What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Hampshire
QUESTIONS:
Is it discriminating to only allow people to write checks over $100.00 if the meet an amount that a company location determines them to be worthy enough to make a purchase using a check? If companies are allowed to determine how frequently I shop there and how much I can spend before I am allowed to use a check, shouldn't there be sign posted at the service center and at each register and shouldn't their employees mention that when a person hands them a check? Something to the effect of this store's check policy is that you need to spend x amount of dollars in x amount of time before you are able to write a check for over $100.00? I thought that companies either accepted checks or not and with the current technology to immediate turn a check into a digital transaction, I was shocked that this was even an issue.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF SITUATION:
My total was $320.90. They ran my check through their register and I was told I was denied by the cashier. The cashier then asked me if I wanted to try to open a Target credit card. I stated no that I wanted to pay by check. He then stated that I should call my bank to make sure I had enough money in my account (this was said in front of other customers that were waiting in line behind me). I stated to him that I had more than enough money in the account and that there must be some mistake. He then signaled for a supervisor.
Two different supervisors came over to the register. The first supervisor came over and once again asked if I had enough money in my bank account, I responded that I had almost $9,000 available in my account. He walked away and another supervisor came over and asked me to come over to the service desk. Then they tried to run through my check again and once again it was declined. Each person I spoke with kept asking me if I had contacted my bank (insinuating I did not have enough money) and asking me why I wasn't using a debit/credit card. The one supervisor called the service number that came up each time my check was declined.
I got on the phone and was asked numerous questions about my checking account and why I chose to use that, after a few minutes the representative on the phone told me the following. "You have not shopped at that Target enough to be able to use a check that exceeds $100.00". I mentioned that I was frequent shopper online with Target and have shopped at many Target stores using my checking account. The representative clarified that I had not shopped at the Bedford, NH store enough to write a check for over $100.00. I explained that I don't often go out to the store because of the long drive and that I have two young children.
I have never bounced a check at Target. They had my checking account saved on my online account with them. I asked the representative on the phone what did she recommend that I do and she stated that I should shop at the Bedford, NH store and keep my purchases under $100.00 and write checks until they have determined that I have enough check history with that Target location. I clarified with the representative on the phone by asking if I went to use a check at another Target location I wouldn't be able to write one even if I were able to at the Bedford, NH location. She said that at each Target location I would have to build up a check history with that location. I asked the representative on the phone, "so you are telling me that you don't want the $320 + dollars that I was going to give to you today? You don't want my money?" The response was that I needed to build up a check history. I said, "you have got to be kidding me" and hung up the phone.
As I went out of the service area to exit the store I looked for signs regarding this kind of check policy...I couldn't find any. I looked for any signs at the register regarding the check policy and did not see anything. It was also obvious to me that the three employees at the store were not aware of the policy. Instead I was questioned about my funds in my account and why I wasn't using another method of payment.
I still don't know what amount I needed to spend or at what frequency I had to shop there before I could write a check...NO ONE employee that I dealt with either at the store or on the phone could tell me that. I could have saved a lot of time if they had this posted somewhere or even if the cashier mentioned it as I handed him the check. Instead I was humiliated by the way the employees handle this. I truly can't believe in this day and age that one can be ostracized from a store if they don't meet their requirements.
QUESTIONS:
Is it discriminating to only allow people to write checks over $100.00 if the meet an amount that a company location determines them to be worthy enough to make a purchase using a check? If companies are allowed to determine how frequently I shop there and how much I can spend before I am allowed to use a check, shouldn't there be sign posted at the service center and at each register and shouldn't their employees mention that when a person hands them a check? Something to the effect of this store's check policy is that you need to spend x amount of dollars in x amount of time before you are able to write a check for over $100.00? I thought that companies either accepted checks or not and with the current technology to immediate turn a check into a digital transaction, I was shocked that this was even an issue.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF SITUATION:
My total was $320.90. They ran my check through their register and I was told I was denied by the cashier. The cashier then asked me if I wanted to try to open a Target credit card. I stated no that I wanted to pay by check. He then stated that I should call my bank to make sure I had enough money in my account (this was said in front of other customers that were waiting in line behind me). I stated to him that I had more than enough money in the account and that there must be some mistake. He then signaled for a supervisor.
Two different supervisors came over to the register. The first supervisor came over and once again asked if I had enough money in my bank account, I responded that I had almost $9,000 available in my account. He walked away and another supervisor came over and asked me to come over to the service desk. Then they tried to run through my check again and once again it was declined. Each person I spoke with kept asking me if I had contacted my bank (insinuating I did not have enough money) and asking me why I wasn't using a debit/credit card. The one supervisor called the service number that came up each time my check was declined.
I got on the phone and was asked numerous questions about my checking account and why I chose to use that, after a few minutes the representative on the phone told me the following. "You have not shopped at that Target enough to be able to use a check that exceeds $100.00". I mentioned that I was frequent shopper online with Target and have shopped at many Target stores using my checking account. The representative clarified that I had not shopped at the Bedford, NH store enough to write a check for over $100.00. I explained that I don't often go out to the store because of the long drive and that I have two young children.
I have never bounced a check at Target. They had my checking account saved on my online account with them. I asked the representative on the phone what did she recommend that I do and she stated that I should shop at the Bedford, NH store and keep my purchases under $100.00 and write checks until they have determined that I have enough check history with that Target location. I clarified with the representative on the phone by asking if I went to use a check at another Target location I wouldn't be able to write one even if I were able to at the Bedford, NH location. She said that at each Target location I would have to build up a check history with that location. I asked the representative on the phone, "so you are telling me that you don't want the $320 + dollars that I was going to give to you today? You don't want my money?" The response was that I needed to build up a check history. I said, "you have got to be kidding me" and hung up the phone.
As I went out of the service area to exit the store I looked for signs regarding this kind of check policy...I couldn't find any. I looked for any signs at the register regarding the check policy and did not see anything. It was also obvious to me that the three employees at the store were not aware of the policy. Instead I was questioned about my funds in my account and why I wasn't using another method of payment.
I still don't know what amount I needed to spend or at what frequency I had to shop there before I could write a check...NO ONE employee that I dealt with either at the store or on the phone could tell me that. I could have saved a lot of time if they had this posted somewhere or even if the cashier mentioned it as I handed him the check. Instead I was humiliated by the way the employees handle this. I truly can't believe in this day and age that one can be ostracized from a store if they don't meet their requirements.
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