checking account charge

[67Cuda_]

What is the name of your state?New York
My question has to do with checking accounts. My bank offers free checking. We purchase our checks through a private company. The bank is now wanting to charge $6 a month to return our checks along with our monthly statement. My question is can they do this?? Isn't that considered my property since they don't give me the checks with the checking account and I have to purchase them through an outside company??? If it is considered my property do they have a right to hold onto it unless I pay a fee every month, sounds like blackmail to me??? Another question is for tax purposes, if they don't return the checks can I use the photocopy of a check for my tax deductions or do I need the canceled check??

 

[jherentals]

checking acct

For taxes you can either use a photocopy or just a journal entry in a program like Quicken will work. You can always later order copies of checks or statements if you need to, but doubtful you'd be audited anyway. As far as the bank ripping you off, which about all of them do, your best bet is to close the account and find a consumer-oriented bank. I made a mistake of using a bank called Charter One Bank, and they are THIEVES. They advertised free checking with no balance requirements, then charge $10 per month to maintain the account. Now they're charging me NSF fees upon NSF fees since they ate the money in my account and now charge NSF fees for doing so. Needless to say, I am bankrupting anyway due to other reasons, and I personally am GLAD to be burning this bank. Charter One will NEVER see a cent from me, thank God. for their NSF/overdraft fees for their "Free" checking. Ooops pardon my language but you get the idea.

 

[nanaII]

I know it's unfair..

You're right about banks being thieves. My bank charges $5.00/month to return cancelled checks back to me, which I refuse to pay, on principle. I needed a copy of one of the checks that cleared the other day (unfortunately, I don't keep very good records of checks because I write so few). I called the bank and they emailed a copy of the check. My son's bank has a system that you can view them on-line, and mine is going to that system in a few months. They nickle-and-dime you to death on fees. It's highway robbery. You also might check out credit unions.

 

[DebHgn]

I agree with both of you. I've been OD'd as well and it wasn't with drugs, but I did need the emergency room...

I've started fighting back, and am finally starting to get somewhere. Don't use Fifth Third either. I've moved to a Credit Union and haven't had one problem. There is a lot of information on ODing and what it really costs at bankfees.info.

Now you are going to get about 6 hecklers on here, who will just tell you that you are stupid, can't read nor write, let alone balance a checkbook. Pay no attention to them. They all work for the banks.

Good luck to you all.

 

[Rhubarb297]

For taxes you can either use a photocopy or just a journal entry in a program like Quicken will work. You can always later order copies of checks or statements if you need to, but doubtful you'd be audited anyway. As far as the bank ripping you off, which about all of them do, your best bet is to close the account and find a consumer-oriented bank. I made a mistake of using a bank called Charter One Bank, and they are THIEVES. They advertised free checking with no balance requirements, then charge $10 per month to maintain the account. Now they're charging me NSF fees upon NSF fees since they ate the money in my account and now charge NSF fees for doing so. Needless to say, I am bankrupting anyway due to other reasons, and I personally am GLAD to be burning this bank. Charter One will NEVER see a cent from me, thank God. And **** Them for their NSF/overdraft fees for their "Free" checking. Ooops pardon my language but you get the idea.

I have had my free checking account with Charter One Bank for over a year. I've never been charged a dime to maintain my checking account. In fact, I've never been charged a dime for anything related to my checking account. Maybe there's a provision that you sign saying that if you bounce a check they can start charging you a fee for your account.

I don't know about NSF's as I (thankfully) haven't had any so far. I do know that banks really rip off customers when it comes to these fees.

 

[Rhubarb297]

What is the name of your state?New York
My question has to do with checking accounts. My bank offers free checking. We purchase our checks through a private company. The bank is now wanting to charge $6 a month to return our checks along with our monthly statement. My question is can they do this?? Isn't that considered my property since they don't give me the checks with the checking account and I have to purchase them through an outside company??? If it is considered my property do they have a right to hold onto it unless I pay a fee every month, sounds like blackmail to me??? Another question is for tax purposes, if they don't return the checks can I use the photocopy of a check for my tax deductions or do I need the canceled check??

You only need the checks if you get audited. You don't need to send in copies with your tax return.

Banks are trying to get away from high postal fees and the labor assoicated with the task...that's why they don't want to mail you your checks back. Even if the checks were considered to be your property, that wouldn't mean they are obligated to foot the bill to ship the checks back to you. They're not denying you your checks...they're just saying they'll charge a fee to return them.

Do yourself a favor and get away from the manual checks. Pay your bills on-line. It's the greatest invention ever. I haven't written a check for six months.