Comments on: Ask for what you want part 81493

By: Timothy

Timothy — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 03:07:33 +0000

Thats awesome. Thanks to you I’ve been fighting all my fees as new ones sprout up. While I haven’t been able to get out of ALL of them, I’ve been able to get out of most of them.

By: Michael W

Michael W — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:30:07 +0000

Eric N asked about Etrade checking…

I have an Etrade checking account and they refund all ATM fees as long as your account maintains a $5,000 balance.

By: John

John — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 06:06:26 +0000

It boggles the mind how easy it is to get out of bank fees sometimes. It’s almost like they’re just kidding when they even bring up the fee in the first place.

I was at the bank the other day getting a cashier’s check (long story) and the teller goes “OK, but there’s a $5 fee for that.”

I just replied “I’d like that fee waived.” That’s it. No explanation of why I wanted it waived. No justification. Nada.

Her reply? “OK sir.”

By: Honest Abe

Honest Abe — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 13:17:57 +0000

For many in America ATM fees can really add up. If you are charged $2.50 for every transaction and you take money out 6 times a month you are down $15 ($180/year). It might not sound like a lot, but that convenience can be costly. http://finance4dummies.blogspot.com/

By: John

John — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 08:13:01 +0000

Last week I noticed my Schwab account wasn’t switching cash into money market shares like it used to. So I called and they said they were phasing out 4.5% money market in favor of 1% for customers with less than a half-million. I said wtf screw you 1% isn’t 4.5% and I can move this money out, so they said hey ok, you can have 4.25%. One phone call was worth one thousand dollars a year, perhaps more.

By: ruthie

ruthie — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 20:52:53 +0000

Around these parts, Washington Mutual offers use of their ATMs with no charge- so you only pay your bank’s fee instead of both.

My personal preference would be to go to a Walgreens or Rite Aid or CVS or wherever, buy something small (like a pack of gum) or needed and get cash back from the purchase. No charge from my bank, no charge from the store and easy enough.

By: Avery

Avery — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:41:32 +0000

Hawk:

You are correct in that not all will alllow cash back, but many do–almost all grocery stores and many big box stores. I lived in a city without a home bank branch or ATM nearby for a school year by using that trick I only once used a “forign ATM.”

Avery, not all stores do cash back. Just to clarify.

For example, OfficeMAX does not. I don’t know why.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 04:49:19 +0000

What Doug said. I don’t understand how banks can get away with charging a fee every time you use an ATM. No financial institution I’ve ever used charged me a fee for using somebody else’s ATM. (The owner of the ATM might, but my bank too? Stupid.)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 02:19:03 +0000

Being charged a fee by your bank to use another ATM is outrageous, why support them? There are banks that not only don't charge fees, but refund fees charged by the ATM. Several internet banks do this, as does Mechanics Bank in California (mechbank.com). There is some discussion of this service here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-398810.html

By: Eric N.

Eric N. — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:24:30 +0000

Anyone know if Etrade Checking can have their fees waved?