I have direct deposit with WaMu, scheduled for the last day of each month.
I was overdrawn $300 with an overdraft charge of $33, which I understand and accept this amount. I had also received my usual monthly letters from bank, telling me my bank card would not be honored until a deposit was made to bring to +balance. this is a usual routine, (I am on disability retirement and living in San Diego, one eke's out an existance!) So, my card would be reactivated 6/30/08.
On vacation, Saturday June 27, 2008, I called the 800# and had an available balance of $525, even tho, the scheduled date is June 30, 2008. If the last day of the month falls on a weekend, direct deposit is available on Friday, but the last day was monday. According to SDCERA, direct deposit wasn't wired to WaMu, until 6/30/08.
I have another Direct Deposit on the 3rd of each month. Upon return home, I called WaMu 800# (07/06/08) to find out available balance, I needed to pay rent. the available balance should have been close to $1, 000, but balance was only $200! I called WaMu wanting to know why the balance was only $200, and asked them to go back to 6/30/08, and on this date, according to the bank, I was overdrawn
$333.00 but had made purchases, , on 6/28/29/08 and each purchase had been charged $33 Overdraft fee, to the tune of $278.
I told her that was impossible, as my bank card could not be used until a deposit was made, per written notice from WaMu. She responded that was incorrect and card was available to use.
I have figured the bank has been doing this "Service" for the last 5+ years.
last time this occurred, the bank manager could not account for missing $400, and when I kept pushing for an explanation, she jumped up and stated, ...If you want any further information regarding your account, you can contact our consultant, to, yet another fee, of $25 per hour!!
they never admit to their Fraudulent practices!

I lost my debit card at a rock concert the other night and called the number at WAMU to cancel the card. It was my debit/credit card! They refused to cancel it because he said that my balance in my checking account was $1.25 overdrawn. I said, "so what?" My card is lost or stolen, I want it canceled, one thing has nothing to do with the other. I went on to remind him how WAMU gives me $100 to hang myself with. The allow me to debit up to $100 out my account when I don't have it. This is so they can charge me $35 each time and $35 when my balance stays overdrawn for more than 2 days. I reminded him that I use it at the gas pump, fast food places, etc... without entering a pin or signing anything. I again asked him to cancel the card and he still refused. I asked for his supervisor - she started to tell me the same thing. I became very angry and said some vulgar things to her and hung up. As usual with WAMU, anything I need done, any kind of customer service issue will ONLY be resolved by going into a branch and speaking to a manager. Oh, but not any branch. You must take the time to get to know the people and how reasonable or caring they are versus how many times they will tell you "NO". It took me 2 days to get that card canceled. After 2.5 weeks without a card, I had to call & then visit a branch to get a replacement sent to me. This bank is the worse one I've ever seen. They don't know what they are doing, or what they are saying, and it varies from branch to branch.

WaMu took it upon themselves to report my credit card stolen & consequently locked up my "auto ship" accounts online. I'm disabled & rely on those accounts to operate properly. They told me I reported it stolen. I'm blind, not stupid. 4 days later - still no card. Sent it snail mail (10 days). So I went online & applied for another on (0% interest 6 mo, 10, 000 limit) and they emailed me the 16 digit # (I would rather have my gums scraped than do business with them) proving that they COULD in fact email me a credit card #. They just refused to do so. I'll make sure I do everything I can to keep anyone I meet from doing business with them.

Free checking!!!
And $33 overdraft fees...
Three in a row, I am in total $5 overdrafted, but the cost is $99
You gotta be kidding me.
I'm from Europe, so some things in the U.S. are new to me, but not this expensively new.
In Holland, once I was 18, I could overdraft up to -$400, and after turning 21 I could go $800 "in the red".
Apparently, at Wamu. regardless of how much, it costs you $33 every time.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST CON I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!!!

Be Warned...

On 4.23 I deposited more than $22k into my business account. I was told that the funds would be placed on hold. When I asked why the teller could only tell me that it was because it was a large deposit. I questioned her about it because the deposit consisted of six checks from different companies. The deposit receipt said stated that WAMU would allow me access to $100.03 between today and 4.25. On the 25th they would free up $4900. On May 2, they would give me another $781 and the balance (more than $17k) would not be made available until May 8, two weeks after the initial deposit.

I called our branch to talk to the branch supervisor. She said that this is a new process and that any check over $5k would be subject to being held. I advised her that out of this deposit only two checks were in excess of $5k, so how did WAMU justify holding all of the funds and how did they determine when they would release certain amounts. Unfortunately, a logical answer wasn't given.

I understand that banks will put funds on hold from time to time, but it seems WAMU is taking advantage of my money. By placing a two week hold on a major portion of my funds is ridiculous. Does WAMU not realize that checks can clear in a matter of days, not weeks?

If WAMU puts this type of hold on my funds then it restricts my ability to pay my suppliers in a timely manner. My business is fortunate to have a strong cash flow. However, it alarms me when WAMU can place a hold on funds without a logical explanation and then expect me to be okay with it.

I've been banking with WAMU for more than 5 years, but it is showing signs of unfriendly banking practices. It appears to be time we look for a new bank.