Totally Crossed Up: Ever Had This Happen?
By Rozie37
@Rozie37 (15499)
Turkmenistan
September 20, 2007 7:04pm CST
On Friday, September 14th, I went to the market to deposit a check into my bank account. The check was a Renter's Rebate for $327.50. I used it to buy my winter clothes online.
Anyway, I followed all of the ATM procedures to the letter. Taking my time as always when doing things like this. At the end of the transaction, when I was about to deposit the check, the machine stop and the screen registered that the check had been deposited successfully. The only problem was, the check was still in my hand.
This had never happened to me before, so I had no idea of what to do. I called over the manager and he told me to either redeposit it or go to the nearest Bank Of America. Since I do not drive and the nearest bank was far away, I went ahead and re-did it. It deposited another $327.50.
I did a little shopping and then came home. I went straight up to the accountant and explained to her what had happened and together we called the bank and told them. They said that the machine had either made the mistake or I did. Okay, I did not understand how I did it or the machine for that matter.
I came home and started shopping. I had actually been shopping for the past two months online. I am hard to fit, so it takes longer for me to shop for clothes. So I went through and started ppaying for a few things. Shopping for a few more things and deleting some things.
After the taxes and shipping and handling were added, I found that some things were cheaper in other places. So I cancelled some things and re-ordered them somewhere else. For instance, a lot of things at Amazon.com are more expensive than at Walmart.com.
My rent money was also still in my account. So by the time I was done shopping, cancelling, and re-shopping, I had completely lost the ball. Now, everytime I go to my checking account online, I am completely suprised at what I see. I never knoow what my balance is going to be.
I called the bank after seeing a balance of $77.00. I knew something had to be wrong, it was. The order for $115.00 has not posted to my account yet. Once you make an order online, they make it next to impossible to cancel it. Besides, the things that I ordered, I really need.
So now, I have come to the conclusion, that all I can do is pray and wait for a miracle. I have been in financial binds before, but this is the most confusing one so far. I have never been that good at math, but I have never been totally stupid at it either. I mean I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. Anybody ever experience anything like this with their checking account?
2 people like this
6 responses
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Making purchases online and then cancelling them could take a few days in between. Just because this is online and going fast for you, its not so fast to cancel. Even making purchases at stores where I physically am takes a few days to cancel and repost the money to your account. Ive made purchases at Wal-mart stores in person, and then returned it, it took 2 to 3 business days for the credit to post on my account. This is no different when shopping online. If you make a purchase for $100, you have $200 in the bank, you cancel the first purchase of $100 and make another purchase for $150 elsewhere, its going to conflict. Even though you cancelled that first purchase, its going to take the bank a few days to get the credit, then you find yourself -$50, because it appears you made $350 worth of purchases and you only had $200. So your debits post quickly, but your credits take a few days longer. I would be very careful when shopping online, and MAKE SURE that the order your submitting is something that you wont ten minutes later cancel.
I hope it all works out for you, and the bank sees the cancelled amount and doesnt charge you NSF fees.
Bay xx
2 people like this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
21 Sep 07
Yes, I was afraid that this could happen. I was in a big hurry to get the clothes before the weather started getting too cold. I have Asthma and this is the first year that I do not have a coat or jacket to keep me warm. I went through all of that and they still have not arrived. But, thank God, it has not started raining yet.
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
21 Sep 07
My friend has been having the same problem with her bank account. She keeps finding out about money that's not supposed to be in there or is supposed to be in her account and it's not there. It has her upset because she is meticulous with her account. One time it was the banks fault and they royally screwed up her money. It took her forever to get them to acknowledge their mistake and fix the problem. I hope you get yours figured out soon. I know money is a big deal for my husband and I, and I get upset when we don't have enough in the bank.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
21 Sep 07
That is one of the negative drawbacks from shopping online. You can't just delete an order and stop it from cycling through the system. I used to work for a company that is also on the web, once you place an order they have a hold on your bank, credit card for payment. They also work in "business days", so it may take awhile for the order to cancel and the money to be returned to your account. If the order has processed and or about to ship it may take even longer. To be on the safe side in the future, when you place an order for something, if you should find you want/need to cancel it or change something on it, be prepared to wait a few days before replacing the order b/c your money may have a hold on it until the order is actually cancelled. One way to expedite the process may be to call that company's customer service dept. and ask/demand if necessary to speak with a supervisor or the billing dept. asap, explain about the money being needed and that you don't want to have any overdraft charges or holds on your money. I wish you the best of luck with getting this straightened out. It can be a very trying process.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
21 Sep 07
Yes, it can be a trying situation and I do not have the emotional strength to go through it and that is why I am praying for a miracle. After this is all over, I will give an update of how everything went. The reason that I am hesitant to cancel things is that they are things that I really need and it will just make things even more confusing than they are now.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I used to be bad about keeping track of things in the checking acct. and was constantly overdrawing it. Now I am much more careful and we run a budget. I always check online to make sure how much money I have in the account and what still has to be taken out...then I know how much I can spend.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
24 Sep 07
It sounds like the bank deleted the 327.50 twice. I do not know what to do except to call the bank again. Now if the money will is not in the bank surly Walmart.com will not send the items. I am sorry this happened to you. I do not use an ATM machine I do not have an ATM card. I think I am one of the onl few American's that do not have that luxicury.
1 person likes this
@momincharge (94)
• United States
28 Sep 07
Sounds like a big mess. That is why I never use the ATM anymore and why I don't use a debit card to shop online. I only shop online with my Paypal card anymore. If there is not any money there than I don't buy. The credit card/debit card processing always take a few days or longer to cancel the transaction and return your money. I hope you get it worked out soon.
1 person likes this
