Banks Encourage Global Warming
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UPDATE 8/9/2007: Not sure if it had anything to do with my blog post, but Sky Financial has now reimbursed the $1.75.
Message to my bank, Sky Financial:
On 8/3/2007 I traveled to the Smith Valley ATM and County Line ATM off of US31 and both ATMs were out of service. I would appreciate removal of the 08-03-2007 FOREIGN ATM USAGE SERVICE FEE $1.75 on my account. I had no other choice but to visit an ATM of another bank.
Response from Sky Bank:
Mr. Karr,
Unfortunately we will not be able to refund the foreign ATM usage service fee. There are five different locations within a 5 mile radius within Greenwood. For further discussion of this matter you may speak with your Greenwood Financial Center manager.
Also with the upcoming merger with Huntington Bank you can use any Hunington Bank ATM machine without any service charges at all. There are now 1,400 ATM between Sky and Huntington that you can use.
Thank you for banking with Sky Bank.
Original Text
This is why I hate banks and why the discussion is over:
- Don’t thank me for banking with Sky Bank. I tried twice to bank with Sky Bank but your ATMs were down.
- So you fully expect me to continue driving from ATM to ATM until I find one that is working?
- I’m supposed to get excited that there will be 1,400 more ATMs that may be unavailable?
If you’ve ever seen how many fees I’ve racked up with these guys, you’d choke. The fact that they won’t excuse a simple $1.75 is ridiculous. I hope the entire Customer Service department gets downsized in the merger.
Here’s the five locations… convenient, huh?
Sounds like you have paid a lot
of fees. From what I have read
you are a huge force in the blogger
world. They may be calling you
back soon.
Elizabeth G.
http://BookTestOnlinecom.blogspot.com
http://BookTestOnline.com
Yes, they got me going! I actually wasn’t upset until I read the response! I want to be sure that they get their $1.75 worth out of this.
Cheers,
Doug
You’ve got to go with the online bank. I’ve been banking with Everbank for the past 8 years. They reimburse me up to $6/mo on ATM fees. They even provide the postage paid envelope to send the receipts in.
Everbank also provides a ton of other great features that most banks can even touch.
I can’t believe how many people still use the brick and mortar banks. I really don’t see the point.
Regards,
Randy
I would say it’s new bank time, but the situation wouldn’t improve. Your only real option is to talk to your local bank manager.
Re the 1400 ATMs - that’s 1400 between the two banks, not 1400 new ones, and spread between how many states? And, have you ever seen a Huningdon ATM where you live? I’ve never seen one here.
My personal accounts bank is at a Sky, too. It’s been sold three or four times since I’ve been there. I’ve never had a problem, but I don’t use ATMs.
Here in Canada we only have a few banks which is nice, however, there are becoming fewer and fewer ATMs from each bank and more of the independent ATMs popping up all over the place. Fewer bank ATMs and more independent ones = more service charges…
I find myself saying “YES!” to cash-backs when asked at the time of checkout at a store - no stupid service charge…. And what the heck is with ’service charge’ anyways? It’s a CONVENIENCE charge. My bank charges me for service - just not really sure what I get for it tho…
Banks and cell phone companies - the bane of my existence.
Amen on the banks and cell phone companies. It seems that the older you are as a company, the worse you get at taking care of the customer! Throw airlines in there as well.
@Randy: Good to hear that they are treating you right, Randy! I’m going to open an account with them.
The only way a company changes is from within. If great employees left bad employers or bad companies, it would teach that company a lesson.
If you really wanted to do something about it and you believe it’s unfair as well, then you should leave rather than support such an organization.
You know and I know that Sky Bank (and previous names) make a huge volume of money off of poor people paying fees and fines. It should be criminal… but as long as they have lemmings to do their bidding, I guess things won’t change.
Doug
I might take my chances on the taxes. At least taxes try to be equitable across income ranges (actually, they penalize the rich). Bank fees simply penalize the middle and lower class.
It sounds like you’re a passionate employee who cares about your clients. I hope you find something better! I really do.
Doug