Complaint Rating:

Company information:
Branch Banking and Trust
United States

Just when I thought BB&T couldn't get any worse with their shady business tactics, they've went and outdone themselves. I have moved most of my money over to a credit union and only left a small portion in BB&T just for convience because it is actually located in my city whereas the credit union is not. This account at BB&T is used VERY SELDOMLY because I have had so many problems with overdraft fees that miraclously appear with them without a logical answer. Let me just point out, with the credit union I have had ZERO. I make the same amount of money with them that I did while full-time banking with BB&T and spend at least a bit more, but yet I still have managed NO overdraft fees with them. With that being said, let me continue.

Today I check my bank account so I don't have to use my card at another ATM and get a usage charge. I pull up to the ATM and my account with BB&T is FIFTY dollars overdrawn. 35 of that being one of their lovely overdraft fees. So I call up and find out that, silly me, I forgot to respond "no, " to a dumb Disney movie club offer before the deadline and they billed my card 25 dollars but it was PENDING as it just occured TODAY. Ok, that's my fault, but I had 80 dollars in that account, had only spent around 60, so no worries, I will run and make a deposit from my other account and it will cover it. Right? I've had to do this before with their stupid banking and my pending has NEVER affected me with overdrafts, ever, as long as I put more money into the account before it posted at midnight.

So I ask the lady politely, well if it is pending then how is it possible that I've received an overdraft fee already on a separate purchase? She snaps at me, tells me I am NOT listening, and says it's because Disney HELD that money the "second I swiped my card." I tell her that for one, she doesn't need to be rude because this is her job to explain this to me, for two I didn't swipe anything, nor did I know it was coming out, and for three, if that is the case then I won't be charged an overdraft fee for Disney once it posts tonight, correct? Oh no, no, no, she NEVER said that she says!

STOP! You tell me that the reason I was overdrafted is because Disney came out even though it's pending and then you turn around and tell me that this is not the case and I can be charged another 35 for Disney? Oh no, you will explain this to me! So she says to me "That money has to be there when you make the purchase as well as once it posts. Meaning that they hold the money while it's pending, and if you get an overdraft fee because of that money being held then it's your fault, but it is released once the pending is complete, then it is placed back into your account and immediately deducted again." "Ok, " I say "so what you're telling me is that you hold my money so you can charge me an overdraft fee on another item, then you release that money once I'm overdrawn, and it will apply it to the overdraft balance, which still leaves me overdrawn by the way by 25 dollars thanks to your astronomical fees, and then you take it out AGAIN, although it's what overdrew me in the FIRST place, and slap another 35 dollar overdraft fee on top of that." So the -50 that is in place then becomes -110 or around there, correct?" She said "ma'am I will repeat myself for the hard of hearing, the money must be there when it posts." I laughed and said "Hard of hearing, eh? More like tired of being robbed. You tell me you've taken my money and because of it then I've overdrawn. Ok, fine, but then you tell me that you'll release that and put it towards the overdraft I only have supposedly BECAUSE that overdrew me and then you'll charge me for the movie all over again, and overdraft me ONCE AGAIN FOR THE SAME EXACT THING! Is that what you're telling me?"

Her response was "Policy is policy and if you don't like the way it works then either don't overdraw your account or write a letter." I said "Fine, I will put this on the internet in every complaint board that I can find." She said that was "extremely childish, " and I responded that it was amazing to me that the banks needed a bailout when it seemed that they were thriving so well with stolen money but I guess the Corporate greed and corruption is too expensive.

She said she didn't like the way I was speaking to her, and I said "I've been nice to you this whole call, haven't raised my voice once, and you've insulted me numerous times when my money is what pays your bills, so yes, I am finally quite annoyed." She then hung up on me and I wrote this letter.

Please excuse any typos, or misspelling; I had 10 minutes to type this before I needed to leave for work, where I actually treat MY clients with respect and courtesy. BB&T should try that sometime.

Trust me, avoid this shady bank at all costs!