I'm feeling a little bit like Lewis Black right now.

Pissed off, grumpy, acidic, bilious.

Why? Well, for the last 4 days, I've been attempting to buy a new camera. After much shopping around on the net, I settled for buying from Newegg, the same company Jake also bought the parts from for my recent computer (as my usual favorite, B&H has been having some website issues, and Newegg beat their price).

The total (with some additional batteries, and a 4G memory card) came to a little over $3,200. I opted to pay for 2nd day shipping and express order processing to have the camera in hand before the weekend.

Now you may say $3,200 really isn't that much. People spend that kind of money in a lump sum all the time - for vacations, medical expenses, furniture etc. But apparently it's too rich for my bank, Washington Mutual. They have a $3,000 daily limit on all their debit cards. And so I embark on my customer service odysee.

Friday - 6.45pm: I call WaMu customer service. The rep tells me I'd be better off withdrawing the money in person and buying the product locally (as if that'd be an option). After much explanation, she finally yields and tells me that she has lifted the limit and implemented a new one at $10,000. It would take 24 hours for it to take effect. Fine.

Sunday - 12.45pm: The card is still getting declined every 30 minutes through Newegg's automatic re-authorization feature (and I get emails telling me so). But it's Sunday. Screw it. I resolve to try and get this figured out first thing Monday morning.

Monday - 8.30am: Another call to WaMu - *this* rep now tells me that my limit is at $7,500 (note the different amount from Friday), that it took effect this morning, and that the authorization should work now. Minutes later and I still keep getting declines from Newegg.

11.45am: 3rd rep at WaMu tells me that while the limit may be there, for some reason the system keeps declining the authorization (no shit?). I'm on hold for like 10 minutes, while she checks with her supervisior. She comes back with an apology, says they don't know what's wrong, and that the merchant should call in to get a manual authorization.

11.50am: Call to Newegg, and the rep there promises to get that done right away.

1.39pm: Two hours later. Still getting decline notices. Another call to Newegg - and this time (after quite some persistent nagging and not taking the reps soothing "Everything is ok, I'm sure it will work out" crap any longer), the Newegg rep comes back with the bombshell: "We talked to your bank - they said the amount was too large, and that you have to go down to the bank IN PERSON to authorize the charge".

EXCUSE ME?

WHAT THE FUCK????

And that after all the "No problem - we'll take care of it for you" crap from 3 different reps?

I tell Newegg to scratch the WaMu card and give them a credit card number to run instead. I'll be paying interest on that thing from the second I use it (while I have the cash sitting in my bank) - but at least I was able to make the purchase.

And Oh - I'll be going down to WaMu IN PERSON alright.

But only to tell them to go fuck themselves, and that I'll take my business elsewhere. And if you're a customer of that bank right now, so should you.

Update: Thanks for the good idea, dkgoodman. I think I'll go down there and declare loudly that I want to close all my three accounts (two of them business accounts) - in addition to my IRA. Oh, and how about f***ing paying for the interest I'm having to pay on my credit card now?

Mind you, this comes on the heels of my hubby haggling with WaMu for the past few months over the fact that they've placed extended holds on his checks for his finish carpentry business - "because the amounts are too large ...". Never mind that he has employees to pay ...

I'm so ready to ditch these a-holes...

That's what happens when you bank with a big bank chain (I'm a WaMu customer). I hear Selco, Umpqua and Liberty Bank are awesome. If you sign up with Umpqua, they'll give you a blackberry (biz account).

My dad had problems with WaMu too, several years ago. He went to WaMu to withdraw some money, where he had a joint account with his wife. Their computers were down. So they go pull the signature card from their files, and then they want the signatore of both my dad AND my stepmother before they'll give him the money. Only she's not there. And the way the account's set up, it should only take one signature. So he asks for the manager. Same result. So he says, really loudly, "I WANT MY MONEY!"

And keeps saying it, until they give him his money. Shortly thereafter, he switched banks. WaMu sucks. And stay on my dad's good side. :)

What a coincidence: Just last night I was having trouble with my credit card at NewEgg -- my cc company was flagging it as a fradulent charge.

Granted, it was midnight when I was running the purchase, and it was for well over a grand, so I could see that being flagged as fradulent. The problem, as I discovered, was that there was nobody available at midnight to clear the purchase -- I had to wait until regular business hours (I don't think I ever had this trouble with my personal cards, this being an advanta business card). So I got up this morning and cleared it with them, re-ran the card, and everything's good.

Sorry, hit submit before I finished my though here....

Shannon's right: Selco and Liberty Bank are great. I have my car loan with Selco and my business account with Liberty Bank (if you sign up with them, give 'em my name as I think I get a coffee mug or something [hehe]). I'm actually probably going to move my accounts over to one of those two banks (probably Selco, as I like credit unions), away from Bank of America as I've had NOTHING but trouble with them.

Congratulations on the new camera.

WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK IS THE SCUM OF THE SCUM. THIS BANK SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE THEIR BOOKS ARE FRAUD AND COOKED. I HAVE PROOF BUT I NEED FEW PEOPLE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. IF YOU THINK YOU LOST MONEY WITH WAMU PLEASE CONTACT ME MANYMEHIA@AOL.COM
ASAP THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWSUITS PENDING BUT NOT AS CLASS. GET YOUR REVENGE....

WAMU Sucks

I opened an account there about a month ago. Last friday I deposited a cashier's check ( which to everyone in the world is same as cash - except WAMU ). They told me I had to wait 4 business days , ok fine. Then on day 4 they sent me a letter saying that they are going to hold another 4 days because I am a new customer. So an 8 day hold on a cashiers check from Wal Mart.

Hey, their checking is overpriced at free!!

Stay away!!

Here is the story I posted to my blog. - David

================================================================

OK As some of you know, I recently switched from Bank of America because of the underhanded way they do business. I had gotten caught up in the hype and joined Washington Mutual (or WaMu as they like to call it).

I have almost $2,000 in the bank yet I received 3 NSF fees ($100) (and returning two of my checks triggering $40 fees from those retailers). I called WaMu to ask them to reverse the fees and they put me on hold for about 30 minutes. During which they came back online 4 times and told me I should eat the fees and not worry about it. When I insisted on waiting for a manager, they hung up on me.

They had placed a hold for over two weeks (*OVER* *2* *weeks*) on all funds deposited and half of that was CASH. There should never be a hold on cash.

During this time, I was completely civil, no yelling, no names, no rudeness, etc. but the rep I had was a complete @ss (and for that matter couldn't speak English very well).

I finally got in touch with a manager who was even more rude than the original rep. She told me that cash shouldn't have a hold put on it. I asked why it was then and she became very rude and defensive reading some policy on checks. I asked a few questions and was told she couldn't help me, I would have to go to the branch office.

F*ck these guys. In less than 1 month they've cost me more in fees the Bank of America has in a year.

DON'T USE WASHINGTON MUTUAL

It's funny, because when I was making a withdrawal from Bank of America, they asked me why and I said because I am switching banks. They asked which bank and I told them Washington Mutual. The teller laughed at me and said, "ha, ha, you'll be back". I told them "that is doubtful".

They were right. I'm closing my WaMu account today and moving it all to Bank of America.

A $200.00 lesson learned.

*feel free to repost*

Gee you never hear of the accounts that get charged off with negative balance in the thousands due to overdrawing their accounts. Question for all you how gripe at the overdraft charges...exactly how were you forced to spend the money you did not have available in the account?? What size was the gun held to your head? Grow up and take responsibility for you own actions. By the way I promise you, you will be singing the same XYZ Bank sucks because they charged me a fee. Which odds are that you will bounce a check again very soon.

Gee you never hear of the accounts that get charged off with negative balance in the thousands due to overdrawing their accounts. Question for all you how gripe at the overdraft charges...exactly how were you forced to spend the money you did not have available in the account?? What size was the gun held to your head? Grow up and take responsibility for you own actions. By the way I promise you, you will be singing the same XYZ Bank sucks because they charged me a fee. Which odds are that you will bounce a check again very soon.

~snip~Gee you never hear of the accounts that get charged off with negative balance in the thousands due to overdrawing their accounts...

WAMU plays this game of holding charges made against the account in order to gain the no $29 overdraft fee.....This Friday, I discovered my normally solvent account had incurred $600 in overdraft fees. Most of these were on card charges that were made a month ago....I call...I get the run around....I am moving banks....

WAMU Can Lick my SCHWEATY BALLS....

I was trying to buy a plasma TV for the past 2 days on Amazon n WaMu didn't even let me raise any limit they just told me they had an agreement with mastercard that the limit is to stay at $3000 unless I pay $13/month for a platinum debit card... $13/month is nothing compared to a $4500 TV, sure... but it's the principal of the thing, I can't spend the money I have in my own bank account!

I called Bank of America n they said "the limit is your bank balance", I made them tell me twice to make sure I understood it right LOL. I'll be opening a Bank of America account soon and telling WaMu to go F themselves. "Send them a check".. my ass!!! I ain't waiting 3 weeks for a new TV because I can't use my own fuckin money.

I am so glad I have read these stories. I just started with WAMU and already have a bad taste in my mouth. They sent some strange sticker thing that supposedly had my PIN in it but could see the number at all even when holding it to direct light as the instructions said. I call thier customer service and get someone who barely speaks english and is very hard to understand. No we no have account PIN numbers here I mail you another 10 days it takes. The branch won't help with this either. I was going to use WAMU over B of A but screw this at least the people I get on the phone at B of A speak english!

BANK OF AMERICA SUCKS.....

WAMU IS AMAZING, u just need to learn bank policys ass

We have been with WaMu for the last 8 years and they have been great to us. Just our experience.

BOA does suck. Too many fees that they hit you with and not enough options. BOA is getting scarce on locations. WAMU at least has that availability on convenience. A free checking account at WAMU is great as long as you play the game right. I've been with a lot of different banks and will never go back to Bank of America. My credit card just got bought out by BOA and after one late payment the percentage rate jumped to 21%!!! Geez! After I pay off my credit card bills I'm cutting up that card for sure! I use WAMU like a petty cash account. And a credit union for business and savings. Credit Unions are more lenient then big banks. If you are serious about savings check them out before you invest your money in Bank of America or Washington Mutual. -cheers

ha ha i am still laughing i work at the bank and it is very simple while the rules are there.. ask if you do not understand. dont be dumb ha ha all of you who got screwed its your fault ha ha ha...

Thank you, Anonymous poster who works at WaMu and thinks it's "all your fault for getting screwed".

You very eloquently prove why one should never bank with WaMu - because if a bank employs hateful, inarticulate assholes like you they don't deserve to be trusted with our money.

I have had several bank accounts in my life three of them being credit untion with the marines. I have a few comments because I actually know a few bankers from both BOA and WAMU that served with me in the marines.

About the FRAUD charges. When a purchase goes through WAMU they compare it to your other purchases along with if it is online, over the phone, ETC. If all your purchases are done to say Walmart, Burger King, a few other stores in your area that are at most a few hundred dollars everything is fine. Now you add an online purchase for a few thousand dollars to an out-of-state online store and a flag pops up. Thats why they put a block on the card.

For the Cashier's check. Yes they are like money. BUT, like an actual check it can be stopped. Both BOA and WAMU have had fraud occur during the first 30 days of when a person opens their account. This is when the most fraud occurs. This is why the check was placed on hold for so long.

As for holding charges, did you ever hear of a check register? WAMU or BOA may have ran the charges but you did make them right? If not I am sorry you incurred overdraft fees. If they were charges that you did you should know that by law a merchant has up to one year to take the funds out of your account.

The basic point I'm making is that every person's individual banking experience will vary. But most bank follw the same banking regulations as defined by the U.S. government. Every bank has you sign a Master Account Agreement that says you completely understand the fees, holds on deposits, and that they can change at any time without notice.

In essence if you sing that agreement you agree to anything that bank wants to do within the bounds of U.S. law. Including closing the account at any time. If you don't believe me read the account disclosures for every bank. you will see it there.

no one reads the terms of agreement when getting a checking/credit card account, there should be no surprises if all of you deadbeats truly understood that then you wouldnt be mad at the company...but at yourselves for being lazy

Uh-huh. Like *you* read those statements. Right. I didn't think so.

Further proof that WaMu is a fucked-up bank: this SmartMoney article ...

WAMU is the same as any other bank with the same fees as any other bank and they hold checks like any other bank. The problem is the customers that can't be responsible for themselves. People walk in with $5,000 cashiers checks and say "this is as good as cash" that is bullshit. Here is a lesson...nothing is as good as cash, except cash! And in the atm, cash isn't even as good as cash. Have you ever heard of counterfit? How about the moron that walks in with "I just won the lottery in Nigeria!" and hand thier cashiers check over to the teller and say, no I am sorry, they don't speak the scream at the teller and say "Hold? that is a cashiers check, its as good as cash" Right..I see...when was the last time you were in Nigeria or Canada and played the freakin lottery. But when that check comes back, its the banks fault. When customers spend more money than they have because "my deposit is supposed to be there" its the banks fault. I am in no way saying employees at banks don't make mistakes but come on people!! When you were charged $200 in od fees who spent the money? And don't give me a bullshit story about how it was on hold. Cuz if you paid ANY attention to your receipt, you'll see how long the hold is. By law it has to be disclosed. So quit whining about all banks and stop overdrawing your accounts and bam, then you'll stop paying fees.

Oh and let me address the card thing...If you lost your card or your card was stolen and someone went on the net spent $5000 at "newegg" what do you do? Thats right you call the bank and say "I didn't spend that, I want my money back!" And who takes the loss?? The bank does, I know they have more money than God, they can afford it, but if you are a stockholder, or an employee who has stock, I don't want to see any losses. So to fucking bad if you can't buy your camera on new egg use a credit card, and if your credit card charges you interest the first day you use it then you really are a moron, switch credit cards. The world doesn't revolve around you and your spending habits! The employees were idiots for giving you the wrong info, but hey their human, think about your job for a minute? How much do you get paid to deal with assholes all day? No amount is enough to deal with you jackasses...

WAMU SUCKS! They put ridiculous holds on everything, even for high-net worth individuals. I will never bank there again--they put ridiculous holds on every deposit you make, just so they can steal your interest

I transferred my money from another bank directly - had the vice president himself transfer the money to WAMU and they put a hold on the funds. My funds!
I was stunned. I called the manager and she had me come in personally and work it out with her and then she removed the hold. She was extremely nice. I must say tho, that most of the tellers have not been nice at all there.

The inarticulate and mispelled postings of WAMU's defenders serve as a reminder as to why horrors like Jim Jones' Kool Aid stand can happen. Because the Bank's posted rules and regulations allow them to rape you financially does not make it right. My Father died this year and his wife died 6 months after followed by my Mother moving in with me so I could care for her while she battled Breast Cancer. I was on FMLA leave at work to take my Mom to her appointments and my checking account became overdrawn. I made two attempts to deposit money and my debit card was declined at the ATM. I now have been charged off and cannot open another account due to WAMU reporting my charge off.

Hey "ex-marine" shitface - fuck you, eat shit and die pencil dick. WAMU has screwed me over not only with phony charges but with their poor service overall. Their nagging tendency not to know their own business when you ask them a question and also the shitty online services and the always late account updates. Don't talk "contract this and that" with me fuckface - explain that to a lawyer who migh give a fuck. I don't get paid enough to deal with some of my clients who are assholes too - but at least I'm always straight and honest with my clients and they respect me for that. Unlike you and the cocksuckers you work for. Okay dumbass? Maybe too much time in the Army killed off your functional brain cells, and now you are just the drooling fucktard that you are. Maybe you think that I feel sorry for you. I fucking don't - I hope you get hit by a cement truck and your tiny skull is crushed to a pulp.

Wow, I really wish I'd found this site BEFORE I put money in WAMU. Fortunately, I have accounts at a couple of other banks, too (banks that DON'T hold perfectly good checking account funds for 10 days for no apparent reason other than that THEY CAN), and so will take my money from WAMU asap.

I opened a free checking account with them on 8/9, on 8/24 I get my statement and it says there is a $5 fee! I thought it was free not free + $5! Anyway, I called and called, I got a rep who spoke no Enlgish (well, some but I didn't understand her at all and English is my second language too), I got a manager who said she would take care of it but then she never did, and finally I had to call back over and over again until the person that opened my account called me back (10 days later) and said she coded the account wrong and what she actually wanted to do was give me the "plus" package for free for 6 months so I can use the discounts, etc. Anyway, as you can see, in the end it did get resolved and they refunded the fee right away, but I wonder if I will be charged again next month...hmm... Also, I think this should have been done much faster. I called like 2o times! By the way, they did say they can hold checks for up to 10 business days but all banks can do that (Chase did it to my friend when she started a new job). I asked about this cause I do some contract work and they said 10 days unless it's cash or a payroll check, those I should deposit in the branch and they are available right away. We shall see... Have to admit I only switched because I don't have direct deposit at my new job and Chase was going to start charing me $4 per month. Otherwise I would have stayed with them. Had a great banking experience, no problems what so ever for 4 years! Hope WaMu works out but I am a bit nervous after reading all these posts...

I'm closing my WaMu account as soon as I can. I got duped by their 'check hold' scam myself. My wife handles the finances and keeps her checkbook balanced to a tee, even though we do 99% of our banking online. WaMu recently decided to hold a PAYROLL check for no reason. A week later and the funds are still not in the account. My wife calls and they claim that the hold was released however they don't keep records. I guess it was just a coincidence that our account was off by_the_exact_amount of the check that was supposedly available now. I find it ridiculous that my wife can keep better track of our money than a huge bank. And of course I'm not even going to talk about the customer service nightmare she had to go through. What's wrong with these people?

The problems I have read about here are all very familiar - I have experienced many of them myself in the past at various banks. But I have had my checking account at WAMU for two years now, and I have had no problems that can be attributed to the bank. The only unexpected charges came from paying for a game online and getting hit with an "international transaction" fee of $.19 (1% of the transaction)- a fee that was mentioned in the fine print; I had just not realized that the company I was purchasing from was based out of the country.

I have had 3 "charges" on my debit card that never cleared the bank. I still show those funds as pending (charged but uncleared), and my account balance according to the bank has matched my ledger balance to the penny.

So quit whining about the bank making your life inconvenient. Any definitive change in your charging habits will flag as a possible fraud. Just be glad we have banks, and credit. They are a privilege of our society.

If you think WAMU sucks to bank at, try working there...now THAT is misery...

I signed up with WAMU 5 months ago and always have kept at least 4000 bucks in checking and 12,000 in savings. I was attracted by their 5 per cent APY savings rate. One day after work I went for supper, 15 bucks. My card was declined for insuffient funds. I go to the bank and they tell me that someone named JOHC is on my account. I tell them impossible because I am single and alone. Then they tell me my two accounts have been "frozen" because of my name in Checksystems. I have never had a bad check or anything else so how did my name get in there? They said they would research it. I came back next day and they still didn't have an answer. I said I want my money all of it in cash. They offered me a 5 dollar coffee card to stay. I said no. I got my cash and ran as fast as I could away from WAMU. They are the Anti-Christ as far as I am concerned. DO NOT Patronize them.

They actually forked over $16,000 in cash to you?

I deposited about $20K at ATM of a local branch on my business checking account using a cashier's check from Citi bank (not from some shady banks). It is not some personal check. It is a check that I have already paid for. The money was automatically put on hold for 2 weeks because I was not supposed to deposit the check to ATM if the amount exceeds $5K. How did I possibly know about that? I talked to a rep on the phone, and she told me that if I went directly to a teller, the hold would have been only 2-3 days. Now they are holding my money, doing nothing until the hold is released. For business, people need the cash as soon as possible. Just because of their procedural issues, they have been holding my money for 2 weeks. This is unacceptable, and this seriously damages the business relationship with my company and WaMu.

That sounds pretty stupid, and something that could EASILY be fixed by WAMU (by either not allowing people to deposit over $5k in an ATM, or having info come on the ATM screen explaining the different holds).

Wamu screwed me over badly too with never ending overdraft fees that do not match up to purchases nor to the fact that my account was not overdrawn in the first place. I called customer service and was treated like less than dirt by an extremely rude woman. She also refused to put her supervisor or manager on the phone and said, I quote, "This is your mistake. The bank did not make this mistake. Goodbye." I have been with Wamu for 4 years and this is the first time I have had a serious problem with them. However I will never let them near my money again, and I advise you to do the same. Whatever happened to being polite and helpful to customers?

I'd never bank with WAMU....they suck. BofA also sucks ass. PNC is the only bank for me.....chase are thieves. Citi? Ugh.

WaMu Is the Worst Bank I have ever dealt with they are a bunch of crooks. I thought a back was some where to keep your money safe. The Jack asses at WaMu. Gave $21,000 dollars of my hard earned money to my Ex girlfriend after she filed a claim stating I stole the money from her. This bitch had not worked for 4 years so not a dime of it was hers. They just turned all the money in my account over to her now they tell me they did nothing wrong and if I want my money back I will have to take her to court and pay a lawyer. This is so bullshit how can a bank just give my money away with out a trail or even telling me what was going on. So Screw WaMu and my Lieing Cheating Money grubbing Whore of an Ex.

WaMu and the Old Bait and Switch!!
A True Story

I was interested in opening a Washington Mutual Online Savings Account with a 4.75 APY after viewing the WaMu website around 11/05/07. To take advantage of their savings account I was first required to open a WaMu checking account at a local branch. After opening my checking account I was told that the Online Savings Account could only be opened online by me.

Later I attempted to open a WaMu Online Savings Account and after several tries I was given this response “Your application has been canceled.” The response finished with “if you wish to apply at a WaMu branch, you can bring in two supporting documents from the list below to start a new application.”

On 11/19/07, I entered the branch where I opened my original checking account with the proper documentation. I met with a WaMu Representative who said she could not help me with opening an account. I then referenced the information giving to me on their website. She took the information to her Supervisor, who said they are permitted from assisting customers with opening an Online Savings Account. The Representative then recommended a “Statement Savings Account” at 0.25 APY or if I wanted the Online Savings Account I would need to contact customer services.

I contacted customer service that evening and was transferred three times. Each time I had to repeat my current situation. Finally I spoke with a representative who assisted me online to verify the information I submitted was correct. As a result we received a response on the final page of the application which stated. “We are unable to complete your application at this time. You may, however, return seven days from now to try again.”

Based on my experience I feel WaMu is drawing many customers to their bank through online advertising of their Online Savings Account. In return customers who become a customer and want to open a WaMu Online Savings Account cannot do so. As a result they are swayed by WaMu Representatives to open a “Statement Savings Account”.

You all should probably just pay attention every bank has rules to follow and the legally tell you...no one told you not to read what you are given...and no one makes you do anything...stop complaining and go somewhere else you people are so childish. Every place has issues and some people like the rules and some dont. You are always going to have regulations so get over it.

I would advise anyone thinking about Bank of America to re think if you love fees fees fees and 150.00 per day in overdrafts ect ect ect then by all means bank with them. After 10 years I threw In the towel. They got me for 5 grand.

WAM-U CHARGED ME 2 OVERDRAFT FEE’S BY FRAUDULENTLY POSTING ELECTRONIC TRANSFERS TO PAYPAL OUT OF SEQUENCE (2 DAY EARLIER DIFFERENCE ON PAYPAL ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF THE SMALLER AMOUNT TIME STAMP DOCUMENTED) WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE OVERDRAFTED MY BALANCE. OK, I SCREWED UP ON THE 2ND TRANSFER AND SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THE 32.00 FEE (WHICH AMOUNT IS CRIMINAL TO BEGIN WITH) BUT TO BE CHARGED $64 FOR A 132.00 OVER DRAFT. WAM-U POSTED BOTH TRANSACTIONS ON THE SAME DAY LARGEST ONE FIRST.

THE REAL CROOKS IN THIS COUNTRY WEAR WHITE SHIRTS AND TIES AND WORK AT BANKS. THATS WHY WE CALL THEM “BANKSTERS”.

BANK OF AMERICA LOST A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO FOR DOING THIS VERY SAME THING. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO START A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. IF YOU WANT TO HELP GET THIS SUIT GOING AND HAVE DOCUMENTABLE PROOF IF BEING VICTIMIZED BY WAM-U CONTACT THEM

Daren Stabinski, Esq.
Stabinski and Funt, P.A.
757 N.W. 27th Ave.
Third Floor
Miami, FL 33125

(305) 643-3100
(305) 643-1382 (fax)
dstabinski@stabinski-funt.com
www.stabinski-funt.com

I AGREE, PUT YOUR MONEY IN CREDIT UNIONS, SCREW WAMU AND BOA. DID YOU KNOW BANK OF AMERICA IS NOT EVEN AN AMERICAN COMPANY. DID YOU KNOW THAT VISA IS A BOA INSTRUMENT THEY GET "ALL OF THE FINANCE CHARGES ON EVERY VISA TRANSACTION" SWITCH TO MASTER CARD! SCREW BOA TOO

First of all, this idiot above me is wrong and B of A IS in fact an American company, it was started up by a single banker in San Francisco after their great fire in 1907 I believe. Secondly, I work for WaMu and I must say, if you keep your account positive you should have a great experience banking with them. As far as the the story about the $3000 spending limit, that's just too damn bad. I'm tired of people bitching about their small problems. You have to HAVE TO look at the big picture. The limit is not there to piss you off, but to protect you. There is so much fraud going on these days and everyone depends on their bank to catch it and fix it. Well all that's going on is prevention! Everyone can't just have an unlimited dailey spending limit otherwise there would be more fraud! And FYI WaMu does offer a Platinum Checking account with a platinum debit card that has a $5000 daily spending limit. He could've just changed his account type and been done with it.

WAMU can not find the signature cards for my grandfather that passed away. I was the beneficiary on that account. So basically I have been getting the run around for two months now and have no idea what to do. They are getting interest on 32,000 and I am screwed. I now have to spend money on attorney's.

Oh, I concur. Tonight I had yet another argument with the incredibly rude asses that work at Wamu. I ordered what I thought were "free checks" and then was charged $20! When I called, they told me that i had "free checking" not "wamu free checking" I felt like I was in some bizarro world.
Also, I ordered the checks online a few weeks ago and didn't get a confirmation, and when I called to confirm the order they had no record of it. The service agent said I could go back online and re-order them. Why would I do that when it didn't work the first time??? She seemed so put out that I asked her to do it over the phone. Then she neglected to tell me that I was being charged!
A couple of years ago they cancelled my check card without telling me, citing fraud, but told me that they couldn't tell me any details! It was a long weekend and I was left without cash. Then they refused to expedite a new one out to me.
It seems like hanging up is their usual way of handling things.
Even when you play by the rules they seem to find a way to screw you over.

To everyone who is having problems with WAMU:

I have also had some problems and did some research. You can actually report them to the feds and they will investigate. Though it takes a little while - it WILL be helpful if everyone who has a complaint contacts them.

You should contact:

San Francisco Regional Office

Pacific Plaza
2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, Suite 650
Daly City, California 94014-1976
Telephone: (650) 746-7000
Fax: (650) 746-7001

Mail: P.O. Box 7165
San Francisco, California 94120-7165

http://www.ots.treas.gov/pagehtml.cfm?catnumber=81

Good luck with your problems in getting them resolved!

WaMu is one of the worst banks out there. Trust me I know. I worked for them for the past 4 years and just recently got fired because I had gained 15 lbs and my shirt was to tight around my chest - however I couldn't order a shirt in a larger size because they were doing inventory. Yes, I am going after them for this. Most of the people that work at WaMu have no respect for customers. I am now working at Bank Of America. I can say they are a lot more professional. Also, the manager is ALWAYS available to talk to customers. A manager is required to be in the Lobby at all times to help with servicing issues, overdrafts, check holds, and so forth. I HATE WAMU! I am ashamed to say I even worked there.

WAMU sucks the big diseased one!! These "people" have been charging the interest to my card and sending me a separate bill for quite some time. It's a nifty little way of double billing. I cancelled the card today. I will pay these greedy mofo's off and try to go away a wiser consumer. WaMu go **** yourself. Joe

When I originally opened my account with WAMU, I didn't have any charges. Sometime during my years with wamu, I started seeing a $7 fee ever month. I called and complained about why I was getting these charges. They said that I wasn't enrolled in the free wamu checking. Fine. My fault for not realizing this so now put me in the free wamu checking. A couple months later, I realize $5 charges to my account. I call and inquire about this. They tell me that I'm enrolled in the plus package. I told them that I never signed up for a plus package. I said "free" not "plus", take me off and send me a letter stating that it's been changed. 2 weeks pass and I see another $5 charge. Now I'm really mad. I call back to find out that the last rep I called did nothing. ARgh!!! WTF!!! One ear and out the other. Do I have to be an a#$hole for them to do anything about it. Hopefully this time around... , otherwise they're going on "Shame Shame Shame". Give them some bad press even though this blog is a start in the right direction.

I have read comments about the horror stories from WaMu. I find it to be quite strange, because we have been with them for 9 years, we never had a problem. We even got fraud charges on our card at one point, it got taken care of.

Atleast they gave you back the fraud charges! A company made themselves out an automatic check that 'I approved'. When I checked my balance I was negative and noticed the $600 check that I never made out. The worst part about it was all the overdraft fees on ridiculous $4-10 charges they gave me. I called to complain and to speak with the Fraud Department. I figured all of this would be sorted out and there was not point in getting mad...boy was I wrong...After filing the Fraud Claim and asking for the almost $300 in overdraft fees to be waived when the matter was all sorted out, I waited patiently.

After about two weeks of waiting I called the Fraud Department and demanded to know why nothing was done...The person I spoke to NEVER put the CLAIM through!!! I had to redo the whole thing over! And everyone was giving me the run around...so now I'm really mad!

My claim was denied a week later. I went directly to a branch to complain where the rep told me to just open up open up another account...sure why not! Please! I gave it to him! I told him the only reason he wanted me to open up another account was for him to get the credit. I told him I wanted to close my account but of course I couldn't because I made them reopen the Fraud Claim because the person that did the investigation was incompitant.

To make a super long story short I never got my money back and had to eat up all the charges, the fraudulant check and the overdaft fees. I never recieved written notice of why my fraud claim was denied and 3 months later and after many phones calls I'm still waiting. I closed that account and out of loyality to them I opened up a new one...biggest mistake of my life!!

The rep that opened my account put in my information wrong and had my debit card mailed to an address that I haven't lived at for over three years. The only reason I found that out was because I recieved my check book through the mail and saw an error with the check numbers. So I called customer service and they told me that they would gladly correct it but will take 30 days because of the change of address and that was the reason I never recieved my debit card was because it went to the old address. WHAT?? I went to the brauch to raise hell. How could my checks that have my current address on them and were mailed to my current address be any different then from the address the card was sent to?? By the way, I was sitting patiently waiting for almost two weeks to get my debit card that was sent else where. The person that opened my account seemed bewildered...but then, *OOPS*, she noticed she made a mistake...OMG!!! This must be a horrible nightmare, how in the world could a bank send out important information to two separate addresses, one of which I hadn't resided in for over 3 years...and they don't want to give ME back my fraudulant charges and overdraft fees when it is obvious that the people that work there have NO IDEA what they are doing!!

WAMU are Thieves and employ people that don't know what they are doing and can't speak english!!

I am taking all my money and running sooooo far away from them!! Wamu definetly sucks!!

My wife and I run a home business and get our paychecks via wire every monday. We have 40% wired into her personal checking account which was just fine with the WAMU rep when we opened our account. They charge a $10 fee and since we have this every monday they would make an easy $520 a year off of this alone.
We use this money to pay several bills so more often than not as of monday night there is little left from the deposit that morning.
then out of nowhere one monday we get our wire and wrote checks for our morgtage and car payment and insurance and mailed them out. She went to the ATM to yank some cash for lunch when it refused. She called the bank to find out our account had been closed by "Back Office". They refused to give us a reason in the first yes, 7 phone calls until finally we went to our branch and he found out that we werent leaving enough in the account (the bill-pay account HE setup for us!) and that they invoked their right to close our account.
They then inform us that they are holding our money ($2387) for 90 days yet wont clear any of those checks we mailed out so those will bounce and show to our mortgage company and Geico and our car loan co that they were written on a closed account.

To say the least I HATE this bank. From time to time I get a check written on a WAMU account and when I go there to cash it they always ask if I'd like to open an account and I just laugh in their faces.

Their exact quote to me was "Just as you reserve the right to close your account without explanation at any time, we reserve this right as well" I suggest we all invoke our rights and close this piece of garbage bank by making the biggest statement we could make by pulling our funds out and refinancing any loans we have with them.
Fucking stupid name too, WAMU! lol

I have banked with WAMU for over 20 years. I have nothing but praise for them. Over the years, I have incurred overdraft fees, but I realize the fees were my fault. I have no basis to complain. Recently I had a situation where I incurred an overdraft fee. I contacted the bank and they removed it because I've been a longtime customer. I check my bank balance online every day and not once has a mistake ever been made by the bank.

I used to have both my personal account and my business account at WaMu. A couple years ago, I needed to transfer funds to my personal account. Since the accounts aren't linked, I wrote a business check to myself, signed it myself, and endorsed it myself, and then deposited it in my personal account.


Unfortunately, it was early in January and accidentally dated the check 1/4/05 instead of 1/4/06. A dumb mistake that I would assume thousands of people make at the start of every new year.


Did they take into account that (a) I was writing a check to myself; (b) both of my accounts are at the same branch of the same bank; (c) I clearly had sufficient funds; (d) the check # was in sequence; and (e) I clearly had the right month and day but had written 05 instead of 06?


OF COURSE NOT! They rejected the check as being over 90 old, cancelled the transaction, and I ended up bouncing 6 personal checks for insufficient funds. WaMu gets $180 and I got a new bank.


I switched to Bank of the West. Checking is still free. Never any lines. They all know my name. And if they ever have a question about a transaction, they just pick up the phone and call me.

WAMU..last of the banks that had any decent Customer Service. But figured since they are a BANK, the love was dommed. I am tired of ranting. (to thier people). Something had changed in the last several months. Cutomer service (snile at you as they ask you to bend over). I have been a cutomer for 15yrs. And now have lost faith in any bank, figure they all make money off us as it is. Why do we need a place to keep our money? The matress is your best bet. Especially since most are having problems now anyway...and passing thiers to us in form of fees. We as people need to go back to the barter system and take back control, instead of leaving it up to corporations to control us. File Chpt 7 like they do, curb your desires to spend, and keep your cash (while it still has value) in your pocket. Enough said.

My family has banked with WaMu for 50 years. My mom now has Alzheimer's, I have her Durable Power of Attorney. I am on her bank accounts as joint owner. WaMu WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY THAT HAS BEEN LEGALLY DRAFTED! They will not allow me to take funds from our joint WaMu checking account and put the money into a joint WaMu CD unless I bring my mom into the bank and she signs for the new CD. The whole point of mom planning ahead and having a legal Durable Power of Attorney is so that if she ever became incapacitated there would be someone else to look after her finances. I have gone all the way to corporate with this, explaining she is in an Alzheimer's facility, and she doesn't even know what a CD is! THey have all told me it is their policy not to allow a DPOA to open or close an account, and that CD, using WaMu funds, is considered opening an account.
Furthermore, when I asked for a copy of this policy in writing, they couldn't give it to me.
Pretty stupid, since I can write a check to another financial institution for a CD!
To add insult to injury, I can't close the account either, even though it's a joint account unless she comes in, talks to them, and signs some paper. She is completely unable to do so. Which means they are holding her $10,000 rquired minimum balance in her platinum checking account hostage. Literally, If the balance goes below $10,000 they start charging her $20.00 per month service charge.
Right now we have CD's (opened when my mom was able to sign her name) for nearly $200,000 and when they mature, they will go into the checking account. And guess what? I will be taking it out and buying CDs in both our names at another bank that WILL recognize the DPOA.
No wonder they are going down the tubes.

Someone at WAMU went to my 83-year-old uncle's home and without his realizing it (he was recovering from brain surgery) got him to withdraw all $100,000 in his bank account and put it into an annuity. He only discovered this when, two years later, he walked into his branch and tried to make a withdrawal. He was told he had no account there and would have to write to Allstate insurance Co. to get his funds. Evidently embarrassed and nervous (this maneuver is illegal under CA's elder abuse statutes), WAMU and Allstate got all of his money for him, minus, of course, the $6000 or so in early withdrawal penalties. Most elders are not so lucky: Victims of this annuity scam are usually forced to pay far higher "surrender" fees--up to 20%-- and/or find their funds tied up for years.

Be afraid, be very afraid...

I was inquiring on switching from Wamu to BOA, however i think i will stay where i am. I currently have a credit union as my main bank, and my Wamu acct is basically like a savings account i only throw money in. I didn't even activate my debit card. And from what ive been hearing i dont think that i will activate them. However havent had any problems with them. But i do know that there is no perfect bank. Your gona run into something where ever you go. Just be careful and read before you sign!

WAMU just cancelled one of my tenants checks in my account by issuing a stop payment that was written by them in the first place (bill pay) The only reason I can speculate they did this is because the amount is the same as the last month. Every bank has its crap, but Wamu is definately the worst. I have a friend who has worked for them for years and knows of the illegal schemes they have. One is they will cancel your accont without notifying you just to have you reopen it the next year to make numbers. Cold calling off of the "National Do Not Call List"... I personally had my accounts cancelled and I was told the insider on why that was. It was an escrow account and I removed all funds to pay property taxes and insurance for the next year. The zero balance at the end of the year closed the account where I have had another account with them for over three years with a few cents in it and it was never closed... I am currently searching for a class action suite...

WAMU's fee's are outrageous and they generate the most revenue for the bank more than any other profit center. Big Banks are great if you never get into trouble, whether by your own doing or someone else's like in the case of identity theft.
Most people get into trouble at some point, the banks count on it, in fact they want you to get into trouble, People with great credit and no financial problems are not profitable.
If a person bounces a check or is struggling financially, is it fair to drown them in fees so that they have no hope of getting back to a stable fiscal position. Sure some people are horrible with money and but in the old days your card would be declined cause your broke!
I personally have a Charles Schwab bank account and they are like the banks of old which is if you no have money your ass gets declined. If by chance you go over and they do pay they charge a percentage of the overdrawn balance instead of a flat fee so you don't end up paying $45 for a cup of coffee at starbucks. O

I recommend applying for a credit union or open an account with an trading institution like Schwab or Ing, etc... They pay better interest and they don't rape you.

Wamu blows. Listen to this. I have a business chdecking acc`ount, and i made a deposit of a check, from Chase Bank, not an account held by chase. It was Chase bank merchant setrvices. ANyway i go make , or try to make the depositm, antd they tell me itll be 11 to 15 days before the funds are relesaed. I said no, just close the account, and ill go to bof a, or chase, which i have accounts too. And the "manager comes over, and promises me itll be in 3 business days, so i say ok. Well 7 business days go by, i call the vranch, and "Rochelle" says, oh we couldnt verify the funds, its on an out of state account. Im like um, ok. now i know wamus are on a totally different planet. I said hold on, and i 3 way'd Chase Bank and verified funds with her on the phone, right then and there, then the chase banker hangs up. And now well, they have to make sure the check is not cancelled, and they refuse to release any of the money..........Im F n pissed now,,,,,anyway it took 15 days to clear, and it was for like 40k, and change. Think about it. If i gave a freakin monkey a dollar, do you think he could turn it into $2 in 15 days? Ya, you get my point, i think they are stalling as much as possible to use the money to make more. At my, and our expense. THen i come to find out the most i can get out of the atm a day is 500 bucks, no exceptions. Funny thing too, is they had issued me credits about 40 days ago in reference to unauthorized charges, then , BAM!< Right when the 40k posted, they reversed the credits. ANd charged my account, Based on their "investigation" They suck. Sorry to ramble, But..........FucK,

went down there today to deposit some money on a friend's account, guess what? the teller handed me a receipt with the total available sum on the account. WTF, glad I don't bank there.
also, I wanted to cash a check from another friend who banks there and WaMu charged me $5
to think that I had wanted to start banking there, they just gave me 2 reasons not to

Read all your comments, agree that you have to know the rules, BUT I deposited $500 in cash at the ATM on Saturday. Today, Monday, my account shows $100 of the deposit available, the remaining $400 on hold. I understand that deposits have to be verified, but when I called customer service (and that is another hell in itself), they said my CASH would not be available until Wednesday at the earliest. WTF!@! MY CASH?? ARE YOU KIDDING? First time I ever heard of a float on CASH. I have never had an overdraft, have great credit. I've been with WaMu for years and it WAS a good bank to deal with at one time, but they are in real trouble now and are screwing even the good customers. If I didn't check my acccount I would be writing against the 'unavailable' funds and paying nsf fees. It's only a matter of time before they are gone. BEWARE, when you can't access your own cash for 3 days, it's time to move on. Going shopping for a new bank. WaMu sucks.

Hmm... I've never had any trouble with my WAMU. I guess it just depends on what you are trying to do. I don't use my account for anything except savings and paying my discover card. As long as they keep paying me $5 a month to keep my money there I'm happy. I think customer service is hell just about everywhere. I hope you all get your fees figured out and get a phone with speaker phone, that way you can go do other things while you're on hold. It makes the wait a lot easier.

I too have had problems with these bastards. Has anyone ever noticed that pending debit card transactions are posted to your account between about 11 to 12am midnight. Gee, I wonder why?? I think I know... so that when you check your account during the day everything will look fine and then BAM!!! Close to midnight the charges go through and you have had no chance of making a deposit or transfering funds to prevent there beloved overdraft fees.
You may say:
Why don't you keep better track of your account??
To that I say:
Go fuck yourself!!
I use my bank card SEVERAL times a day and i'm not going to carry a three ring binder with me to write down every time I use my card. At least b of a posts the pending charge online immidiatly.
This is just one of the ways they work the system to screw us in the ass.
I officialy closed my account today and opened an account with a credit union.
WAMU SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!