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Bank of the West

Bank of the West review: overdraft abuse 14

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7:40 pm EDT
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I opened a Bank of the West account. I was told by the manager that an overdraft fee would never be charged and that items presented against insufficient funds would not be paid.

Cut to three years later, two other managers, and over $100 in overdraft fees.

In response to a detailed written complaint, I now receive this message:

"As a standard overdraft practice, Bank of the West may, at our discretion and without your permission, authorize and pay overdrafts on your checking or money market account. These transactions include checks, paper drafts, ACH and recurring debit card transactions. An overdraft fee will be charged regardless of whether you have chosen Debit Card Overdraft Protection. This will not change."

Be warned. Do not open a business relationship with this institution. Any decent credit union will not abuse its members in this fashion.

"Our records indicate that on XXXX, 2010, a bank credit in the amount of $35.00 was posted to your account. This credit was issued as a one-time courtesy fee reversal. Therefore, we are unable to issue any additional fee reversals on your account at this time. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. "

How charming. Having stolen my money, they now apologize for the inconvenience of their failure to return it.

Update by dr3wkitty
Jul 06, 2010 8:33 pm EDT

Hey, Tired_of_Stupid, I didn't steal a dime from the bank. A direct deposit brought the account current four days later, even after super-fee-continuous withdrawal madness began.

I suppose you've never had a merchant double-present a restaurant tab? Or a hotel take a few hundred without permission as a transaction hold, or dump your whole hotel bill to your incidentals card when third party billing was prearranged? The present ACH/debit system is built on trust -- merchants get all of it, consumers get none. Thus the importance of a bank which will refuse a debit against insufficient funds -- which two Bank of the West managers repeatedly promised that Bank of the West would.

The bank tacked on considerable fees (which I never agreed to) for not honoring my express wishes, after not just one but two managers claimed that a credit/debit card transaction for insufficient funds would be declined at point of sale. $100 in fees for a four day loan of $30. Some people call that usury.

How much does BotW - or some other leading national bank - pay you to shill for them?

Credit unions are better all the way around. My only reason for keeping an account with this bank is to make it easier to make payments on a third party loan. Once the loan is gone, I will close the account with great prejudice. If enough people did the same, these unlawful "we're going to take your money whether you gave us permission or not" practices would stop.

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14 comments
Done2022
Done2022
Ames, ZA
Oct 13, 2022 3:02 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I opened a Bank of the West account. I was told by the manager that an overdraft fee would never be charged and that items presented against insufficient funds would not be paid.

Done2022
Done2022
Ames, ZA
May 22, 2022 9:04 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I also had customer service issues with the bank. It seems that they don't care.

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Marilyn4040
Kansas, US
Sep 06, 2021 4:43 am EDT
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The bank tacked on considerable fees (which I never agreed to) for not honoring my express wishes, after not just one but two managers claimed that a credit/debit card transaction for insufficient funds would be declined at point of sale. $100 in fees for a four day loan of $30. Some people call that usury.

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Marilyn4040
Kansas, US
Sep 06, 2021 4:27 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I will never use this bank again. The bank tacked on considerable fees (which I never agreed to) for not honoring my express wishes, after not just one but two managers claimed that a credit/debit card transaction for insufficient funds would be declined at point of sale. $100 in fees for a four day loan of $30. Some people call that usury.

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Mgsf
, US
Sep 29, 2016 3:25 pm EDT
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This comment is completely false and defamatory in an attemp by Harris Black, a conman and convicted sex offender residing in Pattaya Thailand, to defame and extort. Joel Tovel is innocent and is a good man and is one of Harris' many victims. Please see www.harrisblackwatch.com for more details on this dangerous conman Harris Black.

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Jimmy Page1
Jimmy Page1
London, GB
Sep 29, 2016 6:07 am EDT
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Joel tovel is now in jail after being found guilty of running a ponzi scam.

joel tovel
joel arlot tovel
jessica tovel
maya gervis

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Mgsf
, US
Aug 11, 2016 12:31 pm EDT
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This content pisted by Conman and convicted sex offender Harris Black, residing in Pattaya, Thailand is defamatoey and untrue and is yet another attempt by Harris Black to defame and extort me, Maya Gervis and Mr. Joel Tovel. Mr. Tovel was speeding and was NOT guilty of being under the influence. I was also NOT with him at the time. Police reports against Harris Black have been filed and local authorities have been notified. Mr. Tovel was released and found NOT GUILTY of the allegation here. Please remove defamatory content and image immediately. Thank you.

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alaint
, US
Nov 02, 2015 8:18 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Maya Gervis works for Bank of the West in San Francisco. We invested our life savings with Maya Gervis and lost it all in her ponzi scam. We should have known better. Now we must alert the public. AVOID maya gervis. Invested our life's savings and lost it all. She is a scamming thief. maya gervis bank of the west maya gervis maya gervis bank of the west maya gervis bank of the west maya gervis court maya gervis bank of the west maya gervis road maya gervis bank of the west maya gervis bank of the west

Jimmy Page1
Jimmy Page1
London, GB
Feb 15, 2016 11:51 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Maya Gervis works for Bank of the West in San Francisco. She has co-operated a Ponzi scam with Joel Tovel [Google this conman's name] who was recently fired from Merrill Lynch shortly after their security team were notified by the FBI.

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hai vuong chi
San Francisco, US
Jun 19, 2014 5:20 pm EDT

Bank of the west DEBIT REFERENCE # W-1037229 overdraft me for a unsigned check. how do I file for this claim? help, please.

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topcat243
Portland, US
Oct 08, 2011 1:47 am EDT

I got into an argument with the branch manager over fees the bank took claiming my account didn't have enough to cover a check I had written but I had deposited in to an atm to make sure I covered it that was a 4:00 pm he said the funds were not put into the account until the next day but the receipt I had showed it all available the day I put it in. So I argued with the manager because it said all funds were available on my receipt. He said he could not do anything to cover it and that was final. I also asked why if i had free checking was I getting an Administration fee every month he said it was normal. As of result of me arguing they froze the account and closed it holding all funds for 10 days and will issue a cashier check on the 12 day in the mail. I am glad the account is closed but holding all the funds is not right, just an abuse of power by a bank. Their customer service is terrible and thy monitor accounts like I received a large check they called me and wanted me to invest. Glad I didn't.

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hieu tran
, US
May 10, 2011 3:54 am EDT
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What do you think ! bank of the west is suck!
I wrote a check to pay my bill, there were enough to pay that bill, but it accidently I have a authorize withdraw therefore i got insufficient fund. Bank of the west charge me 26 dollar, . I agree that charge. After that Bank of the west charge to my account
5$ a day because my balance is -115 dollar . In that time I can't access my account on line either.
i have been upset about 5 dollar charge every day . They know my email and my phone # also, why they don't email or call me.
Also they sent me the post card late . unitl I received that card, I went to the bank deposite more cash at the cashier, they still charge me $5 more at the same day

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Discriminate against
Chula vist, US
Apr 01, 2011 7:21 pm EDT

Obviously the pro BOWs are getting paid by BOW. Are you HR people?

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Brian00000
Norman, US
Sep 20, 2010 8:45 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Quit overdrawing your acct you dumba**! Take a economics class so you can understand how a bank works. Banks don't go out looking to trick people into paying fees, they give you information on how to not overdraw your acct. Those people that you are throwing a ### fit to are there to help, you should be asking them what products they have that can keep you from over drafting your acct. Banks make most of their money from deposits, that is why they offer more interest on the more money you keep in your acct. Because of idiotic post like these people are not depositing money in banks which leaves less money for the banks to loan to others who are trying to get this economy going. Thank you dr3Wkitty for doing your best to destroy America.

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