Monitor your checking account and credit cards

[Pat H]

I don't know of any banks that check to see if a check # has been previously used unless it is a large business that is willing to pay for the service.

 

[Karen G]

That being said, why / how would a bank teller ever possibly catch (in real time) the fact that a particular check number had already been used / cashed?

The bogus check was cashed at another bank. Our banker at BofA said that there's a little machine they run each check through at the teller's stand at BofA that would give them that information. I've seen them run a check through this little thing--it's kind of curved and the check slides through it. I guess it must show them information on their computer screen. I assume this would work only if the check was drawn on a BofA account.

Maybe the crook knew about that and that's why he took it to a different bank to cash or deposit.

 

[tashamen]

Every bank has its problem. .

I'd have to agree with that. Two examples from my current primary bank:

1. Last year I refinanced my mortgage (originated by the same bank many years ago) with a home equity loan. Everything went smoothly until it came time to sign the paperwork, and we found that the bank had an incorrect birth date for me on all my accounts, stemming from the old mortgage. Stumped the very experienced officer for some time. Had to do additional paperwork to get birth date corrected.

2. My husband's checking account checks still have the former name of this same bank from two mergers ago - he uses very few checks a year. No problem clearing the checks since the routing number is still the same, until he wanted to cash one of his own checks at our local branch and they refused because the bank name on the check was incorrect. (The reason he was trying to do this is because his debit card may have been compromised at a supermarket chain and the bank was in process of issuing him a new one). Same officer eventually gave him the cash and ordered new checks for free with the new bank name on it.

 

[pjrose]

Very interesting thread. We still use checks and not online billpay, still concerned that online billpay opens us up to hackers. But?????


The other day I got a computer-voice voicemail on my cell that "your credit card has been blocked..." And couldn't hear the rest of the msg. Then I accidentally deleted it.

Sooo, even though I figured that this was probably fraud I called the number on the back of every single card to ensure there was no problem. I suppose the scam was that if I called the garbled number on the voice mail, they'd manufacture a card with whatever number I told them.

Perhaps cash under the mattress is safer LOL.??

 

[bjones9942]

In accounting, check numbers are an internal control to the company issuing them. Banks don't give a hoot what number is on a check. For example, my automatic payment to vendor xxx uses the same 'check number' every month.

Speaking of fraud, most people don't realize that credit card numbers have a structure. The first six (?) are the issuing bank id (visa starts with 4, mastercard with 5, amex and diners with 6, store cards vary). The remaining numbers are the account number - with the last number being calculated by each number coming before it (it's called 'check digit verification' and allows computer programs to immediately verify that a number is a valid credit card number - not that it's a valid account, but just that it's a valid number).

A crook can take the bank id numbers from any card and then generate totally valid credit card numbers. If you get several attempts at entering the card, you might be able to guess the correct expiration date. This is how they can get YOUR number without ever seeing your card. There are still many online payment portals that don't ask for the security code from the card.

Many years ago I had someone dumpster dive at the apartment I lived in. They found a used checkbook that I apparently hadn't torn into enough pieces. There were still deposit slips on the thing, and they deposited phony checks into my account with cash back. SIX branches let them do this. I believe two or three checked my signature card, and even though they MISSPELLED my name, they STILL let them do it!!!! Key bank. Not very bright people. When I was at the branch trying to get it all cleared up, they wanted me to sign a note saying I would appear in court on their behalf. When I asked if they were going to cover my missed wages, and they said no, I told them I wouldn't be signing until they crossed that off. They asked me to take my money and find myself another bank! Really? YOU let someone into my account and now blame me. Key bank. Keep that in mind when shopping for a new financial institution.

 

[billymach4]

Very interesting thread. We still use checks and not online billpay, still concerned that online billpay opens us up to hackers. But?????


The other day I got a computer-voice voicemail on my cell that "your credit card has been blocked..." And couldn't hear the rest of the msg. Then I accidentally deleted it.

Sooo, even though I figured that this was probably fraud I called the number on the back of every single card to ensure there was no problem. I suppose the scam was that if I called the garbled number on the voice mail, they'd manufacture a card with whatever number I told them.

Perhaps cash under the mattress is safer LOL.??

Don't take this personally but I shake my head when friends of mine tell me "I don't trust online banking. I mail all of my payment by check". I don't trust the paper check at all. This tread is a clear example of that. Online Billpay is more secure than a paper check.
It is also easier to manage, and saves you money on postage.

 

[Ken555]

Don't take this personally but I shake my head when friends of mine tell me "I don't trust online banking. I mail all of my payment by check". I don't trust the paper check at all. This tread is a clear example of that. Online Billpay is more secure than a paper check.
It is also easier to manage, and saves you money on postage.

Absolutely correct. I write ~15 checks per year from personal and business accounts. Virtually all my payments are electronic in some form or other. I use bank bill pay for personal transactions and credit cards, and bill.com and other payment methods for business accounts...and have done so for a very long time now successfully.

 

[MuranoJo]

DH doesn't trust online savings banks, even though I've proven I can safely get ~1% @ CIT, while he's getting way less than that at our local Credit Union.
And I got 3% 5-year CDs at PenFed online early this year--we're not doing that well with others we have.

Also have used online bill pay almost exclusively for years with no problems.

 

[Kal]

...About 2 years ago, BA decided to cut the bank staff in half. The long-time employees were offered a puny financial "incentive" to retire. Those who opted to stay on were assigned to other bank locations inconvenient to their homes.

Since then, if you need to speak with a employee, it can take up to 2 hours to be served. Phone calls to the brance are no longer an option. When you call, there is a long wait to reach a "human"after all of the options using the automatic system failed. The last Customer Service person was answering me from Costa Rica. The one before was from India. Both assured me that they had corrected the problem I was calling about. But guess what: wrong!...

Not long ago I read that BA will be closing a large number of branches and replacing those with a new type of Kiosk system. Actually with the vast majority of people using electronic banking that makes some sense.

Also, when BA changed their fee system a year ago, I complained to a Branch Manager. I pointed out I had been with the bank for decades and he should note the substantial balance in my accounts. He said in the "old days" he could easily waive the fees but not today. He said almost all decisions are made in Carolina. I also told him the customer service in the Mortgage Dept was so horrible I went to another institution where a new refi was done in a matter of a few days. To this day, I'm still waiting for BA's return phone call to tell me what BA's rate would be.

 

[Kal]

As a side note on BA, a year ago I purchased two $30K bonds each paying 7.75% per year. That might shed some light on their situation. Unfortunately those bonds were called 4 months later.

 

[VacationForever]

Not long ago I read that BA will be closing a large number of branches and replacing those with a new type of Kiosk system. Actually with the vast majority of people using electronic banking that makes some sense.

Also, when BA changed their fee system a year ago, I complained to a Branch Manager. I pointed out I had been with the bank for decades and he should note the substantial balance in my accounts. He said in the "old days" he could easily waive the fees but not today. He said almost all decisions are made in Carolina. I also told him the customer service in the Mortgage Dept was so horrible I went to another institution where a new refi was done in a matter of a few days. To this day, I'm still waiting for BA's return phone call to tell me what BA's rate would be.

I got horrible service from BOA end, however because Merrill Lynch manages my funds, I don't need to deal with BOA. ML end takes care of all problems and rights the wrongs from BOA end, including fees that were imposed on an account when we were told that it was a no-fee account.

 

[bogey21]

Not long ago I read that BA will be closing a large number of branches and replacing those with a new type of Kiosk system. Actually with the vast majority of people using electronic banking that makes some sense.

I have 3 checking accounts with BofA, one joint with my Ex; one joint with my Daughter; and one joint with my Son. Reason is that it makes it easy to transfer money around the clan.

One of the accounts is Free because of a Direct Deposit; the other two are Free as long as we don't deal with a teller. This has be a zero problem for us. Thus a Stand Alone Kiosk would be fine with me.

George

 

[Kal]

I've got a number of personal accounts with BOA where there is no fee and no requirements on use of the account. Probably because there's a substantial amount of funds in those accounts.

I also have a business account and that one requires a monthly fee unless the balance is always more than $3K. Obviously they could care less about the big picture for one customer.