PNC Bank - Horrible Customer Service

PNC Bank - Horrible Customer Service

I had a horrible experience with PNC Bank

Recently I had to close my account with PNC bank due to being charged over limit fees that I was not responsible for. I talked with over four customer service representatives by phone and not one of them was helpful and all were very rude. Moreover, I went to a branch office because I was told to do so by the main office in Pittsburgh, only to be told by the branch office that they could not help me because I did not open my account at that location. After trying to discuss the matter once again with another customer service representative I decided to close my account and pay the $93.00 to PNC bank in over limit fees.

The reason for all of their errors is due to their Account Link, the web access to their on-line banking system. They make it look as if checks have cleared in your account when they actually have not. I talked with colleagues and friends who have also had issues with their system, both the in-person banking and their on-line banking. I never had an issue with a check not clearing in my life before I opened an account with PNC. Additionally, they never even told me that they offer over draft protection or I would have done that a long time ago. It is as if they want you to have over-drafts so they can charge you $31.00 a piece. Who has this kind of money? And when you try to talk with them about the matter they do not want to help you. Instead, they are very rude and unprofessional. I actually spoke with a customer service representative that talked to me as if I were a child, in a very demeaning tone. And even after closing my account with them I am still having issues with PNC. was told on August 1, 2005 at 4:25 PM that they would not close my account until my recent purchases and checks that I paid through your on-line Bill Center cleared. I looked on the internet today and see that they already closed my account and those purchases and checks have not cleared. So now my account is closed and they are going to try and charge me late fees again. At this time I refuse to pay additional over limit fees when I was told that I had “nothing to worry about” and that “they never close an account until all the recent checks clear.” I told the woman that I spoke with that I wanted my account to be left open until all of these things cleared, but since she was so rude and disrespectful to me on the phone, I assume that she closed my account in anger before she was supposed to. Additionally, I spoke with another customer service representative by phone on August 2, 2005 to make sure that everything would clear before they closed my account and I was assured by the gentlemen I spoke with that everything would be fine. Now I look on-line and I see that two purchases are coming up as negative balances and not one of my Bill Center checks has cleared, and now the account is closed.

I am so upset with PNC right now. With the competition in the banking industry today, I would think that customer service would be better than what I received. However, it often feels like you are stuck even when you close your account because they still try and charge you with over limit fees. It really feels as if you cannot win.

I am sending out a letter to a PNC supervisor today and making sure I send it certified mail. However, interestingly enough I cannot find the address of the main branch in Pittsburgh anywhere. It feels as if they do not want you to know their address. They do not even print it on their checks, all it states is PNC Bank Pittsburgh, PA. So once I find the correct address I will send out the letter. Thanks for listening and I hope this may help someone else from having to deal with PNC Bank.

Sincerely, Cynthia

Scranton, PA Click this link to e-mail the message author: Email User

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AGREED: STAY AWAY FROM PNC BANK!!

PNC bank promised a relief of 12 months on my HELOC by reducing the interest rate from 6% to 3.25%. Instead PNC increased the rate to 6.5% and started to negatively amortize the note. After this was brought to their attention, PNC apologized and reduced the rate to 1% for the remaining time. However, two months later, PNC raised the rate to 4.25% and added $4,733 to my HELOC balance. PNC claimed that they did not receive evidence of my flood insurance coverage and they were forced to purchase coverage for $4,733. The fact is....I did have coverage for which I paid $220. The notice of this coverage was provided by the insurer to National City Bank that PNC had recently purchased. To this day, PNC refuses to remove this $4,733 charge from my HELOC balance!

I have two kids with savings accounts at PNC into which they deposit birthday monies. Each month PNC charges an 'inactivity fee.'I'm closing the account before everything is gone. SHAMEFUL PNC!

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PNC is one of the worst banks in the country. Their advertising is deceptive and their banking practices are geared towards screwing their customers in every way. They are constantly bringing in new service fess and springing them on you without any notice. Just an overall horrible bank.

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PNC is the worst bank I've dealt with. They took over my National City home equity account. I paid off and closed my account a month ago as I wanted to remove their lien on my property so I can refinance my mortgage for a lower interest rate. I contacted them initially through their secure online service inquiry section and requested a letter stating that my account is closed and paid in full. At first they promised me the letter and made it appear that I'll get it within a couple of weeks. That did not happen so I had to call them. They promised me they'll fax me a copy within 48 hours. That did not happen. I contacted them several times again through the phone and online and got the same promises. By this time, the only reply I'm getting online is a canned statement of apology and just telling me to contact another department on the phone using the same toll free number. By this time, I kept calling that "other" department and I'm always being told that they will fax me my letter within 48 hours. Long story short ... nothing happened as I still don't have that 1 page letter to show my mortgage company that my home equity is closed and paid in full. Today one of their executives, Linda Miller, told me that it would take 60 days before I get anything from them. I asked her again if I can just get a copy of that letter that they send to release the lien from my property and she basically told me to call that "other" department again. After a month, I give up. PNC bank employees are liars and don't know how to take care of their customers. It's just a simple letter with their letterhead stating my account is closed and paid in full ... that's all ... I don't understand why they are so difficult to deal with. If you are reading this, I strongly recommend you not to bank with PNC.

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I COMPLETELY AGREE!! These MORONS allowed 6 seperate transactions to go through my checking account online for food gift cards totalling almost $500.00 and now I have to wait 10 days to get my money back while they make sure..as Megan Mckenzie stated to me today that I'M NOT THE THEIF AND COMMITING THE FRAUD MYSELF!! And they call her a supervisor. Once I get my money back I will be closing all my accounts and so will my parents..PNC IS THE SHITTIEST BANK I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. The restaurants that were charged have never been used in any of my banking history with them and then they called a phone number that I never even gave them to "verify" the transactions..and when they couldn't get ahold of me..the transactions went through anyway. This bank is full of complete incompetent morons. Anyone that would ever suggest to a customer that has just been victimized due to their companies lack of security that they could be the thief and PNC has to look out for themselves should be FIRED!

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I soooooooooo agree. They have taken over our National City accounts and it has been nothing short of a nightmare. Obviously if you are a customer who always has an extra $10,000 in the bank, you are treated with kid gloves even as you walk in the door of the branch, and we have witnessed this. But their explanation for service fees, is that they take out the large checks first as they treat them as important payments, such as a mortgage or rent payment, so when you know you have deposited money, a check, and you make payments, be prepared for a hold on the check you deposited, and payments of the large check first, so they can charge you overdraft fees on the 6 small checks. I had a total fees charges of $144 for $142 worth of checks because these checks, though coming through on the same day as my deposit, came through "earlier" than the deposit, so they now had two excuses to charge me overdraft fees - taking the largest check first, and by the timing that the check "arrives" for payment - charging $39 for an $8.60 check they paid, YET, nothing gets processed until after midnight of that next day - HUH?????? The banks are showing billions of dollars in profits from overdraft fees, late fees, etc. while the working taxpayers bailed them out, yet they won't budge to help us. It is their way of over-profits and high wages to the big guys at the top, while we middle class workers struggle to survive and pay our taxes honestly. Now my husband has lost his job and I was advised by a consumer debt counseling service to write letters to all my creditors requesting closing my accounts (so I don't use them), paying a small payment in good faith until our condition gets better, and requesting lower our interest rate, not charging us the outrageous interest rates as well as late fees they charge. PNC was the ONLY creditor who has not acknowledged my request, NOR when I call, are willing to help us in any way, shape or form. They referred me to a debt counseling service, and it turned out to be the exact same service that had told me how to handle our situation! HUH?

Not only that, they sold my mortage and CANNOT tell me who holds my mortgage. They simply say they handle the payments, and that my mortgage holder doe snot participate in any sort of program that offers consumers any sort of hardship programs. HUH?????

We are stuck with them and they know it. They will not even consider lowering our 6% interest rate to the interest rates of today, which are the lowest in 50 years. HUH???? Who protects the consumers against things that are out of our control? Loss of jobs, etc? Why are we not able to even negotiate our mortgages or know who our mortage holder even is?

Worked and paid taxes for the past 46 years and now there is no consideration given to our hardship. PNC is heartless and evil. In the near future, as we work hard to get out of this hardship situation, PNC will lose our business as we will refinance our mortgage and merely offer them a small settlement on the credit owed them, or perhaps, at our age, file bankruptcy and they get nothing? It is the banks that force us into these decisions - PNC being the toughest to work with. We have no control over our own money whatsoever. I have gotten some decent customer service reps, who have apologized that they cannot help us, but the fact is they still cannot help us. They fear for loss of their jobs should they show any kindness or financial assistance to their customers.

The devil has taken over this financial iinstitution and it amazes me that these people are even able to sleep at night. We will stand up and brush ourselves off, but how sad that their is no compassion when it comes to assisting fellow Americans in the economic hardship days we face now and ahead. I am angry, but will still keep them in my prayers so that perhaps some day they will begin to show some compassion to those in need, not only to those who have the big deposits.

Come on PNC, show us your soft side, just for a bit!

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Michelle, you are obviously a clueless and a robot of PNC. Your tone sounds just like all the Customer Service Representatives at PNC. I am sure everyone is trained to say the same few things. Sometimes banks do change policies and do not do a good job of explaining things to customers.

I do agree that people need to manage their money but since PNC took over National City the service level has dropped dramatically especially the attitudes of the staff.

If the staff cannot take the heat from the customers then they should look else where for employment. I doubt any employee is having a gun held to their head saying they have to go to work there everyday.

Michelle, try using PNC as an actual customer, stand in line with the customers and you will see that things have fallen apart since the takeover. With over 7.6 BILLION in TARP money and a CEO who make a MILLION dollars a year plus another 19 or so MILLION in incentives? Thats frickin' 20 MILLION!

Michelle, try googling your CEO and you may be surprised who is laughing all the way and into the bank. Your big boss is thats who. Taking advantage of the consumer for to keep his life style at it's tip top best.

To the rest I suggest you contact your state's Attorney General and file complaints as well as the OCC and Treasury Department.

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Keeping a transaction register does no good if the bank is not honoring deposits on a timely basis. My bank was recently taken over by PNC -- I can tell you that their policies are much worse than my previous bank. I honestly believe that they set things up so that they can charge customers the maximum fees possible. I plan to change banks as soon as possible.

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My 2nd mortgage was just taken over by PNC two months ago, and it has been nothing but aggravation and harrassment by PNC. I have NEVER made a late payment. Last month they charged me a late fee and then reversed it? This month they have collections calling me and telling me I need to make my payments on time. Huh? I'm looking at my bank account and the payment has cleared my account. Their response? "We don't have it on our end." Whose propblem is that? And they're charging me a late fee. Horrifically nasty, uncooperative representatives. I hope this bank goes out of business, and I'm going to do everything in my power to help it happen. They are literally cheating their customers with lies and games.

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We have been with National city since 2006. Just this year, National City was bought out by PNC. I was a LOYAL customer of NC for years, and I will miss my local bank tellers who did everything they could, but the new PNC represenatives and policies are driving me away. In the past 3 weeks we have had at least one to five overdraft fees PER WEEK. Now the first time, I figured I must have made a mistake somewhere. The second week I was mildly annoyed. This week I went down to my loacl branch and demanded to see a manager. APPARENTLY, PNC had been crediting my wife only $100 every Friday when she went down to deposit her weekly paycheck (anywhere from $250-$350) until it cleared - anywhere from next Monday to Wednesday. We were EXPECTING the bank to do it's job and give us our hard earned money when it was deposited.

Well, you can't bank on the bank anymore. Our bills that were hitting on Friday were being processed RIGHT AWAY, and we were being charged OD fees even BEFORE they cleared, because the system wasn't even SHOWING our recently deposited paycheck.

WHAT A RIP OFF! Please send me every email of every class action being filed. I will sign up for EVERY ONE!

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I hate them too. Their customer service sounds so un trained like they don't know anything. I had an unauthroized with drawl out of my account and I'm still "fighting" with them to get it strightened out. I'm closing my account with them.

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Michelle, hard-core Michelle, it's so easy to tell all of these people that they are to blame for overdraft charges. And in most cases, you're probably right. But PNC Bank -- and most other banks -- does manage to "hold" electronic deposits, while showing debits immediately.

I receive a small amount of child support money every two weeks. It is electronically deposited directly to my PNC account. I receive an email from the state telling me when the money was sent -- electronically, not by snail mail. But it takes three business days to show up in my PNC account. So, why is that? To me, that is unfair business practices.

If I use my debit card to purchase something, it shows up immediately when i log on to my account. So, if an eletronic transfer can happen that quickly, why does it take three business days to show an electronic deposit? (I'm screwed if the transaction originates on a Wednesday because it will be Monday before the money shows up in the account.)

I'm an educated professional, and I understand the concept of managing my own money. But this is simply wrong. Honestly, PNC (and again, other banks, too) has established policies that take advantage of "floating" money.

If you call to complain, they explain, as Michelle did in a previous post, that it's the bank's policy. My point is the policy is unethical. Sure, it's the bank's policy, but it's wrong.

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they also used OUR tax money to steal National City Bank.

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Thank you for this information...I too am experiencing problems with them ripping me off....with horrible customer service....and horrible upper management service

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If making money is "doing something right" then, yes they are. But setting up policies that are counter to the best interests of customers is wrong both on a moral ground and a business one. I'm closing my account with PNC. The end.

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PNC's "Customer Service" is a disgrace..

PNC Bank's Customer Service (and I use that term lightly), is Horrible.. My wife and I recently purchased a home in RI and our Mortgage ended up in the hands of PNC. In the past 6 months we've had to pay our mortgage a few days late, but never to a point where we would be assesed a late fee. We are typically called by a PNC "Customer Service" REP informing us that we are late and asking what day we will have the payment in. We provide the REP with a day (usually within a week or so of the call). We then get another call EVERY day after that asking the same set of questions. That conversation is typically followed up by a REP trying to justify why they call us EVERYDAY eventhough arrangements have been made.

Annoying does not begin to describe the lack of courtesy and lack of professionalism PNC shows. I know that no one is perfect, but PNC is setting a new standard for low. Get it together PNC...

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I had the same exact problem and in the process of closing my account with them and switching to BOA. They charged me 4 times $36 dollars when 1 check bounced. The check was posted and cleared to the account at 11:00pm, first thing next morning I moved cash to account to make up for the overdraft, they still charged me 4 times the fee because it was over the limit for one day, when I could not do anything the same day (they are closed at 11:00pm) and the ATM does not credit you any money until the next day.

I had no choice but to use deposit money first thing in the morning.

PNC used to be great, I told everyone about all the perks other banks don't have, but recently they started removing the perks and now its at a point there is no perks and its the worse bank. Free checking that I used to have became a 11 dollar monthly fee checking.

Useless bank! After 5 years of being a customer, I am switching.

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I've recently had a similar experience and I'm closing my PNC bank account and virtual ripoff account and business account down. I don't know where I will take my banking to but I do know it won't be PNC.

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I too have had a similar experience with PNC Bank. I am looking into filing a class action lawsuit regarding misinformation and excessive overdraft fees. Please e-mail me at bradmburns AT aol.com if your interested in joining the lawsuit.

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I submitted this information to PNC.com, which explains it all. I hope can only hope that this info helps someone else. FYI: I did not receive a response-

I would like to go on record stating that PNC Bank is ripping off consumers by charging overdraft fees for items pending. The system holds items in a pending status, showing a false account balance online. Once additional transactions are made (based on the false account balance), the system processes the transaction (from largest to smallest) in order to maximize the number of fees.

Last week I was charged 5-overdraft fees. On August 18th, the online account balance was negative approx $29 which prompted me to make a deposit of $45. By the end of the business day, after the deposit was made, I had already been charged 3 overdraft fees; meanwhile, the $29 charge was still pending. The explanation that I received was that all transactions were processed on the same day. This did not make sense since all transaction were completed on a Sunday and were posted on different days- i.e. the $29 charge was made on Sunday August 16th and was still pending on August 18th. The true explanation is that PNC bank applies transactions retroactively, or in �real time� so long as that processing method results in an overdraft fee.

I will be cancelling the direct deposit on my account as quickly as possible so that I can close my accounts. I am extremely disappointed that this level of corporate fraud has not been investigated and regulated. As indicated on many consumer websites listing complaints about PNC's level of service and fee's ( http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/august/4/40.htm, http://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/pnc_bank.html, http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/pnc-bank-a931.html), this has been an on-going scheme and PNC Bank is reaping serious benefits.

Additionally, I will be filing complaints with the State Banking Office, the Office of Comptroller of Currency, the Federal Reserve Board and the Americans for Fairness in Lending corp. I also plan on voicing my complaint on various websites, to try and shed light on these unfair business practices.

As a consumer, I feel as if I had been robbed. The media focuses our attention on identity theft, when the true thief is inside your corporate offices. How can you develop a system that takes away from the consumers that have helped build your business? PNC Bank would not stand as tall without the �little guy.� I can only assume (and partially hope) that your retention rates are plummeting as consumer become aware of these �discrepancies.�

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I just spoke with Shaun Gallo with pnc over a deposit showing avialable at midnight last night that was not availalble until 6 am this morning, after several withdrawls came out and i got charged 6 overdraft fees. apparently midnight is after 6am... I guess PnC runs on a diffent clock then everyone else in the world,,,

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That is easy for you to say Michelle until it happens to you. The issue is the check is presented to the bank but you do not see the check online until sometime overnight. they do this on purpose to steal (or make money from doing business)from honest people.

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PNC is honestly the WORST bank I have ever had dealings with (and I don't even have an account with them!!). It is clear that they derive a large portion of their profits by generating fees.

My elderly in-laws moved in with us last year and in the process of closing their PNC checking account they over-drafted the account - OK, I don't like it, but OD fee is fair for that. However, the OD notice went via USPS address forwarding, which took extra time. So they were hit with ANOTHER fee for not clearing OD they didn't know about - Came to over $90 in fees for like a $30 OD. Hey jackass - these people are on Social Security - Oh yeah and they have $50K in CD's in your bank. What a bunch of jerks.

Hupefully people will get the massage and stay away from PNC.

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I worked in customer service at PNC Bank for 6 years and enjoyed dealing with all of the people ripped off daily by our genius (evil) IT Dept. The only reason PNC Bank rips people off and gets away with it is because there has never been a class-action brought against us like many of the other big banks. When you work a 9 hour shift and hear compliants from 100 to 200 people a day in regards to $31 to $36 in fees, multiple times, well you do the math. Wanna do something about it? Close your account and/or get a lawyer. I dare you! If people really new what went on at PNC, our executives would be side by side with the Enron boys. Until then, all of you stop whining.

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PNC May not Clear your Deposit, go to a different Bank.

My check was held up at PNC (taken hostage) After 5 days and my deposit check not cleared I demanded they return my check so I could take it to another bank who said they would clear the check no problem. They refused. I asked them to overnight the check to another bank. They refused. Now they are sending my fully endorsed check back to the the company who gave me the check so they can resend it to me. This delay will be several weeks to get my funds. I have filed a complaint with the Federal Reserve, and in process of filing a law suit against PNC Bank. They refused to provide a valid reason why this occurred, calls to the bank president in Pittsburgh went unanswered. So if you want to do a deposit in the bank for large sums, you might want to reconsider not going to PNC, they suck.

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If you overdrawl your account, no one is to blame but yourself. PNC Bank is a BUSINESS above everything else. The point of a BUSINESS is to make money. PNC is not a non-profit organization out there to provide you with a service our of the kindness of their hearts.

In light of recent events, PNC's smart BUSINESS practices have allowed them to not only survive the recent downfall of major US banks, but they have continued to push full-steam-ahead and are now buying National City bank.

When you open an accoutn with PNC, everything is explained to you in plain English. If you happen to miss something the banker tells you at account opening, you also recieve it in writing in your welcome folder. PNC spends hundreds of thousands if dollars in ensuring EVERY customer recieved the folder which contains information on HOW their bank work and the FEES that can be assessed and the situations which will lead to fees and the amount of the fees.

In regards to PNC holding depsotited checks: PNC has the fasted 'funds availability' policy anywhere. Granted your account is at least 30 days old and in good standing, a local check deposited is available in full to you the NEXT DAY! a non-lcal check is 2 days. I have a Citizens bank account as well and they will hold certain checks up to 5-7 days is it is a larger amount. With PNC, you can deposit any check for $50,000 or less and have the funds availabile to you in full in no more than 2 DAYS!!! In my opintion, that is incredible. The longest PNC will hold any check is 4 days, even if it's 5 million dollars from an Alaska bank. The funds availbility is clearly spelled out in your welcome folder. If you want to know when you check will clear... ask the teller when you deposit it.

PNC ( in most cases) will not cash a check for you if your account does not have a sufficent balance in it to cover the check. First, if the check is returned by the drawee bank for ANY reason, PNC needs you to have a balance to support the returned check... basically, they give you the money, you better be able to pay them back if the checks no good. Someone made the comment of not being able to cash a check from the State of NJ... do you think that state issued checks are impossible to duplicate as counterfeits? Banks take major losses (in the millions) in counterfeits every year. There are so many counterfeits, even cashier and certified checks in circulation that it is mind boggling. So, yes... if you have $15 in your accoutn and want to cash your $400 disability check, they will require you to deposit it. This allows them time to verfiy its authenticity. Wouldnt you, if it were you giving the advance on the check without knowing if it was real/good? Plus, if you deposit it, government checks are always available the very next day. Just wait a day to write your check out. You chouldnt be writing checks unless the money to clear the check is in your account at the moment. If you give your landlord a check for your rent, assume the he is taking it directly to the bank to cash it. So again, children... DO NOT WRITE THE CHECK UNTIL YOU HAVE THE MONEY!

For all you perpetual overdrafters, I have a simple solution for you... Keep a tranaction ledger (check register). Write it down. Dont spend money you dont have. If you over spend, PNC will provide you with a one day unsercure loan on the over the limit amount, but you know ahead of time that you will be assessed a heavy fee of $31- $36 OD fee PER ITEM!!!! So keep track, its not PNC's job to babysit you.

You are frustrated because you cannot manage your own finances. There are plenty of people who live paycheck to paycheck who do not pay these OD fees EVER becuase they manage their money.

Quit blaming the bank for your inabilty to balance your checkbook. PNC would rather you keep your account positive, because if you do not pay your OD, then they will have to charge-off your account and take a loss. They would rather have long-term loyal customers, not customers who run the risk of losing money on because you cant keep your account on the right side of the zero.

With the aquision of National City, PNC will be the fifth largest bank in the USA... they are obviously doing something right.

Michelle, Pittsburgh PA

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I do not suggest doing business with PNC, particularly if you are incorporated entity. All three items below are facts only.

1. PNC drilled one of my company's safe deposit box. We did not get a bill for a year or two (we should have noticed but did not) but kept on visiting the bank to place items in the box. about 6-8 months after the last visit, the locks were drilled and the contents removed. They made no attempt to contact us. The company is in the phone book and easily found online. After four visits and a number of conversations with the branch manager, they found everything after about 5 weeks.

2. Different company, opened an international standby Letter of Credit. Charges came to over $850 for a FULLY COLLATERALIZED instrument. The branch layed on a $500 fee that we were told they would not charge.

3. Fees are much lower elsewhere. For example, international wire transfers at PNC were over $80. Citizens is $35.

You judge.

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I see someone posted a remark saying PNC is like any bank but that is not true. Our business gets hit with an overdraft at least once a month. They hold checks far too long after deposit and then charge overdraft fees. All you ever get from them is lip service and no clear cut answers.

I have come to the conclusion after chatting with friends who have gone thru this with them and I find that PNC Bank is run by a pack of bandits and theives.

I switched to PNC because they offered a great low rate on our business loan. Yet they make up the losses on that with overcharging us on everything else. We are going back to Commerce Bank. This never happened (not even once) in the 5 yrs our account was them. They clear checks very quickly and the customer service is top notch.

Kevin

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PNC IS THE BEST BANK!

PNC is a banking system that has very strong interest in success.

They are not about just trying to stay above water and allow anyone a right to bank with their system.

Rules are clearly outlined and it is advisable to read the latter rules before becoming a member.

I have been with PNC for a very long time and have multiple accounts, CDs, PMM etc...

They have been the very best i have ever had to contend with, when you have money in their account they stand behind you.

Far too many people keep the very minimal in a PNC account, when they fall a little short a fee is required.

The latter same people complain and become bothered.

Sadly, the above is basically ignorance of not reading the membership rules as noted earlier in this letter.

PNC does not want you to take up their space and time with a lousy $100.00 in an account...

PNC is like any great business, what you provide is equity in which they can carefully lend out.

The fractional discount banking system is all about making money.

PNC does not have the time to guard your $100.00 account, take this dismal fund over to Commerce...

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PNC recently bought out my nice little bank where I've had a checking account for 24 years. I've never had to watch going over a little bit as my former bank would pay the outgoing check & NOT charge me any fees. I have automatic deposit for my paycheck. Since PNC has taken over, I've had 3 separate incidents of overdrawing. (Just cutting it close). They always, always charge me 3 times with o/d fees. Why 3 each time? I call them & they have given me back 2 overdrawn fees each time. But I'm sick of this! Usually we have to check our accounts for unscrupulous vendors or cheats--but my worst enemy is my own bank!! PNC!!

I'm definitely going to find another bank. I was thinking...maybe leaving a small amount in the account and only writing a small $5 or $10 check from time to time just to keep it open. Just to aggravate them with the statements they will still need to send. Has anyone done this?

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hmmmmm if you keep track of what you write out of your check book, you would not have to worry about OD Fees. moreover if you keep like 10 g's in the account you would not have to worry.

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If anyone is interested I found this:

PNC Bank

249 Fifth Ave.

One PNC Plaza, 21st Floor

Pittsburg, PA 15222-2707

James S. Keller, Chief Regulatory Council

(It is from a file dated 2001, so the same person may or may not be there, but I would think the address would be the same) Good Luck! We are having problems with them too.

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I am going thru a similar concern at the moment with PNC Bank. I am receiving NJ state disability checks approximately every 2 weeks that I attempt to cash at my bank branch. I say "attempt" because I have never in the past 3 months been able to actually take my disability check to the bank and actually go home with the full amount ---- which is my LIVING EXPENSES. The reason? They have to be "deposited as checks", which means they may take anywhere from one to three business days to clear.

My question is WHY? Does the bank need to make sure the state of NJ has enough to cover a few hundred dollars? There are, after all, state and government departments that allow a person to have their benefit checks Direct Deposited, and therefore the funds are immediately available; but NJ State Temporary Disability does not --- it issues paper checks. But I am sure the check is good for the amount they day it's cut!

But not to PNC Bank!

Now, is it not only bad business but actually almost cruel to do this to a person who is ill? Check this out: a temporary disability check is made out on a Monday, is mailed on a Tuesday, with luck (!) one receives it in the mail on a Wednesday..... and it just may clear PNC Bank (if one is lucky!) by Friday of that week.

I have seen customers deposit paychecks for several thousand dollars (and their accounts do not cover it) and they can cash the entire check and take it home! Now I would wonder why it is safe to trust certain employers to have sufficient funds in their account, but not the state of NJ.

Now you have to understand, temporary disability checks are not astronomical amounts --- they are just about above poverty level. It is common to not have more than a dollar or two in one's account at the time of trying to cash it --- again, it is LIVING EXPENSES, not savings! But PNC Bank refuses to budge on its policy (which I have never actually found) and look at this situation in its reality: I am broke. I am chronically ill. I need this check to pay my rent, utilities, and buy food. TODAY. My landlord does not like to wait for a bank to clear a check. My landlord's policy is to tack on late fees and penalties when the rent check doesn't get to the leasing office on time, regardless of "it's clearing in PNC Bank". Which means due to PNC Bank, I'm forced to lose even MORE out of my pathetic little disability check!

And woe to me if the check DOESN'T CLEAR IN TIME! This happened to me just last week --- my rent check hit the bank WHILE the temporary disability check was clearing. The result was overdrafts, penalties, daily fees, and a returned rent check. DAMAGE TOTAL: the amount of my rent check PLUS a returned check charge to my landlord; and PNC fees and overdraft charges, over $200 worth of fees total.

Do the math and figure this out from a check that was less than $550.

My rent is still due, plus the extra charge. My account currently is over $150 in overcharges.

Today I got another WEEK's worth of disability (I'm sorry, this is the way the system sometimes works). I will NOT BE GETTING A CHECK FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. Took it to my PNC branch, the bank I have dealt with for YEARS, and spoke to a bank manager, almost begging her to allow the check to be deposited as cash so that I could cover the overcharge today and have some money to take home so I could, oh, buy food....

Oh my God! You would think I was asking for a million dollar loan! "Oh no!" she said, "we have to look at your account!" Then there were comments of complaint that the account had not been opened at THAT branch (I'm sorry! I opened it at a branch in the NEXT TOWN!).... then the answer was stil "No. It has to be deposited as a check." So on top of the shame and humiliation of almost begging for my own money (which was less than $490), being ill and having to make a trip to the bank to do the begging, I still walked out of the bank with nothing. Hopefully I will be able to collect some of it by Friday (as there will surely be more overdraft fees while it "clears") and buy food then.

Thank you PNC Bank, I have been a loyal customer of yours for years.

Very truly yours,

Marion, Plainsboro NJ

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I am FED UP with PNC Bank.

I had an account with PNC in 2006. I made an error and overdrew my account. Because it was overdrawn for too long, they closed my account and sent my closed (overdrawn) account to a 'recovery specialist' who works directly for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh.

In late 11/06 I rececived a letter from PNC Bank stating the amount of money that I was overdrawn that I needed to repay. Early 12/06 I called my 'recovery specialist' and made and agreement with her to pay a certain amount of money to PNC Bank via cashiers check... and I had a specific mail stop (internal mailing between PNC Banks) to send my payment when I got the cashiers check at the local PNC Branch.

I received a letter about a month or so later (01/07 or 02/07) stating that I had paid the balance as agreed and Chexsystems would be notified. Chexsystems is a reporting agency for financial institutions (similar to a credit report from Experian).

I believed their silly litte letter and thought that the issue would be resolved as agreed since I fulfilled my financial obligation and paid them back as agreed.

A few months later I attempted to open a new checking account with a different bank. I was declined! The reason... because I still owed money to PNC Bank (THE MONEY I ALREADY PAID)! Well I called and my 'recovery specialist' guarenteed me over the phone that I had paid it off and that everything would be reported back to chexsystems.

A few months later, which would now bring me to 10/07, I tried to change my savings account with a different bank, into a checking accoutn. Once again, I was declined because of Chexsystems stated that I still owed money from 11/06 to PNC Bank.

By this point I was agrivated to say the least, but still remained patient, more patient then I now realize I should have been. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt thinking that sometimes things happen and confident that they would resolve this overlooked error. I requested them to mail me another letter stating that I paid the balance as agreed and that I did not owe any more money... and once again that chexsystems would be notified.

I waited 2 weeks for the letter to come to my home and didn't receive a letter. I called again and spoke to someone else who said that my letter was mailed on 10/27/07. I waited a little while more until 11/17/07 and called back and advised that I needed them to send me another letter because I never received the letter which was supposedly mailed on 10/27/07.

The letter was the same as the first, it said that everything was paid off as agreed and chexsystems would be notified.

January 28, 2008 I wanted to open another checking and savings account with a local credit union (now I have 2 checkind accounts and 2 savings accounts with 2 seperate financial institutions)... I bet you all know what I am going to say.... I WAS DECLINED AGAIN BECAUSE CHEXSYSTEMS SAID THAT I STILL OWED PNC BANK MONEY!!!! I was able to present a letter stating that I paid them in 12/06 and the woman opening my account said that it only takes 30 days for chexsystems to be updated when the bank informs them of a change. WELL I called the 'recovery specialist' on 01/28/08 and advised that everything was still showing as NOT BEING RESOLVED ON CHEXSYSTEMS!!! Her response "Oh I see the problem, the drop down box is still showing open. I will correct the problem and notify chexsystems. It will show up in 30 days that your account is clear with PNC Bank."

My patience was GONE by this point in time. LONG GONE! It took me 5 phone calls just between 10/07 and 01/08 to TRY TO GET IT RESOLVED.

I finally went to the local credit union and asked them my rights to order a chexsystems report. The wonderful account rep at the branch gave me a piece of paper with Chexsystems information. In the beginning of March I ordered my own report. NEEDLESS TO SAY PNC BANK WAS STILL SHOWING UP WITH ME OWING THEM MONEY!!!! I called my local credit union and asked her if she could run the report YESTERDAY and she ran the report... it is still there suprise suprise!

Now if you count the days between 01/28/08 and 03/12/08 it is over 30 days.

I filed a dispute with Chexsystems; however, I don't feel that the dispute alone was enough. I made sure to contact the 'recovery specialist' supervisor yesterday and let her know of the situation. I said to her "please tell me WHY it has taken OVER 6 phone calls including TODAY just since OCTOBER 2007 to get this issue resolved. This has been ongoing since 12/06 what is the explanation that you can offer to me as to WHY it has taken so long?" Her repsonse to me "Maybe you were talking to the wrong person". I said " I was speaking to my recovery specialist that was assigned to my case.... WAS THAT THE WRONG PERSON?" She insulted my intelligence and I feel that this a MAJOR case of a misrepresentation!!! They represented to me that Chexsystems would be notified... and they never were.

For all the time and effort I put into trying to get something resolved which was taken care of in 12/06... THEY SHOULD BE PAYING ME!

I HATE PNC BANK.... HATE HATE HATE THEM!!!!!!

Anyone know who I can go to to file a formal complaint for all the stress, agrivation, time, and most of all embarassment PNC BANK has unjustly caused????

There is no LOGICAL reason why this issue shouldn't have been resolved in 12/06 when they received their money.

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YES - PNC Bank customer service is so rude! I just opened a new account with them and the two CSRs that I spoke with so far were extremely rude. They sounded like they could care less and all they were witing for was the day to end. Forget this bank.

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This is also happening to my son. calinlogan AT yahoo.com

We need to get together and get a class action lawsuit.

They are even keeping his check for the "over the limit" fees and returning the balance to his company. I am going to get in touch with the Federal Reserve Bank.