Posted on 02/19/2009 4:55:33 PM PST by rabscuttle385
First, Arthur Santa-Maria called Bank of America to ask how to check the balance of his new unemployment benefits debit card. The bank charged him 50 cents.
He chose not to complain. That would have cost another 50 cents.
So he took out some of the money and then decided to pull out the rest. But that made two withdrawals on the same day, and that was $1.50.
For hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs during the recession, there's a new twist to their financial pain: Even when they're collecting unemployment benefits, they're paying the bank just to get the money — or even to call customer service to complain about it.
Thirty states have struck such deals with banks that include Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., JP Morgan Chase and US Bancorp, an Associated Press review of the agreements found. All the programs carry fees, and in several states the unemployed have no choice but to use the debit cards. Some banks even charge overdraft fees of up to $20 — even though they could decline charges for more than what's on the card.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
And how many of these banks are taking government money from TARP?
Everyone I know hates B of A.
do it the old fashion way and just carry it in your wallet
"All the programs carry fees, and in several states the unemployed have no choice but to use the debit cards."
I don’t know you, but you can add my wife and me to that list.
so much for choice
What will they think of next? Why bank there when there are so many free/cheaper alternative?
LOL we’ve talked once today so I guess we are FRiends.
Thanks for your service by the way.
Business as usual for these blood sucking parasites I see.
Holding the taxpayers hostage, blackmailing the American citizen is just another day for our hapless hardworking bankers.
I sincerely hpoe that they give themselves a good bonus!
They do the same thing in Colorado. They have a deal with Chase.
It seems as if the get the money for “free” option should be advertised.
I just paid off my Bank of Amigos credit card and cut it up. It felt GREAT!
TARP = Taxpayer Ass Raping Program...
Call me heartless but I think it’s funny. I get 1-2% cashback on my Chase and I saved an emergency fund, I guess that makes me anti-american.
This only applies to deralicts that don’t have bank accounts and carry a balance in them!
They should charge them more!
I can call the bank any time I want and have never paid a charge for any service of any kind in my life.
Dave Ramsey plan?
Just got home from our FPU class - cash flow planning was the topic tonight. Love that Dave!
Yes...I LOVE him!
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