So I finally got a job that offers Direct Deposit, and decided to take the opportunity to upgrade my checking account from the “Unemployable Ghetto Fucker with a $12 balance” account to the “Chase Free Checking” account so that I could get checks for free instead of having to pay $16 for them each time I order them (approx. every 5 years).
So I upgrade the account and order new checks, since I need a voided check to set up direct deposit, and then today I end up with a $16 charge on my account for the checks. Confused at this charge on my “Free Checking” account, I call up customer service and am told that the “Free Checking” account does not in fact offer free checks at all, but rather the “Free” part of the title refers to the fact that the uhhh, account itself is free. The following exchange then took place:
Me: What do you mean, the account is free? All bank accounts are free. My last account was free, too.
CSR: Sir, as long as you keep a balance in the account, there’s no charge.
Me: So you’re telling me that as long as I don’t overdraw my account, there’s no charge?
CSR: Yes, sir.
Me: (getting confused and bemused) That’s true of any account - that’s what overdraft fees are!
CSR: Yes, sir.
Me: [incredulous] So you’re telling me that the “Free” in “Free Checking” means that as long as I don’t overdraw my account, I won’t be charged a fee?
CSR: Yes, sir.
Me: That’s true of ANY account! So what’s the difference between my previous account and the Free Checking?
CSR: You need direct deposit to get the free checking.
It went around in circles a few more times, but by then I was laughing my ass off. I already knew that Chase was the devil’s asshole of modern banking, but this truly takes the cake - pure bullshit reasoning with NO difference between the two accounts other than that one is called “Free Checking” and the other one is called “Basic Checking.” Oh, except you need Direct Deposit for yours to be called “Free” instead of “Basic.” Completely fucking hilarious if it weren’t so utterly retarded.
So, in that spirit of completely tautological semantic reasoning, I hereby invite everyone to come to
VCO3’s FREE Grocery Store
*Attemping to leave the store with items will result in a per-item charge.
Most free checking doesn’t actually pay for your checks. I’ve had about 6 checking accounts and it’s been the same for all of them. It refers to no monthly/annual/transaction/deposit/withdrawal fees.
I think that free checking usually offers free online billpay. No idea if that’s the case with Chase, though; I no longer have a bank account with them.
So maybe those obnoxious Washington Mutual ads from a few years back in which uberhip 20-somethings kept saying “you fell victim to Fake Free Checking”, as if “Fake Free Checking” were an epidemic of terror sweeping the nation, were on to something?
I understand that, but the real outrage here is that there are two identical types of accounts, but one’s called “Free Checking” and one isn’t. Oh, and you need direct deposit to “upgrade.” :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Same here. My wife and I have two Crown Seniors and an MMA, which offer free checks. But our allowance accounts, called Free Checking, don’t. The checks ended up being free, though, simply by asking the bank to tie Free Checking into the other accounts. Somehow, that relation makes the Free Checking checks free. So, maybe that’s the answer for people like the OP who want free checks: tie that account to your higher dollar purses, like a money market account or interest bearing checking account.
Actually, banks went through a phase where they charged for checking accounts. I switched from Huntington Bank to First Star when they did this.
Most banks will give you an introductory packet of checks, but then you have to pay after that. I’ve never heard of a bank who would give you free checks. Of course, you don’t have to order from your bank. Checks in the Mail is one mail order company who will sell checks at a very reasonable rate for new customers. After that, they try to stick it to you, but I now get my checks printed by Costco. They’re not pretty gold foil checks like I used to get, but they’re cheap.
VC03, I highly recommend online banking. Most banks do offer this free (as it drastically reduces their paperwork) and it will cut down on the number of checks you write. If the recipient does not accept electronic payments (e.g. your mom), then the bank will pay for the postage to mail the check out.
Good advice, but I literally never write checks. I had to get the book of checks in order to have a check to void in order to set up the direct deposit with my workplace (which is completely retarded in its own right when I could have just given them the information).
I was visiting home in Michigan a few years ago when my bankcard was suddenly and unceremoniously cancelled. Since I was only there for a few days I hadn’t bothered to save up a store of cash or bring extra checks and I found myself utterly broke. It turned out the Bank I was with had switched the logo on their debit cards, and had correspondingly cancelled their old cards. They claimed they had sent me a new one (which they never had.) For some reason they couldn’t get me a replacement, or send me cash somehow, so I was completely screwed.
Fortunately I had left $25 in the checking account of my old credit union in Michigan before I had moved to Seattle. Instead of closing the account I figured, hell, I can keep $25 there forever, it costs me nothing, and if I ever move back it will save me the hassle of opening a new account. Extremely good move on my part - I went to the loan manager there, explained my situation, and they immediately gave me a $500 loan to get me through the rest of the week. (They offered more, in fact.) I’ll never forget what the loan officer told me: “You were with us since you were 16, you knew what we were all about, and you move to Seattle and go to a BANK?!” She said the word “Bank” in a tone which implied the word was synonymous with swine excrement.
I went back home and waited for the bank to send me the second replacement card they promised me on the phone, and you know what? They never sent that one, either. Lesson learned, I joined a Credit Union out here and have never looked back. My new Credit Union may not have as many branches, but the service is much better, as are the rates. She was dead right - Credit Unions are the only way to go. The measure of any organization you frequent is how well they take care of you when you are experiencing a crisis - especially one of their own creation. Banks don’t make the cut.
Washington Mutual’s Free Checking is free; you don’t pay for your checks, you don’t pay for online banking, you don’t pay a fee at WAMU or other non-fee ATMs. I like it.
I have to say, “free checking” generally means that there is no monthly service charge. It doesn’t mean “free checks”. Some accounts might have free checks, but I wouldn’t assume it.
Which account did you have before, that you say was exactly the same? Looking at Chase’s website, I only see one type of checking account that doesn’t have a monthly service charge, and that is the “free checking” account:
Having said that, personally I’d take all my money out and get a new bank. I used to have a credit card with them, and they engaged in all sorts of questionable policies. There was even a class-action suit against them. They are basically evil.
A friend of mine once commented, “Chase doesn’t care about you unless your last name is Inc. And sometimes even then.” Although the account I have now, I just ordered checks and paid $28 for them. I don’t mind buying the checks, and it’s more convenient to buy them form the bank and all, but what the hell?
The $12 they charged for the “free” checking will probably go a long way. They’re trying to reduce labor cost, so almost every bank is making it easier and easier to access your account without acctually using checks. The hundred or so checks you got for that $12 will last for a year or two, if you take advantage of online transactions that most banks encourage you to use.
Chase doesn’t have pre-fab starter check packs? The previous bank I worked at did that (I have no idea what my current employer does) - for a new account setup, the banker would reach into the drawer and pull out a packet of checks and deposit tickets, all pre-printed with the account number and a blank space where your name would be.
For someone who just needs that one check to get direct deposit running, it was perfect. Aside from that, all of the checks in the pack were different - sample checks so you could pick a design to order.
Bank of America’s “non-free” checking account options were free if you carried a balance of like $500 dollars. There was a charge if you dropped below that. “Free” checking had no charge as long as the account is not overdrawn. But you still pay for checks.
Actually, unlike our unwashed southern brethren, we have banks on a charter system, which means fewer banks but also less competition, less fine print, less hoop-jumping and less chance for being screwed over.
I bank at TD and like it just fine, even if I do have to cough up a few bucks every five years or so for a new book of personalized checks. I do most of my banking and bill paying over the net, anyway.