Our bank now charging for printed page of check images

[YISave]

I just received an update from our bank saying that they will start charging $2.00 extra a month for sending out a printed page of the check images. First it was $5.00 if you wanted your checks returned but the check image was used in its place and you weren't charged.

Everytime the government starts starts alot of extra regulations and fees , the consumer ends up paying for it in the end.

I also read that credit card companies might start charging annual fees like they did in the Carter administration. Hope they don't start that again. Would you be willing to pay an annual fee?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In the Carter administration? I think credit cards cost an annual fee well before the Carter years. I think that is how they were when they first were becoming popular in the 60's.

I do not blame government for my bank charging for check images.

[disneysteve]

I can't think of any reason I would ever need an image of a check I've written so I really don't care if they charge for that or not.

As for annual fees on CCs, they were standard for many years and I won't be at all surprised to see them become standard again. I think that card companies may waive them for users who charge over a certain amount per year. Someone recently posted something to that effect. I think their company was going to impose a fee unless they charged at least $2,400/year.

Personally, I already pay an annual fee on our main card, but I feel that the benefits we get in return are well worth the fee we pay.

[GREENBACK]

As for annual fees on CCs, they were standard for many years and I won't be at all surprised to see them become standard again. I think that card companies may waive them for users who charge over a certain amount per year. Someone recently posted something to that effect. I think their company was going to impose a fee unless they charged at least $2,400/year.

DS

I think I posted about the $2400 minimum. A reasonable amount for a regularly used card. They(Chase) wanted this for a seldomly used card.

I still get to see my check images for free from PNC and haven't been notified of any changes in the works.

It was standard practice for banks to charge annual fees to CC users back in the day. The Carter administration had nothing to do with it. I've stated often here that if you don't like how the banks are playing the game then get out. CC's are a nice and convienient way to spend money with possible rewards advantages. Beyond that they are a manipulative tool of banks used to scour money from gullible and unsuspecting people.

I have no problem with how they operate. It's kinda' like swimming with sharks; watch your backside. To answer the OP's question of would I pay an annual fee? The answer is yes, if it works to my advantage. If it works to their advantage then the answer is no!

[YISave]

There is an article called The Ascendacy of the Credit Card Industry, by Robin Stein. It was featured on PBS by Frontline. You can type in the above address and it will take you to the story. It is a long article but you will come to a section that said that in 1980, President Carter put a freeze on soliciting new credit cards and the credit card companies started charging a $20. fee.There is more information after that.

This is not about blame, it is explaining what happened when new regulations incur costs for the different industries and how it gets passed down to the consumer. When my husbands costs go up, he has to pass it on to the consumer.

My husband owns his own company and has been with the same bank for over 37 years. He made a deposit at the bank and asked the young lady if she would xerox the check for him. He was told that it would cost him $1.50.He rarely makes this a practice.

Not everyone has computers and my brother is one of them. He needs a copy of his checks. What are these supposed to do? My concern is also for people who have credit cards and trying to pay them off. The last thing that they need is another charge on their card to add to their credit problem. Some say that if you charge $2,400. a year that you won't be charged the fee. I hope that everyone will be able to put $2,400.00 on their cards. We can do that but many can't.

[disneysteve]

Not everyone has computers and my brother is one of them. He needs a copy of his checks. What are these supposed to do?

I'm curious. Why does he need copies of his checks? It has been years since anyone required me to present a physical copy of a canceled check.

[YISave]

My brother's exwife passed away and he is receiving social security checks for the children on her behalf. He was advised to keep receipts and copies of checks to validate how he is spending the money.

[disneysteve]

My brother's exwife passed away and he is receiving social security checks for the children on her behalf. He was advised to keep receipts and copies of checks to validate how he is spending the money.

I would think a receipt and his bank statements would suffice. What he might want to do is copy the checks before he sends them out. Even easier might be getting duplicate checks so that he'd always have a copy of the checks he writes and wouldn't have to bother or pay for copies of the canceled checks.

[YISave]

Thanks disneysteve. That's a good idea about getting duplicate checks. I'll run this by him. Again thanks!

[disneysteve]

Thanks disneysteve. That's a good idea about getting duplicate checks. I'll run this by him. Again thanks!

I suppose somebody could say the duplicate is only evidence that he wrote the check, not that he actually used it, but put that together with a receipt for the same amount and I'd think he would be okay. Worth a try.

[wnlbutterfly]

Who advised him to keep track of all that? I have seen a lot of people that are in that situation and never have they been questioned if they were spending the SSI for the children properly. I would google that and see what you come up with but I can't see that ever being an issue honestly.

Our bank that was bought out (closed by the FEDS and taken over by another bank) out of the blue started charging $4 a month for the monthly statements. I had to go in and say I didn't want the monthly statements mailed to get that removed and stopped. I can print it out online which isn't a problem, but it does seem like they continue to charge and charge the customers. I have yet to have a bank merge with another bank (hence...become a bigger bank) that hasn't resulted in MORE fees and less customer service.

[snafu]

YISAVE: I tend to base decisions on past experiences. Has DB been asked to submit proof of purchases? Another suggestion would be a dedicated CC for anything/everything purchased for children from SS income and of course paid with SS income.

I've found it v/efficient to keep receipts which have potential to be needed @ a future date, in an empty tissue box.

[kork13]

I can print it out online which isn't a problem

This was sort of my thought from the start, but maybe it's not available to all? In my monthly statement, my bank includes a scanned copy of all checks paid and deposited. Is this not standard practice? I'm able to download my statement from the bank website, and have records of everything, which makes it really easy.

As one who moves around frequently (also being almost obsessively organized), I'm not a fan of saving hard-copy receipts or anything like that. Even for documents such as tax returns (normally in hard copy), I prefer to scan them, so I can keep digital records, which can be saved easier and most importantly, backed up. That way I can't have lost them if/when I need them.

[YISave]

wlbutterfly: My brother called for information about keeping track of the expenses and he was told that by phone. I advised him to go into the office and speak with someone in authority and they advised him the same. I would think that alot has to do with the fact that he was divorced from their mother even thought he has had full custody of them for almost years now. They might just be getting more careful about minors benefits.

kork13: In the past year we lost our Mother and normally I would have used my computer for ordering flowers,etc. I was surprised how many people don't have computers. I don't have a laptop or net book, but I could have saved enough on the expenses to have paid for a laptop. There are still those out there that fear the privacy issues and this is what I have heard from most of them.

[disneysteve]

I was surprised how many people don't have computers. I don't have a laptop or net book, but I could have saved enough on the expenses to have paid for a laptop. There are still those out there that fear the privacy issues and this is what I have heard from most of them.

I agree. I could list a couple dozen ways that my computer saves us money and even earns us money, way more than it costs to own it.

As for privacy, people refuse to accept that doing business by computer is actually far safer than doing business in person. Most credit card fraud, for example, occurs when a cashier or waiter copies your card info after you hand him or her the card to pay for something. Using a secure encrypted website is much safer.