Crap, Aims. All my healing vibes for your sister.

I think I am going to have to switch banks tomorrow. How is it possible to have overdraft fees before something posts? I'm sure this is a new thing. Before, I could match a fee to the overdraft. Now, I have them before the charge even posts to the account.

Good luck finding a bank that does not do this. It is a new policy all banks are adapting. Basically a charge is "pending" even before it posts - meaning they know about it before they go through the accounting process that officially posts it. So if your posted withdrawals plus pending withdrawals exceed your posted deposits - congratulations you are in overdraft.

Ah, you say, put what if I have pending deposits to cover it. You are out of luck: The bank will post your withdrawals before your deposits. Further the amount of time you were overdrawn will not be the one day posting date. It will be the whole time your withdrawals were pending.

Not saying it is fair: but if you find a bank, S&L or credit union that does NOT do this, please let me know.

What you can do is catch your bank manager at a non-prime time. You almost certainly will be able to negotiate a reduction in overdraft fees, just because you went to the trouble of asking.

The tivo people are AFTER me. The price is now down to $598. ARGH, the temptation. I don't NEED a couch, right?

People can't sleep on a TiVo. IJS.

People can't sleep on a TiVo. IJS.

They CAN, but it's lumpy and too small so their feet dangle off and it radiates heat like a bitch.

So your lumbar would be both out of wack and cooked.

But, hey, if you're into that kind of thing...we're not here to judge.

Is there a link, Vortex?

People can't sleep on a TiVo. IJS.

Nor can they record The Office on a couch.

Though it's a good place to sit while you watch the recording.

What you can do is catch your bank manager at a non-prime time. You almost certainly will be able to negotiate a reduction in overdraft fees, just because you went to the trouble of asking.

Thanks for all the info. Wow! That's...really shitty. Are they trying to increase revenue from feeds? Increase the amount of time they have access to funds? Why would anyone in their right minds living paycheck to paycheck open a checking account?

Also, what is non-prime time?

Are they trying to increase revenue from feeds? Increase the amount of time they have access to funds?

Yes and yes. Also, there's that nifty little thing where when you write a check - as soon as it is scanned in, the funds are taken from your account, even if the check won't actually post for a few days. I forget what it's called, but I was working at WF when that kicked in.

Mind, if you deposit a check, you don't get the funds for a few days (unless it's drawn on the same bank). But the funds are taken out of the paying account immediately.

Why would anyone in their right minds living paycheck to paycheck open a checking account?

Because it's increasingly harder to do anything without a checking account.

Also non-prime time: when the bank's not busy. Prime times usually are lunches, around 5 (if the bank stays open until 6), and paydays (Fridays, the first & last day of the month, the 15th).