Certegy Reviews

I went to Walmart in Azle, Texas to cash my paycheck and was told it was denied by Certegy for a Code 2.

Just getting back in the workforce with a well known company that has been in the city for years. And after picking up my first full paycheck, I was unable to cash it at Wal-Mart or Winn Dixie due to Certegy, flagging it as potential fraud. Working hours that start before the bank opens and end after they close, the check cashing services once appeared to be a viable option.

On October 5 at a TJ Maxx 50 miles from my home, I wrote a check for $330 worth of merchandise with my valid driver's license. I have ten times that much money in my checking account. Certegy rejected my check. I was given a card which has a 1-800 number by the store manager. I called it from the store but all I got was computer messaging, so I was unable to get a resolution. When I got home I got on the Certegy website and filled in my info but again there was no resolution. So I called 1-800 again and I finally talked to customer rep Dana.

I tried to write a check at Albertsons and was declined. The clerk gave me a blue card to call Certegy. With no avail and no answers, the representative wanted checking, social, and routing numbers! I believe this is a scam and someone better get a hold to this company and quick, maybe the BBB.

Six months ago I had my payroll check, which is drawn on a Bank of America account. I couldn't get to my bank before closing, so I tried to cash it at an HEB grocery. I was told they couldn't cash it and was given the Certegy paper slip. I never called.

I wrote a check to pay for my gas (WaWa). It was declined. The clerk could only tell me that it was a Code 2. She gave me a number to call, but it was a wrong number. Finally, I found the number for Certegy. I got the automated system who informed me that my check was not declined due to NSF. But I was informed that my check was not accepted because it did not meet the parameters of their check model. I have been with the same bank for over 20 years and I do not bounce checks! I called the 800 number and waited for a customer service representative. No one ever answered the phone! I was on hold for 30 minutes! This was embarrassing when I was at the pump. I went to another WaWa about a mile down the street. Of course, the same thing happened again. This really pisses me off! Whatever company uses Certergy, go figure!

I tried to cash a check payable through the Federal Reserve System, State Treasurer, Raleigh, North Carolina. The check was turned down from Certegy and I was given reason number 2. After calling the number, I could get no information except pretty much that it did not meet their "computer models" for whatever that is worth.

Target refused my check based on a report by Certegy (a gambling check clearing house). Their response was that I had been writing too many checks in the last 24 hours. Duh! I have Friday and Saturday to do my shopping, so what do you think I am going to do? Guess, I'll just stop shopping at Target.

I went to Walmart to load my Social Security Disability check (I have brain/lung cancer) on my Walmart debit card and was declined. I called Certegy and was told the check was flagged because it didn't meet the parameters of their computer model. They also explained that they did not have any negative or bad check-writing history for me, whatsoever. I went elsewhere to cash the check with no problem.

I wrote a check at Publix, with kids in tow, and was denied. The clerk couldn't give me an answer but the person standing behind me said that I needed to get a job. How embarrassing and rude. I had more than enough money to cover a few packages of diapers and I had left my debit card in the car but had the checkbook with me. The clerk handed me a number to call Certegy Check Services. However, I did not call as I have been aware of their services for quite sometime and knew they'll dig more personal information from you that has no regards to your situation. They do this to people who have a lot of money in their accounts and have never written bad checks. It's a way for them to get more people to scam.

It was declined. She gave me a card stating:

On July 29, 2011 I was purchasing football equipment for my 9 year old grandson from Hibbetts Sporting Goods in Mcalester Oklahoma. This was a special gift from only me so I decided to use my personal checking account. The clerk informed me that my check had been declined and gave me a number to call. I called the 800 number of Certegy and got an automatic call. They asked my check number and amount of check. I gave this and the automatic call informed me that they would be unable to let my check clear at this time, no representatives were available to help me at this time. This is so not acceptable for me.

Wrote a check to Murphy USA (wal-mart gas) and check was declined. Called Certegy and they could not ok funds. I have great credit, and am the sole owner of multimillion dollar apartment complexes in central Missouri. A few of my customers were in the store at the same time as this embarrassing moment. Called from my car to the 800# and spoke with one of the reps from Certegy and with very broken English she informs me that the check was not able to be processed. I asked for her supervisor Berna (employee# E1042239) and she apologized for the inconvenience but could not give me a reason why the "system" would not allow my check to be processed.

I live 90 miles from a grocery store. We tried to write a check for our groceries, which Certegy denied.

I received a no good Western Union money order from my mother, which she purchased at a Walmart in Vermont. I cash my paycheck every week at the same Walmart here in Nashville so I went to cash the money order there. I got the stupid little slip of paper "we cannot cash this check, etc," then it said "reason 2", of course the Walmart employees were clueless. It's a MONEY ORDER, not a CHECK.

I have read lots of complaints about Certegy, but none that had the same laughable issue I had with those folks at Certegy. I went to Best Buy, wrote a check for $750 in purchases. It was turned down due to a report from Certegy. Fine. I told the clerk I would go to Sam's club the next day and buy the products, which I did. When the check went through at Sam's, I asked what company they use for check approval. Guess who? Certegy. When a check cleared my bank that I had written at Lowe's for $1800.00, I noticed on my statement that the check was cleared by --you guessed it -- Certegy. It was the same with Home Depot. They all use these idiots. I wrote to Best Buy's corporate headquarters about this issue, being that Certegy will approve my checks from everywhere except Best Buy. It took 3 weeks to get a corporate response, if that was what it was. I was told the local store manager would be in touch. That was 6 months ago. I have heard nothing. So, I do not shop at Best Buy, ever.

Applied for Target Debit Card, declined due to info from Certegy. Contacted Cergtegy asking for info they have. Info is a fraudulent check written in 2008 and supposedly signed by my husband who passed away in 2002. Faxed Certegy copy of police report I filed in 2008, a copy 2008 fraud claim with my bank and results from their end showing it was fraud. Certegy stated it would be taken care of. Waited several months, applied for Target Debit Card again, declined again due to same info from Certegy.

On June 26, 2011, I wrote a check for $10.97 to DSW in Northridge, California. The cashier proceeded to process my check and told me it was declined. He was unable to tell me why but handed me a card with Certegy's 800 number on it. When I got home, I called the number and was told by an automated voice that my check was declined because I had a previous returned check. I called the 800 # twice and emailed the company twice but they were non-responsive every time.

I went to Wal-Mart on 6/23/11 to cash my IRS refund check and was declined. I was given a printout and told I needed to call Certegy and give them Code 2. I asked the clerk why on earth they couldn't cash my federally issued refund check for less than $1500.00? She said that maybe my SSN didn't match what the IRS had. What?

I tried to write a check at Target and it was declined. I know I had more than enough money in my checking account, but could not use my debit card. It was deactivated with hundreds of others due to a "security breech" and my replacement was in the mail. I didn't have enough cash with me. It was a Saturday afternoon and I was in Target with my two babies buying diapers and getting declined. Why? Because I usually don't write checks. I sometimes write checks to pay bills.

On May 11, 2011, I wrote a check for $54.86 to a local Staples store that we have traded with for many years, and it was rejected. I thought the clerk made the error, so I just used a credit card and went on. Then on May 18, we tried two different times to write a check at PetSmart for $8.00 and one for $7.00 (plus a few cents on each check). They were rejected, and the store manager gave me information on Certegy to call. I did and got nowhere; the only thing they could say was a check had been returned and then they gave me the number of Early Warning Co. to talk to someone there.

ON 05/21/2011, I wrote a check at Macy's 10200 Mill Run Circle, Owings Mills, MD 21157 for less than $300.00. At the time of writing this check, there was over $3,400.00 in my checking account. My check was declined at Macy's and I was given no reason why. However, I was given a computer generated print out with information to contact Certegy Customer Care at 1-800-831-5873.

I wrote a check that was also declined by Certegy when there were more than sufficient funds to cover it. I have never written a bad check and have spotless credit. After much research, the best recourse I have come up with is to file a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). Their phone number is 1-877-382-4357 or 877-FTC-HELP.

I wrote a check for a purchase at the Carter's store and was told by the staff that Certegy had declined the check. The store gave me a number to call for Certegy. I was connected to an automated system that stated the check was good, the account was good, but the check had been declined. I persisted until I was able to talk to an individual. She basically restated the same thing that the automated system said. Still, no explanation about the decline. She could not do any more other than offer me the opportunity to apply for a "Gold Card" that would apparently allow my checks to be accepted.

I went to Albertsons to get a few groceries. I did not have my ATM card and decided to write a check. I think I have written maybe 4 checks since I got here to Idaho. The bill was for $32. I had just got paid and my account was good. The store clerk ran it through and said it was declined! **? She gave me a blue card with Certegy's phone number on it and apologized. I called them and was forced to give personal information before I could speak to a human being. After jumping through hoops, I was informed they were closed. What a hassle. Apparently, there are a great many people having the same problems with this company. I agree with the general census here, those who use Certegy do not need my business.

We went to Super Target in Vernon Hills, IL for Christmas shopping and tried to pay by check but was denied by Certegy. When we called the 800 number, we put in all of our information & found out there was nothing on our recent transaction. At Target, they said the same thing happened to 4 other people earlier this week & there was nothing they could do. We came back to Target with cash & paid for our purchases; but think Certegy services are horrific & they have no right to handle your check as if they were the bank!

Making purchase at Walgreens, check was rejected with no explanation. Bank was located just across the street and they said they would verify the funds, but they would not allow that at Walgreens. I can see from previous complaints that there is little or nothing that I as a consumer can do. What control.

I called 4 times and I was stuck on eternal hold waiting to get information as to why a check was declined at Lowes. Called and was on hold for 45 minutes finally I asked for the Supervisor and suddenly he was able to answer all my questions. Amazing but I still was not able to pay for a RCF of $ 50.00 that the charges would come off sometime and that my check writing privileges were never removed but yet the original notice was from 11/16/2010 for $ 23.33. I even went online as was suggested and either my information was not available. I guess because it was too soon for the website but Lowes already knew about an issue. My bank could not even tell me if there was a problem or too late after seven days you are forced to call and play their game.

I went to a locate grocery store, that is Bruno's, on Wednesday, November 24 to do my Thanksgiving shopping. I had a bag full of groceries and when I got to the register, the clerk told me that my check had been declined. Well, I knew I had more than enough funds to cover the check and I instantly called my bank to check my account. Funds were there and the clerk gave me a number to call Certegy and go get an explanation. By this time, I was embarrassed as well as humiliated because the grocery store was very crowded.

I made a purchase at Macy's in Atlanta. The check was scanned and handed back to me and I was given my merchandise. I thought nothing else about it until I went to a local grocery store in Hixson, TN when my check was declined. I was told to call Certegy. I called them and they said I have a check returned and I told them that was not possible as I keep a large running balance in my account and haven't had a returned check in 30 years.

I wrote a check at a business called Big Lots and it was denied. Thinking it was due to an out of state bank, I wrote one on a local bank and again denied. I was able to obtain the merchandise by my daughter paying for my purchase. I went to my car and called the number given. I could not reach a person to speak with. It is a voice call system. I cannot get an answer as to why other than it was for the business protection as well as mine. What does that mean? I do not have perfect credit and I have had checks not clear. However, I have always paid the checks and the fees that are charged for a check not clearing. I have always paid all my debts and never walk away from any charges that I may owe.

This is the second time my check has been declined through these crooks. The customer service representative said that I have a perfect check writing history; just the way the computer chooses. The answer to why my checks are being denied is a scam.

I went shopping with teenage son, went to a store in Reno, called "Tillys". we selected several items for a price of $230.00, I wrote a check, with proper I.D., on an account with way more then enough to cover, and Certegy denied the check with no reason. Although, I called Tilly's corporate office and they told me who to contact. I had to go to my bank and write a check for cash (on same account) and go back to store to make purchase.

I want to add on to the issue with Certegy. I went to cash my payroll check at WalMart. It was denied. I was given a little printout saying I needed to contact Certegy for verification. They would do some sort of personal information collection that would take about 24 hours to verify. I called and all of my information was verified. They took down information about the check including check number, check amount, routing number and the bank account number on the check. They then took down my full name and driver's license number. After all of that, they put me on hold for about 5 minutes only to come back and say that they can't override the decision to deny the check. Good checks get denied all the time based upon the possibility of it being fraudulent. What ****! They just took down enough information to make a duplicate of the check! I have cashed checks at WalMart for years and never ran into this Certegy crap until this year. Where did this system come from?

Twice now, Nov. 1, 2010 being the most recent incident, a money order purchased at a Wal-Mart could not be cashed at another Wal-Mart. Seems you need to check guarantee company. Certegy now processes your own issued money orders as checks so they can charge a cashing fee. They asked for my state ID, driver's license and my ss#, which raised a red flag and I asked the cashier why. She said Certegy, their check guarantor, was now charging for cashing money orders. So why the **** do they not honor a money order. They already have the cash for plus another $1.60 just to get it and then maybe you can get it cashed. Ridiculous!

Petsmart will not allow a military I.D. as proof of identity when writing a check. Even a disabled veteran who cannot drive is asked for a driver's license. The manager says it is because of Certegy, not them. The purpose of showing ID when writing a check is confirming you are who you say you are on your check not that there are funds in your account. A criminal can have a valid driver’s license but not a valid, retired officer’s I.D. Why do they dislike military veterans?

A check for $65.30 was written at Tom Thumb (Safeway) grocery store where I have had other purchases. I've never written a bad check, and there were more than enough funds in account. The check declined and I was just told Certegy. Safeway said Certegy had 'negative information' and gave me number for a furniture store I haven't purchased at in 20 years. Furniture store couldn't answer and gave me Certegy's number.

On October 29, 2010, Certegy declined my check of $108.24 at the merchant finish line in Houston Galleria Mall. I phoned Certegy service department in the store and they could and would not provide me an explanation on why my check declined when I had greater than 10 times the amount I was writing for in my account. I was totally humiliated in a store with a lot of people. I had to return the next morning to purchase the item with a debit card from the same account. I never want to conduct business with Certegy ever again!

I was at Copps grocery store in Sun Prairie, WI, a store I have shopped many times and a store I have written many checks at for my weekly groceries. I have a Roundy’s card, so they have my personal information, bank information and everything else to know who I am. On October 23, 2010, I wrote a check for $104 and Certegy rejected my check in front of my neighbors and friends. I have never been so humiliated in my life. Copps would only tell me I had to call my bank. It was 3:30 PM on a Saturday. Good luck with that.

I started a job at Walgreen's (the famous pharmacy store) and got my first payroll check on October 14th. I went to the only two places in my more than 5000 populated town that do cash checks and was denied with a code two at both by Certegy.

I was in Dillard's this evening having a special mom/daughter homecoming dress shopping outing. We found the dress and proceeded to the checkout counter. The woman asked me for my DL, and then she input my birthdate, the exp. date on my license and my check number. The check was then declined. She put it in several times and the line behind us was growing with impatient people. I used my debit card and it went through.

On October 13, I went into the AT&T Office on 2003 W. Dan forth Rd, St A. Edmond, OK 73003 to conduct some business. When I was told the amount of my purchase I wrote a check. It immediately came back from this Certegy outfit stating "we apologize for not accepting your check. We value your business and regret the inconvenience. Our decision was based in part on information provided by Certegy Check Services, Inc. ("Certegy"). I was stunned. I have been writing checks for over 40 years and this is the first time some "fly by night" incompetent outfit refused one.

In the past two weeks, I have had two checks denied at businesses. Reason: Certegy Code 2: Although no unpaid check information is on file, Certegy did not have sufficient information available to approve the transaction, or this transaction exceeded a pre-established limit.

I wanted to cash my payroll checks but get a reason three. Call the number listed and don't get told why. What give you the right to say that I cannot get the money that I worked hard to get that now I cannot get it? I have never been in trouble with the IRS or the law but yet I get told no money. That is my check. I am only 20 and I don't know why. It was not told to just why but that you have the right to say no. If you can not get this fixed you might want to get out off this line of work. Yes, I am made. This is not right.

I placed an order on August 10 by mail with a catalog company, Serengeti, with whom I have not previously dealt with. I sent a check for $276.70 with the order form. Shortly thereafter, the order and check were returned to me by a company called Certegy, with the notation, "Although no unpaid check information is on file, Certegy did not have sufficient information available to approve the transaction, or this transaction exceeded a pre-established limit". I had more than ample funds in the account to cover the check.

Wal-Mart advertised payroll and government check cashing for a fee of 3 or 6 dollars. On 9-4-10, I went to Wal-Mart to cash my social security check and was declined. I did not understand why because this was my first time. I was told that they did not know why and to call a 1-800 number so I went home and called the number numerous times before I could talk to a human.

Three individual checks I had written to a local Circle K in Baton Rouge, La, during the months of June, July & August of 2010 each for gas for my car for the amounts of $25.00 were run through (2) two times each in my bank account statement. Certegy got a $50 sum from each of my checks of $25. I went to my bank and sat down eyeball-to-eyeball with my banker and discussed the fact that there had been an error on my statement and that I wanted my $75 re-deposited to my account. This was immediately done.

I attempted to cash my payroll check at Walmart, which I have done from time to time over the past year, when I need money immediately, and cannot wait for the check to clear my bank. My check was for $1315.69. Walmart could not negotiate the check. The associate gave me a slip of paper with a general explanation from a company named Certegy, a phone number, and a reason code (#2). I called the number and the automated explanation was that my particular payroll check fit "certain patterns of check writing" (It's a payroll check from a large and profitable automobile dealership! Pattern? Check writing?), and that the amount "exceeds the guidelines of what they are willing to authorize" (based on what information? Certegy's website assures that Credit Information does not factor into this decision, so what information do they use to create their "guidelines?) This cannot be legal. I will have to attempt to borrow money to buy food and formula for my children, gas for my vehicle, and household items as my check will not clear the bank for 48 hours.

On August 20, I wrote a check to Lowe's for $17.69. The clerk gave me a receipt that said that my check was declined by Certegy for a Code 1 (negative information is on file). I have never bounced a check and had written checks to Lowe's previously without a problem. However, I had received a letter from Certegy addressed to another name (not even close to mine) at my address. I suspect that a Certegy employee had clicked on a wrong key. I've mailed them all the supporting information to confirm my identity. This is not the first time that I have been through this with this company! If this is not corrected soon, my next step is to contact my Attorney General.

Back in 2004 I wrote a check to Empress Casino for $200 dollars and it was returned for non sufficient funds. When Certegy contacted me I had to pay the $200 plus a $25 dollar service fee. Now they are saying I did not pay it and I cannot cash and checks anywhere. How do I correct this?

I write checks valued at $400 a week to target. This week, I had a check declined by certegy for no apparent reason. After researching complaints about this company, I will no longer be shopping at target until I hear or read that target does not use certegy anymore.

I just read these and am even angrier than I was a few hours ago! I’m all for getting together and filing a class action suit against this company. In this day and age, a large percent of us live pay check to pay check. So now, suddenly, I’m working myself to death for free! Because my pay roll check was declined! Same design was drawn off the same bank and same company. For almost a year, nothing has changed. It’s a Fortune 500 company with 500 stores nationwide and at the same WalMart where I’m known by the cashiers because I do always cash my check there, it’s suddenly declined!

I went to Safeway Grocery Store after I got off work to cash my Payroll check. My checks are paid by the State. I have cashed my check there one time with no problems. I was told that my account has a maximum limit set at $200.00 and the clerk said my check exceeded the limit. I asked what account since I have no account. She said that when I opened. And I stopped her and said I did not open an account. She explained to me that the first time I had cashed a check there, there is a limit set. I asked her if this limit is set for anyone who cashes a payroll check through Certegey? She said she didn't know. I also asked her if she got a lot of complaints from other customers concerning this policy. She shook her head and said no. I asked her for their customer service numbers before I left. The Store clerk was loud and she kept looking over my head to the people that were behind me in line. I could feel my face getting red.

I went to the Walmart Money Store to cash my payroll check. I was told it had been declined by Certegy for a Code 2. She was unable to tell me anything else but gave me a paper with their number on it and said I'd have to call them to find out more information which I did. When I phoned Certegy, they said I had been declined not for anything bad, but to protect the company and myself from any type of fraud. I asked how I could clear this up so in the future I could cash payroll checks there.

My 15 year old daughter went to WalMart to cash her very first paycheck from McDonalds. Certegy denied her cashing her payroll check for reason number 3. My daughter had her state issued ID with picture on it and WalMart still refused to cash the payroll check stating they can't cash checks if Certegy deny them. Certegy refused to tell us what number 3 meant.

I wrote a check for $300. The Lumire Casino cashed the check. When I received my bank statement, I saw that the check had cleared and that a second withdrawal was made from my account in the same amount. I went to my bank and the bank reversed the direct withdrawal. However, since then, any store or other location that uses Certegy denies my check. The original check was stamped "void check - do not deposit". Lumire's bank cleared the check anyway and my bank did the same. My bank corrected the direct withdrawal on my account. None of this makes any sense. My bank wrote a letter to Certegy telling them why the direct charge was reversed. I have received several calls from Certegy's collection agency or whoever they have making calls. I tried to call Certegy directly and waited on the phone for over 45 minutes. Both times, I never did get anyone to answer the phone.

My husband and I were in a Jewel store where we usually write checks for groceries. On this particular day, our check was denied. The cashier rudely gave us back our check and handed us a receipt with a phone number on the bottom and told us there was nothing they could do and to call that number. We did and they told us they got a returned check from us. The check was paid and an additional $25.00 fee was accessed from our account without our permission. They apologized to us and told us sorry about the inconvenience and our checks would be accepted on the next purchase. We went back to the same store two days later and the same exact thing happened. Our family was completely embarrassed with no cash and our children had already eaten some chips. We called the number back and they told us they had no record of the previous phone call and went on to tell us about not paying a $25 fee again. We never write bad checks.

I just purchased a home in the area. I went to Target in Winston Salem on Hanes Mall Blvd. My purchases totaled $632.09 and I wrote a check for that amount. My check was denied. I explained to the manager, and the associates that there was not a problem with my checking account, there was more than enough money in my account to cover the check. They continued to tell me that they could not accept my check because Certegy (their check serving company) would not authorize it. This happened Sunday afternoon.

Today a check was declined at Albertson's Grocery for a reason unknown to me. The account on which it was written has never had a balance less than Fifteen hundred dollars and at the time the check was declined contained more Six thousand dollars.

I cash payroll and occasional expense reimbursement checks at Jackson CA Walmart and Safeway Stores. I cash them every other week. I rarely have a problem, but I get rejected as Code 2 every few months and Certegy won't give me any reason that I should be denied, other than to prevent fraud and protect the consumer.

Today 6/23/2010 I was shopping at Kohls in Lakewood, Ca. I was attempting to write a check for $64.74. I wrote the check, produced my ID. The check was refused. I had them run it through and it was refused again. The store manager finally came over and told me that my signature crossed over into the magnetic stripe of the check at the bottom.

Somehow certergy has said I can't write checks. I have plenty of money in the bank. I don't know what to do. I can't write checks at my local grocery stores.

I went to use certegy and the check got denied. I have thousands of dollars in account and I haven't cashed a check this week. The customer service said that it's due to prevent fraud, why do they even have a check cashing machine if they are trying to prevent fraud. Seems like their system doesn't work.

I went to H.E.B. to cash my first s/s retirement check. They told me the check was good all my info was in order but a code 2 came up from certegy, the company that ok the check for cashing. When I asked them "whats that," they handed me a green card. I called certegy. They told me they had 250 criteria that they use to ok the check, but wouldn't tell me what was wrong! I went online and I tried to enter the check #, my keyboard stopped working. I reboot and tried another keyboard, the same thing happened. How rude! I hope bas__s are run out of the country!

I went to Walmart to cash my check and my check was denied for reason #2. I was given a piece of paper with Certegy's phone number on it, so I called to find out no definitive answer there. I called the main phone number and was told my check shows fraudulent and counterfeit possibilities which is kind of funny to me seeing that it comes from a non-profit company and that other co-workers go into the same Walmart store and get their checks cashed with no problems. The real funny part is they are all printed on the same paper as mine. Now explain that one to me because I'm confused about it. They told me that I would more than likely continue to have trouble cashing my checks there in a roundabout way

Went to Target, wrote a check and was declined. I have written checks there for year! Never had a bad check! I see from this site Certegy has a lot of bad feed back. The stores that are using their services are going to lose customers! Me for one! Certegy sucks! Lets get together and sue them. Class action. I was very upset. I am 67 and can't take this kind of thing when nothing was wrong!

I was a DSW yesterday, and I too tried to write a check. I had just deposited a $900 check and had the deposit slip with me that had my balance. I too was denied, but unlike a lot of you, I never got a code. No 1, 2, or 3. I had already used a check at Bloom that day, so I knew that some system would take my check and had no worries.

This week, my check was declined 2 times at 2 different stores. I call Certegy to ask why and they cannot tell me. They refuse to answer my questions with specific answers. It seems that 3/4 of my checks go through while the other 1/4 get declined, of the same checking acct, note you! What is their deal?

My experience of Sunday, April 11, 2010, was much the same as the many other complaints regarding Certegy that I have read on your website. My personal check for $227.59 was declined at my local Walgreen's, where I shop regularly and have previously written checks. I received a slip of paper from Walgreen's with a 1-800- for Certegy in Tampa, FL. I called this number; it was an automated response but I figured out how to stay on the line to talk to a real person and was able to talk to Latisia.

I was at the Walmart, got the same code 2, denial that I have been reading about that others have gotten. I was attempting to cash a check that was issued to me by the state for child support. I wanted to get my kids things they have been going without waiting for so long for this check to come in. Well, luckily I wasn't keeping others up, but it was highly frustrating, being told that they could not cash it when I called the Walmart ahead of time and told them the amount of the check and they said they would be able to cash it. But then Certegy gives them some reason not to cash it. I don't get this. All I wanted to do was meet my children's needs and this does not help. Now, I will have to find some other place to cash the check where I will probably be charged a huge amount way more then I would have paid at Walmart. Thanks for nothing Certegy!

I have been cashing my checks for over a year at the same place. Now I cannot get them cash, because Certegy will not accept them now. I have called the phone number on the slip of paper they give you and tell you to call. When you do, they don't help you. They are rude and don't tell you why they won't cash it. They will not explain anything to help you. They really just leave you hanging, and you are to do nothing. I don't think so. Not good business.

On 03/26/10, went there and put $840.67 worth of into my basket. Went to checkout wrote a check for and was told that Certegy told not to take my check it wasn't any good. I had lady who help call my bank and everything was fine. Check was good. Tried to call Certegy form there, was still told wasn't any good. But I could use my debit card for that amount.

In 2008-2009 for many months, I attempted to write checks at several different merchants, only to have them frown at me, saying 'your check's been denied'. I was utterly stunned, there was money in my account and to my knowledge, no other check had been denied. Each gave me a slip of paper saying call Certegy. Each time I called, there was a discourteous customer service staff who really did not want to serve me. I was told to call RJ Data, who told me to call another accounting company.

I am a business owner and prefer to use checks for my transactions. I have had no problem with my checking acct. I have never had a check denied before today. I hope something can be done. Maybe it will take Obama's check being denied before this system is fixed. Right now it's broken. All the companies that use Certegy will have as little of my business as possible.

Check was refused at Ritz camera. They said that although I have never had any bad checks in any system, their computer flagged me as a possible identity thief. This is crazy--I had my valid drivers license and picture ID for identification. I then processed the transaction via debit card and it was processed without checking my ID at all for the card is not signed. Ritz camera needs to pick another credit card verifying company. I went to Best Buy and purchased a $300 camera. I paid for my pictures at Ritz with debit card. I was humiliated, and unfortunately I did not have enough money at the debit card account to purchase camera. I went somewhere else to use bank checking account with funds in it to purchase camera.

I tried to use a check in December and was denied approval by Certegy. I contacted Certegy and a condescending associate told me that she could not tell me why my check was not approved, because the company is investigating fraudulent activity, but it has nothing to do with me personally. I demanded to know if there was anything negative on my record with Certegy. According to them, I do not have any negative activity with their company. But because of fraudulent activity, they could not approve my check. Of course, my check denial was embarrassing to say the least. The Certegy associate told me that I should be able to check again, because each check is a separate approval process. I waited and tried again the next week, and each store that I went to would not approve my checks.

I wrote a check for my purchase ($21.01) and was told they could not accept the check. I was given a card to contact "Certegy". I called this number, entered the information requested by the automated prompter and was told my banking institution notified them that my account was closed. I called my institution and they do not do business with "Certegy" and my account is not closed and never has been closed nor do they have any record of dishonored checks and there shows more than enough of a balance to cover my checks. This resulted to dishonored checks and there shows more than enough of a balance to cover my checks. I do not want to speak to your attorney. I just want you to get your information corrected and do the job you’re supposed to be doing!

I was shopping at Publix, my local grocery store. I write checks there all the time and have been shopping there over 30 years. I have also had the same bank account for over 20 years. My check was declined for $78. After contacting Certegy, I was told they got their info from EWS and they were closed until Monday, so nothing could be done about it.

My husband and I recently went to Target (01/09/10) to purchase some groceries. We chose Target hoping to be able to find good prices and not a huge line when we went to check out. We did find good prices, and was excited about the things we were about to purchase. However, we did not purchase anything that night, due to the check processing service Target uses. Certegy! We have been married 30 years and have very high credit, have our own business, and we have very established checking accounts.

Our check for less than $100 was declined by Certegy. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before. There was ample money in the account to cover the check in fact, we had used our debit card on this account to withdraw ATM money yesterday and to make another purchase today. Certegy would not tell the merchant why the check was declined, but when I called their 800 number (800-770-3792), I was told the check was declined because there was a returned check in our history.

On 1/7/10, my check was denied at Target with no explanation other than that the denial was based on information from Certegy. Oddly enough, my check from 1/5/2010 to Target was accepted and cleared the bank. My account had more than enough money in it to cover the $89.00 worth of purchases I tried to make at Target.

I am dealing with my local prosecuting attorney's office because this company sent me notices and I paid the debt, but their dates overlapped with my being sent notice for possible criminal charges for a bad check and when I already paid for it. I am still dealing with the P.O. office and the costs for faxing, and then copying and now mailing everything. I don't have $195 to take a class for something that I already paid for. I don't need criminal charges on my record either. My parents are not healthy and they live in Georgia. I don't need the stress of this hanging over me and I have better things to do with $195.

I tried to cash a check for $46.00 at my local Pick-N-Save Grocery Store and the clerk says Certegy denied my check. She said I would have to see the head cashier which I did and tried to put the check through and denied again. Then I got the yellow sheet with Certegy phone number. The head cashier called the number for me but they wouldn't answer any questions. My wife checked our account online and there was adequate funds. She even went to the ATM and got the $46.00 without a problem. We paid the bill but no explanation from Certegy as to why the check was denied. I would like to get an explanation what risk management model they use to deny checks. Besides being embarrassed and backing up the checkout line. I also wonder how long Certegy will deny my checks before their model will approve them?

Declined by Certegy - No explanation, just given a white card. Then I just got charged purchase on a credit card. This was stupid. I was not able to reach Certegy by phone. I had more than enough money in the account to cover this small purchase. Very embarrassing. Why not just automatically run my check through the account, like a debit card, if the company does not want to take checks? Any business I find out uses Certegy, I will avoid it at all costs even if I have to pay more somewhere else.

I went into PetSmart on 12/20/09 and purchased $199.33 in dog food and supplies. I have been a patron of that store for a long time and have never written a bad check. My check was refused and I was embarrassed and angry. I had spent over an hour shopping before I was ready to check out, all to have to leave the store empty-handed. What is going on with Certegy? I called the 1-800 number and got no clear explanations. It was an automated response system and it asked for my check number, etc. Then said although no dishonored check information is on file, my check had fallen outside check writing guidelines. I had over $1,100 in my account! What can we do? Is this a sign of things to come? I will let PetSmart know that I will not shop there anymore until they get rid of Certegy. Certegy is a racket!

On Friday, Dec. 19, 2009, I purchased a laptop on sale (their last one) at Office Max in Norman, OK. Let me explain. I am several decades over 21 with a perfect credit history and plenty of cash in the bank, never a bad check in my history ever. However, Certegy refused my check! When I protested, the store mgr. called them back and got a real person on the phone for me to talk with. Their only reason for humiliating me in front of half a dozen people nearby in the store and forcing me to repeat my personal information 3 times was, they had no records on me! The Certegy rep said if I would write another check for the same amount, $909.26, she would make an adjustment so it would pass, but the original check would not. I complained forcibly and repeatedly that all they had to do was call my bank which was local - only 10 mi. down the road. But both the Office Max store mgr. and Certegy refused to do so.

I wrote a check to Ross (clothing store) in San Antonio, Texas for $80.74 for Christmas gifts for my out-of-town children. I did not want to use a credit card, because if you use a credit card, then my children would not be able to return any of the merchandise and receive money back if that was their preference. Consequently, I decided to write a check for my purchases and wrote a check for $80.74. Certegy declined to accept the check. I was mortified and embarrassed! I have never written a check without sufficient funds in my account! I have excellent credit (in the low 800s) and am furious with Certegy and Ross! If I had not already spent a couple of hours shopping in their store and then standing in line for another hour to check out due to the Christmas time period, I would have simply walked out of the store!

We went to Tops and tried to pay for our purchase with a check in the amount of $56.32. It came back declined by Certegy Check Service. The cashier gave us a slip with a phone number to call and sent us on our way without our groceries. But all the embarrassment of a CSM being called over to confirm we couldn't write a check, everyone staring and the line growing behind us! When we got home, we tried to call the 1-800 number, but there was a wait so we got online and looked it up. Apparently, our account is at "risk" because of a pattern of spending. It's almost Christmas, of course I have "a pattern of spending" right now! We have 3 young daughters and my husband has 6 brothers and sisters with children of their own we buy for!

We had a check that was in collections for Certegy, which we paid off. They would not release our driver's license number until we faxed them copies of the driver's license, which we did. We were told that the driver's license number would be released and that we would be allowed to write checks using that DL number. Three weeks later, we went to write a check at Lowe's and the check was declined. When we called Certegy, we were told to call a different number. When I called that number, they verified that the license number was not in the system and that we should be allowed to write checks. Since that person didn't have an answer, they gave me a third number to call. That man told me that he did not have the declined check or the driver's license number in his system at all. He said it was a processing error. My question is, how can you deny a person the right to purchase goods and then shrug it off very nonchalantly as a processing error.

I wrote a check to TJ Maxx in the amount of $41.73. The check was never presented to the bank, or it would have been paid. Certegy admittedly had a scanning problem. I sent another check (supposedly check was no longer good) along with letter from the bank, but they refused to clear my credit. As a result, I am unable to write a check. My credit has been damaged through no mistake on my part.

The money was in the bank and they did not cash the check. I called twice (Big Lots) asking if I could come over and pay the check. I had the money right away. No, they said you have to deal with Certegy now. They are going to send you a letter (no letter was received). I have not tried to cash another check since then and closed my bank account. I was sickened with the way this was handled. Goodbye, Credit Union and Big Lots.

While purchasing $2,200.00 worth of product from Lowe's where I had already purchased $1,700.00 worth by check a month prior, my check was declined when there was plenty of money in the account. This happened not only with my present contractor, but also while I was discussing purchasing a prime piece of property from an individual at the checkout counter. When the cashier turned and told me my check was declined, needless to say, the land conversation ended. And luckily, although embarrassing, the contractor working for me had the cash to pay for the items. I called Certegy while leaving the store, and they told me that the check was declined because it fits a pattern for fraudulent checks because of the number, as well as the amount.

The $26 check that I wrote today to Rainbow Foods was denied, even though I have over a $1000 in this account. I came home and called the phone # that Rainbow provided to me. That was an automated system, and I was unable to talk to a live person. I found their # on the internet and called them. The rep and his supervisor both said the reason the check was declined is because of a pattern of writing checks, whatever that means. They said I wrote 4 checks in a week and that was suspicious. They did not try to call the bank or to verify my identity and basically said tough luck. I checked on the Certegy website, and I think I know why they are denying all these checks. Apparently, they want people to become what they call gold members which would involve paying them a fee. Basically, it sounds like they are blackmailing people into buying their service. I am planning on writing a letter to the attorney general. This is appalling.

I was doing a purchase at 2 different stores, and I was declined for both transactions. They would not give me a valid reason why. My name did not match any info in their data bank at all. They said my purchase met a certain profile and was declined. They said that I had done nothing wrong. It was my transaction dollar amount and the info on my check, but they would not tell me what info. They actually said that there's no criteria at all. With the market bad, they decline a lot of checks, just to decline them because they don't want to take the risk and have to pay them back. They said they would continue to decline all of my checks even though I have no bounced checks, it's not my information, and they feel it's their right to decline as many checks as possible. And they actually said if I would sign up for their Gold membership, this would not happen anymore. This seems like extortion to me.

The complaint against Certegy is racial profiling. I went to the counter to complete a transaction. I wrote a check for $168. The department called Security. I was told that my check would not be accepted. I was told to call Certegy. I called the company the very next day. I was told I had no outstanding checks that needed to be paid. I just fit the statistics of someone who did. I was told this situation would not be a problem ever again. I advised them I will be making a complaint.

On 11-21-09, I attempted to purchase merchandise at Belk Department Stores in Knoxville, TN. My check was for $117.49. The transaction was halted with the message "choose another tender type." I called Certegy to see why my check was declined and could not reach a human being; I was repeatedly looped through a recording until the call was terminated by Certegy. I am quite frustrated by this, as I have never written a bad check and do not have bad credit. The message on the recording said, "Please note we have no negative information on file regarding you as a consumer and that has been conveyed to the retailer." I find that odd as there is no information relayed to the retailer; they must terminate their transaction to move onto the next person. I am very frustrated by the fact I have not been able to reach a person and have no way to resolve this issue.

Certegy declined check at gas station where I have written checks for years and spent about $4000 this year.

The last week of 09/09, I called Certegy to make arrangement to pay outstanding bank drafts, a total of five, totaling one and fifty dollars plus fees. Per agreement, on 10/05/09, one check will be submitted for the total due plus overdraft fees. They submitted his check separately and caused my account a total of $200.00 additional fee. Due to financial situation, I can't afford to give that kind of money away.

We switched banks after ours was taken over by the FDIC. We went to Murphy's gas station, as usual, went to pay for our gas and miscellaneous items. The total was about $42.00. We were getting ready to leave and the teller informed me that our check was denied - a code 2. We did not have any other form of payment as we had not received our new bank cards yet. Thank God the teller knew us and let us bring payment back later! I called Certegy, only to get to sit on hold for 1/2 hour, never getting a customer service rep. The automated info stated that no bad check history was on file, but our check did not meet the criteria for their model examples! This is one big conspiracy to get people off using checks and we can all be bar codes! What a crock of **. This company should be investigated and/or put out of business themselves.

On Saturday, November 7, 2009, my wife Naomi and I (Terry) attempted to purchase $125.02 worth of items at the Big Lots store at 8563 Watson Road in St. Louis, MO 63119. Our check after several minutes was declined for a code 2. We ended up paying with my wife's business credit card issued to her by the State of Missouri as a state employee.

Larry H. Miller Ford will never get my business again for using Certegy check services after they declined my check for no good reason. What an inconvenience and embarrassment it was. There were funds and hadn't bounced a check. Screw Certegy!

It seems like Certegy is intent on attacking me. I wrote a check at a now out of business store around 2 years past (Big Lots) and when my information reached Certegy, it was stolen and sold. I received a letter from them, and later did not join the class action suit against them but I wish I had. Now, I go to Cracker Barrel where we are regular customers, and I am humiliated because they refuse my check with a code 2, which is really no reason, but that they must be making a quota for their Gold member status. It is a weekend and I cannot talk to a live person to tell them what I think of their treatment. First they steal from me, then humiliate me, and this past summer I have had to deal with an attempted ID theft that could probably be traced back to them. I have just finished the process of changing my check account and all my bills and now here we go again.

I was at Shaw's in Plymouth, MA last night and was unable to cash my check for $83.51. I called Certegy when I got home and was given little to no information. I contacted my bank. My account was fine. I called Certegy again this morning and they confirmed that it wasn't me nor my bank, but patterns. I suffered humiliation in line, had to leave my groceries and was left with no $20.00 cash for my son to get to school the next day. My husband was out of town. When I phoned this morning, they had no record of my call last night. I was totally embarrassed, I suffered humiliation and looked poorly in my child's eyes. We went with our supper - carrots and potatoes. I borrowed money to send him to school today. I was totally mortified. When I phoned the bank, they indicated that it had also happened to one of their bank executives.

On October 21, 2009, my husband went to cash a check at Hannaford Bros. To his embarrassment, it was declined. He was given a card from Certegy. When trying to contact them in which I stayed on the phone for over an hour, there was no answer. I listened to a recorded voice telling me I could go online which I did. There was no record of my check being declined. I called back again. After another hour of recorded messages, no answer. On researching this company, I find I am a potential risk, amazing they are psychic and know the future. I have seen many complaints and it looks like nothing can be done. I realize many businesses use Certegy. I will not be using these businesses. Thank you, Certegy and all the business that use their company for saving me money to use some place else.

On October 15, 2009, I wrote a check for $43 at Marshall's dept. store which was declined by Certegy. The reason they gave me was because this transaction fit the patterns they were looking for in the area. No other details were given, just that vague answer. First, I've banked with the same banking institution and never written a bad check. I don't know who these Certegy people are, but how can they dictate whom I write a check to?

My 16-year-old and her mother went to Finish Line last week to buy shoes. They went to pay out and was told her check was no good. They said Certegy said we had a bad check. We left the store. I went to my bank and was told she had a clean account. I called Finish Line home office, they told me it's not their problem, and it is Certegy’s problem. Melian ** told me she could not help us out. I am very unhappy the way Finish Line took care of my problem. I still have had no luck getting up with Certegy.

On Sept. 25, I was at a local gas station in Dallas City. I called Circle K. I have done business with them through 3 name changes and over 15 years. I purchased $65 worth of gas and snacks and wrote a check like always. This time, Certegy denied my check and my wife had to use her account to pay for all of this. Granted I did just change banks and my new account has very low check #s, but this isn't the first time I had written a "large" amount on the account. When I asked why, the lady (who has known me for 20 years) said she had no idea and they had been having problems with Certegy off and on. She gave me the denial slip the machine spits out and told me to call and complain, so I did.

In the space of the last 48 hours, my wife has had a check declined at two different merchants. The first, Cache (on 09/15 for about $100), declined to accept her check after contacting Certegy and refused to give her the reason for the decline. I had to call Cache and find someone who could give me a phone number to contact. It was not even the correct phone number and I had to be rerouted to the correct department. "Code 2" was the reason. In other words, it was because Certegy did not like my "spending pattern" and declined the check - not because of any returned checks! Then yesterday, 09/16, my wife's check for $163 was denied again - this time at the eye doctor's office. Again, the merchant could not give the reason, but I called Certegy again and got the same response - "Code 2.”

I wrote a check to Party City for $87.68 which was declined. I am retired after working for the same company for 35 years. I have had the same checking account with my Credit Union for 39 years. The check was declined by Certegy. I obtained the phone number from the check-out clerk and contacted Certegy and was told the reason for the decline was my profile in their computer, not due to bad credit nor returned checks, that the check did not fit my check writing profile. I was told it was declined as much for my protection (fraud-ID theft) as for protection of the merchant.

I wrote a check at Bass Pro Shop in Richmond, Virginia for $204.69 and it was denied by Certegy. I've not written a bad check, have had this account since 1979, and I couldn't get anything more than "I'm sorry, it's a code 2." Upon calling Certegy, I was told they had no history from any retailers that I've written a check and it followed their guidelines for fraud. What? I will suggest to Bass Pro Shops that they use another form of verification. Other than feeling humiliated in front of friends and people standing in line, I put the charge on my credit card and went on my way.

Same story, different stores, TJ Maxx and Big Lots in Clarksville, TN. My accounts are in excellent standing. Checks were denied in both stores because Certegy denied them. I had no bad checks ever written. I have plenty of money in the bank and excellent credit. There was no reason whatsoever for the humiliation of having your checks denied for a "Code 2" reason given to these stores by Certegy. I had to use a credit card for one purchase of $800, which I do not like to use (interest). However, I will simply transfer the funds from that checking account that Certegy denied, to pay it off. It is an unnecessary hassle and we will no longer do business with those stores that we hear that use Certegy. I wish I had a list of those stores.

I just moved into a newly constructed home. I have two major checking accounts: one for daily routine expenses and one for both business (I write as a hobby) and major purchases. I purchased a complete living room, dining room and patio set from a local company (who do not use Certegy for check authorization) without incident.

On June 9, 2009, we went to pick up our car at Long Beach Honda and paid the cashier $2,136.00 in check. When the cashier run it with this company Certegy based in Florida, my check was declined. I was furious. I called them immediately. I want an explanation why my check has been declined but they cannot give me any straight answer. The customer service rep are nothing but rude and they are giving all these non-sense about identity theft and cannot give a direct answer on the reason why my check was declined.

On 31 Aug. 2009, I had my check for $116.01 declined at Big Lots in Wheatridge, CO. I was horribly embarrassed, mortified and stressed that something had happened with my checking account. I knew I had at least $4,000 in my checking account. I had written many checks at Big Lots before and never had a problem. I did not want to have to use my credit card, but ended up having to pay for my purchases with the card. The next day, 1 Sept. 2009, I called the number on the small piece of paper the clerk at Big Lots had given me. The agent asked me for my name, address, driver's license, phone number, check number, check amount, date of birth, checking account number, name of financial institution, date and place the check was declined. I stupidly gave them all that information, including my banking information. The agent was very polite and stated there was a pattern that could indicate fraud and again, they were very sorry for the inconvenience.

I declined a check to be cashed at the Salvation Army. This was done through Cinergy as this is the company used for cash checking. This was ridiculous as I have great credit. I use checks all the time and have never had a problem. I talked with the representative and they said there may be fraudulent activity. I sensed it because the check number was high, they red flagged it. I am now wondering if this company will be a problem at other stores that use this company. I am now fearful they have too much info and a person can steal identity. Help.

I went to Dominick’s to cash a payroll check and was denied by Certegy because they said that they were "protecting the store". This was a payroll check, not a personal check, and I don't write bad checks anyway! I was totally embarrassed as people were in line behind me and they all heard that my check was declined. If this is a payroll check, it should automatically be cashed!

My experience falls along the lines of the other complaints: I was trying to buy merchandise at Macy's Walnut Creek and both checking accounts were denied although one had balance of $7000, the other balance of $1000 (I have had the account since 1979). Certegy is bogus; their tactics are idiotic but what can you expect from a company based in Florida? I'm sorry, but many of my worst retail experiences have to do with merchants from that state or Texas. Go figure. It seems I didn't fall into their prescribed "guidelines" - writing multiple checks for increasing amounts. It was a 40% off sale, for God's sake. I swear I will never shop at Macy's again, or any other store that uses Certegy. They supposedly have signs in the store letting the customer know they use this outfit. Macy's loss.

I wrote a check to a car dealer. They denied my check. They used Code 2. I have excellent credit and have never overdrawn my account. This was embarrassing and belittling to me. There is no way they can deny one of my checks for any reason. The bank verified that funds are in the account, and this should have never happened. This was a dealer that didn't know us, and I know he wondered if we were trying to pull one over on him.

I wrote a check at Target, and my check was refused as a result of a company called Certegy. The receipt the Target clerk gave me said that Certegy refused my check as a result of information based on an ID number. The receipt gave a number to call Certegy to determine if the information Certegy has on me is complete and/or accurate as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

I wrote a personal check to purchase an iPhone on 8/16/09. The clerk in the store told me my check had been refused by Certegy. We contacted Certegy at the phone number listed. After a very long wait, I talked with a young lady who apologized like crazy, but started reading a long litany of their policies, etc. She never revealed to me why my check was refused. I therefore paid for my iPhone in full with my bank debit card which cleared immediately. I was, and still am, embarrassed and irritated. I am 71 years old, have an excellent credit rating, and I am still unaware as to the reason(s) my check was refused. I have never had anything like this happen to me in my entire life. Their actions amount to needless harassment of decent, honest, credit-worthy citizens.

My husband's payroll check has been declined for cashing by Certegy Check Services three times in the past 5 weeks at our local Hammond, LA Walmart. He worked for 2 different companies in this time frame. He's a mechanic, the first company his boss/the owner died in a car crash, and it was unknown whether the company would continue, so he took a job offer from a much larger company. The first time his payroll check was declined for cashing was at the first company he worked with. He's been with his new job 3 weeks and Certegy declined cashing his payroll check twice at Walmart in those three weeks.

Same as most, I provided all information that was needed to cash a check. I was denied. I called Certegy and was not given an explanation for my denial. I was told it was not a bad check in my past but could possibly be an ID theft or fraudulent check pattern. No explanations how to correct this but to have them mail me some kind of application form. They embarrassed someone who rarely writes checks and has lived in his home over 10 years. I had his bank account for over 10 years and his driver’s license for over 30 years.

To keep things short and simple, I went to purchase a sale item at Dunham's Sports and my check was denied. There was a line so embarrassment is an understatement. My 7 year old daughter asked why we couldn't make our purchase, and I had no answer! I've shopped here quite a bit, but after this, I don't know. Who the hell is "Certegy", and who gave them all the power to decide who gets to make purchases, and who doesn't? I've not written bad checks, nor am I a credit risk! I even called my bank prior to going to the store to make sure I had more than sufficient funds. From now on, if I know someone's using "Certegy's" services, I will shop elsewhere! Consequences: no economic, I will not send them my info, no physical, but plenty of emotional hurt. I will not visit a "Certegy" using store again. It’s just not worth the embarrassment to me or my 7 year old daughter!

On 8/6/09, I went to Walmart in Mobile, AL to cash my check from work, something I have done more than once without a problem since June 2009. On this day, the clerk tried to run my check twice only to have it declined. I needed to cash my check because it was after business hours and my bank is in MS. But I work and reside in Mobile, AL. I had no plans on going to MS until I was off from work, which would be Wednesday or Thursday, and I needed money for a hair appointment.

This is some alleged check verification service that randomly denies a consumer to write a check for no valid reason. I have had 2 encounters with them which resulted in the store not accepting check payment without reason. First, I called my bank to make sure my accounts were okay and then I called Certegy directly and was told that my account number and routing info matched some numbers that were "close" to a fraudulent account. My bank account is in perfectly good standing. I had a valid picture ID with me and I have no history of bad check writing or criminal history. It is unfair to consumers to be denied (not to mention humiliating) the ability to write a check in a store for no reason. This company wants me to become a "gold member" so I can avoid hassle. It doesn't seem legal to me! Further, they suggested I use my debit card to make purchases instead. Are they tracking my shopping habits? Do they have a right to determine how I pay for a purchase? It seems like they have an awful lot of control and power if they can just randomly deny people.

The check service said my check was declined when there were adequate funds in the bank account, then prevented me from writing any other checks where they verify service until I paid a service charge for something that is not my fault.

I attempted to cash a check from Davidson County Government (my employer of over 12 years). The check was issued at a Wachovia bank. It was a reimbursement check from my flexible spending account for medical expenses. I received it on a Saturday and attempted to cash it on a Sunday afternoon at my local Walmart. It was declined and I was offered the number for Certegy to find out the reason. I called and spoke with Amy and then her supervisor, Shantel, who stated that the transaction indicated some pattern of fraudulent activity or identity theft.

I went to the Best Buy store here in town to buy a laptop for my birthday. My parents had given me money to put towards the laptop so I deposited it into my checking account. I don't use credit cards and my debit card has a $500/day limit so I brought my checkbook. After writing the check, I was told it was denied by Certegy. Like everyone else who has complained about Certegy, they gave me the card with a number to call. I did so and got the same excuse that something about my check had followed a fraud pattern so it was denied. I ended up walking out of the store empty-handed. I have since tried to find other businesses that use Certegy so that I can avoid them as well. The practice of denying checks written by certain people, without a bad financial history, without an explanation, sure seems like a violation of rights to me.

On July 27, 2009, I went shopping at the brand new Target store in the Kona Commons in Hawaii. I am a team member at this store and it is fantastic. I looked forward to experiencing the store as a guest and not a team member. I did my shopping and when I went to check out, my check was denied. I have ample funds in the checking account to cover the check many times over. I have never bounced a check and my credit score is high 700. I was humiliated in front of other guests and co-workers. I spoke with the store manager and he could not explain why I had been denied. He suggested I call the 1-800 number for Certegy.

My husband and I live in a small rural community in north central Kansas. I recently retired after teaching elementary school for 37 years. I had decided this week to take a small portion of my sick leave pay that I received when I retired, and travel up to Kearney, NE, to purchase some office furniture for our den that was on sale this week. This Target store is 81 miles from our town, but it is the closest Target store to us. We have lived in Smith Center, KS for all of our married lives - 35 years - and have traveled to Kearney many, many times over the years to shop.

Certegy denied my check for no valid reason at Murphy USA (Walmart gas station). I write a check every week for years at Murphy USA from the same bank account. The Certegy customer service rep I spoke with acknowledged that my check was good, information was correct and my identity was confirmed but it declined my check for security profiling.

This company has unfairly flagged our checks and says that it mimics other losses companies have had. There is no way to dispute this because they say the "bad" guys have been the ones to cause "the good" guys to have a problem cashing checks. This is totally unfair and goes against consumer rights, not to be able to cash a check at the big stores that have their service and not to be able to dispute this and have the problem corrected. Our bank says there is nothing they can do and we should report it to your service and others. Consequences: stores using Certegy's service will not take our checks.

Certegy is a check verification service company that retail stores use to verify customer's checks. They denied my check at the register at a store that I have written many past checks to. When I called Certegy to find out why, I was told that my check matched a "profile" of certain checks that they were looking out for. They stated that I had no negative check cashing history and my bank account was fine, but they would not elaborate further on why they would not allow my check. This is ridiculous. I have a clean history with a valid bank account and I am not allowed to write a check because they "say so" without any explanation? After much research on the internet, it seems they do this to many people. How is this legal? It was humiliating to have my check declined at the store and infuriating when I was told there was nothing wrong with my history or account, but that they just said, "No.”

My wife and I went to Lumber Liquidators to pick out and pay for some special order flooring and baseboards. When I filled out a check from our Home Eq account, they called Certegy to approve our check and they gave us a code 2 and declined it. As we have a line of credit for home repairs for $20,000 and we have not used but $3000 of it, they should have no reason for the denial! I am contacting the states Attorney General's office and I will take action for both my time and embarrassment from these people.

Thank you for your response. I, too, intend to contact upper management at Best Buy about my June 16 and 17 experience at Best Buy in Hickory, NC. I spoke with a representative at Certegy on June 17 about the decline of my checks (3) at Best Buy (Reference # **) and for the representative at Certegy to tell me that my checks were declined because my 'profile' fit the profile of a fraudulent check writer, well, that goes way outside a company's guidelines.

I and my wife have had this account for nearly 25 years and since the middle of June, all my checks written at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Bed and Bath, Ross are being rejected. No negative information on record. No specific way to correct this situation other than to get one of their Gold Memberships. I also spoke to Certegy on two occasions and the experience I had was exactly as others have described. They are very rude and condescending. My bank also called but they were given that same treatment. I'm thoroughly disappointed. The consequence is embarrassment that a checking account that I have had for so many years is no use with checks.

My check was declined due to Certegy. I went to my car, called Wachovia, and my balance was what I had recorded ($1072.49). My check was for $196.48 and Certegy declined it. I have written my business and personal checks at this location for 19 years. The manager Margaret could verify this. This put me in embarrassment and fear of identity theft. The time on my receipt, which I then paid by credit, is 7/08/09, 6:31 pm. I am a shop owner and this was the supplies for my salon. I have not bounced a check. This company needs to be stopped. According to the web, I am not the only victim of this check processing.

I visited Dick's Sporting Goods in Plainfield, Indiana on Saturday, June 27. I wrote a check for $69.54, which Certegy denied. I called Certegy when I got home and spoke with Wanda. She refused to answer my questions and rambled on about the economy and fraudulent activity that goes on. She said Certegy is employed to "protect" Dick's and other merchants. She was rude and condescending and never gave me the explanation I requested. I was told Certegy has "guidelines" not available to consumers that are used to determine if a check will be honored or denied. I would like to obtain a definitive explanation why my check was denied. I am not a threat to Dick's or any merchant.

After reading the current complaints about Certegy, I wanted to share my experience. Recently, the Sands Casino opened in NE, PA (Bethlehem). On 6/16/09, I went to meet some friends there. I found I did not cash on me and had left my bank card at home, knowing that they would cash a check (I had cashed them there before). I had to go to my car to get a check from my wallet. I had locked it in the trunk. I am somewhat handicapped and have difficulty walking at times.

I wrote a check to Pep Boys for several items in the total amount of $64.88. Check was run through their machine four times and rejected each time. Finally, the manager called Certegy for verbal approval. Certegy refuses to give any meaningful information other than "fell outside of approval guidelines". We do not write hot checks. We are senior citizens and my husband teaches at a well known university. The entire transaction is humiliating and embarrassing. When I called to complain, I had to give personal information. I refused to give the full number of our checking account. Now, what are they going to do with our information? It's obviously not input into their computer!

My complaint is with a company which Target uses for check verification, Certegy. I was shopping on 6/23/09 at the Target store in East Garland, Texas. When I realized I left my check card at home, I attempted to pay via check. When my check for $159.81 was declined, I contacted the company, Certegy, to determine why. They were able to tell me that there was no reason why my check was declined other than that there was computer-calculated risk. I have good credit, pay my bills on time, have never had a check declined, and have over $9000 in my checking account at a major bank, yet Target was unable to take my check for no reason.

I shop at Jewel-Osco on a regular basis. I write checks there and get money back if I need it. I have had three separate incidents with Certegy in Jewel. The first one was a Jewel in Park Ridge where I worked. I brought my items to check out and asked for $30 back when I wrote my check. I was automatically declined. I then asked the jewel manager to call Certegy so we can get this cleared up, she did, was on the phone for almost half an hour with them and they said they didn't know why it happened, but that I was being upgraded to a "VIP" member and to put my transaction through. Embarrassing and humiliating especially since I was an African American in a predominantly white store/area.

I went to Sears in Saugus, MA and was buying a plasma TV and theatre system for my husband for Father’s Day (tomorrow). I was planning on setting it up and surprising him in the morning with it, but I was denied at the register. The salesman said the check was denied. I know there is way more than enough money in the account due to a recent MVA settlement and the check was for $1249.49. I was given my check back with the info on the back and a number to call. I had no other way to pay because I do not use credit cards because I do not want to get into debt and I pay only cash (check). I was mortified as I tried to explain that there were sufficient funds and my check was good, but the cashier looked at me like I was full of crap as did the other customers who gave me dirty looks.

On June 10, 2009, two of my maintenance personnel went to Sears with a company check to purchase khaki slacks for their uniforms at the Sleep Inn & Suites. At the check out, they were told the check was no good and to call Certegy, 1-800-248-7939, for a reason. My two employees were embarrassed and so was I as I knew the check was good. Upon calling Certegy, their automated system said they understand and apologize for the error and the merchant has been notified it was an error. I went back to Sears, attempted the purchase of 6 pairs of men's pants and was told again the check was not good. The department manager called Certegy and put me on the phone with them in the middle of the store.

I attempted to purchase a few items for $96.26. Hibbett's computer terminal told the associate to call for verification. My name, date of birth, DL number, routing number and checking account number along with the check number were asked of me. Through all of this verification, I was denied to use my check with no legitimate answer, but that it was declined. I went home and checked my bank account online, which confirmed as I told the Hibbett Sports employee that there was ample amount to cover this transaction. He tried to get the check approved, but it declined it again. After checking my balance online, I phoned Hibbett Sports and spoke with La Shannon, who was there during this embarrassment. I gained the phone number to inquire to this mishap. It was a company by the name of Certegy.

I recently went to Home Depot, a company that I have spent substantial money with over the course of the last 15 years, and wrote a check to pay for some things that I needed. I’m in the middle of a small house remodel. Usual stuff, carpeting, flooring, yard, and landscape stuff. I have spent over $1,000.00 there in the last two months. I have used the same checking account to pay for my previous purchases there.

I've never ever bounced a check in my entire life but my check was denied for $841.44 at Home Depot on a account that had over $8,000. After leaving a message with the automated number, I was given by Home Depot on a yellow denial receipt. I received a phone call by an individual who was totally rude and could only tell me that my check was a risk, no problem with my account, or me, but still my check seemed to be a risk. However, if I applied for their gold membership this might prevent a denial in the future. After researching this company (Certegy) and seeing the lawsuits that include selling personal information, I would have to be insane to fill out their application. I can't believe that this sort of business is legal. How can a company who puts people at risk, deny my check for being a risk?

and my check was for $242. I was told I did not have anything negative but was flagged as high risk by their system but could not give me a specific reason. I was furious. I just bought a new home as well as a new car, etc. I called Target headquarters in Minneapolis and they did not seem to care. I am done with Target.

I recently opened my own business in Conroe, TX. As a new business owner, I am in need of some supplies. Today, I attempted to write a check (for printer ink) to the Walgreens around the corner. The amount was only $45.89 and they declined my check. When I called Certegy to find out why, they simply said it was not due to any negative information, but as prevention! Prevention from what? I was told since they had little to no history on me that they decided to limit my check writing ability until I had built up more history! I would like to know what country this is. Since when does Certegy have the right to arbitrarily decide when to who and how much I can write a check for? I have no returned checks.

Presently, I am attempting to help a friend renovate and sell a home. Over the past four weeks, I have spent (via check) over $6,000 at Home Depot for supplies. On Saturday, May 30, 2009, I was attempting to purchase a tub and other various required materials. The purchase was declined by Certegy, citing insufficient history.