In May, Bank Atlantic customer service line solicted calls to account holders giving them the option to "opt-in" for overdraft fees when the new federal changes set. I received such a call and declined to opt-in. However, I recently found out after fraud was detected on my account that the agent made the choice for to be opted in, which resulted in the use of a fradulent card and new charges while the account was in a negative status. Why would anyone in their right mind opt-in to be charged $35 for a $10 purchase? How many more account holders out there who chose not to opt-in but are in and don't even know it?

Bank Atlantic deducted two overdraft fees from my account when there was a balance of $400 in my account.
The second unjustified OD charge left my account negative which caused a series of small debit card purchases to be "titled" as NSF.
The fees presented to my account totaled less than the less than 35 dollar OD fee they illegally removed from my account.
When my payroll check was deposited at midnight last night, my account was in the NEGATIVE ALMOST $300.
I am a single mom and that was the money for my electric bill.
I work for a "medium" of the media.
I have access to every major syndicate TV station in this country and Canada.
We cannot stop at filing a complaint on a web-site.
I say we all step forward and make sure that the right people hear what this bank is doing to us.
Look what happend with Bank of America- the IRS crawled so far up their behind, it cost them $5 billion dollars in restitution.
Does not this tiny little bank think we don't have the power to crush them once the right people find out what they're doing.
I'm ready to make some noise!!

Bank Atlantic charged me almost $200 in fees for a $4.95 overdraft. When I spoke with the bank manager I told him I was disputing the fees. He refused to help me other than provide the "recoveries" phone number. I called recoveries and the woman was rude and refused to help me. She said I had to go back to talk with the manager. He had already refused to help me and refused to let me dispute it. I thought the collection laws said I have 30 days to dispute the charges. The bank will not work with me or even talk with me. I think they are taking advantage of me and overcharging fees on such a small overdraft. The fact that they sold this debt to a collection agency after 30 days and refused to talk to me or try to help me is immoral if not illegal. I feel like I should have the opportunity to dispute these fees as the original overdraft was $4.95 and now I owe about $200. This all happened in just a months time. Even the collection agency told me I should be able to dispute it with Bank Atlantic. The collection agency is more helpful than the Bank!!! This is unacceptable. Are there laws to help protect consumers from Banks om situations like this?

I have proof that bank has charged me fraudulently. On May 21st 2009, I had a transaction put through by my insurance company to debit my checking account on May 22nd. I have done this in the past with this company and never had any problems. The transaction posted on my account on May 23rd per my online account with Bank Atlantic. However, two bank fees posted to my account showing a date of May 22nd. I called my bank when I saw the fees a few days later and asked them why they charged a fee for an account that is not negative. They told it was because an authorization was place on my account from the previously mentioned insurance for the amount of $409.27. I advised them on the information that I printed online and they said that in their system that I couldn’t see the transaction posted on the May 21st.
This is where this gets grayer. I asked to speak to supervisor and I got Carol. I asked Carol; “If a transaction shows posting on May 23rd when does that mean it came through?” She said; “Since the 23rd is a non business day that means that it came through on Friday the 22nd after the close of business.” This is a direct contradiction. How can one transaction post for the first time on different days? One can say that it was pending on the 21st and came out of my account on the 23rd. This is not what happened. I have documents that I printed from their website showing the transaction to be pending on the 23rd and debiting my account on the 26th. I have printed actual statement from them that they mailed to me showing my account balance being $199.83 on the 21st. This is enough to cover the transactions that I got charged for. I emailed, visited a branch, and called again. I was told the system does not lie- the system that generated the documents in which I base my plea on. I even had my insurance company send them a letter. No resolution; I was asked to trust their system.
Few days later their system charged me three ATM fees for transactions that I made at mall shoe stores. I had to dig up my purchase receipt to prove that incorrectly charge me. I after spending more of time in a branch, they credited the fees. I bring this up to say that this bank’s system is very capable of making errors even put through credit card transaction as ATM withdrawals—I am familiar with merchant account process so this still blows my mind.
On June 12, 2009, I went into the branch located on Glades Rd in Boca Raton, FL; just west of I 95 and closed my account. I no longer wanted to do business with fraudulent this company. The teller closed my account and gave me remaining balance. Just when I thought Bank Atlantic was out my life. I get a letter showing another negative balance and two more fees on the account. I called and asked them what was the matter this account is closed. They said that the teller did not close my account. I swear on everything that I love including my very life that I walked into that branch and closed that account.
I have had enough. I am consumer that is being taken advantage by this bank with a system that makes errors and they do not apologize. They have made me so livid I can barely control myself and I need some resolution. I have been a customer at this bank since I was 18 and I have this account in question since 2005 and this how they treat me for a couple late fees? Wow.
This is the resolution that I seek. According to their notice they paid a Sallie Mae draft of $124.73 and a pending transaction for $4.25 (The pending transaction has showing when I close the account that is why I was not given the full amount, the Sallie Mae I canceled the ACH online- I am not sure what happen there but it another issue—I would preferred from them to bounce the check and I would pay whatever fees directly with Sallie Mae). This totals $128.98. They charged me $70 in fraudulent fees so I am willing to pay them $58.98 once this is settled.
Consumers should be able trust that the information on their bank statements. If we hold this true then I had money in my account. I have proven that they system makes mistakes and I have proof they have charged overdraft see for an account did not overdraft. I am angry but I more so disappointed.
Your time in this matter is greatly appreciated and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Every concerned Consumer,

I can be contacted at [email protected]

Bank Atlantic counts restaurant transactions TWICE. If the first swipe is for 35.00, then tip is added and the second swipe is for 41.00 (to include the tip), for that day you are charged 76.00. If you had a balance of less than 75.00, you now you have a 35.00 check overdraft fee to pay, which keeps your balance below zero, and any subsequent 3.00 checks each incur 35.00 fees. During that day, if you had other charges (say 2.00, 3.00, 4.00), you still HAVE NOT exceeded your balance, but due to sequencing, the highest is done first. You now have four 35.00 overdraft fees for a total of 140.00! And you never were truly under your limit!!!

Yes, Bank Atlantic sequences your debit transactions from highest to lowest, groups them carefully, first as Authorization and then, at their convenience, and possibly 1 to 2 days later, as Purchase. Interestingly, other offending transactions that were executed a couple of days prior to the restaurant transaction initially as 'authorize' now as 'purchase' to ensure more late fees based on timing of the 'purchase' transactions even though you've never actually gone below zero.

My son (on a teen income) lost of 200.00 when he NEVER WENT UNDER ZERO.

It's a scam to maximize their ability to extract fees from their lower-end customers. The high end customers would not be affected by this as they keep their balances clear of zero.