder why people get shot. I hope El Queada uses this company as their 2nd target to blow up - might as well be of some benefit to this country. I hope someone is doing a class action against this company and I can find out how to join in. I hope you bastards rot in Hell where you belong!!! Do you get the impression I'm pissed off - you bet I am.
291 days ago by John Bear [send email]
On 12/17 My pay check arrived at home in mail like it has for the last 4 yrs , I often take my check to Wal*mart most of the time Pine City MN other times one of the other 3 walmart stores near my home (hahaha all 32 to 40 miles away) I work for a group home firm that has been in business for 13 yrs ,Certegy declined my payroll check, I was furious, I know of no valid reason for Certegy to refuse this check,its not possible for me to have any bad checks out there because I do not have any paper checks. My bank acct is used for automatic payments only, and my bank has horrid hours like every other bank in many rural areas. My employer operates 11 homes in the Pine city area , These homes spend thousands every month writting checks some of which are at walmart for household and grocery items every month , Our residents spend money via checking accounts there too . I was told to contact my employer , my employer responded, There still have no valid reason for Certegy to have refused the payroll check. I seriously doubt any one with any kind of authority at Wal mart even bothers to deal with this kind of complaint , Today 12 /29 My check came , I will find out if its the same thing again. If Walmart cannot fix this Its going to cost them a customer and ANY other business I find that trades with Certegy
290 days ago by Susan [send email]
I have not changed my purchasing or check-writing habits. My check was declined for $161.00 at the grocery store I've been shopping at for 15 years. Certegy said my check may have closely resembled a fraud check that may have been presented at the store earlier in the day. What in the world does that have to do with my check and my account! Since when do "closely resembled" resembled accounts have anything to do with my account. My account has had no suspicious activity or bounced checks or lost checks for the last 15 years. This was the most ridiculous rationalization for their error. I will encourage Jewel food stores to stop using Certegy.
290 days ago by Creed Rollins Sr [send email]
They are crooks,,costing me a lot of time and money trying to get it corrected,,Sears one week and Dicks sporting goods the next week,,went over 30 miles one way to shop and couldn't due to this company saying my checks are suspicious or something,,you can't get a proper response or help from them to correct their problem,,where is the government oversight,,plus why don't these buisneeses quit using them if the are doing this so much,,it has to cost them buisness,,for I will never shop at Sears or Dicks again,,
274 days ago by Ms. Shawn H. [send email]
The same thing has happened to me 3 times now!! I am sick of these d*** people. It first happend to me back in March 2007 at a Marshall's. Wrote a check for $200 it was declined. Wrote a check in late 2007 at Ross for $50 it was declined. Wrote a check yesterday for $500 at the dealer ship where my truck was being repaired. DECLINED DECLINED DECLINED!! WTF?? I end up paying with my debit card after all of these transactions. Which is a clear indication that the money is available. Talk to these idiots and they say "They do not have sufficient information to approve the transaction"!! WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?? They say becuase my credit union will not verify what funds I have in MY account you decline me!! That is a protective measure on my behalf... Yes I say these people need to be sued. This is humiliating and ridiculous... Maybe these retailers need to loose more customers before they start realizing that their check service is the WORST!!

Sincerely,
Pissed
271 days ago by William Sullivan [send email]
Your checks are being declined at stores all over town. Complain to your bank. They are the ones who've tricked you into believing your checks are the same as money. They have your money and are preventing you from spending it when and where you choose. If the bank could guarantee the checks, you wouldn't be having any problems.
271 days ago by William Sullivan [send email]
"plus why don't these buisneeses quit using them if the are doing this so much"

Because Certegy saves the businesses so much money in check fraud losses. It's really no contest. Without Certegy, the businesses would simply not accept checks. Think about it.
267 days ago by Donna Jones [send email]
I too have had the to deal with clergy. I recieved a notice that a check I had written at a Go-mart was not honored and therefore clergy had purchased the debt and I was to pay them. The letter stated the amount would be taken out of my account. Instead I continued to recieve letters from clergy claiming I owed them. When I called I was told "not to worry" the amount would be taken out soon. This went on for awhile so I decided to just send a money order for the amount they say I owed them. That was not the end of it, the Clergy company has added a negative report to my credit file even though the balance was paid in full with a money order.
266 days ago by Dru Richman [send email]
It hard to deal with a bully. Which is, of course, what Certegy is.

I have a corporate checking account that has an average daily balance of over $10,000. I recently went to Office Max to purchase an $18 day planner. And, you guessed it, check denied. Paid with the debit card associated with that checking account. No problem. Even the clerk thought it was weird.

Went from there to a vendor and purchased about $4200 worth a merchandise with a check. No problem. Check accepted.

Went to the liquor store to buy a bottle of wine for dinner. Second verse, same as the first - check denied. Paid with debit card.


For me it's not a problem, I always have the money in the account. I just lose the 'float'. But I do find that I tend NOT to shop at stores that use this service.
264 days ago by Francesca Stewart [send email]
I am so sorry to see that I am not the only one. This past Saturday, I had a bad experience with Certegy. This is the email that I sent to them. Still no responce----
This past Saturday,January 19, 2008, my husband and I went to NTB in Galveston, Texas. We purchased 2 tires, and had some work done to the car. The bill was $300.47. My husband wrote the check for that amount, and it was denied by your system. I called Certegy's 800 number, and your automatic machine had a hard time understand the word "yes", when asked if I was calling about a transaction. After 3 times, I was put on hold, literally for half an hour. The gentleman working with us at NTB, showed me that the computer had read the check and it was a "Code 2". After the half hour, I hung up, and we tried a smaller amount on a new check, and it was still denied. I called , again, 1-800-237-4851, and this time I was asked if I wanted a letter stating why I was denied. (Actually, I wanted to speak to someone) I said yes, I wanted a letter. The automatic machine didn't understand my address. So after 2 times, I handed the phone to my husband, and he was put on hold. Now, I have metastatic breast cancer that has spread to my bones,so, I can't stand or sit for long periods of time,much less being put under stress, which your company has caused. By this time of dealing with this, I was in pain and hunched over. I don't blame the gentleman that worked with us, nor NTB. He was very kind to us. By the GRACE OF GOD, I had enough cash with me, and credit to pay the bill, after receiving absolutely no help from your company.
I called my bank this morning. The credit union that we use was closed Saturday, and Monday for MLK Day. I asked if we had some kind of block on our checks, and what was our balance last Saturday. We do not have a block, and we had over enough money to cover the check. I called Certegy this morning, and the nice lady I spoke to, (after I gave her all the information from the transaction and check information.) said our check never went through. There must be a problem with the machine. I called NTB, and spoke to the gentleman that was there Saturday. I asked if they had any other problems with the machine, and he said no. He said, he had spoke to someone at Certegy, and it was denied with a Code 2.
So, I want to know what is the next step is, find out what really happened, and what is going to be done.
Thank You,
I am giving them a week, and then I am going to call the BBB
263 days ago by Johnson Elana [send email]
I went to Wal mart for the very first time to cash my payroll check on 01/25/08 and was denied and all they can tell me is to call a number that was given to me and the could tell why my payroll check was not honored my co worker and I just could not understand why they would not cash our payroll checks . I went back to work and call the 866 # and all I was told that even thought this happen to us this time now the next time we go in there that this may not happen again but who want to wait in them long line to be turned away . Something really need s to be done and FAST.
261 days ago by Bradley Robinette [send email]
I went into walmart tonight to cash my payroll check and they declined it .They gave me a peice of paper from Certegy Check Service's stateing reason 2 was why they couldn't cash it.I'm not sure what that means.I didn't call the company yet but I will tomorrow.This is not right I never write checks and I have only 1 credit card that is always paid on time.wal mart is supose to save the American family money, how are they going to do that if we can't spend our money there ,because they use a boggas check service? They need to give them up and get a new company.I'm all for a class action law suit .And to give up wal mart if they don't wake up and get a new check card company.
222 days ago by Stephanie [send email]
I have been a victim as well we do need to file a class action and i was in walgreens trying to cash $42 and i spoke to a rep finally and they told me it was nothing negative out there against me I just wrote over the amount of credit given for your check writing. If I have the money in my account it should not matter if I write 10million dollars worth of checks that was embarrassing and humiliating to stand in line and get rejected for this small amount when i have written way larger checks. When does credit limit comes into play for writing checks I thought they stop you because of bad checks not the amount of money spent. PLEASE HELP!!!! ANY LAWYER WITH GOOD TIME AND RESEARCH.
219 days ago by Gay Ballard Cochenour [send email]
I tried to go to the close out store in Coral Gables called Big Lots. I went there on 3/2/08 and the lady loudly stated that my check was NO GOOD. AWW a bagged up basket full of goodies had to be restocked..Oh well...soo.. I braved the ominous Big Lots once again on Sunday and picked some more goodies but as Certegy(God) wanted to do according to their black books, your name, your routing & checking account # means a 4 letter word --=DIRT....And since they have 6000+ clients like WALMART, STAPLES, lowes, BEST bull,ReCircus City..hey,,IT ISN't LOWLIFE 'SURGERTY.... iTS BIG BIZZNESS pickin & choosin..We are a field..They are harvesting the very best..They say, 'Why should WE take a LOSS with a POP check..Its not fast enough- the speed needs to be in harmony with a nano-second!!!..The accountants surely know this...Anyway laws are being made by numbers in big lots. So much for legislature.Make the some of the havest pay cash!!!
219 days ago by Gay Ballard Cochenour [send email]
Further Thinkins; If all 6000+ stores started receiving more cash,,how many of the 6000+ stores might accidentally forget to record this miracle to the IRS? What if the stores (all) didnt have to pay all those petty fees to jerk off companies like inSurgerty and showed a profit..They wouldnt need anything..but green & maybe a non working RFID tag for toilet paper...hmmn , thats no good...no tracking , no tracking, no tracking....We are headed for a universal credit card... Get the Real Picture NOW!???
218 days ago by Ryan [send email]
Same problem everyone else has. Check declined at Best Buy with $11,000 in the bank. Except now I refuse to shop at both Best Buy or another store.....including Circuit City....that uses Certegy, and am telling anyone that will listen to do the same.
218 days ago by Natalie [send email]
Like the rest of you, I too have been humiliated for no reason by this disgraceful company. I am not taking it lying down, and I am not giving up my right to write checks when I want. I am seeking legal representation. I have been with the same banking company for 10 years, writing checks here or there, at will. I have never written a bad check, been late on payments or anything like that- and I too have excellent credit and money in the bank and I have over draft and all of that fun stuff.

A few months ago I was denied in a department store while trying to buy boots. I had taken my credit cards and one id in a coat pocket the night before and just forgot to get them back into my purse. I was denied for NSF! I too was sweating bullets thinking that someone had drained my account! I called my bank and everything was more than perfect. Recently, I had my 2nd issue with this company at a Marshalls. I had just moved to a new town and was buying some towels and sheets for my husband and I to use until our things arrived. Anyways- I was denied again- again citing nsf! I freaked out and called my bank thinking that someone had drained my account or thinking that maybe my bank was looking out for me seeing that I was making purchases in a new town, maybe they flagged it. Nope, everything was fine there, so I called the company and finally got someone on the phone. My 1st question is how in the hell are you citing nsf when I have blank amount of dollars in my account!!!! My next question was why! She confirmed that there was no history of anything bad that would make my checks be declined and I was denied because I do not write enough checks with their company!!!! I freaked out on them... they have my account numbers, name, date of birth, liscense number and they have been given my social by one merchant! I mean- talk about liability!!!!!!!
So, I asked what could be done and they sent me an application that asks about all of my accounts, my job, etc, employers, and I could become a gold member and have more of my checked cleared. So, I called my bank furious and they said not to tell them anything! They did a quick run through and confirmed that I have a sparkling clear credit history, and that I should request my name off the list for lack of evidence. Well I call this good for nothing pain in the arse of a company and the woman tells me "well, there is nothing your bank can do". I said what the f- they are my bank and asked to speak to her supervisor and he said, and I quote "checks are not longer a guarenteed form of payment." Huh, what do you mean. He told me that they are hired through merchants like gap, lowes, tj max and marshals to limit the risk of fraud checks... and told me that in the last 13 months I have written 4 checks that came through their company (I asked that he print me a list of all of their merchants and he said check the web site- there are 350,000) and 2 denied... news to me. I said without any information on my history or accounts how do you chose what passes and what gets denied- he said, I cannot tell you that our the risk factors would not work. I said, dumbass- they aren't working! You passed a check for a greater amount at Lowes and denied a small check at Marshalls on the same day! I told him that it was humiliating and basically character defamation- he said, my advice- use your debt! He was nasty and rude- which made me nasty and rude. This call to the company just happened which is why I am writing like a mad women- cause I am! I asked for the corporate office number because I was filing a complaint with the ceo- he gave me his name and said that there are no numbers- write a letter! I told him that there is no reason that he or this company should have an application with all my account numbers and work information NOR id info. because giving this information to him is a HUGE liability for identity theft- he said ma'am, I like my job- why would I steal your identity- I am protecting merchants from fraudulent checks! I said, well that is a comfort- glad you like your job, but I don't know you and I don't know this company- who the hell is protecting ME! The answer is no one- my bank cannot even protect me.
There are no grounds for their denials- and yes, I agree with Lisa- I know that I will not be going to Lowes, marshals or dillards anymore... which in some way is limiting economic growth because I am a good customer to the stores I visit. I have requested my "file" that this shameless company has on me to collect evidence and up front told them that I am filing suit and to record the calls. Oh- I see that many of you have been wrongly cited nsf too- and the supervisor at this company said that there is no way anyone said that, calling me a liar, but they did- humiliating me! The merchant said nsf and slid the check back over to me where I then ran my debt for the amount of the check!!!

We contract with a bank who manages our information- I mean what the hell are they for if you cannot write a perfectly good check from your account! Who is this company to deny me- groundlessly- to write a check because I "don't write enough checks" to companies they contract with.
Anyways, my rant is done. I came across the site because I wanted to see if anyone else was seeking legal council. Anyways- I am, tomorrow. I mean, to add injury to insult. I am more annoyed and humiliated than anything, and my husband is in the army and has ben deployed 4 times in the last 5 years and this is the last thing I want to worry about- going to a store with a perfectly good check, because it is my right to do so, and standing in line for 30 minutes with a crowd of people behind me and have my perfectly good check returned because of this company.

I have had enough!
203 days ago by Samantha [send email]
I took my son to buy him two video games totalling $41.51. I was declined by Certegy with no explanation. They stated that there was no reason they just were declining the check. I tried to call a rep at the 800 number provided and I received a recording stating that they told the merchant that the check was declined with no reason attached and it disconnected. I later checked with my banking institution and there is nothing wrong with my checking account. They stated that some merchants reserve the right to decline anyone for any reason, but as for myself, there wasn't a reason.
202 days ago by J [send email]
How does one get involved in a class action suit in this type of situtation? I have been victimized over and over by this company and two other "check approval" companies. I have spent countless hours proving to these companies that I am not the person on the checks in question, the name on the checks is not mine by any stretch of the imagination. Things will improve for a few months and I am able to present my checks and then they start declining my checks again and I have to start all over. This has been going on for almost 3 years now and I am fed up with the humiliation, the dread that I feel and the mind numbing repetition of the same facts over and over. I would be more than happy to spend these countless hours with an attorney who will file to stop this gross negligence and constant victimization of innocents.

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