FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

On 11-3-11 I attempted to purchase a wireless phone that would work with the blue tooth system in my new car. The verizon sales person was unable to connect the phone and suggested I have the system checked by the dealer. I did so the following day and the service person was able to connect with his phone without problem. I returned the phone explaining the problem was not in the car and asked for a phone that would work with the bluetooth system in my car. She told me there would be a $35. restocking fee which I thought was unfair because they sold me the wrong phone. When I spoke with a supervisor she tried to sell me a less expensive one for more telling me I would receive a rebate which would almost even out the purchase price. I wrote a check for the additional amount but when I asked her to sign a bar code she handed me as assurance I would recieve the rebate, she refused. At that point I went straight to my bank and stopped payment on both checks. Since that time I have had two checks declined in my home town, one in Fla. where I purchase business supplies, and my credit card declined in Ala. I have spoken with, called and written all concerned but the last call was dropped when attempting to speak with an agent about the previous dispute. I have excellent credit and cannot believe any agency or entity has the power to prevent my ability to cash checks or use my credit card because I stopped payment on two checks for two phones I did not get because of the service and treatment I received. If this is not against the law, it should be and something needs to be done to stop it!. I have copies and dates of everything, if needed.

I just spent 3 hrs picking out groceries for my family Thanksgiving meal. I went through check out, wrote my check, and then I'm declined, just like everybody else here. They give me a phone number; i'm supposed to call, but It's a recording. I pulled this page up as soon as I got home and wowsers! Needless to say, I have an agreement with my bank that even if I'm 1penny overdrawn, they will float the penny for me and charge my account. So, basically, my checks don't bounce even if that situation happens, which it doesn't. It's almost to the point that you have to fill out a credit application before you walk into the store. I understand about the money lost to bad checks, but maybe they should change their policy to "cash only".

I wrote a check at Toys R Us, and it was declined .I have no negative history with them or anyone else, my account is good. I called Certegy and this is their explanation why they declined my check " This is not about your banking account . This is about when the systems reads and recognizes patterns and specific types of transactions . Ceregy further said they would put me on a VIP list to cash checks BUT...it does not 100 percent guarantee that my check will not be declined again " . I have the funds in my account, I asked Toys r Us to call my CU to verify that funds were available and they refused . I in turn called the Attorneys General Office in Florida ( Certegy is based in FL. ) to make a complaint against this company. I STRONGLY urge others to as well .

I attempted to cash my tax refund check at Wal-Mart and was declined. I called the toll free number on the receipt obtained from the CSR at Wal-Mart. The automated voiced stated there was nothing negative in my file, but the decline was based on "consumer patterns" and was preventative measure to protect me from fraud. The automated voice stated further that the decision to decline the check could not be over turned and no further information was available; basically don't call back. Certegy Check Services gets my vote for stellar customer service...NOT!

Certegy said my checks are good, I have no negative check writing history with them, my account is good but just because of their stupid guidelines they wont accept my checks from the dealership I am getting my car from! And they cant overwright that decision the system made! Are they serious? This is ridiculous its not my fault their stupid guidelines wont accept my checks when they are good!

I just left Akins Ford in Winder Georgia and had the same experience as other with Certegy. I did as the others, called the 1-800 #, got the same automated ###! ""CODE 2""" I was using my company check to pay for repairs on one of my fleet trucks that I have done At Akins Ford in Winder Georgia for years. I have spent 10s of Thousands of Dollars at AKINS FORD in WINDER GEORGIA 220 WEST MAY STREET WINDER GEORGIA 30680. My Checks, Cash and Credit cards have NEVER had a problem till now. Akins Ford Dodge Jeep Chrysler in Winder Georgia is the Company that hired " Certegy" to do this Check Denial in the first place so I'm Holding Akins Ford In Winder responsible till they make this Right.

All "piece of ### check cashing companies" work the same way so, like you, Wal-Mart has limited choices - the devil or the deep blue sea. "Check cashing companies" make guesses about which checks are likely to be bad and recommend to merchants that they turn those checks down. Guesses is all there is. It doesn't matter if you have money in the bank because you could pass the check then turn around and go to the bank, withdraw the money and screw the person you gave the check to. Be angry at fraudsters that game the system. The reason we have "check cashing companies" is the same reason we have to strip down to our underwear to get on a plane. It's because bad people do bad things and good people are trying to avoid getting caught up in bad things. Be angry at the professional fraudsters who pass bad checks for a living and the terrorists who fly into building and such, not the companies and law enforcement organizations that try to protect you from the bad acts of bad people. And by the way, get a real bank account and cash your checks there. Banks don't use "check cashing companies."

i have my paychecks loaded onto a citi prepaid debit/credit card and they give me checks where i can go to wal-mart and have them cashed, i've been working for this company for 6 months and have been cashing these checks since the beginning no problem. i went to wal-mart yesterday to cash the check so i could pay my rent. i wrote the check for 205.40 which was the exact amount i had in my account and was approved by the company i get the checks from but it was declined by walmart, we tried it 3 times i was furious.. not because it was just declined but, because i have never had an issue cashing my checks they gave me a slip and told me it was reason code #2 i called the number on the slip and they told me that it was because they think this check could be fraudulent or whatever, how could it be they are the same checks everytime?! just with a different check number. in the next few weeks i'm going to be getting a refund from college and i was going to go to walmart to cash it and even though they said that they check cashing had nothing to do with me i'm going to be extremely pissed if they decline that check. i really don't understand why walmart would have such a piece of ### check cashing company approving and denying their checks, i'm going to give them one more chance with my next check if it is declined i will never step into walmart again.

Certegy should be placed in the Fraudulent Companies category and dismantled! After having a check declined at Wal-Greens, I, too went through the whole business of getting only automated service and no good reason for having my check declined. My local bank is checking into this situation as I had ample money in my account. I am embarrassed and frustrated that a "company" can do this to any individual, at any time, with total lack of consequences! I believe I will go back to the old fashion way of pulling the money I need out of my account weekly and paying cash for everything! If any one hears of action being taken against Certegy please post it. Patricia Curran 8/18/11

I agree, went to cash a check for my Local 302, Operators Union retirement, cashed last two times - now with the economic news no more checks cashed. Some bogus number two as the reason, can't get ahold of a real person, they ask you to give all your confidential info to find out. SCREW THE LAWSUIT, ITS TIME FOR THE ROPE, and I am serious.

You see a check returned and then it is redeposited and you still have the check declined.Need to stop this harassement on people that are trying to keep their credit somewhat outstanding.Certegy does not seem to know what they are doing or the staff that is emploted with them doesn't.

It's bad enough that it is random check rejection or haven't you gkenigmatic and Jim52 read ANY of the complaints against this fly-by-night company Certegy or not. What started out as part of a good company (Equifax) and then splintered off to this. It's no wonder they have been on the market for so long and no one credible wants to buy them now. If you think Certegy is so great may I interest you two in a "Certegy Gold Application"? I know I personally would never ever give a company that much information about me just to keep my check from "RANDOMLY BEING DECLINED" - and that is what it is for and it is NOT GUARENTEED !
Ms. gkenigmatic and Mr. Jim52, you should read on how the people were impacted when CERTEGY lost 5.9 million consumer identification information files.
And finally, since the two of you feel so "safe" read this site http://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/certegy.html

Ms. Isaac, I am very sorry that you had that experience at the Dollar store. I too am disabled and I know how hard it is to get out and try and take care of my business without something like this happening to you. Thank goodness the people at your bank were kind enough to come and take care of this for you.
As to you MR. 123321 - I think you were very rude to Ms. Isaac who stated she is elderly and disabled, you have no idea what goes on in her life and if she is "with the times" and has a debit card or not. She might have one and loaned it out to her young grandson who was "NOT WITH THE TIMES" and DIDN'T have a debit card.
So, before you start your crap of checks are a risk for a store - if they felt they were that big of a risk, then the store should just QUIT taking them ALL TOGETHER.
NOW, MR. 123321 GET WITH THE TIMES AND BE RESPECTFUL TO YOUR ELDERS OR DIDN'T YOU HAVE PARENTS?
BTW, Lisha45, thank you so much for your info!

i to frist took my check then on my second and thrid return was turned down in font of a store full of people .i do not under stand they could take my frist check but now they can not.they have no cause and said it should not efect my next trans action but like you i not want to be embarced in front of a store full of people again. lisa belcher from napoleon, ohio

I urge everyone who has a complaint against CERTIFY to file a complaint with the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC). I have filed a complaint with them regarding my experience with CERTEGY. When I called them today, I asked what happens to my complaint? Anything or do you just take it and that's it? She said when they get alot of complaints on one company, that's what catches their attention. You can file the complaint online.

I have also had problems with Certegy. I tried to get the Target Debit Card and was told more information was needed and I would get a letter. Letter from Target denied me because of info from Certegy. After contacting Certegy to get whatever info they have against me, they show money owed on a 2008 check. The check in questions was a fraudulent check written in 2008 and supposedly signed by my husband (who passed away in 2002). I had filed a police report in 2008 and filed a claim with my bank. My bank investigated and it was proven fraudulent. I sent a copy of everything to Certegy and they said it would be cleared. After a few months I tried again, with same results. I wrote to Cergety for an explanation and they replied that they cannot delete the check info because it is a transaction that actually happened, they have the fraud reports and my name will be on a preferred list so it does not happen again. Waited a couple of monhs and tried at Target again ... and again was told, more information was needed. I am positive I will be receiving another Target letter denying me. I also think they need a class-action suit filed against them. I am going to try contacting Target credit company, sending them my entire package that I sent Certegy re fraud and also a copy of these complaints ... maybe they'll go with another check clearing company. I just want a debit card which comes out of my account ... NOT a credit card.

I went to walmart on a Friday to get my $66 payroll check cashed and they would not cash it! And I have been there many times before and cashed checks under that with not problem. When I called the number they gave me, it just said they would not cash the check because it's more than the amount they have done before! I thought that was a stupid reason! Normally I would go to a bank but when I got off work it was closed. That is why I went there in the first place. Now I have to wait until Tuesday on my next day off. I never heard of anything this ridiculous!

Its interesting that you write a check for 17.00 dollars one week at a grocery in June just to have it declined the next week. When contacting Certegy it was due to an inconsistant profile usage of the checks. I usually use my bankcard I but have been trying to alleviate the amount of checks in my checkbook. The people before me and after me went right through with their items no problem with those EBT cards. What is happening to our country it seems you have to be on welfare to get what you need at certain stores. The working people who pay taxes are under more stingent monitoring system than those who don't want to work. We wonder why things are happening the way they are today.

I tried cashing a reimbursement check at WalMart yesterday for $9.79. It got declined. The cashier looked at my pityingly. I got concerned since I had identity theft problem several years ago, and so I quickly called Certegy. The only reason they could tell me was that I had cashed a check with WalMart five days earlier, and that I should wait another week or so again to cash it because it looked like the last check I cashed hasn't closed yet. What did that mean? I had never heard of this policy before! I said so this is the Policy that WalMart has in place when it comes to cashing checks? The answere was yes. What I would like establishments to do is to post a sign that says that check cashing is approved by Certegy, and that consumer is allowed to cash one check each month. Is this another way of forcing consumers to use banks no matter how inconvenient the location may be? Or is this another way to wean consumers to STOP writing checks altogether?

I went into DSW today to do an exchange and had to write a check for $10.98. My account has over $2k and my credit is perfect. I was carrying a bag worth in excess of $1250. Certegy declined my check. LOL! From now on I'll stick to Neiman Marcus. I may have to pay a fortune but at least I'll get treated better. Certegy ought to be put out of business.

A check? It just sounds so archaic. the other people on line must have been cursing you

Went to Walmart today with a Payroll check. Was told the same ### and bull story that there was no negative information but that there it was something to do with identity theft crap they give everyone. I had my state issued driver license with me so I could prove i was really who I said I was. I did get to talk to someone from Certegy.. If anyone hears of a class action please let me know.. This was very embarrassing.. I needed that check cashed today. My bank is not in this area and now I have to take time off from work so that I can go to the bank where the check was written on.. More issues..

I'm agree with the person that would like to do a class action lawsuite against this company! What an embarrassment they have caused me on more than one occassion! They should be investigated by the Feds for what they are doing to us hard working, middle class citizens of this great country!

I shop at Publix weekly. Never had a bad check. went in on 6/11/11 to do my grocery shopping and was told my check is declined. I was shocked, was told to call Certegy check servcies/ I did and all it said was there is no negative information about me but I didn't meet their profile? What? Never had any problems before. So had to leave with out groceries. Tried again the next day. Same thing denied. WTF is going on. Is there not a law or something to stop these people from denying your check when there is nothing negative against you? Been writing checks for 25 years and had never had a bounce check or anything. These people need to be shut down or fined.

Today, I tried to cash a county payroll check and was declined. I never use checks and use direct deposit but because I added an account, they sent out a check for the first run. I was declined they said for reason number two also and it was for I guess the store's protection and falling in some paremeter. Nothing to do with me. The store is in the county I work for, it made no sense and especially since I just cashed a check last week at the same store with no problem. It was a refund check, though. I figure from now on, just go to the bank, which is what I did. But you would think government and payroll checks would not have this problem. Refund from a company would more than likely be declined. Not the case with Certesy. Yes, their customer service is worthless, whatever the automated service tells you is all you will get from the rep. Fustrating but lessen learned

My husband and I just tried to cash our income return check at Wal-Mart. We were declined because of information given to them by Certegy. When we called the number, we got a vague response about "patterns of identity theft" and "protective measures." It's a GOVERNMENT CHECK! How can they refuse to cash it? Certegy is obviously out of control.

So It's my problem now for all the dishonest DB's in this world. That's just great. Your right cash is king, but come on. Not one single bounced check in my life and I'm being discriminated against, not fair and it should be outlawed.

AW! YOU WROTE A CHECK TO ANOTHER RETAILER AND IT BOUNCED... KROGER GAVE YOU THE WRONG NUMBER TO CALL INITIALLY... THEIR FAULT! NOT YOURS! NOW, PAY THAT BAD CHECK AND DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! GET
A DEBIT CARD AND THROW THAT CHECKBOOK AWAY!

I recently had the same embarrassing experience at Kroger, where I have used checks many of times. They declined my check because it said thirdparty returned check. I had to call kroger check recovery (did not write a bad check), they told me I had to call certegy, they told me I had to call someone else. But to tell Kroger as much shopping I do at Kroger, they will never see me back in their stores. They had my name but that is all they had, certegy could not even tell me what is was for they just wanted me to call another number. FRUSTRATING! I do not write many check except for my rent and that is it for a whole month.

i had the same experience...how can these people make these kinds of decisions based on "fraudlent model"...horse poo! If businesses continue to use them i will take my money and go somewhere like a mom and pop and give them the business...which i should do anyways...target you suck!

If you have had a negative experience with Certegy as I have, I recommend the following steps be taken:
Contact the retail businesses that you frequent and ask if they use Certegy.
If so, explain the the retailers management that you will no longer do business with them as long as they use Certegy.
Call Certegy and let them know how displeased you are and ask to be placed on their VIP listing.
Then never use and retailer that uses Certegy.

If enough people follow these simple steps (Albeit time consuming), the retailers and Certegy will eventually start to feel the pain.

On 31811 I went into Walmart to Cash my Payroll check. I was told after entering my SS# and info. that it had been declined. Not the check just me and was given a piece of paper to call Certegy. I called and was told by Certegy that the transaction had been declined for my good. That they did not know exactly why. That I had nothing against me on file for me or against me but that the information is entered into a database and that the computer then tells them whether it will be accepted or declined but "even they" do not know why or what the determining factor. This is an unjust practice. First what is this database that is being kept? Second, this is a credit tracking system. Certegy is guaranteeing the check processing (backing it for payment) to the store at the time of cashing. When declined for credit there must be full disclosure for the reason by the vendor through the use of the credit service (in this case EquifaxFidelity Information Services. Which is as you know...by definition a credit bureau and as such I demand full disclosure as to what the "FICO" score (or what ever you want to call this scoring system) so that I can meet or other wise correct any errors in order to be able to cash my "PAYROLL" Check. This is also a violation of my rights under the fair credit collections act. I suggest that someone looks into this because it wont be long before you will be seeing a class action suite if these practices continue. This type of data collection must stop or give me full disclosure... In addition it was also insinuated that this data base cross references my credit background. Again if this is correct than it most definitely is violating my rights. I will continue this argument as is necessary to see that justice is done for everyone in the future. Just as was done so that the FICO and credit reports were made available... My next stop is to my state legislature and to my congressman. What has happened to our country is truly a shame. I'm a hard working, honest but Poor man and demand respect.

I tried to cash my payrole check at Wal Mart. It was declined reason 3. I called the number as many times as I could and was disconected each time. I had cashed my checks there before without any problems.

its stupid u cant cash refund checks cause peole dont know wat the hell there doin i called the number but no help at all i paid 13000 in taxes n your tellin me i have a problem cashing 1200 check get with the [censor]ing program people

i am also very angry about this company last nigh went to walmart to cash a money gram that was purchased at the same walmart for 1000 .00 dollars and they denied to cash it i called the 1800-number with code 3 what ever that means i talked to a rep and he said i couldnt cash it there i was pisssed the money gram was purchased there and i could not cash it there what the hell funny they let you purchase money grams then dont let you cash them hmm ...its not right the rep i talked to said that it was three merchants i was dealing with walmart, money gram, and certegy...

Dont you hate it when you are behind someone that pays with a check, then something like that happens to them? Dont know whether to laugh or cry for them, just sayin :)

I am so happy I only use my debit card...

Do you work for Certegy, Stealth Pilot or do you just have a sad life and enjoy being a troll on discussion boards?

I was trying to cash my Federal refund check at Wal Mart and was told that I was "profiled" as fraudulent... what?!?! I am standing there with a federally issued check, a state issued I.D., and in person! I called Certegy and they responded that they "profiled" me and I wouldn't be able to cash my check, and they would not be able to give me a reason why. This is in itself is discrimination! After doing a little research, I found out that it is because I recently moved and updated my driver's license (as is required by the state when you move) with my new address. This company is treading on very serious issues. Wal Mart is a large business, but they should be aware that their loyal customers are being treated unfairly by a "company" they employ. I have also sent letter to Wal Mart informing them of this issue too.

I have worked in retail and I know exactly how these kind of companies work, and honestly its in the best interest of the retailer to use this service because they provide the merchant with the funds in a few hours. By the way, there is no way for the company to know how much money there is in the account immediately so they have a special algorithm to determine if you are a common checkwriter and by your history. Almost every retailer uses this kind of service and I advise they all do to avoid lost money due to fraud.