Bank Question HELP please!

**leeleeaub** · 02-22-2006, 05:17 PM

Ok I am going to try to explain this as best as I can. We preordered 2 games from eb games a week ago. The games are not due to ship till the 28th. When I go online to look at my balance it shows an account balance as positive and an available balance as negative.
I called ebgames they said they just check ahead of time to be sure the funds are there that the money won't come out till the 28th.
My husbands check won't be in there till Friday.
I cannot ask the bank as the account is in my husband name only.
I don't want to tell my husband because he has enough on his mind right now.
My question is is the account really negative or would it be negative ONLY if there were not funds there on the 28th?
I am thinking it is that way but want to know if anyone knows.
The account balance is postivie but available is negative.
Does anyone know? If so thanks so much for answering!

**madhen** · 02-22-2006, 05:45 PM

I am not sure I understand how you can have funds available, but a negative balance overall. Overdraft? My credit union requires that I keep a balance of $20 in savings, and it is "untouchable" (unless I close the account), so it would show a zero balance of available funds, and $20 overall, if I wiped my account out. If I bounced a check at this time, I would have a negative balance, due to the bounced check fee.

It sounds like if eBay checks your account after Friday, and your husband's check covers the negative balance and the cost of the games, then you should have no problem. If they ship on the 28th, they probably won't check until the 28th, or the 27th at the earliest.

If you call the bank, and explain the situation to them, they are usually good about answering general questions, as long as they are not too specific about the account. For example, they won't tell you the balance, but they would explain how it would work if eBay called right now and you had a negative balance of available funds.

I would also suggest you get your name on the account - not just for times like this, but in case something happens to your husband and you need to access the account quickly. Obviously, you already have access to it on-line, so why not have full access?

**leeleeaub** · 02-22-2006, 05:49 PM

Ok I knew I missed explaining something right. Eb games checked the bank to be sure the funds were there for when they take out the money on the 28th. The money has not and will not come out till the 28th. It is showing my account balance as positive and my available balance as negative because they inquired to see if the money would be there for the 28th.
Does that make more sense?

**leeleeaub** · 02-22-2006, 05:58 PM

sorry just read the access part. I have to get a Missouri id to be able to be on the checking account. To do this I had to order my birth certificate and it hasn't arrived yet. My husband is going to add me as soon as I can get my state id for the bank.

**madhen** · 02-22-2006, 06:07 PM

Oh good (on the access part)! :-) My mother didn't have her name on my father's account, and when he died, she had a terrible time trying to get things straightened out. Thank goodness the house was in both of their names!

So eBay literally puts a hold on the funds prior to shipping? That is the first I've heard of that. I know credit card companies can do it, but I've never heard of it being possible with checking accounts. If that is the case, I would just make sure with eBay that the funds will not be withdrawn prior to the shipping date, to avoid having any nasty overdraft issues.

**leeleeaub** · 02-22-2006, 06:11 PM

This has nothing to do with ebay. I am talking about www.ebgames.com I gave them the debit card number. A few days prior to shipping they check to see if the funds will be available for the day they ship the items.
They did this which made my "checking account" show account balance positive available balance "negative"
Does that make sense now?

**HOOAH2003** · 02-23-2006, 06:55 AM

It makes sense but the way you are saying it your checking account is now neg. so I think you do have an overdraft.

**Mojjo** · 02-23-2006, 11:21 AM

it sounds like there's a hold on the funds. means you may not have a negative balance but you can't take anything out either.

**SHOPGIRL** · 02-23-2006, 01:38 PM

Oh, I understand what you mean. Your probably going to be o.k. When you purchased the games, ebgames authorized your purchase on your credit card. However, they can't take the money out till they ship out the product. So, on the 28th, the money will be taken out of the account. If your husband's check is deposited on the 28th, you should be o.k. So, although you have the money in the account, the ebgame purchase has already been deducted from your balance so it let's you know that you'll be in the negative if you don't deposit money right away. There is always the chance that the deposit won't be recorded first and you will have an overdraft.

O.K. If it were me, I'd just cancel the order. I wouldn't want to worry about the funds not being there. Then, next week, order the game if you really need it.

My bank account does this with me, and I love this system. I do all my banking online so I can easily see how much I really have in my account less bills. I have bills automatically set up to pay each month so for some months it does show a negative, but that is because I haven't deposited the money yet.