I'm not liking my credit union right about now.

I'll bet your first thought on the title is going to be something about how the bank either screwed me out of some money or burned me in a loophole. It's actually neither, in fact my bank has been wonderful to me. My problem starts about two months ago. I held a checking account for many years with them, and never had any problems. What happened is I lost work, I lost income, and I lost cash flow to necessitate having an account.

It came down to my having to make an unneeded trip to the bank once a month just to put some gas money in the account so that they wouldn't close my account due to non usage. I did this for many months, but about nine months ago I just let it close because it saved me gas from not having to travel to the bank. I ended up finding work last month so now had the necessity of having a bank to cash my checks. I had to go in and sit down for about thirty minutes while they opened up a new account for me.

During the process, this wonderful employee starts quizzing me about personal things, like what am I going to do for the holidays and do I have any hobbies. I explained to her that the holidays are usually the most depressing time of my life for me, and I used to write music but haven’t been active in it for months now. She opened up my new account, I cashed my check and went home.

About a week later in the mail I get this card from my bank thanking me for being a customer with a side note wishing me inspiration to write some new music. At first I thought is it possible that someone is flirting with me, but decided no, and tossed it in the garbage as my girlfriend is a very jealous person. So two weeks later (today) I go back in to cash another check, and made it to the window and did my business and heard this same woman address me by my first name, telling me to have a good night, as I'm stuffing money in my wallet and trying to jot out the door as fast as I could, I said you too, have a good night.

All I could think was, what a horrible job, where they make her learn each persons name that she sets up an account for. I would lose that job quick as I have poor memory problems. Then the embarrassment of having to mail the person with personal info talked about during the new account set up.

So this is what it comes down to, is my bank hurting so bad for business that they have go through this task? I banked with them for years and the best I ever got in being known there is they stopped asking me for my ID, but this new branch always has to ask me for my ID. Why is that so impersonal while it seems to be over personal that the accounts manager is mailing me and addressing me by my first name? If they are doing this because they just don't want to lose business, ok, I get it, its all business, its just a little backwards, and learning who I am at service so that I wouldn't have to whip out my ID would be a hell of a lot nicer.

So that was it, sorry no amazing story, just my little rant about backwards customer service. But if you were seriously looking for something crazy, just something that will stick in your mind till the day you die, I will share a second story with you.

Back when I lived in Mt, vernon WA about 14 years ago, I was banking with a larger well know bank that was going through a merger. I think US bank was mergin with U-bank. I had my same bank account for well over eight years and never had any problems. I was so comfortable with using my ATM at the bank, I would even put my check deposits in there from any jobs I had.

I was working for a pawnshop in Mt, vernon at one point, and got my regular pay check as normal. I would normally deposit my checks like I said, into the ATM machine. One day I get a notification from my bank that they have identified an erroneous deposit into my account. I contacted them, and they swear up and down that in fact the envelope was empty and there was no check in there. I went down to my employer and found out from her that in fact they did get the check, and she gave me a copy to fax back to them of the canceled check.

So basically what happened at this point is the bank took my check, cashed it, and kept the money and didn't give me credit for it, and lied to me that there never was any check. I called them up and raised hell and told them I know what my rights are, they either credit me for the check or give me the check, that’s the law, and common sense. They gave me a provisional credit while they investigate the matter, It was $300 and they pulled it back a week later. So I called again and raised hell and they once again gave me a provisional credit, to only pull it back a week later.

Turns out what had happened is I had made a purchase in the pawn shop with my boss, and after paying her with a check, when the shipment came in, some of the things were not going to work in the order so she paid me with a check for what was missing. The bank looked at this like I had received one to many pay checks so they were assuming one of the checks would be stopped. But of course that never happened, because that isn't what was needed. I called the bank and bothered them so more, and they actually told me over the phone that one of the checks should have a stop on it, and I asked them if it was normal procedure to hold a check that has no stop on it, and they said no. So I yelled at him and told him to DO HIS EFFING job and process the check.

I called again to re issue a provisional credit and this time I closed my account.

You will never hear of another story like this that involves banks, and certainly will not have to have gone though this madness either, it never happens.

Have you considered the possibility that the girl might like you???? Like really have a crush on you???

Next time you open an account where they ask you all kinds of personal questions, give them answers like "I enjoy plucking my nose hairs with salad tongs", or "my hobbies include chasing chubbies and critiquing pornographic movies for Hustler".

Then maybe they'll just call you by your first name and leave it at that.

I'm one of those people who detest forced "chumminess" in a business. I am not their chum, and nothing that happens outside those doors is any of their damned business. I specifically don't like them calling me by first name when I have not invited them to do so.

But, what's more, is that I've always suspected a lot of people resent that. Anyway, I make it a practice not to give them any personal information. At my bank I may engage in a little light chit-chat with the teller, but nothing beyond: "Yeah. Great weather. Maybe I'll fire up the grill this weekend." Other than that, I make it a point to be vague and evasive....

reply to post by k21968


Naw, shes good looking and I'm not, so it never crossed my mind.

reply to post by AwakeinNM


OMG, thats to funny, I couldn't say that and keep a straight face.

reply to post by Ex_CT2


I hear ya, but back when I was being interrigated for opening up a new account, it was as vague as I could be. Besides, your bank is going to know your first name. I was as vague as I could be at first, then she would just reask the questions untill I answered. Brute force.