Certegy

Certegy

August 28, 2005

I want to complain about a company called Certegy, an Equifax spin-off that provides check authorization services to many retailers, including Target. I went to my Target store and tried to pay for $150 in merchandise with a check. I have NEVER bounced a check to Target, nor do I have a history of bouncing checks. This company, Certegy, declined to authorize my check because, not because they had negative information about me, but because it fell outside their “parameters” for risk. Mind you, they would not reveal these proprietary parameters to me, because the supervisor at Certegy I spoke with used the following load of crap metaphor: “It would be like giving you the key to my house.” They even tried to tell me that they tried calling my bank to verify funds. I responded, “You mean to tell me, in the nanosecond it took for Target’s cash register to decline the transaction, someone at your office located the number to my bank, picked up the phone, dialed the number, got someone (on a Saturday), and was told that they would not discuss my account with a third party?” They also told me that I do not have a sufficient enough check writing history on this account. So, obviously, by declining my check, they are preventing me from establishing one. Duh. All this for a measly $150 transaction. This was so nonsensical to me, I thought for sure I was being punked. I told them that I was not going to let some company force me to use a credit card when I didn’t have to (I had left my debit card at home). Anyway, I would very much like to know how many other folks have had a similar problem with this company. If consumers fight back, companies like Target may re-evaluate engaging vendors like Certegy. Please e-mail me at

Email User

to share your experiences. I am wondering if I should complain to an attorney, or my state’s AG.

David

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I know it's a few years on (now end-2008)but just to register online that exactly the same thing happened to me today. Certegy is trading as Transax in Ireland and declined my business cheque for 145 euro in PC World today! I had to stand in the middle of the store on the phone for almost 10 mins while she did her "checking". When she came back and told me she couldn't approve the cheque, as we have an exemplary credit history and a healthy bank account, I immediately asked her to explain exactly what was going on. "Well, we have a set of criteria and you rated very low again these criteria"!! I asked her to explain exactly what the criteria were but was told "We couldn't tell you that!" Like David, I also refused to use my credit card in place of the cheque. I called my bank as soon as I got back to the office. They did a bit of digging and told me that Certegy do not have access to any credit listings or bank accounts but based on "whatever information is in the public domain" about the person/company writing the cheque, they decide to approve it or not! In our case, we are a small firm and without access to our client list or bank account details, there would be very little info out there apart from address and phone number! To add insult to injury, the agent I was dealing with had a definite attitude problem (as did I, to be honest, by the time I left the store!). I'm absolutely fuming! I've spent a lot of money in that store over the years. But I'll definitely do my best not buy anything from PC World again - and I'll tell anyone who wants to listen!

Edel

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These blogs are good for letting others know about the problem buts about it.

All these people need to contact their state and federal politicians. Its easy just go line and contact your congressmen or senator with your complaint with the added statement of if I don't hear from you I will not vote for you. The politicians have get tired of the complaints before they do anything.

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Yesterday I had a check declined by Certegy's service to Target. Our account had over $3000.00 in it at the time. My wife has been shopping at Target for over 30 years we travel 23 miles to go to a target store in Huber Heights were I HAD my prescription until we were publicly HUMILIATED! We are from Minnesota and have always been loyal customers to Target. Yesterday they lost a sale of $197.04. We went to Meyer 5 miles from our home and purchased everything we were going to purchase at Target. After being being dissatisfied with the phone number I was given to contact Certegy I called another number and was put in contact with a Representative. All she could do was repeat the information I was given by the answering machine. I was repeatedly told I could not be given the reason our check writing patterns matched those of fraudulent activity. The only reason I was given for that was that is proprietary information. When I told her I wanted her to stop talking over me she hung upon me. It is disappointing to see Sears and Best Buy use them as well. We will no longer shop at any store that uses Certegy. This might be an easy way for these retailers to avoid identity theft it is also a way to avoid me as a customer. I'll find somewhere else to spend my money.