Comments on: Identity Theft

By: Jalal Abu Jarhead

Jalal Abu Jarhead — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

When I first moved to Northern Virginia, I started using my existing Navy Federal Credit Union account as my primary banking vehicle. At the time, my employer was still only paying by check, so it was a real PITA to go down to Vienna to deposit the check. I soon started looking for a broader-based bank that would be more convenient to me. I noticed that Chevy Chase Bank had an ATM in the Safeway in CountrySide and a branch in Cascades, and for a relatively small, independent bank, they seemed to be fairly technologically advanced, as well as having fees that were pretty good. That seemed like the way to go.

Now here we are, seven years later, and I've never regretted that decision. Even though they took the ATM out of the Safeway, there are three at the branch in Cascades, one in the Giant in Cascades, as well as three at the new branch they put in Potomac Run Shopping Center, across Rt 7 from Cascades. And when I'm traveling around the DC metropolitan area, it seems as though there's a Chevy Chase ATM everywhere you look.

So, if you ever start thinking you want to dump BoA, you might consider Chevy Chase.

By: keith taylor

keith taylor — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I called my bank's customer service line a few months back, and they told me they would send me a PIN code in the mail that I could quote next time I called, ostensibly to avoid the process of reciting my long card number, date of birth and inside leg measurement.

3 months later and I still haven't received the PIN code. I try to phone them to ask them to send it and...

"Please enter your 4 digit PIN code to access this service."

By: Mark Hasty

Mark Hasty — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

My cable company wants me to write my account number on my checks. Said account number is nineteen digits long. I dropped them a little note saying that I just can't write that small. Never heard back from them.

You would think that any business would realize an account number shouldn't just be convenient for them.

By: Mike Wink

Mike Wink — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

And, why do the BofA ATMs ask you whether you want English or Spanish? Can't your preference of language be encoded on the card?

By: jen

jen — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I just called my bank (Navy Federal Credit Union) this morning to discuss a problem. I punched in the requisite numbers and waited on hold for a little bit. Once a person got on the line all he asked for was the last 4 of my SSN and my birthdate to verify my identity. And he solved my problem lickety-split.

Jalal, you should have stuck with NFCU - I do all my banking with them via ATM (there are a lot of them in NoVA now) or online and I've never had a problem.

By: jen

jen — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I realized that my comments may seem contradictory. The problem I had with my bank was my own error in initiating a double payment to the power company. I needed to stop payment on one of them. It wasn't a bank error.

By: SwampWoman

SwampWoman — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Yep, nothin' like typin' that long account number and then having to repeat it to every customer service rep that I get passed around to...that is, if I ever get through the automated touch tone system that never has the option on the menu that I am searching for.

By: joy

joy — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I was once a BofA takeover customer too after they bought out NationsBank. Not fun at all. I made sure to switch my banking after that.

As far as bank customer service goes, however, I think that USAA is tops. The only problem is that I don't feel comfortable using them as my only bank since their physical presence is in Texas for the most part.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Here was my thought when I looked at what they were doing - I live in small town Saskatchewan. Virtually everyone has listed phone numbers, so getting a name and phone number isn't a problem. There are only two banks in town. Easy to confirm through the phone book as well. Go down the resident list, phone and tell them that you are their bank (have the bank's 800 number at the ready if they prefer to "call you back themselves"). Ask for their phone number (duh) and their birthdate.. and then make an excuse, "oh, I see the problem has been rectified..." hang up. Now you have what you need to call their bank as them, and you have the "security" info they'll ask for. What that will allow you to do, I don't know. change a mailing address? The agent who discussed my account status certainly was willing to talk about the details of when I had made deposits, etc. I should probably try and see how far I can get into my own account, without having to provide something more.

By: Jalal Abu Jarhead

Jalal Abu Jarhead — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Jen, unfortunately NFCU doesn't have any ATMs in Loudoun County, AFAIK. The closest one is in Reston, which isn't too bad. But for physical presence, it's just ultra-inconvenient to head into Vienna to visit them. On top of that, the lines are almost always pretty long. I never get rid of credit union memberships, so I use Navy Federal when appropriate, mostly to organize and segregate my funds. Besides, I've always been happy with Chevy Chase, so I've got no reason to dump them.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I am a PFCU member. It has been the best. The rates for loans are low and as long as you have a direct deposit there are no fees for checking accounts. There aren't very many branches (one negative) but considering I banked with them in Germany, Colorado, Norfolk and now in Northern Virginia I can't complain. I solved the problem about taking money out....I go to Giant, buy a coke and pay by Debit Card. No transaction fee :)

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I have one account at a "major" bank but I moved my company and one checking account to a smaller local bank.

The week after I did I paid myself $5000. The bank put a hold on my personal account because it was a large check from me (my company) to me. But they knew the check was good because they had both accounts!

That blew me away.

By: Scott Harris

Scott Harris — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

The quickest way to get directly to a customer service agent with the credit card companies is to never enter any information when prompted. They prompt you a second, and sometimes a third time, and then ask you to hold for the next available agent - the same result of going through 15 different prompts and entering data multiple times. So unless you only want information that is automated, bypass the automated system by refusing to enter data. Its less time consuming, and much less stressful.

By: Scott Harris

Scott Harris — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Anyone seen the new emails from "credit card companies" prompting you to verify your account by entering your username and password. Don't go there. Close out the email, call the fraud department, and forward the email to them. Only enter username and password info into websites when you initiated the transaction. Email prompts for username and password info are fishing trips by crooks.

By: The Accidental Jedi

The Accidental Jedi — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Randome Observations #2410
I seem to be having great difficulty focusing my thoughts enough to post on anything at length (or to answer my e-mail, for those of you I never replied to...), so I suppose it's time for another random observations post....

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