Evaluate this...Another Wal-Mart<situation>...

[fordy]

..................Alittle background.......I spend probably 5 or 6 thousand dollars a year in wally world . Until recently , I had always paid by check . Last week I forgot my check book and paid with a Debit card . So the last time I checked out , I wrote a check , they processed the check and had me sign an authorization to remove the funds from my account and let me keep my check . So Today , I get ready to checkOUT and they try this same type of transaction . I tell the girl I won't sign the authorization and I want to pay with MY check . She says . "We have already processed the transaction and it's TOO late"..... ...So , I tell her , You had better NOT remove any funds from MY account without MY permission because I'm NOT taking the Groceries With ME !!! If , you remove funds from My acct and I haven't rece'd any merchandise you have committed ...Theft>>>. After all , they prosecute people who steal merchandise without paying . They are trying to make ME transact business....Their way when I'm the customer and ......isn't the Customer ...ALways Right ...LOL . Like I'm some kinda big wal-mart stockholder or something . Anyway we'll see what happens , thanks for Listening.....fordy...

[Obser]

Fordy, here's a little "Monday morning quarterbacking": You didn't mention speaking to the store manager. If not, it might have been wise to do so immediately. A manager could, most likely, reverse any transaction a clerk might make.

[moldy]

They have started doing that here as well. DH says "Well, that stops all shopping at WM". I hadn't shopped there in about 3 months, but that ended all business with them.

[Qwispea]

Er..to begin with..fordy shouldn't have to talk to the store manager at all!!!
The clerk was not authorized to remove anything from fordy's account. Without the physical debit card swiped through the card reader..they are not authorized to even refer to your debit account..let alone take anything out of it. What if fordy had already canceled that particular debit card..or what if fordy did not have any money in that account? (Some people do not carry a balance in debit except for what they intend to spend).
The store clerk was all wrong. Don't you get it? It was the store-clerk's responsibility to contact the manager and set things straight for fordy (the customer). It certainly wasn't fordy's responsibility..because fordy did not authorize the debit. End of story!!!

[FolioMark]

Well a bit off topic but imagine my surprise when I swiped my credit card and walgreens and was told that I no longer need to sign the credit slip to verify its me. Trusting souls arent they. No more credit card at Walgreens.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Obser

Fordy, here's a little "Monday morning quarterbacking": You didn't mention speaking to the store manager. If not, it might have been wise to do so immediately. A manager could, most likely, reverse any transaction a clerk might make.

............Well , I guess you're right , But , You know I was pretty UPset at the time and the girl Told me that they would have to call headquarters to "reverse" the transaction . Even IF they remove the $20.44 from my acct they'll have to REdeposit the amount because I didn't consumate the transaction by walking out the door ...with the merchandise . I told the young lady that I wasn't mad at her rather it was the Arrogance of "Wal-Mart" procedures that really gets my engine running . Consumers don't seem to have very much cloudt nowdays but They are NOT going to dictate too me the method of payment as they can just keep their stinking old Chinese merchandise , LOL . I've got just enough Dutchman in me to tell the world where too get off If I get pushed in a direction I don't want to go . fordy...

[Cheryl in SD]

Actually this is the 'new' system that started over a year ago and to which all banks/retailers are going to be moving, by federal law. Checks will no longer be processed, it will all be done electronically.

[Oilpatch197]

Originally Posted by Cheryl in SD

Actually this is the 'new' system that started over a year ago and to which all banks/retailers are going to be moving, by federal law. Checks will no longer be processed, it will all be done electronically.

What federal law is this?

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Cheryl in SD

Actually this is the 'new' system that started over a year ago and to which all banks/retailers are going to be moving, by federal law. Checks will no longer be processed, it will all be done electronically.

.............That is news to me , but they also have to have a process and procedure for Reversing their transactions as well , and , this system will only work , IF , the consuming public deems it acceptable . There is ALways a Political Component too these types of things and IF the legislators get enough complaints and the retailers receive lots of customer DIS satisfaction it will have to be reversed or mitigated in some fashion . fordy...

[Danaus29]

Here is some info on "Check 21". Everyone who has a bank account should have received a copy at least 6 months ago. All stores will start processing checks this way and the money does come out of your account immediately.

http://www.consumersunion.org/finance/ckclear1002.htm

It is a really bad thing for consumers but the banks will make or save all kinds of extra $$$$$$. We switched to cash or the debit card for our transactions. Checks are used only to pay through the mail, like the electric bill. And even those are processed as soon as the elec co gets them.

[Jodi]

My brother has had this at his restaurant for a couple of months now. While I know it seems unfair to the consumer, it has totally stopped his bad check problem. He was taking in several bad checks a week that were costing him lots of money. This process eliminates that.

[Ann-NWIowa]

I have numerous clients who have had serious problems getting automatic withdrawals stopped. Its gotten to the point I suggest they just go to the bank and close that account.

I had the same experience at Walgreens (one of my least favorite stores!) about not signing the receipt. I asked and was told if it was under $20 they didn't need a signature. I don't care for that either.

I've gotten to the point I prefer to use cash as much as possible for in-store purchases. With all the fraud on credit cards, identity theft, etc. cash seems to be safest. I still mail checks to the utility company, doctors, insurance companies and will continue doing so as long as its allowed. I simply do not want anyone having access to my bank account except ME. I use a credit card for larger purchases.

[JGex]

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

I have numerous clients who have had serious problems getting automatic withdrawals stopped. Its gotten to the point I suggest they just go to the bank and close that account.

Are you aware you can call your bank and tell them who you do not want taking money from your account? They will block auto withdrawals.

[JGex]

Originally Posted by fordy

..................Alittle background.......I spend probably 5 or 6 thousand dollars a year in wally world . Until recently , I had always paid by check . Last week I forgot my check book and paid with a Debit card . So the last time I checked out , I wrote a check , they processed the check and had me sign an authorization to remove the funds from my account and let me keep my check . So Today , I get ready to checkOUT and they try this same type of transaction . I tell the girl I won't sign the authorization and I want to pay with MY check . She says . "We have already processed the transaction and it's TOO late"..... ...So , I tell her , You had better NOT remove any funds from MY account without MY permission because I'm NOT taking the Groceries With ME !!! If , you remove funds from My acct and I haven't rece'd any merchandise you have committed ...Theft>>>. After all , they prosecute people who steal merchandise without paying . They are trying to make ME transact business....Their way when I'm the customer and ......isn't the Customer ...ALways Right ...LOL . Like I'm some kinda big wal-mart stockholder or something . Anyway we'll see what happens , thanks for Listening.....fordy...

Is the debit card to the same account the checks are from?

I'm not quite understanding.... if they are the same account, what's the difference if you use paper or plastic?

[jokey]

Tele check has been around a while. When I worked as a manager of a convenience store in 2001, the customer wrote a check ,the cashier ran it thru the TeleCheck machine, The machine read the bottom numbers of the check, Tele Check guaranteed the check for the store owner. The machine printed a receipt on the back of the check, and the cashier gave the check back to the customer. At the end of the day the telecheck machine printed out all the amounts and there were no checks to deposit. The store owner paid a good amount to have this system (I can't remember exactly how much anymore) Sure saved the business lots of money in bad checkfees,losses,court fees etc. No one could write a check on a closed account,and if it was NSF the telecheck people dealt with them. There were many checks that were declined and we could not take them. If the person had written bad checks before ,the machine would decline them.
And yes there was a process to reverse the check out of the system.

[morrowsmowers]

A few business around here are using the new electronic check system, too. One in particular, Firestone, used to just deposit my check. Would be cleared in 2 days or less. By using the electronic system it takes closer to a full week before the debit comes through. I think that eventually they will get things set up so that each time you write a check their system will check your bank account and instantly process the check as an electronic withdrawal.

Ken in Glassboro, NJ

[Tater'sPa]

I really don't follow this Fordy..... Maybe.. I get what your saying about the transaction has already taken place even before you authorized it "with your signature". The fact that they use your check similar to a debit card was explained several months ago that checking account transactions would be instant in many cases...around here it was all over the news and as someone stated above notices were sent out by bank as well. Aren't you there to "buy something???
Unless your debit account and checking account were not the same and they were referring back to your debit account....?
Honestly I don't see the problem...I have been at wallyworld and wrote checks and sometimes it's authorized right then and sometimes it doesn't clear my bank account for several days... I haven't spent 5 thousand dollars at wally world in the past 15 years.

Maybe there should be a wallyworldsteading forum and leave homesteading questions for just that......Homesteading questions

Originally Posted by fordy

..................Alittle background.......I spend probably 5 or 6 thousand dollars a year in wally world . Until recently , I had always paid by check . Last week I forgot my check book and paid with a Debit card . So the last time I checked out , I wrote a check , they processed the check and had me sign an authorization to remove the funds from my account and let me keep my check . So Today , I get ready to checkOUT and they try this same type of transaction . I tell the girl I won't sign the authorization and I want to pay with MY check . She says . "We have already processed the transaction and it's TOO late"..... ...So , I tell her , You had better NOT remove any funds from MY account without MY permission because I'm NOT taking the Groceries With ME !!! If , you remove funds from My acct and I haven't rece'd any merchandise you have committed ...Theft>>>. After all , they prosecute people who steal merchandise without paying . They are trying to make ME transact business....Their way when I'm the customer and ......isn't the Customer ...ALways Right ...LOL . Like I'm some kinda big wal-mart stockholder or something . Anyway we'll see what happens , thanks for Listening.....fordy...

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Tater'sPa

I really don't follow this Fordy..... Maybe.. I get what your saying about the transaction has already taken place even before you authorized it "with your signature". The fact that they use your check similar to a debit card was explained several months ago that checking account transactions would be instant in many cases...around here it was all over the news and as someone stated above notices were sent out by bank as well. Aren't you there to "buy something???
Unless your debit account and checking account were not the same and they were referring back to your debit account....?
Honestly I don't see the problem...I have been at wallyworld and wrote checks and sometimes it's authorized right then and sometimes it doesn't clear my bank account for several days... I haven't spent 5 thousand dollars at wally world in the past 15 years.

Maybe there should be a wallyworldsteading forum and leave homesteading questions for just that......Homesteading questions

.................I write a check at WM and they (use to) accept my check !! I write this check and they stick it in their little check reader and up and down it goes !! Then, they print out an authorization to debit my account and I say No Sign , You ALready have MY check . Either process my check or keep your _hit!! She says , "but we've already debited your acct" , and I say Better NOT cause I'm leavin your _hit here . i.e. , you don't remove funds from my acct when the Sale is null and Void . This situation is a Heads UP issue that could happen TOO anyone so consequently it's here instead of General Chat cause i didn't post it to start an Argument ! Makes NO difference too me , they can delete It , move it to the Solar power forum or cast it into the Abyss . fordy...

[DrippingSprings]

when you signed the check before she put it in the reader you approved the removal of funds. No offense but I dont think your understanding the whole premise. If your a person who likes to float a check ie write it today hoping it wont go through for a few days when the moneys there then it may be an issue but if not I dont see your dillema.

I personally would rather it be taken right away as to let it float aorund a couple days then make it to the bank.

I see it as actually helping some folks. Sadly about 65 percent of the genral populace cant or wont balance a checkbook correctly. With the new system it is declined immediately with no fees for either writer or the business selling goods if the funds arent in the account.

Bad checks much like theft caused huge price increases because of all the expense of chasing people down to get your money.

I know for a fact that in my last year as a higher up with Advance Auto Parts they lost over 12 million in one year over bad checks. That was passed on to you and me in the higher prices paid at purchase to offset it.

[Wendy]

Actually this is the 'new' system that started over a year ago and to which all banks/retailers are going to be moving, by federal law. Checks will no longer be processed, it will all be done electronically.

I was thinking the same thing. I got all kinds of info about this at least a year ago. I can certainly understand them wanting to withdraw the funds out of the account right away. Waaaaaay too many people are writing bad checks & this is their assurance that the check is good.