Debit Cards' Hidden Fees

(CBS)  When Lauren Tee, a college student from Atlanta, checked her bank account recently, she was caught by surprise.

"So this is your bank statement?" CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason asked.

"Right," Tee said.

She was slightly overdrawn.

"I was at the supermarket, spent $25, went over my account balance $5," Tee explained.

Without telling her she was overdrawn, her bank covered the $5, but charged her $25 for that loan.

"I think they're sucking money out of the consumers," she said.

Banks are cashing in on overdrafts, raking in more than $17 billion in fees last year, according to the Center for Responsible Lending — up from $10 billion just two years ago.

"And the single largest use of overdrafts was using your debit card. And those debit card purchases are very small," said Eric Halperin from the Center for Responsible Lending.

The average overdraft is about $16. The average bank fee, $34 — for a loan that is typically paid off in less than five days.

"If you were to calculate an annual percentage rate interest for that loan, it would usually be well into the five digits. So more than 10,000 percent," Halperin said.

What's more, these overdraft loans aren't covered under the Federal Reserve's Truth in Lending Act, so banks and credit unions aren't obligated to tell you about those astronomical interest rates.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said: "Consumers should have the right to decline this service and the fee."

Congress today began considering legislation to give customers more information and protection. But the banks said the burden should be on the account holder.

"At the end of the day only the consumer does know their balance," said Nessa Feddis of the American Bankers Association.

You can instruct your bank not to pay overdrafts to avoid those exorbitant fees.

Banks used to discourage "insufficient funds," but now they've become a profit center.

[keithle1]

How about doing something really crazy? Paying with cash. You know, folding money. I'm always behind people pulling out their precious debit cards to pay for a cup of coffee that's less than $3. Insane. Banks are ought to nickel & dime you to death. They hope you're not paying attention & not checking your statements. ATM's
are a nice money maker.

[misssuzq]

I was becoming more and more poor with these fees and my paydays.

I was lucky enough to have some savings and moved it to the checking and I am not overdrawn anymore.

And less poor.

[gabbysmomrs]

I know, I know, we shouldn't get into a mess with overdrafts...since I have started banking online and checking my account balance daily, I had not had any problems. Recently however, I didn't know an automatic payment of $7.00 had hit my account. The result was a $2.00 overdraft and a $35.00 fee. I used to have overdraft protection and it disappeared one day...no wonder, the overdraft fees are a gold mine for these people.

[txgirl81]

I work at a credit union and we waive first time fees or fees that were caused by our error. We take everyone's individual situation into consideration when deciding whether or not to waive a fee. Larger banks are not as forgiving. When we offer our overdaft program to new members we ask them if they would like to participate if they don't their debit card will be declined if funds are not available. However, some people like to have the overdraft loan program in case of an emergency or to avoid embarrassment. Ultimately, it should be the customers choice.

to answer previous questions:

It takes a physical check a couple days to clear because the checks have to be run thru a clearing house to make sure they will be paid. An electronic payment is a bit different and therefore is a lot faster to process.

when you sign the back of a check you are putting your endorsement on it which means that you are responsible for it. Same situation if someone signs a check over to you and you sign it you become the owner of it. If you are gonna receive funds from a check you are responsible for the funds. (Believe me there are a lot of people who knowingly try to cash or deposit checks that will bounce.)

[cntrydan]

The difference between the banking industry and a common thief is simple. One uses money, lobbyists, lawyers, and deceit to steal from you, the other uses a gun. I have more respect for the thief. At least he has to take some risk. The banker merely sits in a fine office, clicks a mouse, takes your money,and blames it on you. Here is how to stop it. Demand your pay in cash, and spend cash. In only a week, you will be better off, and they will be on their knees.

[michellem99-2009]

I am legally blind and the print is too small for me with a magnifier and I use one you can't buy in the store. They NEED to get off their asre and make it bigger and they won't even with ADA. Banks don't trust each other. They used to. I don't order anything from the net. Nosah. You use common sense if they know you their computer systems don't. IF I have a bal of set sum than I don't go over it. I would use cash but I don't want to b robbrd for it. Think before you buy. I can take cash out of my account if I have the funds to do so. Then use the cash to buy what ever.

[ne_patriot7]

Banking fees have become one big ripoff..

JP Morgan Chase (3rd largest bank in the USA) only got into online payments of mortgages within the past couple of years. When they first started, I made a payment with EFT from my checking account (different bank) and was absolutely stunned to get an email back telling me they received my payment request "and the check will be sent the next day"...??? HUH??? what the hell??? Yea, 5 days later I get confirmation of payment... DUH... this jerkwade bank was actually cutting a check and sending it to itself... How freakin' archaic is that??

They have since managed to figure out how to do an EFT without mailing themselves a check, but it still takes 3 BUSINESS DAYS before my account is credited..
I have a visa from a much smaller bank that I also pay online... and I get confirmation back of payment completed within 5 hours... Go figure..

[enriquecaliente]

Bankers are all green eyed thieves. ATM's replaced bank tellers. If you go to a bank with eight teller windows, that's an old bank outlet.
What you'll find there are two tellers at the most. The other 4 tellers are history. The bank got rid of 4 paychecks, with the attached benefits that they'd pay their employee. Think of the money they saved. Now they shop around for ATM's and the companies that make them give them (the banks) a big break on the price and maintenance. That's the main reason the banks went to ATM's in the first place. It is way cheaper then having a live person there. In the age of computing, you shouldn't have to wait to have any transaction post. When they figure out how to charge you for the pens at the teller window, they'll do that too. The biggest and strongest lobbyist are the banking industry. They run this country and have all the politicians in their pockets.

[greystreeter]

These fees are outrageous and the banks make a killing off them. Of course consumers should be well aware of their balance but these NSF fees should at least be required under the Truth and Lending Act.

Transparency is what we need, which is why I'm working with Unfaircreditcardfees dot com to educate consumers about another hidden fee, the interchange. It's costing consumers over $30 billion a year and Visa and MasterCard are laughing all the way to the bank. No pun intended.

[legsec007]

I agree that no one should overdraw their account - but the banks have gotten ridiculous. At my bank, SunTrust, if you make a large deposit - they put a hold on it - ever AFTER they have collected the funds. I deposited a large check from my 401(K) - so it was drawn on reputable bank - and I have had this same checking account for 15 years. Not only did the bank continue to "hold" my money AFTER the funds were collected - they returned my electric payment and charged me a fee - while all the very small debit card transactions were paid, with $35.00 charged each time. So for less than $200 in debit card charges that they paid - I was charged nearly $500 in fees (they were small transactions) - PLUS I had the money in the account - they were just holding it. Go figure. since the banking industry can pool together and hire lobbyists - consumers are in a tough spot. Funny - I walked into the lobby of my bank and see a sign about relationship building, etc. There is no relationship in banking anymore - they know me, have my money, are earning interst on my money, yet won't allow me access. Don't bother calling the 800 number to discuss - they are robots who say Loss Prevention put the hold on it - and you are not allowed to talk to Loss Prevention!