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Paying fees? Visit your bank today

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a financial basket case.  I’m not sure why — it’s not that I have no foresight, it’s just that I don’t use it.

Every month, Compass Bank sends me a statement in the mail, which I promptly throw into my pile of “things that are probably important but don’t really pay attention to.”  I always save this pile, even though I know that I’ll never actually open most of the things in it.

This month, I decided to break the trend — I actually opened my bank statement instead of quickly glancing at my balance online.  I noticed that not only was I being charged a monthly fee, I was paying for ATMs — both of which I’ve heard countless Compass ads say they don’t do.

So today when I deposited a check, I stopped by the customer service desk at my local Compass branch and explained that to the guy.  Three minutes later, I was no longer paying a monthly fee and had free ATMs.  That’s all it took!  No effort whatsoever.  I don’t even want to think about how much money I’ve given Compass and ATMs over the months that I could have simply told them I didn’t want to anymore.

Lesson learned?  Pay attention.  If your bank is offering things you aren’t receiving, go tell them!  Not happy with them?  Switch.  This post isn’t supposed to be a testimonial for Compass; rather that banks are competing and want your business.  Go make them earn it.

Thu March 2nd, 2006 1:24 pm

Filed under Life