Complain about a product or service

PNC Bank

Alison of Frederick, MD November 3, 2009

I've been banking with PNC Bank for 2 years now. So far they have managed to charge me thousands of dollars in overdraft fees that make no sense whatsoever. I left my small bank for PNC because they promised me real time online banking. So far I've found their online system to be false and a scam for all those hard working customers who use it. Not one of the PNC representatives can accurately inform you of how the system works.

When you call to ask questions you receive different answers from each and everyone of them. How is it you can go online to check your balance and not have an accurate or up to date information? I was even told I can't get my balance at an ATM machine? I called yesterday and spoke to a representative. Asked them to check my pending transactions against my cash deposit I made that they held for 3 days and was told, "everything is going to clear tomorrow. You will have a positive balance." Well I wish that were the case.

I checked my balance today and found it to be overdrawn by 60. Now I'm expecting at least 5 overdraft fees. I called them to get my information because my account information wasn't updated online for an entire 3 days. How can they hold a cash deposit?

How can they take the largest withdrawal and put that through first when it wasn't pending before the other smaller withdrawals? I'll tell you why, because it makes them able to take more money from our accounts. PNC got a government bailout only to turn around and use our tax dollars and take more of our hard earned money. I am falling behind in my monthly bills. I've had to go without groceries due to the fact they have taken thousands of dollars from me. They make it impossible to track your funds.

M of Levittown, PA October 29, 2009

On Monday evening I was rushing to caught a train and I stopped at the atm to withdraw some money. I used the wrong bank card PNC instead of bank of america, which had more funds. First thing the next morning I deposited enough money to cover the overdraft. Later that day I noticed that I was in the red again. This time I had 4 overdraft fees. I soon realized that the bank decided to cleared my largest check first even though it was received that same day and ignored small transactions that were there since Friday.

I decided to pay the 132.00 in overdraft fee this morning and think that my account was in good standing according to my calculations. To my dismay, I now have an additional 71.00 pending in overdraft fees. Why would the bank not post the cash when it was received instead of holding it pending for a whole business day and overdraw my account again. PNC bank is the worst bank that I have ever dealt with. I am closing my account as soon as my last transaction is posted. Why have customer service if they are not going to help the ordinary consumer. Yes mistakes happen when you are rushing, but paying over 200.00 in overdraft fee is just unacceptable and criminal.

I have finally lost faith in a bank that I have used for over 10 years. I know that my few pennies will not hurt the bank, but I will not give PNC my hard earned money either. Good bye PNC... beware poor people.

Michael of Hyattsville, MD October 27, 2009

There is a problem with their computer system. It is programmed to debit first and credit second. PNC Bank's online banking has a pending transactions section. It saves charges and credits and usually posts them the next day (except for debit online card transactions). However, not all transactions (debits) get posted to this pending section thus making the pending section unreliable for tracking your account balance. The computer then waits until this unposted transaction (usually large)bringing your account to an almost overdraft situation then posts all the other pending transactions without regard to the order in which they were presented to the bank initially. So instead of clearing the older smaller debits first in order of presentation, they bounce all of them generating multiple NSF charges instead of maybe one charge. I find this to be unethical and a ripoff! Their must be something that can be done to force the banks to post debits and credits properly.

Rick of Ashburn, VA October 27, 2009

I may a big mistake of despositing my check from Bank Of America which was dated 4 days ealier into my PNC Bank Account of Friday night. I thought the funds would be available at least my Monday morning. The deposit slip showed Friday's date and time so I felt I was in good shape. Lucky I had PNC Bank's Overdraft Protection, I was bouncing charges on Monday evening which I still do not understand.

I called the bank and complained they told be they would have to verify the funds were available from Bank Of America to be put into my account (remember this was deposited Friday after 5PM Eastern Standard Time. I told them is not BA the largest bank in the US if not the world? Why is it the funds all ways come out of your account faster and on weekends, but deposit never happened till the bank feels like it?

I think the US Congress should look into this because I feel it is another way for banks to make money off the us the consumers. Probably to pay their rich execs. I still do not know all my charges yet. So far because I had overdraft protection it is only 10.00. I feel as a senior citzen I feel something should be done to about banking in general.

Sabrina of Columbia, MD October 22, 2009

I went into the bank to discuss some overdraft fee issues that I had with my best friends little sister's account. They had taken over 100 dollars out of her account and she didn't know what to do so I told her I would come to the bank and help her figure it out. When we got to the bank, I requested to speak with the manager. I understand rules are rules, but there were quite a few things that they were unable or unwilling to explain about what had happend with the charges on her account.

Not only was this an issue, but the manager of the branch was completely condescending and rude. I tried to compose myself and calmly ask if she had a supervisor I could speak with to help us resolve our issue, and she rudely exclaimed "Yes, I do and I will inform him that you will be calling him"

Then she laughed and walked into her office, grabbed her card and made a big scene about me wanting to talk to him. I was appalled that the manager of that branch was so rude and immature! Loss of 60 dollars, they refunded 60 but wouldn't refund the rest.

Asha of Fallston, MD October 21, 2009

I transferred/deposited money into my checking account on Friday and on Monday I noticed that there was a duplicate deposit in my checking account pending. So instead of taking time out of my day and calling PNC to question the deposit, I just transferred the alleged duplicate amount out of my checking and back into my other account. Well, that was were I was "wrong" (quoted from the PNC customer service representative).

Apparently, later on monday the alleged "duplicate deposit" dropped out of the pending status (it was never posted to the account and of course when that happens, any record of such virtually disappears. This is what made my case extremely hard to prove. I had no record of said duplicate deposit. So every purchase that I made on Monday and Tuesday went into overdraft. OF couse, I thought everything was A-Okay so I didn't check my account until I got the Alert (of which they only alert you after 24 hours of being overdrawn, conviently so, they can charge you for being overdrawn- otherwise I would have transferred money into my account to cover the charges).

Infact,when I called customer service, some representatives said yes they heard of complaints about duplicate transactions, but by the time I got the the Customer service managers (of which I needed their approval to remove the overdrawn fees) they swore up and down that they never heard of this complaint before. Well, I think that there are two things wrong with this system.

I believe there must be a delay for the online banking records. In addition, I believe that there are glitches in the system, and the PNC employees are not allowed to let the customer know about. People who write software and not %100 perfect all the time, there are programming errors may occur such as seeing duplicate transactions. Somehow I got caught up in this computer glitch, that cost me 236 charges in overdraft charges.

Jessica of Cincinnati, OH October 16, 2009

I don't have time to go into all the details of what PNC has done or not done, but I have experienced the same situations with the overdraft fees that these other consumers have reported. I do not trust a bank that just "states" I have an overdraft that was caught while pending and I didn't see it and it doesn't show up on the posted page. Plus, I had a check that they stated would take a couple days to fully clear, but that the first 100 is always availabe.

We were careful with our purchases and the next thing I know is that a couple of days later I get hit with fees. I spoke to CSR and they stated that the check hasn't fully cleared. I told her that the check is in the posted list and not in the pending. She still claimed that not all of the check was available as of yet. Then why is it in the pending stage????? (I ask) Also, they admit (and it's happend to me) they can take whatever order of purchases they want to determine how they clear.

I never can get clear answers and of course it is always my fault. I do take responsability on my irresponsability, but they get carried away with the fees.

Susan of Louisville, KY October 15, 2009

On Tuesday, October 13th after 5:00 pm, I went into WalMart here to purchase a money order that I had to get in the mail that day. I actually had the cash in my hand. When the guy totaled the bill, I looked in my purse and found that I was 30 cents, I repeat, 30 cents short. The guy was not going to give it to me without and the line was getting long and I couldn't leave. I made the decision to see if I could run it on my debit card. I knew I didn't have all the funds available, however, I was making this transaction after business hours. My plan was to get into the bank first thing in the morning and make the deposit and that would cancel out the pending withdrawal.

The next day, I went in and made a deposit for the total of the withdrawal, plus an additional 100 dollars for anything else that I wanted to take care of. After I made the deposit, I went into the lobby store and purchased something for about 6.35. After I left work, I had to go to the store to pick up a few groceries. I was on empty so I stopped to get gas first. When I swiped my card, it kept saying see attendant. The attendant came out and took it inside to swipe. He came back out and said that the card would not authorize the transaction. Of course that made no sense to me, so I pulled up my account on my cellphone. I almost stroked out when I saw NINE 36 charges.

I immediately called the 1-800 number. I was told that when I made that after hours transaction, that PENDING item caused me to bounce nine transaction that came through over the weekend. I told the rep that's not possible. Having worked in banks before, I knew that the banks clear on your "current" balance or the ledger balance. She told me no. My pending items, which included a transaction that was due to fall off, tied up my money, so the checks did not clear without an overdraft. I asked for a supervisor who proceeded to tell me that they changed their clearing process some time last year. I cried for about 2 hours because this mess ate up all my money and legitimate items that should have cleared will now show up and I'll be charged a fee for them.

The next morning, I went into my branch to speak with the branch manager who basically told me that what you see on the website is not accurate. She again stated that they clear on the pending (available) balance. After looking over this board, I see that I am not alone and that this is a key money making device for them. I won't pretend that I have kept my account in perfect condition. But when I make a mistake, I will work around the fact that I forgot about a check or a debit transaction and deal with the fees. I just can't accept this because, this is just not fair. My account is now over 400 overdrawn and I don't get paid for another week. Is there a way to make this known on a larger scale? We've got to stop them. This is extortion!!!!

Richard of Beaver, PA October 8, 2009

The same overdraft extortion that has hit so many other people. I changed banks and removed my money from PNCBANK. They can burn in hell. They are crooks. Why sugarcoat it? It's intentional and planned.

paul of california, KY October 7, 2009

in may of 2009 i borrowed 3,000 dollars from my 401k to build a room on my home for my terminaly ill son. i recieved my check in june 2009 from there i went to deposit my check in the bank. i was told i could draw up to 1,000 dollars out. so i could start work on my room. so on saturday i started no problem. watched what i spent did not go over spent 900 dollars on materials.

so by the next weekend i spent 300 dollars more. then spent 200 more @ walmart etc. then went to get more supplies knowing my paycheck of 900 more dollars had also gone into the bank as well! i noticed on my next material purchas of around 100 dollars. as i swiped my debit the transaction took longer than usual seemed strang but no red flag and the next couple of times aswell. still no red flag!

the followng week i get my bank statement stating i had no money and i owed somthing like 6 overdraft @ 36.00 dollars for each plus 7.00 dollars a day up to 5 days. when my wife questioned this the bank said she just was not good with money! i can agree to some extent but she is not that bad!

fast forward one month later my check of 900 dollars goes in direct deposit on tuesday night 12:00 clock. on wednesday afternoon i had 300 dollars. the bank had taken 600 dollars of my very hard earned money in overdraft fees! so i went to the bank personaly to speek to the manager and ask her to tell me where the money had gone. she danced around the issue at hand and once again she said look your wife is just bad with money she just dont get it! i suggest you get rid of your debit cards! so i did.

i was under the assumption that on my debit card when you were out of money your card would be declined. that is what i wanted i did not care about being embaressed @ the register so what! i verbaly tould them @the bank this is what i wanted and i never once was told there was an opt out of overdraft protection i had to sign! i most certianly would have signed up! 20 some odd overdrafts later!

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