Telecheck Reviews

Wonderful coders they have. I am a consultant with over 25 years of information technology background. I have never heard of anything so pitiful in my life. I suspect the main reason companies use them is cost. As often is the case, you get what you pay for. If it is cheap, usually there is a reason. Unfortunately for the companies that do use this service, they also end up with very frustrated customers. And as others have suggested, I will avoid such merchants in the future.

My saving thought: TeleCheck works within the Dilbert Principle. It hates its customers. Hopefully, this will kill demand for its own service and ruin this utterly ridiculous and feckless company.

Next, I asked the lady if my check would be declined at the next place I tried to write a check that was processed through Telecheck, and she said yes it would. Then I asked how long this condition will last. She said she does not know. Now I am pissed. What kind of rhetorical ** is this? My next stop was my bank. They said that unfortunately they had little control this issue and Telecheck contract is between the business that has signed up for their electronic check service and Telecheck. But there is a solution. Use your check card. I wish I could be so stubborn as to no longer frequent businesses that use Telecheck but unfortunately, I live in a small town and choices are limited. But I am a business owner and I will never use Telecheck services to take electronic checks. And I will add my displeasure in open forums and anyone who will listen.

Next, I asked the lady if my check would be declined at the next place I tried to write a check that was processed through Telenet, and she said yes it would. Then I asked how long this condition will last. She said she does not know. Now I am pissed. What kind of rhetorical ** is this? My next stop was my bank. They said that unfortunately they had little control this issue and Telenet contract is between the business that has signed up for their electronic check service and Telenet. But there is a solution. Use your check card. I wish I could be so stubborn as to no longer frequent businesses that use Telenet but unfortunately, I live in a small town and choices are limited. But I am a business owner and I will never use Telenet services to take electronic checks. And I will add my displeasure in open forums and anyone who will listen.

It was suggested to me to file a police report for identity theft for which I did. Within a week, I received 2 letters from TRS wanting payment for the checks I did not write. About a week after that, I received a phone call from a woman at TRS and I explained to her that I did not write any checks up in Lancaster and that I had filed a police report indicating so. I sent her the file number of the police report. A couple of weeks later, I received a letter from TRS saying the police report was frivolous and lacking of supporting documentation. This situation is still ongoing.

The lady asked me for my driver's lic. number so I gave it to her. She then asked me for my checking account number. I gave it to her. She told me that the information that I gave her didn't go along with the information that she had. The checking account number, and drivers lic. number were different. She asked me what bank I used and I told her. She said the checks were from a different bank. I told her that Telecheck has the wrong person. She told me that she would correct the problem so I thanked her and hung up the phone.

I received another statement from them a week later stating the same thing. I called Telecheck back again. I spoke with a man. He asked me for the same stuff. My name, drivers lic. #, checking account # - again, it was all different. I told him that I had just called a week earlier and a lady said that she would correct the problem. He said that he would make a note of it and correct the problem.

Again, a week or so later I received another statement so I called again. I was told that I would have to file a stolen identity report in order to correct the issue. I asked for copies of the check to be sent to my home and they told me that I would have to fax them my I.D., reference number, amount of each check, checking account number, and what address I wanted the copies sent to. I told the gentleman that my last name is Byrd, not Bird, and my checking account number was different than what they have. He told me that I probably wouldn't receive a copy of the checks, because my information was different from what they have on file. The only correct information they have is my first name, and address.

This has been going on for over 3 months now. I am still receiving biweekly statements from Telecheck stating that I owe for several hot checks, and I can't write a check at any store that uses Telecheck. If I send them my I.D. and checking account info., it isn't going to go along with their info., so I can't get a copy of the checks written to make a stolen identity case. There is no stolen identity case because they have the wrong person, or there's a glitch in their computer - wrong spelling of last name, wrong drivers lic. number, wrong name of bank, wrong checking account number. This is not a stolen Identity case. I have only one name, one checking account, one bank, and one driver’s lic. number. Telecheck is in the wrong but I'm suffering over it. I can't write a check anywhere that uses Telecheck. How can they get away with that? They need to be sued!

The explanations on their website are also a joke: "TeleCheck will flag it and issue a single-digit code a 3 - back to the merchant.” This Code does not tell the merchant the check is not good or that the customer does not have enough money in their account to cover the check. This Code 3 is telling the merchant that the transaction contains a significant level of risk markers."

Really? This tells me that the ultimate responsibility is still with the merchant to accept/reject the check. TeleCheck in this statement is saying that the check may still be good but we really don't know, so therefore you should probably reject it anyway, just in case. The check may still be perfectly OK, but our supercomputer has a mind of its own and oh well, sorry, you should reject it because we really don't know what the computer is thinking anyway. Besides, rejecting it shows the poor dumb check-writer who is really in control of his money.

I'm going to write my Congressman and I suggest everyone to do the same.

I tried to write a check at Walmart and it was declined because TRS had put a block on my checking account. Puma contacted TRS and TRS said they had cleared this and I should be able to use my checks. Well a month later, I received another collection notice from TRS and I had the embarrassment of another check declined at the register. I contacted Puma again and they have been told that it's cleared up but it's not. I am at the end of my rope and feel TRS is trying to bully me into paying something I do not owe or I will not be able to use my checks. This should be a crime, please help.

I said that is odd. I just checked my account today and I have over $1,000 in my checking account. I said I would go to the cash flow and be right back. I went to the Sheetz up the street, got $60 out of my checking account, went back to CVS and picked up my meds. I went home and phoned TeleCheck, waited on line about 15 minutes, and spoke with a female representative who was not able to explain to me what they had just done. She quoted what was on the receipt from CVS. I asked to speak to a supervisor because she was not explaining clearly to me what and why this had happened.

A male voice came on the phone and proceeded to say the same things. I stated, who are you people and what are you doing declining my check. I mentioned that I had just had new checks printed, but my phone number had been left off and the clerk at CVS stated that would not be the case that my check would be denied. I asked him to please explain to me what his company had to do with my bank account, and how could they decline my check when I had over $1,000 in my account? He went on to say, "Is this a new account?" I said, no. I have had this account with my bank for years and I have written numerous checks to CVS in the past 6 years of living in Woodstock and when I lived in Fauquier County, I also wrote checks to CVS.

He then asked me for my driver's license number and I asked why he needed it. I then said I will not give you my driver’s license number. If you declined my check, you should have my information. He was then rude and stated, if you don't want to give me your driver's license number, I can't help you. I proceeded to say, that I don't know who you people are and that I was not going to give them my information. Consumers have been warned not to give out personal information to individuals they do not know. The conversation went from bad to worse. I was not happy with his tone and he was not happy with mine. He asked me for my routing number, current and past if they were different. I told him I didn't think so and why did he need it since they seem to already have my information.

Again, he was very rude and stated: “If you don't want to give it to me, then I can't help you. I am trying to help you.” I stated you are not, but I will give you the bank information. But I really don't want to if that isn't going to fix the problem on your end. Why should I give you my financial information? He stated that he could not guarantee that TeleCheck would not block my checks in the future whether I gave him my information or not. Again, with that statement I did not understand why he wanted or needed my info. I did give it to him and mentioned that I had just mailed off my bills and if they declined my checks and I had to pay late fees because of their company, who would be responsible to pay those late fees? Not me because I have money in the bank to cover my expenses and I would expect them to cover those if their company interfered with my business unnecessarily.

He then stated that their company would not be liable, that businesses have a right to decline checks. I stated that the business would not decline my checks if TeleCheck did not tell them to. So, I would check with my bank on Tuesday and see what they suggest. But if TeleCheck declines any of my checks for the bills I had written, they would be responsible, when I have not written bad checks in the past and I have plenty of money in the bank to pay for my bills. He then hung up the phone on me as I was still talking.

I then phoned the Woodstock CVS to make a formal complaint regarding TeleCheck and to see if the company was legitimate since I had given them my banking info and also that the rep stated that they could not guarantee they would not block other checks that I would write in the future. I spoke with **, CVS, and stated this is now a problem for me and someone from their corporate office needed to contact TeleCheck and have the company remove my name from their system. Otherwise, any time I write, that company could and would decline. I cannot go through life always carrying a lot of cash, when I have always written checks to take care of my business. She gave me the name of **, corporate office rep who I will contact on Tuesday along with going by my bank to report this issue. She was also going to leave information for **, CVS store manager, for Tuesday.

Please investigate this company, TeleCheck, because it seems to me that they have crossed the line with consumer privacy, at least mine. And I did not give them permission to house any of my financial information which it seems that they are doing. Please check out their website. Thank you very much.

It added up today when someone called my mother's house on Sunday at 7:30 am, five minutes after the person accessed my blog. They didn't realize she'd answered, and said in the background, "I'm so (expletive) tired of people thinking checks aren't worth the paper they're printed on." When they realized she was on the line, they asked for me. My mother said I wasn't home and they hung up on her. They called again tonight, on Sunday, at 7:30 pm, ten minutes after the person accessed my blog. This person was more polite and I think we have it sorted out. But, for $50, seriously? Compulsive checking of my blog and harassing (illegal?) calls on Sunday? Grow up, guys.

I am a law abiding citizen - who is TeleCheck to say that I don't meet their guidelines for writing checks and I am a risk? You can't t write checks for over 30 years from the same institution and still bank at that same institution. I am locked into TeleCheck’s systems so that if I go to any place they do business with, I am subject to be held guilty by TeleCheck and not the courts. They have a system that puts their system in place to verify fund and/or look for outstanding checks, etc. It does not tell me that I have written two or three more checks this week, last week or anytime, so that makes me a bad risk.

If the law enforcement agencies and the courts have to have probable cause to retain, question, or stop you and the court has to find you guilty of a crime to convict you, how is TeleCheck above what is enforceable and dictate any person that they can't write a check? Shame on any merchant that would allow any system to be put in place and disallow what its real intention is supposed to be. How can they say it works when people are being wrongly deprived? I was shamed and humiliated. I want justice.

In my opinion, TeleCheck has interfered with the efficient operation of our business. TeleCheck has cost us money in labor costs because our employees are forced to come back to home base, get the company credit card and then return to the vendor to complete the purchase. Sometimes vendors refuse to hold our purchases and our employee has to re-pull everything. An errand that should have taken 1 hour turns into 2 hours or more. That costs us money, TeleCheck!

I really don't know the solution for small businesses in regards to this mess. We're all little guys and don't have the resources to sue a huge company like TeleCheck. I will say, however, that this mess wouldn't exist in the first place if people wouldn't write fraudulent checks. It's because of crooks that we have to deal with this incredibly annoying frustration. TeleCheck is a necessary evil, but they need to recognize the incredible hassle they put honest, hardworking people and businesses through. And vendors who hire TeleCheck need to recognize that as well.

Our bank is sending a letter to try and resolve this but Telecheck says it must be in writing and will take 10 days to two weeks. I don't understand why. If the problem is obvious and can be clearly seen (our bank rep. saw the check in question) that it could not be immediately resolved. The real kicker is that my husband has an elderly mother whom he does grocery shopping for. His name is on her account so he can write checks for her groceries and the same thing happened when he wrote a check from her account. She uses a different bank and has never had any problems either. I'm very upset with this situation because it is affecting more than just us, and most grocery stores in our area use Telecheck. What can we do if this isn't cleared up soon? I'm definitely thinking of suing.

This company does not desire people to write checks. The company’s true cash cow is PIN-based debit transactions. So, it’s a win-win for the company. If you cannot use a check, then you simply use a debit card and the very same CEO gets to fill his coffer with the fee associated with that transaction. So after hours of research, hours on the phone with the company, and countless embarrassment from declined checks at the checkout counter, I have discovered that my pain is useless. This company profits off of the TeleCheck fees. Once you are denied, it profits off of the denial with the fee it collects from PIN-based debit transaction.

I called Telecheck, using the information on my "courtesy card", and was instructed to enter information for general information on their automated system. After the selection, it promptly hung up on me. I called during their business hours, and the phone rang for over 20 minutes of 7 different occasions, until their phone system just hung up. There is nothing wrong with my checking account. I had not been writing excessive checks, and even if I had, I had the money to cover it, then what is the problem? After reading the information Telecheck/First Data had on its site, I figured I was spinning my wheels. Their site is full of good old fashioned double talk, proving the hours of complaints against them. I realized I was fighting a losing battle, when the manager of the local Wal-Mart stated that even if we pulled my bank balance up in real time, and I had many times, the sufficient amount to cover the check, there was no way that could override Telecheck. They are bound by Telecheck's rules.

I know some people may feel, why not just use a debit card or cash. Here are my issues with that. I have had issues, where I have lost my checking account behind a debit card. I have been charged 25% tax on purchases. I have made purchases, and declined additional sale of some. I have been told by the merchant that I would have an authorization of so much, but I would only be charged the agreed purchase amount, when they really charged the "hold" amount to credit the excess, several days later. These were not my fault and easy fixes, but I have yet to find a bank willing to want to resolve fee issues, if the merchant is not willing to pay them. So basically, after I have been screwed over so many times and lost hundreds in inaccurate fees, I don't want to involve myself in that fee/theft trap.

I have a chronic medical condition, and because I may have a bout of illness, and be out of sorts, it is not rational to carry around large sums of cash. This is a risk I don't want to take. if someone steals my cash, I am at a complete loss, but if I have access to my funds through my checking account, at least after an investigation, any stolen funds will be returned. I get why businesses want this service. Telecheck does warranty payment on the checks they approve, but they are limiting the buying power of the consumer, and that is not right. This is not loaned money, not money from a bank consumer credit card, this is my money. When you are using other people's money, no matter how good your payment and credit history you play, and pay by their rules. I am put into the position now that I may possibly be only able to write a maximum of 2 checks per outing, and those amounts have to be under $50.00 each. That is a lot of planning, and takes the joy out of shopping, really.

I usually only shop 2 times a month, so I am reduced to having to get a credit card, and pay some fees I should not have to, so I can purchase my needs. Even then, I will still be limited. Any payments I make to the card are subject to a ten day hold, even though with the electronic processing, the institution will have the payment within 1-3 business days. I worked for over 4 years in the credit card industry, and that happens all the time, and I have seen it happen repeatedly to the same person making the payment with the same checking account they always have used, and some unfortunate souls have this happen every single time they pay their card, whether making a partial payment, or balance in full. Thank you so much Telecheck for forcing my hand into the credit loop. The only bright side is that you will not see one penny of the revenue, and I am glad to change to the other superstore that does not use your service, and I am more than glad to pay additional costs for their merchandise.

Telecheck said it was "suspicious activity". The last check was again declined. This time, Telecheck refused to allow it to go through. There is absolutely no reason why they would do this, other than because they can. I spent 2 hours at the service counter trying to get all of this done and had to leave without some of the gift cards. Merry Christmas to all those associates who did not get a gift card - love Telecheck.

So in other words they can do what ever they want and charge what ever fees they want without the consumer being aware of the situation or fees involved until they notice it has been taken from the account. I want the $30 returned to my account because there was not authorization from me telling them they could take it, nor was I aware of such a fee being charged. They have been successfully sued by West Virginia for charging fees without prior consent. I want the money put back in my account.

In July 2011, a check for my husband's personal account was declined. I called Telecheck and was told that the check was declined because of the September 2009 check error. When I asked why the company did not contact me before this, I was told that they use the POS declining mechanism. I filed a complain resolution form in September 2011 along with a money order for $101 advising that I was deducting $1.76 for the cost of the money order and research expenses. I have heard nothing since then.

I called back today and got a "supervisor" on the phone by the name of Michael. After again demanding all of my information, he said that the ID on this Compass debt was "similar" to mine. He said that he "couldn't" manually override the issue. And he said that I would have to send a fax of my social security card, my driver's license, and a copy of one of my checks (red flags). This is someone outside the U.S., not subject to U.S. laws, who is asking me for information they could easily duplicate. I refused. He said that “unfortunately”, I wouldn't be able to write checks if I didn't send the information in (notice the difference in their stories). I asked to speak to his supervisor. He said, "Unfortunately, I am the only supervisor available on the floor." When I asked for the phone number of the corporate office, he said, "Unfortunately, I don't have that number." Thoroughly furious by this time, I yelled: "Unfortunately, I will have to go to the Colorado State Attorney General's office and unfortunately, I will file a complaint. And unfortunately, I will write to your corporate office. And unfortunately, I will have to go to my local television station about this. And unfortunately, I don't have time to put up with your ** anymore. So unfortunately, buh-bye.” And I hung up.

I did some research and the way Telecheck remains the leading check service in the country, is just this way. If they don't have information on you in their database, they will threaten your ability to write checks until you give it to them. If they have old information on you in their database, they will decline your check and get the info from you via bogus "debts", "bounced checks", etc. They prey on your fear, because most people don't intentionally go out and write bad checks. Telecheck is owned by First Data. They own Wells Fargo and some other banks. This is just another example of abusive banking practices, with little to no control by the federal government's regulatory agencies. I suggest everyone who has had trouble with Telecheck to write to their Attorney General and their federal representatives. I am going to do just that. It's no wonder there is so much identity theft. Telecheck gives it away to untrained, unknown people outside the U.S. What a boon to poorer economies and what a loss to the American consumer! I suggest you boycott any store that enlists the services of Telecheck. I am going to do that.

So, I called my state representative because the State of WV just successfully sued Telecheck. Ironically enough, my state rep's assistant had had this happen to her also. Right now, we are waiting to hear Telecheck's explanation, they were given 15 days to respond from our State Attorney General's Office. My advice is to contact your state attorney general or Dept. of Justice. They'd be more than happy to take this up with WV having set precedence. I won't sue, but I believe the states can use consumer complaints to file. Maybe if enough states file suit, they'll fix this issue as they should have after being caught by W. Virginia.

Having stated the above, I am from the old school. I write checks for my goods and services and have been doing so for over 50 years. I have never had a check bounced, and if I can't afford it, I don't buy it. Last Saturday, I wrote a check for groceries (I shop approximately once a month and I am always writing a check) and got denied.

I was very surprised so I called TeleCheck from the store parking lot and was advised, after much button pushing by a representative, that my check was "outside the guidelines," "a high level of checks used," and a "high check amount level." The representative related that these were risk indicators. I ask specifically what risk indicators are, and the young lady, who was evidently reading from a script, could not really help me. She advised me not to write any checks for seven days. I asked her why but there was no sound reason.

Did you know that there are a lot of businesses (that do not use Telecheck) that are glad to have your business?

I have never had a problem for over 30 years, can someone please get involved and find out what’s going on with this system and if it is inside hacking fraudulent business. I am also reporting this to the BBB, so something can be done about this. We as the innocent consumers are really suffering behind this, being embarrassed in the stores because of our checks being denied and cannot get the information that we need to rectify the problem. Something is wrong, so please investigate. Thank for your help.

I have nothing negative against my driver's license. My checking history is decent. My checks clear. My checks have my current residential information. I am the only person who writes checks against the account. I'm scratching my head to figure out why I am falling outside of their guidelines for allowing my checks to clear. What more can I do? This is the 2nd time this has happened (at a different establishment). I don't know if there is any recourse to this. I feel very strongly that this needs to be looked into because as I stated previously, buying boxes of check is not cheap. And I don't like to waste checks unnecessarily.

I had been using my debit card for years but had the card cancelled and am waiting for the replacement. I had verified with my bank that my checks would be honored in the meantime. And they also told the store it was on their end. But Telecheck says that due to my limited experience with them, it would be flat out denied, end of story. I had several thousand dollars in the bank and was unable to do my weekly shopping at Carly C's.

I have never written a bad check and that was not the reason given, only limited transactions with them (never mind that I shopped there weekly and used a debit card for 3 years). Sorry IGA. I doubt I will ever return after that fiasco! The bottom line is that if you start using a debit card, you cannot write checks anymore.

The same day, I went to Walmart, wrote a check for $55.14, it went through. I went on 9-10-11 to get my prescriptions, totaling $99.60 - it was declined. I was out of my medicine, and stood there and called Telecheck. After going through the ridiculously long process of getting to a person, I was hung up on before reaching a person. On my second attempt, I was not friendly one bit to the idiot I was dealing with. They called to verify my number (on my cellphone) so I clicked over to answer them. I had to go back to the original call as they hung up on me. I finally made it to a supervisor, who again called my cellphone and went through the same thing with getting called on my other line.

By this time, I am in a lot of pain, and this idiot tried to call my bank. It is 4pm on Saturday, of course, they got no answer. She came back on line and said she could not verify funds, so I cannot use my checking account. I have had this account since the beginning of the year and have only written 16 checks. I always use my check card. After a very steamy conversation with this person, I was hung up on. I have been at my pharmacy for many years, so they gave me a partial of my meds to get me through until Monday, when I can go to my bank, and have them call Telecheck and tell them that my account is just fine and to stop jacking me on my checking account. I cannot get cash (waiting on new check card), or write a check as I do not own any credit cards (and don't plan it), so I cannot go anywhere if they use Telecheck. I have to wait until I can go to the bank, which obviously is closed on Sundays.

Is there some legal action that can be taken at them? This is ridiculous! I have had a checking account since 1992 and never bounced a check. I switched banks, as I was, and still am, planning to move where my bank will be local and available! Now I can't get gas, grocery, or the rest of my meds until Monday after I go to my bank. I am going to take out a few hundred dollars to cover what I need until my new card arrives. So much for going to visit my friends and relax this weekend. I was in tears at the pharmacy due to not having my medications. There has to be a law, there is for everything else! Please let me know what to do about this. I have never been so embarassed in my life, not to mention in pain!

I could not get my purchase and my son's birthday was spoiled, given that it was my only means of buying the items and I couldn't go anywhere else.

I called Telecheck to find out why my check was declined. I was told because it fell outside of security guidelines. I asked specifically why my check was declined. I could not get an answer, so I asked to speak with the supervisor. I spoke with Christine. She wanted to verify that my account had enough funds. I asked her why. I had, since I completed the transaction with my debit card. She told me that I had written too many check and it was for my protection. I told her that explanation was ridiculous. I could understand it if the check was for a large amount, but it was for $60.94. If all the other checks cleared, why wouldn't a $60 check go through? I asked where I could write a complaint. I received this address: Telecheck Consumer Resolution Office of the President - 6th floor P.O. Box 4514 Houston, TX 77210-4514. I will be sending a letter of complaint. I told her the next time, I'm going to leave the store and make my purchase elsewhere.

So, I called TeleCheck and they said that we haven't used any checks in over 365 days. I told them that we pay all our bills and utilities with this checking account. I even named one of the companies we use but he said that they do not participate with TeleCheck so they have no record of used writing checks.

Now, we cannot use our checking account to any retailer who use TeleCheck. Also, they don't have a relationship with Credit Union. We were upset, embarrassed and are now being told that we can't use our checking account with TeleCheck retailers.

After several minutes and telling her I have had this account for 20 years and no check has ever been declined, she raised her voice and said, "You violated our parameters and you cannot write checks until our system reprocesses you around 6 days." I requested to speak to a supervisor and was told that none was available. When they have time they would call me back. I am still waiting.

The manager of the store that was present said they had been with TeleCheck for about 6 weeks and had many more declines that are normal. But they could not override TeleCheck. If I had bad checks, if I had credit problems, if there was no money to cover the check, etc., I could understand. But there is no valid reason to decline and/or any valid reason they could give me to decline the check. I am a retail manager and found that I am unable to get an answer except, "I violated their parameters" of which they refused to say. This would be totally unacceptable to me as a manager to give this "garbage" to a customer for a declined check. I can read all of the complaints about this company on the internet and I feel for these people, for I am now one of them.

I notified Dick's to let them know of this. It would be nice to see them take action of some kind. After all, I was the customer of DIck's Sporting Goods, not TeleCheck. To be declined with no valid reason and no valid explanation is bad. To be jerked around and told, "No supervisor is available to talk to you" is worse. When they never call back, they have too much discretion and some checks and balances need to be added.

I was furious and immediately called my bank and told them what happened. I did not take the merchandise that I was going to purchase and refused to pay for it. I was told to come in to sign a form and they would credit the amount back. Now today, I received a collection letter in the mail for $135.25. Unfortunately, after talking with the bank and thinking this matter was resolved, I threw away the receipt where it states that it was declined. I refuse to pay this debt, considering I don't have any merchandise to go with it. I have no idea on where to go from here.

Two weeks later, I went to Office Max and purchased some items. The same cashier who ran the last check through was there. She ran it through and you guessed it. Declined. I called Telecheck again. She gave me the same speech. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He said he would try to override it. He said he accidentally erased my file, then he said he could not help me. He told me that anywhere that had Telecheck would not accept my check. I asked him why. He was offended and hung up on me. The cashier said, did he hang up on you? I said yes. She was as shocked as me. So basically, Telecheck is a bunch of dummies that really do not know what they are doing. I have a business and will not use them. I do not understand why any business uses them. They decline for no reason and it loses business of companies.

I checked my bank account today and I see that because of TeleCheck, my account is now in overdraft because they went in without my knowledge and took $20.00 for a fee. I'm worried because of all the horror stories I have read that they will take my whole paycheck without me knowing this week. How can they just take extra money from your account without you knowing and not allow me to write any checks? And when I called them, they say my check was approved! This is ridiculous! Someone should look into this! I haven't been able to write a single check and my bank account has been put in overdraft because of this. It is making me look bad to another company with whom I made a payment to and now their transaction was declined because of the overdraft TeleCheck created.

The automated voice told me, after entering in an ungodly amount of numbers, that I wasn't denied due to any "unpaid debt," but rather because my check did not meet the "Telecheck security guidelines". What? I hold to speak to a representative and finally, a woman answers and asks me for my "terminal number". I ask her what she means by that and she says "don't you have a store number?". I tell her I'm a consumer, not a store. She tells me I have the wrong division. She finally agrees to transfer me to someone else.

After another few minutes, I get to talk to a guy who asks me for information that will ensure that if he ever runs out of money, he has all the information needed to wipe my account clean. He also tells me that I was denied simply because I didn't meet Telecheck's "security guidelines". I asked for an explanation of what that means, he says that I may have written a large amount of checks on the same day. Are you kidding? I went to Walmart and wrote one check! He tells me that I just wrote a check at American Eagle too! (My wife and daughter shopping while I was in Best Buy - they spent $40!) Regardless, he assures me that I won't be purchasing anything at Best Buy tonight. Very true, asI tried again with a different check! I complained to the store manager of Best Buy.

She rather enjoyed saying, like the other employee I talked to, that "we do not make the decision on your check". I tell her I know, and that I will make the decision on where I spend my money from now on and it will not be in any store that uses Telecheck! I assured her that Telecheck was costing her store money and customers. Before the night was through, my wife was also denied at Victoria's Secret. Having traveled 30 miles to do the majority of our Christmas shopping, we were allowed to write three checks by Telecheck.

#1 the amount. $165.77 She said that anything over $100.00 would be denied.

#2 the check number. Mine was 4108

#3 the frequency. I don't use this account often. I admit that.

#4 my history. I am 57 years old and have never written a bad check. I requested a copy of the information used to determine that my check wasn't good. She told me that they would send me an apology letter. Like that's going to do anything. I requested a list of stores that contract with them, so as not to shop there. She told me that they didn't know which retail merchants used their services! Sorry Home Depot, you just lost my business. And, we were just there last night looking at a refrigerator and stove. I am telling everyone I am in contact with about my experience with Home Depot and Telecheck. Boycott merchants who use this service.

First and foremost, since there is a lot of money in my account, I nearly fainted in the store because I thought of stolen identity. Then it was embarrassing to hold up the line because my check was bad. I used their phone to call First Tennessee Bank to make sure my account was okay. They told me the problem was with TeleCheck as usual. I went to my bank and talked to Jeremy **, the manager, phone 865-470-5410, and he said there was no excuse for what they did, but he did not know what to do about it. I will never go to Best Buy again but I wonder what other stores use it so I can avoid them.

I do not have check #1145. I have tried to speak to someone at telecheck for hours. When I finally got through to customer service, they were closed. I have not received anything by mail from them. The only way I know about this at all is by my personal bank account. I have no idea how much that check was for and why was it accepted by telecheck? I want to see the signature on the check and get a copy of it. I have nothing or have I received any information. I have received a voice mail that only gives me a 6 digit number and then says it will connect me to the lawyers office. I have no idea who this is or the number. It goes right to my voice mail, which is my voice mail number. I need to speak to telecheck to find out why they took my money. It could be that someone got a hold of that check at my job. I work at Walmart in Money Services. So I know how it works but I never knew how hard it is for a customer to actually, speak to a human person at telecheck.

I received another bill for the billing period July 1, 2010 through July 31, 2010 for $55.00. I called TeleCheck on August 9, 2010 and spoke with Joyce who assured me that this was not supposed to be billed to me. And she said that she would make sure that everything is corrected. The Beadworks bank account was closed because the business was closed on May 31, 2010. I called again on August 24, 2010 because an attempt was made to deduct the July fees from my closed account. I spoke with Monee and was told that the account is definitely closed, and the $55.00 charge for the July month should not have been charged and that the charge would be reversed.

Today, I received a bill for the August 1 through August 31, 2010 period, showing a balance due of $36.56 for a check return fee of $26.56 and a processing fee of $10.00. I called today and spoke with Monee who told me that your computers are down. I owe you no money. I cancelled the account and have paid through the end of June, even though the business was closed on May 31, 2010. I advised you and received customer service # **. And I was told that the cancellation is in effect as of June 24, 2010, and that no money is owed after the June month. You persisted in billing me. This letter is being sent to you, to my bank, to the Better Business Bureau, and to ConsumerAffairs.com.

I am going to blog and write about this, as much as possible, until someone does something about this company, and it's horrible business practices, even if I have to write a letter to every person possible, or blog until I'm blue in the face. I do not believe businesses should be able to decide, what I can spend my hard-earned money on. I am a student. Now, I have to drop a class and lose some financial aid funds, because of a silly company who thinks it has the right to determine how I spend my hard-earned money. I really am thinking about filing a lawsuit to be honest.

How can this company do this and who give them the authority and right to do so? I was embarrassed and humiliated, that cannot be "fixed". Who else have they given this misinformation to? What can I do to stop this?

When I would wait a bit to see if a person would come on the line, I got "Thank you for calling Telecheck", and the line would go dead. What is that? So, I will get my refund from Sam's Club, then I will not renew my membership. Saying good bye to Home Depot and Sam's Club and Office Depot and Wal-mart too. All this started with Office Depot earlier in the year when my check for less than $8 was declined because they had installed Telecheck. Screw it. The credit industry in this country is messed up, and Telecheck is part of the reason.

I like the savings offered at these big stores and the choices the big stores offer--but those options have been arbitrarily removed from me by Telecheck. Now I guess I am going to jump on the "buy local" bandwagon--so long big stores--because the only way we really have any power anymore is through our pocket books. I had decent credit, but now I cannot even get a refund for something they took my money for. Is anyone filing a class action? Talking to the attorney general? I am waiting for the day that my daughter's tuition payment is declined because I paid it with a check. With Telecheck, you are presumed guilty no matter what you do.

After much hassle and much waiting I finally reached a real person. She explained that my check had been denied because my check numbers were out of sequence. Thats right. Somehow I had accidentally skipped a check, and went back to it today. My check was denied because I had written out check # 1404 afterI had written check # 1407, and that put the transaction at high risk for fraud. I explained that there was no fraud, it was my account, in my name, with plenty of money in it, and that I had the proper photo ID, so how could there be a fraud? Unbelievable.

So, I asked that the next check that I write be approved, because I had a basket full of merchandise that I needed to pay for, and she couldn't guarantee that the 2nd one would be accepted and it wasn't! Unfortunately it is a holiday weekend so I have to be patient, but I cant wait to get to my bank on Tuesday and see what they have to say about this. I will be requesting a debit card for this account to use in the future, and I will be advising retailers from now on that when they say Yes, we accept checks, that they should also add if Telecheck decides to approve it, but you wont know whether they will or wont until after you've done all your shopping. From what Ive read online in just the past hour, I realize that this is becoming a common problem with Telecheck. There are tons of complaints about them. Its just another case of yet another company/agency playing God with peoples lives and peoples reputations. Telecheck claims it is a fraud prevention service. IMO Telecheck is the one perpetrating a fraud on the American consumer! Inconvenience, embarrassment, frustration, and after reading many reports I am now concerned about resulting consequences.

Office Depot. Even the manager at Office Depot said that the Telecheck Company was a pain to deal with. Apparently they go through this all the time. They gave me an 800 # to call when I called the number I had to give all my personal bank info and such before I even got a real person. I finally got a real person after being on hold for awhile and then I had to repeat all the information I had just gave them. After all that all they could tell me was my check was outside the Telecheck guidelines. I proceeded to ask what that meant and they really couldn’t give me an answer other than me not having a history with them and it was a large amount ($500) at which time they said they would send me out a letter and next time it happens to call while I was still in the store and they might be able to over ride the transaction. So I let that go, needless to say on May 12, 2010 I go to write a check at Best Buy again denied oh but not just me they were having trouble with the whole system because there was 3 lines being held up (including mine) because of checks being denied. This time I had only written the check for $43.00. I was again told to call the 800 number. I didn't call then at the store because I was already embarrassed and highly ticked off so I got out in my car and called on my cell phone.

Again, I got put through the run around and they stated the same thing. I proceeded to ask them how I can have a history with them when they won't let it go through. Again they could not give me a straight answer. All they could say is wait a few days and write a check for a lower amount. Well, then again on May 14, 2010 I am back a Best Buy and was trying to write a check for $37.00 again denied! I go through all this again and spoke with a manager and she told me to go back to the store and she could over ride it. I told her I was already far away from there. She couldn't give me a straight answer and I was getting really mad at this point and I stated I was going to contact the BBB and The Attorney General's Office and her attitude changed all of a sudden. But still all she could tell me this time was I was to wait 7 days to write any more checks and to write it for a lower amount. I was furious by this time. So here I am, no debit card and I can’t write any checks for 7 days. I had asked her how low do I have to write it for a $1.00 She couldn’t give me an answer but that I didn’t' have history and I told her about the other times I had written checks and they did the same thing to me and she stated that she saw all the times it happened.

I then stated to her "You have a history of denials but you can't put my checks through even though the money was in there.” “If you have a history of denied checks there is your history I can't establish a history with your company when you won't let any go through. Again I told her I wanted something in writing stating why they were denying my checks and she said I would receive a letter which I have still yet to get and here it is May 19, 2010. You try calling and you can't get to a real person without giving them all your account numbers and all. I refuse to give them any more of my information. Something needs to be done about this company so I will contact the Attorney General.

Today is April 14, 2010. We have contacted Telecheck and our bank Vice-President has personally called them on of behalf. Today, they informed us the matter was taken care of. That was not, so when we went into WalMart to buy groceries. Our check was declined and when I contacted Telecheck by phone, they said it was the WalMart system that was declining our check. That was not true as Telecheck transferred us to the WalMart check system and they informed me there was no reason for our check to be declined.

Then when the person from WalMart tried to get Telecheck back on the line to tell them that they were not declining our check, the Telecheck service was shut down for the day. How convenient for them. I am sick and tired of Telecheck having the ability to tell me how, when, and where I am allowed to spend my own hard earned money.

This has put a serious strain on our family as we live in a very small town that has a WalMart and one grocery store. I have to go to our bank and withdraw cash if I wish to buy groceries or go to WalMart for whatever we are needing. I have had to take time off work to try and get this matter rectified and it is still not taken care of, so I am probably going to have to take more time off work tomorrow trying to solve this problem.

On Mar. 13, they withdrew this $10 fee directly through my bank account via (ACH) ATM transaction. Yet, I never gave this company permission to withdraw money from my account. So are they allowed to withdraw money anytime they want and monitor my account to know exactly when I get paid to withdraw any amount of money they want whenever they want, without permission of me? Remember this all started with one innocent check written out to Home Depot and denied twice on that first day of Feb. 23rd. Yet, even though denied, Telecheck had no problem withdrawing the money from my account 3 times! Again, without my permission or even notifying me of the transactions!

And up until this day, they had kept the original $3,900 and finally after phone call after phone call, and my bank account transactions being faxed to them multiple times, they have finally paid Home Depot. But not after ruining my credit, demanding they would not allow me to write a check and be approved through any of their companies which are used by big companies such as Wal-Mart. In this letter, they sent me a few days ago. They also said that any ATM transactions would be denied. So here I am an innocent, upstanding citizen, never have written a bad check in my life, excellent credit up until this experience with Telecheck. Please, if you know anyone who can help me, email me. Thanks!

I went home and checked my checking account balance and was amazed to see that TeleCheck made two withdrawals from my checking account via ACH (which is ATM) even though this was a check and for only one transaction, and even though they had clearly denied my check and therefor Home Depot was unable to cash my check.

Because they took nearly $8,000 from my account it went into the negative and my bank charged me a $33 returned item fee. I was so outraged over this, that I drove over to Home Depot and asked "why" they had removed $3,900 not once, but twice from my account. The manager of accounting in their store was very nice to me and showed me that they received no money since the check was denied "twice" by TeleCheck on that same day. She spent all day on the phone with TeleCheck, at times I was tele conferencing with them over an 8 hour period! TeleCheck denied withdrawing the money from my account even after I copied my bank account record and faxed it to them the same day. Finally they returned $3,900 back to my bank account but kept the remaining $3,900. They said it would be returned to my account within 4 to 5 days. Instead of resolving this matter they again took $3,900 from my account (not sure why?). I immediately called my Chase bank and got the money back including another overdraft fee.

Well guess what, 22 days later, and many phone calls via my bank, TeleCheck, and home depot, TeleCheck still has my money and has not paid home depot. And they still deny ever taking the money from my account even though I have the evidence from my checking account statement. This is a lot of money! I live off of Social security disability and Veterans Disability checks, which is not much, and having this much money stolen from me is not good at all! So how can TeleCheck get away with stealing $3,900 from my account on 3 different dates? And now guess what?

They have sent me a letter in the mail stating "notice of unpaid electronic fund transfer" in the amount of $3,900 plus a returned item fee of $10. Guess what? TeleCheck has purchased my debt, wow how kind of them! And they have ruined my credit! I can't write anymore checks and they are threatening to deny any ATM transactions. How are they getting away with all this?

I've read letter after letter of complaints against this company, but I'll have to say mine seems to be the worst case because as of this day they still have robbed me of nearly $4,000!

What can I do? I am disabled and because of this I am tired and in chronic pain all the time. I have no fight left in me. Please someone help me! This is not right. They should be sued. Because of this incidence, my credit is ruined, my ability to write checks is ruined, many times I was left weeks unable to access money from my account due to them stealing money from my account on multiple times from a single check! I have been unable to buy groceries during a period of almost 7 days due to TeleCheck making my account go into the negative on two different dates! I would very much welcome contact by an attorney. This is beyond my ability to rectify. I need help, Please!

Their actions have caused us to not be able to write checks, not to mention the embarrassment and inconvenience. Because of the policies of the Best Buy store/Telecheck, we are now unable to write checks and all they will do is say sorry. I am 57 and have never written a bad check. I have spent a lot of time to resolve this and I feel Best Buy needs to review their policies. The bank was correct not to give this kind of information over the phone to an unknown party.

I was floored; 5 years of perfect business transactions with this company and because of the TeleCheck denial, I was now on the Cash Only blacklist. I walked away and went to call TeleCheck. Once going through the digital screening process this company used, I got a human on the phone, gave Amy all the information I had just entered again. She asked me some personal identification questions and then proceeded to state that the check had been denied. I stated that I was aware of this and wanted to know why. She then put me on hold for 4 minutes 41 seconds and came back and stated it was a Code 3 denial. I again stated I know that, "What is a Code 3 denial?"

Again, I was put on hold and she came back on within a minute and stated that I/my company had no history with TeleCheck, therefore any merchant using their services would deny my checks. I asked what was meant by no history. "Your checks have never been presented to a merchant that used our service, therefore your checks are deemed as a high risk." Mind you, I have written over 400 checks to this vendor and never had any issues but now, because of TeleCheck, I am a high risk customer! I asked for a manager or supervisor.

Typically, I was told that there were none available. I asked again for their Legal Dept. That got a response. I was told that if I wanted to talk to their legal dept., I would have to write to a PO Box and wait for a response. I said, "If that is the case, I want the address and a customer service or complaint address form, anything." I was promptly told that if I were considering legal action, I would never be able to cash a check again with any merchant. It was the wrong answer. I immediately felt as if this were an attempt to threaten me, my company and to black ball me in fear of the fact that I might proceed legally in pursuit of this issue.

Needless to say, after 48 minutes of "Ring Around the Rosie" with this individual, I hung up steaming and went back to the Vendor asked for the Sales Manager who has handled our account for 5 years and explained this whole ordeal to him. He called their finance mgr. and explained the whole ordeal again. He thought it was interesting and on the sales manager's word that I was a good customer and an honest individual with a long standing history with Cargo Largo/ Recovery Services, they would make an exception and accept my check for the purchases.

The fact of the matter is that I was so wound up, embarrassed and Insulted by the whole situation that I walked outside and decided that if I were going to be treated by Cargo Largo/TeleCheck Services like I had been that morning that I would just go home (284 miles) with an empty truck and not spend my money with a merchant that had been that insensitive to a long standing and I hope valued customer. Bottom line is, I am contacting our attorney to find out what avenues can be pursued in this matter.

As for Cargo Largo, I will continue to do business with them but it will only be after receiving a formal apology in person and in writing from someone in their management team. The fact that they would allow a longstanding customer, in good standing be subjected to this much frustration by turning over control of their brains to an outside service that knows nothing about their customers makes me realize that there must be some real issues with the management of Cargo Largo. I do want to thank the sales manager and finance manager for at least being sensible enough to look at this situation and make the offer that they did; nonetheless, it is something that Cargo Largo should have considered long before signing on with TeleCheck.

I can promise you my company and retail outlet will never use their services, because (1) I trust my customers who have done business with us and (2) I won't give control of the reputation of my company and that of my valued customers to some electronically-controlled, robot-managed service like TeleCheck. If I did, I wouldn't expect to be in business very long. Just a side note, at the time the check was presented, the account that it was written on and was the same one I have used for every transaction with Cargo Largo had a balance of $8755 available. Again, TeleCheck did not care about the balance in the account. They only based their recommendation on the fact that I/my company had no history with theirs.

I don't understand how they can make the decision on how I spend my own money. I had no other way of paying for the apparel, so I either have to drive 40 miles back to the outlets or do without what we needed for our summer vacation. It's just the principle.

I was very embarrassed, as I had to pull myself out of line and wasn't to purchase my products. Now I am in need of food and other products, and without a debit card, and banks being closed today (Saturday - 6/14/08) and tomorrow (6/15/08), I'm not able to purchase anything that I need. There are a few products I need immediately, and cannot understand how I could be penalized for 6 days of writing a check when I have more than enough in my checking account. It's created a very inconvenient situation for me, and especially when no one at Telecheck could give an answer as to why I was declined and also would not remove the 6 day hold of not allowing me to write checks.