FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

It also happened to me at a local Walgreen's that I frequent quite often. In fact, I wrote 3 checks there over the course of the past week without any problems at all and then this evening, declined! How embarrassing. I knew the money was in the bank but it's hard to explain that to a clerk when a machine is making the determination that your check is not good! This needs to be taken care of. It's humiliating and embarrassing for no reason whatsoever.

i have been cashing my govt issued check for the past three years every tues faithfully and this week im denied due to certigy. i caal the 800 number and finally get a human and she states thhey set certain perameters so i ask what change ive been doin same thing for three years she cont to give me run around again i asked why and i felt her attitued was like i was bothering her . and as far as law suit hey how about defamation of character when your made to look like an [censor] in the store line

Stealth? You must have your head up your As*.

They are trying to make it a cashless society. You DO NOT NEED CHECKS PEOPLE! That is what RECEIPTS are for! STOP BUYING OVERPRICED CHECKS AND USE BANKS ONLY WHAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR..THAT IS CLEARING and nothing else. Open the "free" accounts. There are several banks That nickel and dime people. One that i refer to as is "SCAM OF AMERICA". Frankly, I would not park my car near a bank. if you still dont understand. Read the book 'The Creature from Jekyl Island"
Watch a video at http://www.aimpayshighinterest.com . It is called the wealthy code.

It happened at WalMart. The check was for 3500 dollars. First, the Rep Stated that she did not find a reason for not being approved; then she stated that Certegy reserves the right to reject a check without CAUSE. I insisted having the address to make a complaint. Certegy written response stated that "althouh there were no return chaecks on file, the check fell outside of approval guidelines Unfortunately, we did not have any additional information..." A class lawsuit is ceratinly needed! Edward Zumaeta

You obviously must be someone who work for the company to even address my situation as if I am some type of criminal or something. I am a single mother of 1, who works two jobs, currently attend college and have never written bad checks or did any other type of criminal activities. So thats not get it twisted sweetie. I work for one of Maryland #1 hospitals and I know they dont write bad checks. I have been cashing checks from both of my jobs at Walmart for the last 2yrs with no problem so what the difference now. I think that a person who dont know you talking to you as if your some type of criminal is a risk as well. Have a good day!

just declined from certigy while getting tires. not only did they not have my declined transaction on record but my profile is fine according to them and i should write another check. for people stating to use debit cards, there are some accounts that don't allow debit cards such as parents with children with disabilities.

I too want to be part of a Class Action Suit against this company.
I tried to cash a payroll check at Wal-Mart and was denied, and given a number to call. I called and was told there was no reason my payroll check was denied.

Certegy is the worst company I have ever dealt with. I was attempting to make a small purchase using a check from a very high balance account, and was told my check was declined because of "negative information provided by a third party".

When I contacted Certegy, the refused to give me any additional information until I provided my routing and account number, along with my driver's license number (this was a corporate check). Because of Certegy, the store I was attempting to make the purchase from has now lost thousands of dollars in business from my company, since we can no longer do business there since they won't accept our checks.

I've complained to the store, and their offices, and I complained to the parent company of Certegy. Mysteriously, Certegy themselves does not have any way to contact them to submit a complaint. I'm not surprised.

My check was declined at Big Lots. I used my check card and was approved. It makes no sense. I tried to call but could`t get through My checks are excepted everywhere else. What an bad time at Big Lots. Monika Bond

why are you still writing checks? thats your first problem...

I was writing a check for $157.53 at Walgreens for medicine and my check was declined.I had to use a credit card to get the medicine. Upon calling Certegy, I got an automated response system after giving my information I was told that my check did not meet their criteria for check writing. I know the money was in the bank. I have a drivers license, address and phone was on the check, it is a very large bank was hundreds of branches. So what is the criteria. I never could get a human.

Thank you so much for your posting. I recently got a check declined from a vet office and had no idea why. My atm pin number had been stolen the previous week so i had to destroy my card. Because of this situation i was forced to write checks which i have really never had to do. Once at the vet office picking up my pet they ran the check and declined it. I was mortified and did not know what to do. I had to pay the balance to before they would reliece my pet but with no atm card and they declining my check i really did not know what to do. Luckily my boy friend had his cards on him and was willing to cover the balance. I had never heard of this company Certegy but thanks to all the posting now understand. I just cant figure out what you can do about a company like this?

I am employed by Yale University and Walmart will not cash my payroll cash. They said i dont have anything outstanding just not enough check writing history which i have plenty. Why they wont cash a check from one of the biggest ivy league colleges in the country is just obsured.

I too was declined at Big Lots purchasing households, I was declined two days in a role I was told I have no negative account with the company it is just because of my history with check writing until my debit card was stolen I rarely wrote checks its embarrassing to be declined in a store full of people when I know I have more than enough funds to complete the transaction. So I had to leave the store and go to my bank and come back to the store to purchase my items. Ridiculous! I was told I had to fill out some type of form to have on file with them to be able to write a check.

Same here except I contacted the BBB. Don't know if it will work however, if they can't or won' tell me what my profile is I'm definately not giving them my information to clear up the matter. They wanted me to join a Gold Club for free to clear up my problems. Uh No, I am not giving them more information to build my profile on because they should already have that information if they are judging me by my check writing habits. I do have other accounts and can get cash if I need to its just the stupidity behind what's happend to me with this checking account. It doesn't even matter that I have all the correct info for the account my driver's license matches, etc. they won't clear up the matter until I join a Gold Club. If they can clear it up if I do that then they can do it before.

ya well, guess we do something about it, maybe proces of elimination .we need to stop shopping at ANY stores using this bs system . i work for a very dependable company that ive cashed my checks at wallmart for the past year . if they cant help us why shop there? ...brent calton [protected] ya, weve been to these companies for years, this is what we get in return ! stand up and quit being bent over by unreliable companies like this, just ask at the register if they use this service and if they do, lets just take our buisiness elsewhere, AMERICA ! FREEDOM OF CHOICE! we have the freedom of choice always!

i mean what's going on, what's really happening to you guys? this is really rediculus! can't you understand atleast this problem has to be solved while this all people are suffering, this is a great disrespct!i mean it! this is the tenth times that i'm going back and forth to walmart to cash my pay checks having the same problems again and again. i tried to call and register my name, but not my name i even can't find none of my single letter, so please don't play!
we all are human beings it's better if we don't ignore each other what's the use of the ''constitution!'' in this case?

I recently wrote a check at a Kroger grocery store where I have been shopping for years and my check was declined. After further investigation thru Certegy and my bank it turns out that a check I had written 6 months before (written to Big Lots) had been presented to my account and my bank declined the transaction due to the date on the check. My bank stated that it was not presented in a timely manner and therefore was no longer valid. After talking to Certegy and offering to send the money to pay for this transaction I was told they can not allow that and that the check has to be represented to my bank and until it goes thru and is cleared I will be unable to write any checks. I tried to explain what the bank said and the lady I was speaking with told me that wasnt their problem. So now here we are stuck in Certegy hell with no way out. If they wouldnt accept it because of the date the first time why would they accept it the next time? Oh and she also said that after the amount of the check clears there will then be a bad check fee go thru about a week later, so now I am being penalized for the original companies mess up?

You must work for Certegy... I've had the same problem cashing my social security check with anyone using their service. Don't tell me to go to a bank ... they're just as bad, charging outrageous fees for you to cash it unless you have an account with that bank. I don't want an account, I like cash in hand thank you.

Certegy Check Cashing Services is one of many product offered by Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. which is why you will probably NEVER get any results. It's another financial institution making big bucks.

I had the same problem - tried to cash a State of MN check in the amount of $60...I cash these payroll type of checks all the time and today, this one was declined at Walmart. You can never get a 'live' person either. Very frustrating...is there anywhere to report them?

Certegy is totally unbelievable, they have a market on the check writing system. We also tried to cash a payroll check and it was denied, when we called certegy they stated there was no derogatory checks (bad checks) in their system, they just didn't have enough information on us to approve a check being cashed at Walmart. First it was because the check was too much. The next week we went back with a smaller check the same thing happened. They told us to fill out a gold application and when we did that was denied also because not enough infomation. What a joke. I do believe all the merchants out their want everyone to use debit cards or visa cards so they connect with Certegy to deny checks for whatever reason they want with little or no explanation. We all need to ban together and see if we can get some kind of law suit against Certegy and all the merchants that are asking for this to be done. What is a person to do if they do not want a check card? I thought we lived in the United States or am I mistaken.

I just tried to cash a PAYROLL check at Walmart for $40 (it was only for a few hours) and was denied. I called Certegy, and they said they needed the employer to contact them - it has nothing to do with MY history, but has to do with the employer's. This company is HUGE where I live! I know they have $40 to cover the payroll check they issued me. I asked the Certegy guy WHY I can go to my bank and cash this check but can't cash it thru their system and he just gave me the run-around. I WILL never cash a check anywhere that uses this company again... Sounds like a fraud to me. I'd rather just drive a little further to go to my bank & cash payroll checks than risk being declined... Hey, I'll save $3 that way anyway!

Just got home from taking my 83 year old mother to Albertsons. She wrote a check for $90 and Certegy denied it! We go to that same Albertsons, (close to her home) twice a month, and now her checks are denied! That was a shocker, because in the past there was NO problem! I went on and paid it with a credit card. How embarrassing for my Mom! She balances her checkbook each month when she gets her statement. She knows how much money she has in the bank! If Albertson's continues to use them for verification purposes, I too will shop elsewhere. I shop at an Albertsons close to my home twice a week, they may not miss my money, but if more people stop shopping there for this reason, they may think twice about Certegy.

Just had the same experience with Certegy. I had my BMW repaired at the dealership where I've been a customer for more than 10 years. I wrote a chcek and it was declined. They gave me the Certegy phone number and I was put on hold for about 10 minutes. The first person I spoke with said that there was no derogatory information "in my file" but that my check met some risk criteria and was declined based on a computer model. They apologized and I said that wasn't good enough. I asked to speak with a supervisor and, after another few minutes on hold, I was told that they could not tell me why the check was declined because that was proprietary information. He said that at no cost I could fill out a detailed form with addtional personal information that would help them make a more informed decision next time. I told him there would be no next time. I then had the supervisor speak with the dealerhsips's manager to explain to him why they were losing a good customer because of the poor decision they made in outsourcing their check approvals to Certegy. The conversation was heated and the manager hung up. He assured me that I was one of many who had complained and that they had only recently contracted with Certegy, and believe it was a bad decision. I have to wonder if Certegy sells the personal information they try to extort from people whose checks they decline.

Same esperience twice. This is ridiculous and VERY embarrassing when you have a line full of people behind you. What happened to the day that WHEN you bounced a check THEN you get on these reports? All i know is every place this happens to me at I will notify the company and let them know I will never shop there again if they continue with Certegy. Maybe if enough people do this and if we stop shopping those stores(if we can afford to) maybe we can hurt their business enough to make them switch. Target and Party City now are on my list. And same as all of you above you call Certegy and they can't tell you anything. I don't always carry my cards on me becasue it is way easier if someone steals my card to shop with it since so many clerks don't bother to ask you for ID. Heck my SON uses my debit card as a credit option and never gets asked for ID. Hello my name is Michele I'm not a boy?!

I've had the same experience w/Certergy checks clearance. My story was from Kohls Department store in Alexandria Va. Here is a brief excerpt from one of a number of emails from Khols store: From: CSCC Escalated
Subject: Response from Kohl's ///
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 9:15 AM

Dear Ms. XXXXXX:

Please accept this e-mail as follow up to your previous concerns.

Our Recovery Department has contacted Certegy directly. We have been advised that your driver's license number was flagged in error. At this time, I would advise you to contact Certegy directly at [protected], and provide your driver's license number for further research and to remove the flag from your license. I do regret any inconvenience that this matter may have caused you.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. It is my hope that you allow us another opportunity to provide you with the excellence in service you truly deserve.

Best Regards,

xxxxxxxxx
Correspondence Specialist
Kohl's Department Stores
[protected]
cscc.escalated@kohls.com

Needless to say, I hestitate to write any more checks, as of this day [protected], I'm not sure where I stand w/this Certergy group, I'm in favor of the "Class Action Suit" mentioned by one of the otherwriters. This whole credit system has gotten out of control. We have all become just a algorithm of numbers!

These stores need to understand that they are losing business because of Certegy. I am the treasurer for a non-profit little league organization and we do not have debit cards. Twice in 2 weeks Certegy has declined a check from our organization with more than enough funds to cover them. I called but only get a automated attendant and not a real person. It would not matter as the recording says that a representative could not prevent the block. The block was not from negative check writing, but rather to protect me the consumer. What a crock! I had my bank on the phone saying there was enough money to cover the transaction, but Staples could not take the check. They just loss business because of Certegy. They need to wake up and demand that Certegy have live representatives that can help with these so called blocks.

I was also a victim of Certegy when I tried to cash a check at Krogers. When called them, they told me to try again. After trying again I and being denied, I called Certegy back and was told that there was a computer gliche in their system and that I should try again because there was no reason why my check shouldn't be approved. Keep me posted on the lawsuit.

J-Houston, TX

we had/have a problem with certegy..they claimed we gave a bad check for services...the fact of the matter is...we wrote NO check...and they were compensated by debit...we have all the proof...and documentation to prove this...but they still put this on our credit file as a collection/write off...even when we showed them proof so the credit bureaus are just as much at fault.. for allowing this...

Just went to Marshall's to buy my children some back to school items. Waited 30 minutes in line to check out. Once there I wrote a check for $260.68. The check was declined. I write checks everywhere because I do not have a debit/check card (I am not paying the fees to ATM's and banks. I had one for a year and added the fees associated with the card, the fees totaled $1, 865 in one year. I prefer to keep that money for myself). I have a modest income, my credit score is 750, I have no outstanding checks and have $5800 in my savings and $1100 in my checking, I also have overdraft protection. There is no legitimate reason why my check was declined. I write checks at Target, Wal-Mart, Pet Smart. I just wrote checks at Wal-Mart and Pet Smart a few days ago. I was thoroughly embarrassed, and to have my children subjected to this humility also. I crawled out of there and will never return. I have never been so embarrassed. I was so humiliated that I did not even pay with cash, I had $300 in my wallet, I just wanted to get out of there. I did call the 800 number provided. When I called I was not given any reason. I was told that I do not have any returned checks but have been declined and that customer service could not give any further explanation (mind you this is a recording, I could not get a live person). This makes no sense to me at all. I wrote a check at Marshall's three weeks ago and it was fine. I think that Certegy is embarrassing and humiliating people so they will pay the $90 and relinquish to them their personal information on the application just to prevent Certegy from doing this to them again, because it is totally humiliating and embarrassing to us who do not write these hot/forged/stolen checks and they know it and use it to their advantage.

08/06/10 I tried to cash a payroll check at my local WalMart like I have been doing for almost 2 years now... and got declined. The clerk told me they couldn't cash my check and gave me a number to call to find out the reason. When I called I found out that WalMart and are using Certegy which declined my payroll check. The reason they gave was very vague. All they could tell me was that they had some computer problems . I will not be shopping at wal-mart !

This company is an absolute joke. They have no real answers. When you call they just talk in circles. They tell you that there is no derogatory information about your check however you were declined because you fell undser their risk category. How do you fall in a risk category if you have never had a check returned? Makes no sense to me. They offer to mail you a gold application to increase your check writing levels. Why on earth do I need to fill out an application to be able to write checks out of my own account? Does that make sense t anyone. Not only is it embarassing to go through line and have your check declined for no good reason but it is also wasting my checks as I have to void them. This company really needs to get a better system. They are costing my local grocery store some business because I will not shop there if they won't accept my checks.

WHY WON'T YOU CASH MY SSI CHECKS THAT I GET FOR MY KIDS AT WALMART?

georgiapeach*bridge: My husband and I came upon the same problem tonight, [protected]. Certegy is a VERY messed up company. Twice in a row, they have declined to cash his payroll check. It was in fact at Wal-Mart as well. All I have to say is, Wal-Mart will NEVER see me back again. Why stores like Wal-Mart take on jerks like Certegy is beyond me.
But I'll say one thing, Certegy got a big ear full tonight. So, many of you who get checks cashed, let this be your warning... Get a bank account, because Certegy will screw you over.

Dear Stealth Pilot,

Certegy admited to me they did not know why they refused my check. And no, I do not
write bad checks and nothing is wrong with my license. They told me that on the phone
and in a letter. They just refused why? They said they did not know why!

Lou

I was a walmart to cash my payroll check and was declinded by Cetergy. I got ahold of rep and they said it was because my check was like a fraudulent one that had been cashed there before. I had my pay check stub with me and yet they would not cash my check. I have also been declined for writing a check at Petsmart because I went off my check writing pattern. First off I write a check for pretty much everything I keep better track of my bank account when writing checks then I ever did with my debit card. I think this company is out to scam company and people by saying they help prevent fraud. My husband was told we could pay a $90 fee and be put on a VIP list so this would never happen again but yet they would want all our personal information. I am not going to give that information to someone just so I can pay for somthing. I am all for a class action lawsuit against this company.

i tried to cash a STATE check for about $900. It got declined. wtf.. its a state check and i have several bills due and also behind. i need my checked cashed. nobody is t trying to scam checks anymore its 2010.

Today, June 26, 2010 I got a small check in the mail from my payroll department for $88. I work for the school district and this was to cover a paid training session. Normally my paychecks are directly deposited to my account. I went to Wal-mart where Certegy declined payment, I then went to Albertson's, and guess what, Certegy again declined payment. I called the toll free number and was told some BS by a recording that it had to do with check cashing patterns. This is the second check I have tried to cash in the last year, is that a pattern? I will just wait till Monday and deposit it in my bank, but my wife and kid were disappointed as we were going to use this little extra money to go out for dinner, I made pork chops.