FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

I was just at Target 12/19/2013 and wrote a check for 192.80 was declined and like all others was told to call certegy. I was told nothing negative with my bank account or check history. What they came up with was i dont write checks at stores normally so they stopped it. now to add to the insanity I have written checks at that Target before for larger amount with out issue. They offered to assist in prevent " future embarresment by signing up for their VIP program but the want me to fill out forms and give them my social security #, dob, bank account # and routing #. What the hell is with these people i have plenty money in my bank, no bad checks. So i have to basically have to give these corupt [censored] my personal info and send it in the mail in the hopes that i can spend my hard earned money where I want when i want. Who the hell are these people and who is monitoring them? this is like extortion give them what they want and you may get lucky and not be embarressed or going through the I just did huge shopping wasted and hour to be sent away. who knows what is going to come of this. Anyone interested in a class action suit please let me in on this...now if you google them lots of history of shady crap..be forwarned something wicked this way comes.

Had this happen to me at Staples. Declined my check. Called Certegy at Staples and could not find out the problem. Had funds in bank never wrote a bad check in my life. Very embarssing. I felt like everyone in line thought i was trying to cash a bad check. This needs to stop. Very stressfull for a person when it happens at night.

Well I guess it was my turn today to be turned down. I have over 1, 200 dollars in my account, but when I tried to cash a 55 dollar check at Dollar General, my check was declined. No reason. I usually use a debt or credit card, but I couldn't put my hand on it, so rather than dig through my purse with a long line of people behind me I decided to write a check. I was so embarrassed then very angry when I realized it was for no particular reason other than it was different than how I normally pay. I ended up using my husbands credit card. But all those people in line thought I was some low life. I'm not happy with Dollar General but I guess it's not them but the sketchy company they are associated with.

Well let me join the club. I was declined at Dollar General - no specific reason. The automated phone guy gave a list of ridiculous reasons. Basically since I normally use a credit card my checks must not be good. I have over 1, 200 dollars in my checking account, and the debt/credit card I use is from the same account. I could not put my hands on that card and rather than dig through my purse with a LONG line behind me, I wrote a check, that was declined - for no reason. Ended up using my husbands debt card. Just a way to move us to all plastic or a chip in our hand to scan.

So i guess you can add me to the list of hardworking Americans who have money in their checking accounts but are denied for some unknown reason while writing a check at a gas station. I wrote a $20 check at Murphys in front of Walmart and was denied in front of a line of people, the clerk would not run it again because he said it cost money every time he ran it. I know i have money in my account and looked shortly there after. I had a little over $700 in my account which should have been more than enough to cover a $20 check... Very frustrated...Scott

Hi Roz,
I thought you (and all the others here) might find this information useful. If you google Certegy and BBB (Better Business Bureau) you will easily get the link to the Florida BBB and wow do they have a LOT of complaints. BBB also lists this address and phone number of Certegy, but also the names of the board of directors, managers, senior managers and titles. Here is the link and just a glance at what you can find there:
Certegy
(727) 556-9000View Additional Phone Numbers11601 Roosevelt Blvd N, Saint Petersburg, FL [protected]http://www.askcertegy.comView Additional Web Addresses - See more at: http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/financial-check-authorization/certegy-in-saint-petersburg-fl-20687#sthash.oU1dRG0g.dpuf

Contact Information
Principal: Mr. Gary A. Norcross (President)Customer Contact: Ms. Sarai Diaz (Supervisor of Correspondence)Mr Mike Anderson (Manager)Ms. Judy Carland (Vice President of Operations)Ms. Karen Harper Mr. Lee Kennedy (CEO)Ms. Cheryl Manning (Card Services)Mr. Dan Marley (Vice President)Ms. Keri Petersen (Information Specialist)Ms Anna Serato (Credit Card Services)Ms. Annalu Veranda (Customer Care, Check Services) - See more at: http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/financial-check-authorization/certegy-in-saint-petersburg-fl-20687#sthash.oU1dRG0g.dpuf

The BBB has a huge red flag warning people about this company. If you file a report with BBB they will ensure Certegy gets it and will followup with dispute communication (both yours and their response). Don't know if this is helpful, but it is public information.

My employees went to Walmart to cash their checks, and even though Certegy affirmed that the check was good and there were funds, it was still declined because of the patterns. I think this is absolutely crazy, how can you be denying good checks! These employees go there every week and all of a sudden our patterns are different, that's ridiculous, our checks are bank made, so i don't think our bank would run bad checks. Certegy is a scam, and Walmart should take them off! They're trying to show Walmart that they are doing a good job by denying these checks, but if Walmart's smart, they should get rid of Certegy, if not they are going to lose alot of customers.

i don't even have the energy to express the amount of frustration I have with Certegyright now. But I see that I am not the only one and I appreciate you all for telling about your experiences in hopes that this dreadful company will be exposed.

I have had checks denied so far at three different locations due to the poor business / check processing procedures of Certegy. The last time was at Walmart. I used my credit union account and my check was denied. I then tried my 'regular' bank account check, and it was denied. Finally I used my debt card which pulls from the same account as my bank account, and the purchase went through. Clearly this was not an issue of sufficient funds, as the debt card was authorized but the checks were not. And it was embarrassing.

I made another call to Certegy to find out why both checks were denied but the debt card authorized from the same account. Before they would even speak with me about it, they wanted my bank account numbers, license number, name, address, etc. They said they were 'verifying' the information but as I did not have confidence in the company, I wanted them to verify with me that they already had this information and were truly verifying, not inputting. They would not confirm or prove they already had my information and I did not get any confidence that giving them my information was secure.

Is this company secure? Do they have a database full of names, addresses, bank account numbers, license numbers, etc.? Is there a way to have all my information removed from their database? They do not give me any confidence at all.

I attempted to pay by check at a Big Lots and was told by the cashier my check could not be accepted and when I asked why she just gave me a card for a company called Certegy Check Services in Tampa Florida. If you call the # they give you only get an automated message, and after punching many numbers randomly I finally got an agent named Prentice who asked me for all my routing and account #"s on the check and then informed me that I had written a check 2 days prior on the account to Home Depot (true) so this check was denied because it was over $500.00. I asked him to check the account balance and he said he couldn't so I asked why he needed my account number then, and he said it was company policy. He did not authorize the check so I paid by Discover Card, but this company needs a better method other than ... you wrote a check 2 days ago!

I am writing this letter to inform you of how disturbed and displeased I am at the way that your company and its employees conducts’ business. On December 2, 2008, I wrote a check to Verizon Wireless located in Chattanooga, TN for the amount of $32.76. I understand the check was returned to you because of some error that either your company or Verizon Wireless made with the account number. Because of this error, not on my part, I have had my checking account placed in a non working status by every merchant that uses your services! Put yourself in my place for a moment. Go shopping, stand in long lines to pay for your merchandise, and when you finally get to the registers, you get embarrassed and humiliated when you are told that we can not accept your check! If I wanted to pay with some other form of payment I would have never presented my check as payment. This is all that your employees would say to me when I questioned them about what was happening to my account. The check to Verizon was not returned because of insufficient funds, but because of some other type of error, again, not on my part. The claim number for this problem is [protected].

I have been humiliated and embarrassed this entire month of December. Now, once this problem was brought to my attention, I took care of my part! I immediately sent payment to your company. You received payment on December 19th, the check cleared my bank on December 23rd, and I am being told that this block on my account will not be cleared or removed until sometimes during the first two week of January 2009! This is inexcusable and uncomprehensible. If you have the ability to block account immediately, you need to have the same ability to restore that account when the problem has been corrected. Again, this problem was not on my part!

I have been writing check for over 35 years and I have never had a check returned because of insufficient fund or had my check denied by any merchant that accepts personal check as legal forms of tender until I had to have some dealing with your company! I want you to know and be aware of how this ruined my Christmas shopping experience this season, and how it has caused me undue frustration, embarrassment, and humiliation.

I feel as though, I should pursue legal ramifications for all the unnecessary humiliation and embarrassment that Certegy has put me through! Now, with this Christmas season behind us, and ruin for me and my family, what proof do I have that Certegy has not placed negative, as well as, incorrect information in my credit file! You seemed to have a no problem ruining others financially while trying to conduct your business. Your customer service department was uncooperative during this entire escapade and showed no signs of concern or compassion for this situation! In fact, they were quite arrogant and unconcern about this problem! Again, THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY ME!

Please expedite the restoration of my checking account privileges, as well as send me documentation that there has been no negative impact on my credit report or credit rating because of this problem. Please work on ways of preventing this embarrassing and humiliating situation from happening to good people again in the future. No one should have to go through this because of errors made by others!

I agree with anyone that wants to start a class action suit against Certegy check service. I wrote a check at the store that I work at and the check was declined "due to my check writing profile". How embarassing! Bad enough that the check was declined but to have it happen with where I work! And I can't get anyone on the phone. I was on hold for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

dont know what is going on with this check service but they need to get their act together. i have been using my checking account at several places and everywhere they are i get denied and i have about had enough . i am calling one more number and if no results. LOOKOUT!

On August 22, 2008 I tried to use one of my business checks at Hobby Lobby. I was shocked to find out it was declined.. What?
I was handed a little white paper with a phone number to Certegy on it. When I called and talked to "Karen" I was told that I had no negative check writing history on file (no kidding) but that they had authorized acceptance of one or more checks accociated with my identifying numbers. Wow, someone who writes checks for there business purchases, imagine that...
I asked'Karen" to send me a letter with this information on it. She did, and in the letter they offered me "preferred" status if I filled out an application with additional financial information on it. Like I'm going to give these people ANY of my private financial information. This is just WRONG! There has to be something we can do about this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Heather

Ps. I too had more than enough money in my account to cover the $75.00 check.

My checks have been declined on two separate occasions, first by Target and now Lowes. They both unfortunately use Certegy Check Services. When I called the Certegy people, I was given the biggest run around and then was told by their employee that my check at Target had been declined because my name was misspelled. What in the world is going on? What can be done about this sham of a company?

This is unreal to me! I tried to write a check at WalGreens and they said they could not take my check. They gave me a slip with a number to call for Certegy Check Services and they told me that since I wrote a check to Best Buy the day before for an unusual amount (in their minds) that I was not able to write my small check at WalGreens! They said they have that right to decline my check. They also told me that it could happen at any given time to any of the merchants they verify checks for!

They don't even verify funds or anything they just make up their minds and that is that! It seems odd to me that they are able to do this and that they don't question a rather large check and yet decline a small $25.00 check! Someone needs to investigate them bad!

Certegy check services is stupid. Get a class action lawsuit for this company, tag me in, humiliated me in Lowes, just wanted to buy a washer, even my bank called them, and told them it was okay, still say they need more information. Communists!

My daughter, who recently opened her first checking account as a teenager, had her second written check declined at Target. This is a terrible thing for a teenager to have experienced, it has made her feel like a a criminal. She had the money in her account to cover her purchase. When I called the phone number and talked to a rep, he said that it was because she had no history so they declined it. This seems to be a catch 22 situation, they won't let a check go through so of course she will never get history. He told me a ridiculous thing, have her go to the stores and give checks after so many declines they will approve her! HUH! How stupid is this!
Is this sort of thing legal?

I tried to pay for two chairs that were being ordered at Boscov's furniture department. The check amounted to $580.00 being drawn from Hudson City Savings Bank, a large bank with a local branch. The chairs won't arrive for 6-8 weeks, so even if the check were bad, there's more than enough time to cancel the order. The sales person told me that there was not enough check writing history on the account. I didn't believe her becausse I doubt Certegy or anyone else would give that detailed of an explanation.

I know I have more than enough in the account, since I just deposited my Federal Income Tax Refund. Moreover, this is the second time this has happened with Certegy and this bank, although on a different account.

I just came from the grocery store that I always shop at. My debit card number was recently stolen so I have just begun to write checks again. I wrote a check to Bi-lo (store #550) maybe two weeks before for around $250 that went through just fine(the first check i may have written to a store in a couple of years) I even wrote the check for $25 dollars more than what I owed for the groceries! So I decided to start writing checks instead of depending on my debit card so much. I tried to write a check today for around $150 to the same store and was declined. It was very embarrasing. I was told I had to call a number if I wanted to find out why. When I did I was told that there were no bad marks against me I just don't usually write checks and it wasn't because i didn't have money in the account b/c they don't have access to that information. And they could not override the decision.I was just out of luck if I didn't have another form of payment. When I asked if this would keep happening if I wrote checks I was told in around about way that I could try the next day or two but I would be declined today. They could not give me a straight answer about any other day. I don't understand why I would be declined today if I wasn't declined the first time I wrote a check there for over the amount I owed. I was able to give them all the information they requested and had no bad marks so I should have been able to use my check or else why do I pay to get checks in the first place. On a side note when I told the assistant manager that I had my debit card in my car could I go get it and pay with that before they wiped out my transaction I was told "I could try". So it made me feel even littler because they thought I didn't have any money b/c I was declined. She looked really suprised when it went through right away. But I will not be shopping there anymore either. I am going to check out all the grocery stores around and find one that does not use Certegy check services.

I would be very glad to join in a class action law suit against Certegy Check Services. This company needs to be made to explain to the public what they are doing with our credit. This is the most embarrassed I have been in a long time. I have worked hard my entire life to keep from this kind of thing happening to me, and there I was standing in the middle of Wal Mart, left holding a buggy full of merchandise, and even though I know I have the funds to more than cover the amount of the check, Wal Mart would not take my check. I work for a global service company that would be out- of- business in short order if we treated our customers the way Wal Mart is allowing this crank company to treat thier customers. This kind of treament, described in previous complaints and experienced by myself is absurd, not to mention probably illegal !

Just left Walmart with my payroll check. When I called the number on the "receipt" from Walmart, I was told that there was nothing wrong with my check, just that they couldn't verify the funds with the bank. When I disputed that, than it changed to "it didn't meet the guidelines". When questioned about the guidelines, I was told it was "proprietary" and they could not help me. I than asked to speak to someone in the US (for the 2nd time!), and the man in FL told me the same thing. I than asked for the street address so that they could be served with court papers, I was denied that information as well.

I will be calling Walmart and placing a further complaint.

I had the same thing happen to me with a employer check my bank aid it couldnt cash is because of certegy. Who the hell are these people and how do they do business if they decline every bodies checks that doesnt even make any sense.

I had the same experience as all of you. Last night I went to PetSmart and wrote a check for $59.39, which I have freqquently done in the past. I was told that I wasn't declined for any negative reason, other than a COMPUTER evaluated my overall check writing habits...whatever THAT means! I haven't had any checks returned, I have nothing pending, and I occasionally write checks. HOW EMBARRASSING to have to leave a large bag of dog food for the manager to put back on the shelf, when I didn't do ANYTHING WRONG! It is ABSURD that I should have endured such embarrassement, considering how much money I make, and given the fact that I haven't had any checks returned!

their system declined your check because it was trying to protect you against fraud. Maybe it was a false case, but if it was a real case of fraud I doubt you would be here whining about it,

THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! CERTERGY AT A WALMART IN LITTLE ROCK AR REFUSED TO ACASH A UNITED STATES TREASURY CHECK ISSUED TO ME BY THE GOVERNMENT! ALL INFORMATION WAS CORRECT ON ALL DOCUMENTS!

I can't even get any one on phone to find out why I couldn't cash a check. I dont have any bad checks of any kind. This makes know sense?Been on hold for 31 minutes. This is ridiculous! I've never even heard of Certegy...never had any problems cashing checks.

I have a check from you that I am trying to cash from claim that I got from you in the amount of 465.85 and no one will cash it.

I have lost both my debit cards, and it was getting hot today, so I pulled into Kum & Go, where I always go to get gas, snacks, and soda for the family. I have written checks there on multiple occasions without a problem. However this time, the clerk (who has never seen me before, of course) ran it twice and got the same decline. I called the number, to be told this wasn't because I had written bad checks, but they analyzed information and had to decline it...what information are you analyzing then. It then tells me I can apply for their Gold application which *might* prevent this in the future, but it is not a guarantee. While trying to get their automated system to work, it transfers me to a human who very quickly says "Thank you for calling Certegy however my systems are currently updating. Goodbye" and hangs up. I waited 4 hours and called back to get the same darn message! I immediately called back and got a woman who will send me my report, but she said it was a credit report?! I NEVER authorized this company to access my credit report, and their website says they don't look at credit scores, so what exactly are they analyzing?! I am so embarrassed, angry, and mad right now...I haven't bounced a check, I have overdraft protection so even if I did it would be covered, and the check was only $8.78, so not even half what they would charge if the check did bounce. I might have to go back to Casey's from now on, but I'm going to call to see if they use Certegy first, because I will no longer shop at K-mart, Target, Kum & Go, or other places that use this service.

I also tried to write a check to Verizon Wireless for a phone for $389. I don't write checks often but my check was declined as well. I contacted Certegy while I was still there and they told me as well as the clerk that my check did not meet their guidelines due to the fact that I did not have a chexk writing history. They told me to try again with a different check and for a different amount. I did so and wrote my check for $70 and it was still declined. I, too did not have a bad history of, bad check writing and had more than enough to cover both checks. Certegy also told me to fill out an application for VIP check writing. It was very embarassing even thoigh it was no fault of my own. If anyone does get a class action lawsuit started count me in!

I had tried to write a check at Lowe's for $144.18 on 4-13-13, I was told the check was declined due to negative information on file at a company named Certegy Check Services.
I called to bank and verified that nothing was wrong with my checking account and was told everything was fine. However my check was declined and I turned around used my debit card linked to the same account and it was accepted. I do no understand how an outside company that knows nothing about you can decline your check. Even though the money is in the bank. This was a very sad example of how we have not control of how we are treated sometimes even as we try to be law abiding citizens and DO NOT GO AROUND WRITING BAD CHECKS. I have never had any overdrafts on my checking account. I worked at a bank for more than 20 years and I have never heard of a company that overrides the bank were you have your checking account. I hope this company gets it system straight.

I was declined yesterday at Macy's- I have more than enough $$$ in my checking account. Thankfully I had enough cash with me as I was with my children. I am so open to a class action law suit as well. what do we need to do to start it. I think this is crazy.

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This morning I went to my local Walmart in Brooklyn Center, MN and Certegy declined my payroll check. I was flabbergasted. I feel I was treated like a common criminal. THIS IS MY PAYCHECK! I literally gave blood, sweat and tears to earn this money. I work in Emergency Dispatch. I usually have direct deposit, but this was an instance that I received a paper check. I called the 1 866 number and got the total runaround. On the receipt Walmart gave me, I learned that I can have the file/reason this happened. I have since requested it to be sent to me. . I initially avoided my bank ( Wells Fargo), because I couldn't afford to have my money "held hostage" for up to five days. In the end I did go to them, and they made my day! Came in, I had a melt down, and left there smiling :) Should've went to them in the first place. Lesson learned. I plan on filing a complaint to BBB, and Attorney General in my state of MN. I am so open to a class action lawsuit.

I WAS ALSO A VICTIM OF CERTEGY. I WAS SHOPPING AT MY LOCAL LOWES HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE AND WAS DECLINED WITH MY PERSONAL CHECK. I HAVE BEEN SHOPPING AT THIS SAME STORE FOR MANY YEARS AND BEEN WRITNG CHECKS AT THIS SAME STORE FOR MANY YEARS. GIVEN THE SAME SLIP OF PAPER AND WAS ASKED TO CALL THEIR NUMBER.
I WAS TOLD BY A CERTEGY REP THAT THERE WAS NO NEGATIVE INFO ON MY ACCOUNT AND THEY STATED THAT THEIR COMPUTER DECLINED MY CHECK BECAUSE OF CHECK WRITING PATTERNS.-- I DON'T WRITE THAT MANY CHECKS.
I DO MOST OF MY PAYMENTS ONLINE. THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY IN MY BANK ACCOUNT TO COVER THIS TRANSACTION.
I AM A SELF EMPLOYED CONTRACTOR AND BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. I HAD TO BUY MY MATERIALS ELSEWHERE AT A HIGHER COST.
I AGREE WITH ALL 19 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND FEEL THER SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THE OUTFIT.--THIS IS PURE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HARD WORKING AMERCIAN PEOPLE.

I am also a victim of certegy. My bank has been dealing with Certegy on their error. I am planning to file a complaint with the FTC. I do not think a company like this should be allowed to damage a person's credit because of their internal error. They called my bank and said the mistake was their fault and they were checking into resolving the problem and would let the bank know the results. Ya right! Certegy has caused Macys to lose a good customer because of this. I hope more people complain and a class action suite against Certegy would be great!

I agree with you. This happened to me as well at Publix. I wrote a check the week prior with no problem and yesterday I wrote one which Certegy denied. This denial, according to Certegy, was due to the inability to identify me in their system as they had no information on me. This was a total embarrassment. Publix lost a customer as well as any other merchant that uses this poor company. Companies need to understand they are losing customers not preventing fraud!

I was just declined by Certegy for the third time in two days at Toys r us. I was there yesterday wrote a 400.00 check and it was declined. I was given [protected] which I called and was told if I wrote the check again there would be no problem. I went back today tried again and was declined again. I called the number again and was told the same thing as the people on the 19 pages of complaints that are before my comment. there was no problem with my account. There was no negative information about me or my account but they couldn't override the decision. I asked for a supervisor who repeated the same line as the two people I spoke to before. She said she upgraded my account status I asked if that meant I could write a check she said that wasn't certain but was more likely. I had my cell phone on speaker so the employees at the register could hear (it was near closing and the store wasn't busy) then after the call they took a third check and tried again, Declined. Certegy sucks avoid stores that use this low life company and tell them why.

I just went down to the gas station here to get 25.00 in gas I have always written them a check and never had a problem. I had to pre pay and when he rang up the sale I gave him my check and it has declined it never had this happen to me before. I tried calling them and get this automated guy and not a real person. I am beyond pissed right now. The cashier told me to give them a call and tell them that this is ### because he knows that my checks haven't declined before. These people need to be stopped. We work hard for our, money .

I tried to pay for 50.00 in gas at murphy gas station and was declined for no reason other than there is a pattern. I am military and move around a lot so a break in pattern is not out of the normal for me. When I try to pay for something it should not be declined due to algorithm. I don't know how much these companies are paying for these services but the need to stop.