Checks and Balances

So this morning I got a nice surprise when I woke up. An email from Chase (Washington Mutual's purchaser) that my checking account was overdrawn. I thought, "Huh? That's not possible. I just deposited my paycheck two days ago!"

It seems that my bank noticed that the check wasn't endorsed by me so they took the money back out of the account and sent the check back to me via snail mail (I've yet to receive it). The reason this pissed me off is that for at least 15 years, I've never and I mean not once signed a check that I've deposited into the ATM. This applies to at least three different banks. It's bad enough that the bank refused the deposit, but instead of calling me, they just dropped it in the mail - essentially putting the entire deposit in limbo and making me powerless (and nearly penniless) until the post office gets around to delivering it. I was livid.

I mentioned to the supervisor I spoke with this morning that you teach people how to treat you and 15 years is a long time to go to suddenly decide, "You know what? We're going to start enforcing this." A letter would have been nice as would a phone call from the branch when they emptied the machine out and noticed the problem. I would have happily went to the bank and signed the check and learned my lesson. Instead I have to learn it by having all of my money taken away for four days.

It would be like speeding past the same cop at 65 in a 55 for fifteen years then one morning he pulls you over for it. Does it make it right to speed? No. But it's still a little shitty.