FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

I have been keeping up with this almost a year now and have fought this servce myself.

To Ruby, there are a lot of people out there that still write checks and the last time I looked I still lived in America where we have that choice and if you don't want that freedom then you need to leave. There have been people declined their debit cards as well, so before you open your mouth and insert your foot again, please take the time to check things out .

The only thing a person can do about this service is to write the Fair Trade Commission. The BBB in Florida already know about this service. There have been people that have sued them but so far nothing has been done. No lawyer in town wants to persue a first class lawsuit so the only advise I can tell you to do is tell your State Attorney General's Office. Good luck ...

I don't think that Certegy should have the right to decline a check based on "your check writing history". My family and I went into a local Dollar General to pickup a few quick things without going to larger store. When I wrote my check, it was declined. The clerk was nice enough to run it again and still declined. Lucky, my husband had some cash to pay for it. I have plenty of money in the bank and I generally use my debit card but I am in the process of getting a new one and therefore writing checks until I get the card, which is only the third one in a week, so I don't see a habitual check writing history, if that is the case. I haven't called them yet, afraid to with wanting all my info just to answer a question, something that can be done without all the info. I live a in a descent size town but I don't like being embarrassed when I try to write a check and declines because of 'history'. There are substances that occur to where you have to write checks. I know if I have to go back to any store with Certegy, I will be using cash or a prepaid credit card, see if that gets declined. I don't think I would trust the store/Certegy with my bank card either after this.

To Ruby, I understand about fraud and them protecting their clients but aren't they hurting their clients by their actions on declining checks based on check writing history or what it might be. you can read the posts and these people and I will not be shopping at those stores that have Certegy.

I have had the same thing happen to me and I'm am still unable to clear up.

I have the same problem with Lowes. I wrote checks to Lowes in Tulsa, Oklahoma with no problem. Wrote checks here at the Spring Lowes. Now all of a sudden I can not write them to Lowes in Spring. Certgery states it is no negative information. Just a check writing pattern. So I started writng checks to other companies that use Certgery, and there is no problem. They tell me it is the restrictions that this particular Lowes has on their store. So needless to say, I will be buying all my products from Home Depot. They are a little higher, but they will price match and then also give me 10% off. And... to boot they will take my check! Boy what a deal. Getting same product 10% less than Lowes and being able to write a check. Hopefully other customers will follow my way and hurt Lowes bottom line! They and Certgery can hopefully be at a loss!

J. Traylor
Spring, Texas

You can't sue a company because you got embarrassed. Fraud is a HUGE problem these days and check fraud is no exception. Certegy is just trying to protect their clients. If you want to avoid embarrassment, get a debit card like everyone else.

Get over yourselves...the cashier that was checking you out when your check was declined doesn't really care, nor do they probably even remember...

And to the guy that was trying to pay with a check at a gas station: ...really? ...a check at a gas station? I think you're lucky that the gas station was even willing to accept a check...

I totally agree. I went to Murphy's gas station that connected to Walmart, and I wrote a check for 20.00, and they said that my check was declined, and I have the funds in my account. I decided to called Certegy. I called that number at 4:45p.m, and it's now 5:30p.m, and I'm still listening to this same phone machine saying the same thing. What's up with this? Something has to be done about this.

I am also a victim of Certegy. I intend to contact the Better Business Bureau here in Vermont as this kind of thing has got to be illegal. They are defaming people with incorrect information. I am incensed at this. I was publically embarrassed over something that was untrue. I called and called them but I never once actually spoke to anyone. The first time I attempted to call I was "in the que" supposedly for 43 minutes! If anyone starts a classaction suit, please count me in.
Denise S. Mahoney

William...I hope in the time that has elapsed since your wrote this report you've spent some time learning to spell, to write(in this case, type) and how to get your point across so that others can actually understand what you're saying.

i went to cash a check at Walmart and was turned down because Certegy said i had written a bad check 2 yrs ago in Pennsylvania. one i dont live in Pennsylvania, two i havent written a check in 15 yrs and three the year they claimed i wrote the check i was here in Maryland.

To the person who posted "stop using checks", who cares that it's obsolete, it's still a form of payment and sometimes has to be used, I only used the check that day because I didn't have my bank card and not everyone wants to use a credit card, it's easier when it comes out of your account with finance charges, it's people like you that prove why American's are in Debt. Incidentally, I write 1 check per month to my daughter's daycare and all others I pay through my bank's website so I am with the times, I just HAPPENED to have the check book in hand that day because I paid for her daycare. At the end of the day, the bottom line is that if check's were obsolete, they wouldn't be issued anymore, they are still a form of payment and shouldn't be scrutanized that way. Hey, all my credit cards say "ask for ID" in my signature line and guess what, no one ever asks so do you think it's safer to use a credit card, it's not, trust me!

My sentiments exactly, I was at Target yesterday and didn't have my Checkcard with me as my husband was using it so I happened to have my checkbook in my purse so instead I wrote a check for $188.85 and definitely had money in my account, as I'm sitting there with about 10 patrons in line behind me, I am told my check was declined, I knew for a fact I had money in there, I had to use a Credit Card that I just paid off which did not make me happy to say the least. I called these idiots today and although to rep who helped me was very very nice, she said they have 1000's of indicators that are used to determine if a check should be declined. I was told my check didn't have a negative decline and wouldn't be reflected negatively in their system, however, mine was a "rare" decline that happens from time to time just as a "precaution". Gee, thanks for the embarrassment and should I now feel honored that I am reflected positively in your system going forward? My positive reflection should be based on the fact that I don't bounce checks and can cover the checks I write. So basically, what I heard from that conversation is that if you don't have check writing history with them then you will be declined at some point, this my friends is considered to be discrimination!

I got hit by them yoday also! At Murphy USA. The gas station at Wal-mart. The famous code two. Not enough info about my account. I had written check there and other places that uses them. This is a company account and Lowes uses them and I have written checks there over a thousand dollars. This one was for 47 bucks. I called and went though the process untill I got a person and was told the same thing that was on the card that was given to me by the attendant. No matter what I said they wouldn't budge on their answer.Of course I was offered the gold program application which I said no way. Well I guess from now on if the store I'm going to uses them I won't shop there.

Based on the numerous and similar complaints, this company needs to be held accountable for the damage that is being caused.
On 9/22/09, my son wrote a check to Radio Shack in Houston, Texas in the amount of $131.00. It was declined by Certegy. He was given the [protected] phone number to call. After being on hold and going through the menu selection, he did finally speak to a representative. She told my son there was nothing derogatory, but the check had been declined because it had information that was similar or close to others. This, supposedly done to protect consumers from fraud. She could not or would not give specific information. My son's account was a new account recently established with JP Morgan Chase Bank. The representative told my son to go online to www.fidelityinfoservices.com. and complete an application that would protect him from any future declinations of this kind. Going on to this website was impossible to find the application she was speaking of. I will filing a complaint with the Attorney General's Office for Consumer Affairs. Whatever good that will do. Whoever Certegy is, they have no right to the private info they continue to request from consumers, nor should they have the power that they have been given over our ability to purchase. What or who will stop them?

I too am a victim of Certegy. I agree that we need to have a class action law suit against these people. It only takes three people to form a class action law suit. I am holding for them right now. I am attempting to get their physical address so I can file civil legal action against them. They are denying my checks and can not even really give me a valid reason for their declining my checks.

I aslo just had the sam experience yesterday, at two separate stores, for nominal amounts on the checks writtten. I usually use my debit card, but recently lost the card and thought no problem I have checks left. Ha... I have money in the bank and shop for necessities. I think that credit cards are in on this scam as this caused me to pull out the Mastercard. This is almost criminal.

certegy is a scam. I am a merchant and i pay them over $65 a month. every check that has been "approved" by them and has come back declined to me is never approved by certgy for some reason. I have submitted 5 checks to them and they did not pay one of them. I should have just kept that $65 in and acount every month and then just cover the check myself.

scam scam scam

No law was broken. Certegy didn't want to insure your check. Your company didn't want to accept a check that isn't insured. You can't use personal checks as payment there. No big deal. Use cash or a credit card.

Last night, I wrote a check, which was decline, for $25.00 to Cracker Barrel, . First thing this morning, I headed to my bank, who informed me I had sufficient funds (I already knew that, of course). Today, I wrote a check to Lowe's to cover the cost of my flooring for my new home. It too was declined. Just 3 weeks prior, however, I wrote a check to Lowe's to cover the cost of cabinets - it was NOT declined. After Lowe's declined my check, we too called Certegy (while standing in line), who asked me for more information, which I gave. They told me that my check declined b/c their computer model tagged my check, indicating that my check 'could' be fraudulent and it was being rejected for my protection and for the protection of the merchant - to which I say - bull! She said it had nothing to do with my account and it had nothing to do with my credit. I knew she was lying when I asked what her computer model was based on, when she responded, "that was private and she could not give out that information."
I've read many complaints here - something is up - does anyone have any idea what can be done?

The soul of America has been shot out, dripping from shotgun-blast sized hole in our chest. Certegy pulled the trigger. Before I even called Certegy, I knew exactly who these people were, though I had never heard of them. They work well at a marketing conference, wearing their nametags nicely on their supplied laynards. The love to "network" themselves, shaking hands with everyone they meet, a coffee in one hand and a mobile phone device attached to their ear. They use multiple big words in the same sentence, even though in context they make no sense. As a business, they fail the customer in every possible way. My "fraudulent tendency" experience resulted in a twenty eigth minute wait before a human being appeared. How worthless of a wait. At Certegy, humans have no capabilities; the "system" is in charge. No one has the ability to override, not even supervisors, not even the owner (at least according to person number one that I spoke to)! They have no fax machines, no email capability, only letters that can be sent, according to the first four people I spoke with. The first supervisor I spoke with could not tell me any information, as to not give away the "flags" that pick up on fraudulent check writing tendencies. When I informed her(?) that I had written a check (business account, no less) the previous week at same location, I told her I obviously don't need any hints, as I was successful in the past. In all, I eventually was able to get closure to a very annoying situation, that could have been easily solved. One human to another, a verbal hanshake, a resolution that most every American would do with another. Treat each other like people. But not a Certegy. Not in the modern, Soulless America. I gave them my information, which they were able to confirm. They agreed that I was the proper operator of my account. Yet they could do nothing with this, aside from offering me membership to "Certegy Gold". Sorry Certegy, but I'd rather not join the ranks of the New Fascists, the ### of society which have drained the life out of our economy, and our country.

What can decent hardworking citizens do about this Certegy Check Services company? I, too, was embarrassed due to this company scanning my check. Since I've never written a bad check my entire life, this was aggravating to deal with. I did manage to communication with someone at Certegy, but was not happy with the fact that I feel I had to divulge information to someone I've never heard of. But the employee at the place where I wrote my check said that it came up with a problem when he scanned it. I still got purchase and the employee took my check, but said I needed to contact this Certegy Check Services, Inc. anyway. At Certegy, they tell me if I fill out a free and confidential application that it will improve my check acceptance tremendously anywhere. They also said that they guarantee checks for over 385, 000 companies and they are also protecting not only companies but the consumers as well. I'm sorry, but I do not trust any company based in Florida. So how can we the consumer protect ourselves from them? How can we find out who they do business with so that we can avoid another embarrassing moment? Someone please help. Thank you.

I recently had a check declined by certegy, and i called the 800 number and i had trouble getting a real person to talk to, but at the end of the 3rd time trying to get a real person the voice automated person asked me "did i answer all your questions?" and i stated NO and what do you know i was transfered to a real person. This real person gave me a number for Early Warning Services to handle this matter further saying that my account has negative information . the number for that company is [protected]. maybe this will help everyone having trouble with certegy.

Knock yourself out, Carl. Merchants choose to pay to protect themselves from check fraud even at the expense of a (relatively very) few good customers because they have decided that it helps control losses and protect profits overall. If they didn't hire some company to do it for them, they'd be doing it themselves, and you might be the victim of a different imperfect scheme trying to scheme the schemers. Remember: the machine that evaluates the minimal characteristics of the transaction does not evaluate your character. A merchant can always choose to override a check authorization service's opinion of the transaction, if it is their policy to allow that of their employees. If it is any consolation, check authorization is a declining business because people are moving to other forms of payment.

Checks are not guaranteed forms of payment. They are a promise to pay. If I cash your paycheck, I've purchased from you a promise that SOMEONE ELSE will pay. Suppose we were in a grocery store, I had only a check to pay for my food and I learn from the cashier that the store doesn't take checks at all. Would you offer to pay for my groceries with your debit card, if I offered to pay you back with my check? What if I wrote the check for 100 or 1000 dollars more than the purchase? What if you used a cell phone right there in line to call my bank (printed on the check) to verify the funds? Would you take it then? (Do you think I could have an accomplice at the bank ready to withdraw the funds when you finish the call?)

It is unfortunate if the Certegy employee treated you with disrespect, but Certegy's computers don't know you. It's really just math, plain and simple. Either the numbers involved fit a fraud pattern or they don't. Would you rather the clerk flip a coin or roll some dice? At least you could see it was fair. "Next!"

Had a check declined at walgreens, spent a truck load of money there over the past years, they know me and know they've never had a problem with with my payments.

Try being guardian over someone and your only option is to write a check (debit cards aren't allowed and cash withdrawals from an account are a no-no without preapproval from the judge) and of course, they have to set up new accts with the guardianship, so it's a new record. Got denied for a "pattern of fraud". spent hours on the phone with them, the only solution they could give me was to mail me paperwork to fill out, then return it to them and maybe they would lift the denial. Talked to the bank, and they can't do anything. The person I have guardianship over requires many medications, so this is really a pain in the ###. I could have the meds transferred, but how do I know who does and doesn't use certegy?

I decided I wasn't going to battle this on my own. I've contacted my atty and he is looking into it. For now, I'm just hoping he can get the checks to clear. Once he has done that, I intend to ask about filing charges.

Hmmm!

The Certegy experiences continue. My wife just had a check declined at Target with no explanation available. After spending an hour shopping, her check was declined. I called our Credit Union where we have had our accounts for the psst 35 years and they verified that we had 100 times more funds in the account than the check was written for. This has happened now 3 times over a two month period ... credit checking and bank verification calls are always fine.

Certegy apparently has no oversight and declines appear to have no validity. Target is also effected in that, we will just stop shoping there since they are not interested in helping the customer solve this. My wife was put into the position at Target of 1) losing valuble time spent shopping, 2) embarrassed at the check-out with no immediate recourse with impotent Target staff and apparent lack of leadership to assist a loyal customer that has shopped at Target for many years .

Similar information will be posted at various websites and sent to Consumer Advocates like Clark Howard.

Sincerley perturbed,

Carl

Certegy is truly the rip off of the century! I tried to write a check at Dicks sporting goods for football cleats for my son, and was turned down, the store was packed and this was very embarrassing, I called my bank right there on the spot and the money was in the account to cover the amount of the cleats. I did not have my debit card with me, so I had to drive to the bank, withdraw the money and go back to the store. The only reason I went back to the store was to redeem myself. The reason according to certegy that I was turned down was because they did not have enough information on me. How much information do they need? All the information that they need is if the funds are available. I am truly disgusted by this company. If you need to use a check writing service use Telecheck at least they are fair.

I as well have had the same issue at 2 stores. They said that they could see I had no bounced checks against my name, no fraud checks against me, but they still wouldn't take my check. I found out it was because I don't usually write checks. They want me to fill a form with my banking info so that they can contact my bank. Is that legal for them to require that in order for me to write a check? There is more than enough funds available and nobody else seems to have an issue with me writing a check. I am so angry with this company!

I tried cashing a refund check at Wal Mart today in the amount of $21.78 from overpayment from Sallie Mae student loans, but this certegy check services slip printed out. I am just now having a problem...never had this happen before I am depressed.

Guys I understand that you are embarrassed and I bet the sales clerk was too, but you have to remeber this is not the stores fault it is this certegy company. I wittnessed a sales clerk at this beautiful staples store who have probably the nicest employees that I have ever had to deal with, get chewed out by an angry customer whoes check was declined. This is no way the stores fault, especially not the kid running the checkout line. The stores have no way to know your banking history nor do they want to. Sue certegy not the store. You can take you buisness some place else but the problem is that they more than likely use certegy too. The problem is with certegy!

http://certegycheckservices.tk/ POST YOUR STORIES THERE

To file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, you can go to http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm.

I just got back from Walgreen's trying to pay for my things with a check. Guess What? Yeh, Certegy. I called the number they gave me and was told my checking account was closed! This was certainly a surprise to me since I've been using it everyday for the past 17 years! And naturally I got a recording. As so many others I am now scared to use my account because of the embarrassment. I think we need to boycott stores that use the certegy system. And a class action suit would also be nice. Sign me up!

IF YOU KNOW OF A WAY TO SUE THEM PLEASE CONTACT ME BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU THEY CAUSED ALOT OF HEARTACHE TO ME MY DOG DIED THIS SUNDAY BECAUSE CERTEGY DECLINED MY CHECK AT THE EMERGENCY VET HOSPITAL astarchild518@aol.com THANKS

I would definitly go into a class action lawsuit against certegy my dog passed away Sunday after certegy declined my check and I was turned away from the emercency vets and took my dog home and that night my dog passed away thanks to certegy my dog did'nt get the care she needed which was a blood transfussion because she had hemloytic anemia...if certegy did'nt decline my check my dog would probably still be here she was only 4 years old ...please if anyone knows what we can do about this certegy please get back to me email address is astarchild518@aol.com thank you

I just experienced this embarrassing situation today. I feel they should be sued. I tried to get gas since all I had on me was my check book and I was declined. When I called the 800 number they told me I had no negative information but my pattern for check writing was being monitored. DUHHHHH --- people do write checks you know. I was so ashamed and very upset. I guess I'll be keeping more cash on me from now on since I was told at anytime my checks could be declined. I don't think that is right - so I am all for a class action suit.

How can we stop this from happening? I just had the same problem at DSW and I called, spoke to a representative and she didn’t have a clear response as to why my check wasn’t accept it… the lady kept telling me how Certegy is a company that makes sure no bad checks are written BLAH BLAH BLAH… but that the system does not really specify WHY it wasn’t accepted even thought it does tell them that I have NEVER had a bad check written… This is Unbelievable and unacceptable!

I was dumbfounded earlier today when a check I wrote to a local sporting goods store was declined- the store manager gave me a card referencing Certegy. Given that my credit is fine and plenty of money was in the account corresponding with the check, I left the store, having paid by credit card, concerned that maybe my identity had been breached. It then struck me that the last time I attempted to write a check from a different account at a different bank a year or so ago that I was declined then as well and was forced to use either a debit or a credit card. Upon viewing these comments regarding the declining of checks, I'm going to guess too that I fit the "profile" for a fraudulent check writer. Perhaps this one way large retailers can get around having to process checks. Sounds like good material for a class action suit. Too bad I'm not an attorney. Just an irritated consumer who's strongly considering engaging strictly in cash transactions. Shame on you corporate America!

I was in Staples over the weekend and bought office furniture for my home. I knew that I had more than enough funds in my account so a denial of my check at first caught me off guard. The cashier stated she could not provide any further information but I could use another method of payment. I was embarrassed since the transaction was holding up the line and my purchase. After a couple of attempts, I finally decided to leave. While in the parking lot I phone my bank who stated there were no holds on my account nor was their any problem with my checks and they also volunteered to speak with the store. I then called the Manager and told him if their store was going to deny my check at least offer an explanation of why. He disconnected their store from the check approval process and deferred to an outside agency, "Certegy" which makes all decisions regarding check acceptance. I asked for the number and after listening to a long pre-recorded narrative (apparantly this happens often enough that they need a pre-recorded message) I finally reached a live person. This person explained that their process is "random" and at any time anyone could be selected for this check denial. Then she told me that because this particular Staples store had been victimized due to fradulent activity and that my check fit the profile. What kind of BS is that? She also stated that it was not based on my checking account balance nor was there any negative check writing history but this was just a "random" process and if I used any of their selected stores it could happen again. Ok, now I'm paranoid about writing checks ever again in retail stores not knowing when I may randomly be selected as their "embarrased guest of the day." I'll use my card unless I'm paying bills. This place is crazy and unfair. I don't know how they have been able to get away with this for so long.

i had the same problem with home depot, lowes and pet smart. i went to home depot 2 times in one day and the same with lowes. i paid with dept and check. they had to call for the check verification. I had been in that morning and used a check with no problem. i called my bank and they have no issues on my account and they don’t understand why they declined the check. I don’t understand how this company can have a problem with our checks and our banks do not. Do they have access to the accounts? If they do who gave that to them?