I am failing!!!

**AnW819** · 03-28-2010, 10:44 PM

I suck at life right now. Seriously!!! Ugh. I have been trying SO hard to stick to much budget and trying SO hard to get bills paid on time, but I slipped off the wagon. And fell, hard.

We moved, great. We got caught up on our bills, great. DH got a new car, wonderful. We got what we needed for apartment (and nothing extra), perfect!!!

We went out to eat, a lot. Bad. We went mini golfing. Bad again!! We spent to much on groceries. Really bad!!! We got behind on our bills after getting caught up. REALLY REALLY BAD.

So after being bad, made new budgets and got back on track!!! A week later I check the bank account and I am in the positive $600 bucks, because we got paid and we got 5 overdraft fees. Ugh. FOR WHAT?! If some of you remember my bank did this to be before. 2 of them last time were right but the other two were wrong. Well this time they are all wrong. All 5. Never went into the negative. They will not reverse the fees though!!!! So after fighting and having several people tell us that they know there is a fault in the system and online banking and yada yada we closed the account. I can't do it anymore. $187 they store from us! So we are not gonna use the bank account anymore, going to switch to envelope system finally, and hopefully we can stick to a budget. The bad thing is since we had to close our bank account and cancel our direct deposit we are getting paper checks but not by payday. Which means rent is gonna be late. But even if they were here, rent would still be late because of the NSF fees that were not right! Baby EF is GONE. Had to pay DHs car payment, owed my dad money and just could not put it off anymore. Had to pay $190 deposit for the electric company. Would you believe it?! $190 bucks!!! Never expected that. I did not prepare for this move good enough.

Its so crazy how fast things can spiral out of control. Its not helping my work is not giving me any hours. 16 hours this week. What the heck is 16 hours gonna go?! I guess its better than nothing, but geez. Thank goodness I got this other job.

I guess I just need someone to slap me and tell me to get back on the wagon and stop messing around!!!

Now to find a way out of all this mess. Cant believe I have to rebuild my EF. It was stupid to use it for bills, but I was terrified of getting behind and not being able to get caught up so I used it, and I got behind anyway now.

Ugh!!!

**Wendy99** · 03-28-2010, 11:19 PM

I totally understand!! You can do this, we slipped a lot too lately.

**AnW819** · 03-28-2010, 11:25 PM

Thanks Wendy!!! It stinks

**Libby** · 03-28-2010, 11:28 PM

I'd still complain they owe you $187!!! Its YOUR hard earned money and since you not once dipped into the negative, they had no right to charge you that amount. Print it out, take it into the branch and ask that it be matched up with their system. Have them show you where all 5 no no's occurred. If they can't prove it, they need to repay you - customer or not. Is there a head office you can deal with on this?

Do not let the freaking bank bully you out of your $187!!

**AnW819** · 03-28-2010, 11:33 PM

I very much agree with you! I am GOING to get this money back and the money from last time to! I ended up letting it go last time because I did deserve 2 of the 4 fees, but this time I do not deserve any of them!!! I have printed it out, and when I did this last time to they say that their computer system shows it differently than online banking yet they push their online banking all the time!!! I watch my bank account quiet often in a day...I know where my money goes! But this time I printed it out again and they still said on the phone their system shows different. Well, I have it in paper right here!!!

Just checked my account again, and now my savings account is negative $187 bucks!!! I have only had a dollar in my bank account for about 8 months. Never put any money in there or used it since we got it (I know, bad us!) so how the heck is it negative?!!!!!!! I am going there in the morning. I have had it!

**Wendy99** · 03-28-2010, 11:38 PM

Read the fine print, you only have a certain number of days to dispute charges or wrong doings on the account. So get there as fast as you can to dispute it - dont put it off any longer. Also even if they say its past the timeline fight it like crazy!! Just do it asap

**AnW819** · 03-28-2010, 11:43 PM

Yeah I am going tomorrow. What do I do if they won't help me though???

**Libby** · 03-29-2010, 12:05 AM

Theres no need to be rude about it - though you're very livid - but just ask them to show you on their system where they are dinging you fees.

Keep a 2nd copy of whatever you just printed - this way if they write all over your copy or take it, you'll have a back up. Make sure its a direct copy of the one you have now or print two copies so the time stamps match etc.

I'm sure like Greebs will give you tips in the am how to go about this better. But definitely do not let them just 'take' your $ w/o justifying it first. Saying they can w/o giving you proof is not reason enough.

**AnW819** · 03-29-2010, 12:08 AM

Thanks very much! Greebs gave me advise on how to go about this last time but I totally forget!! To much going on right now, lol.

**mamamia** · 03-29-2010, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by AnW819

I suck at life right now. Seriously!!! Ugh. I have been trying SO hard to stick to much budget and trying SO hard to get bills paid on time, but I slipped off the wagon. And fell, hard.

We moved, great. We got caught up on our bills, great. DH got a new car, wonderful. We got what we needed for apartment (and nothing extra), perfect!!!

We went out to eat, a lot. Bad. We went mini golfing. Bad again!! We spent to much on groceries. Really bad!!! We got behind on our bills after getting caught up. REALLY REALLY BAD.

So after being bad, made new budgets and got back on track!!! A week later I check the bank account and I am in the positive $600 bucks, because we got paid and we got 5 overdraft fees. Ugh. FOR WHAT?! If some of you remember my bank did this to be before. 2 of them last time were right but the other two were wrong. Well this time they are all wrong. All 5. Never went into the negative. They will not reverse the fees though!!!! So after fighting and having several people tell us that they know there is a fault in the system and online banking and yada yada we closed the account. I can't do it anymore. $187 they store from us! So we are not gonna use the bank account anymore, going to switch to envelope system finally, and hopefully we can stick to a budget. The bad thing is since we had to close our bank account and cancel our direct deposit we are getting paper checks but not by payday. Which means rent is gonna be late. But even if they were here, rent would still be late because of the NSF fees that were not right! Baby EF is GONE. Had to pay DHs car payment, owed my dad money and just could not put it off anymore. Had to pay $190 deposit for the electric company. Would you believe it?! $190 bucks!!! Never expected that. I did not prepare for this move good enough.

Its so crazy how fast things can spiral out of control. Its not helping my work is not giving me any hours. 16 hours this week. What the heck is 16 hours gonna go?! I guess its better than nothing, but geez. Thank goodness I got this other job.

I guess I just need someone to slap me and tell me to get back on the wagon and stop messing around!!!

Now to find a way out of all this mess. Cant believe I have to rebuild my EF. It was stupid to use it for bills, but I was terrified of getting behind and not being able to get caught up so I used it, and I got behind anyway now.

Ugh!!!

Ashley, take a long deep breath, and try not to be so hard on yourself! What's done is done, and even though it wasn't the best thing you've ever done, you're obviously willing to face it and own up to it. With that in mind, I'd say you're doing better than most people I know that are your age.

So let the FV help you pick up the pieces and put yourself back in that wagon

That's what we're here for

After all i'll be the 1st to say I btdt

, and I'm sure alot of others on here can say the same.

Hoping the best for you guys. Please keep us posted.

Hang in there! It WILL get better!

Theresa

**a.nonymous** · 03-29-2010, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by AnW819

So we are not gonna use the bank account anymore, going to switch to envelope system finally, and hopefully we can stick to a budget. The bad thing is since we had to close our bank account and cancel our direct deposit we are getting paper checks but not by payday. Which means rent is gonna be late. But even if they were here, rent would still be late because of the NSF fees that were not right!

If you know you are going to be late, be proactive and let your landlord know beforehand. Don't let it happen, make it happen.

Other than that, don't fret too much about falling off the wagon. That happens to enough people. We're not perfect.
Getting back on the wagon should be your top priority, not beating yourself up endlessly over falling off.

**ladykemma2** · 03-29-2010, 06:12 AM

be sweet as pie when you go to the bank.

**daughter of pearl** · 03-29-2010, 06:41 AM

Ashley, take a deep breath, and don't beat yourself up too bad...sometimes things happen that we don't anticipate, and at least you used your EF for bills and not, like, candy and parties.

Be professional when you go back to the bank, have your facts prepared, and speak to the principle of the matter, not the particular situation you are in...it's their mistake, it should not cost you!

Hugs! Keep moving forward...hell, if I can do this, you can definitely do it!

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-29-2010, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by daughter of pearl

Be professional when you go back to the bank, have your facts prepared, and speak to the principle of the matter, not the particular situation you are in...it's their mistake, it should not cost you!

In addition to being professional, look professional. Dress up in a suit (or your best outfit if you do not have a suit), put your hair up in a business way etc. Even though they deny it, people really do treat you differently according to how you look. Think job interview style.

**McD** · 03-29-2010, 07:43 AM

Go in very calmly, respectfully, and ask to speak to either a Personal banker or a branch manager. Don't waste time with the tellers because for the most part, they will not be in a position to help you.

Ask them to go line by line and show you how you incurred the fees Match it up with your check book register. Don't just go by the online banking!!! Your online banking balance is NOT reflective of any outstanding checks, debits that have been processed, etc.

If you need any help, let me know!

Question--does your bank process debits before credit? It will tell you in the signature card of your accounts. The reason I ask is because of the way you mentioned you had been paid that day but had fees so it doesn't look like you ever went negative. Did you have 5 items clear your account that same day? I would check that before going to the bank if you can. An educated consumer is a very powerful consumer.

Good luck!