Basically, the predatory Union Bank of California had suckered me into a $2,000 overdraft line. When I had to use it last year, it became a predatory 18 percent loan I couldn't repay.
Therefore, I...
Basically, the predatory Union Bank of California had suckered me into a $2,000 overdraft line. When I had to use it last year, it became a predatory 18 percent loan I couldn't repay.
Therefore, I was paying $40 to $50 per month for a free checking account.
Not only that, but Union Bank was making robot transfers without my knowledge or approval. Each month, they would withdraw around $65 and put it in the cash reserve account. They timed this in many cases to coincide with my withdrawal of funds, causing checks to bounce into the cash reserve and then charging me $10 per overdraft.
Going to the Rancho Santa Fe branch, I spoke with the bank manager. Oh so sympathetic eyeball-to-eyeball, "I know the economy is tough", "I sympathize" yada yada.
Of course, she quickly handed me off to an underling who was oh so sympathetic, yada, who then made a few phone calls and gave me a number to call, saying they would be able to help me.
My point to each of them was this: My paying such exorbitant interest on this balance was akin to a rat chasing a treadmill. I asked them to put back the interest they had stolen -- I used a more asshole friendly term, I believe, assessed -- and I would make good on the balance under an agreement, repaying some each month. I said they could close the overdraft for all I care, but they need to do something for their long-time consumer -- won't say customer -- me.
The underling gave me phone number to call. It turned out to be the collections department. I called the underling again and he gave me another number for a lady in the overdraft department. I called her. She took down my information and said, oh so politely, Mr. Jack, she would get back to me, but first had to determine if she were the appropriate department. Strictly an internal matter, our "team members" -- my interjection, she could have said assholes -- will discuss this, she added.
After getting home, I received a call from the bank's "I'll get back to you" person. She said we examined your financial status and have decided to close your overdraft account. "I will be transferring you to the collections department."
Whoa...Hey lady, I CALLED YOU, because you have been taking $40 to $50 per month yada yada and offered to pay back the balance. But you need to put back the interest payments...asshole interrupt-us in faux authoritarian voice, which didn't fly with me as you who know me know...I started putting it to her bluntly until she yelled, "I am terminating this call" click.
Immediately, I took out what's left of my money from the bank, and surprisingly the account still worked. I went to the store and used my debit card -- again, not canceled, how shoddy of them to shaft me, but not finish the job, and typical of the "Brazil"ing of our society -- withdrawing all but $4 from the cash reserve. (Couldn't quite max it, darn).
So, there you have the sickness of our society in a 36-hour time capsule. Some pigs get away with a lot, but they can't do it properly either because they're idiots. Many people get shafted one way or the other. Shame shame, sham sham on them (and us for being a part of it).
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the adventure will continue. I will go to the San Diego County Credit Union at Escondido and open another "free" checking account, no overdraft protection thank you very not.
Fully, I expect Union Bank's collection pigs to harass me, file litigation, get judgments from the crooked court system -- don't get me started on the bogus red light camera ticket that cost me $434, plus two court appearances and when I protested they attached another $56 to it,. threatening to charge me $300 more and issue a summons should I not pay -- and whatever else takes place.
But I don't care.
"You lie!"
