off the subject/Bank problems!!

Portey reading more of your situation I'm baffled as to what exactly the bank thought they were doing this whole time! It sounds to me like they have been doing some illegal stuff just like they did with my boss (They okayed a car loan without them signing all final paperwork and already charged them a late payment before everything was official, etc...). I think you may want to consult a lawyer on their dealings with you if they refuse to give you your money back because of the overdrafts. They have definitely been doing some shady stuff with your account. In the past five years have you ever cashed other IRS tax return checks with them that had both yours and your husband's name on them? If so definitely use that in your argument against them.

Hope things get better!

I have to say your situation sucks.

I will tell you that it sounds a little screwy quite honestly. If you have proof (old bank statements or being able to go online to show that they deposited IRS checks) I would print that out and take it in with you. Explain to them that they've done it before and you want to know why they are suddenly changing their policies, and giving you the run around.

I'm not trying to defend them by any means but I will tell you that normally with checks in both mine and my husbands name our bank normally does not require signatures of both if it's going into a joint account. However, with the stimulus check we received they did require both signatures. Bank of America apologized but said that with the government checks they have to have both signatures - so the rules for them might actually be a little different. Also - as far as the bank using your husbands direct deposit to cover the overdraft fee's - that is perfectly well within their rights. (Even if the reason for the overdraft fee's is complete BS). Both of my brothers have had this happen, one once, and the other numerous times. Any money deposited into the account will automatically go towards a negative balance first. The one brother who had it happened once did dispute it - and lost. Their explanation was that all they did was add the money into the account like they normally would. If you have ten dollars and add ten you get twenty, but if you are in the hole ten dollars and add ten it's zero. It makes sense. Also - as far as not paying them for the overdrafts - they can and will send it to creditors and bash your credit to pieces with it. My brother had the same thing happen - and it wrecked his credit to the point where he could not even open another checking account with the four banks he tried as he was considered a risk. So - if this is going to be the case I highly suggest opening the new account ASAP - before your current bank reports the information. If you are in the military - (I don't think you or your spouse are from what I know of you) but if you are - you can also have action taken against you by the military for bad credit reasons. Things such as them docking your pay - taking ranks and the like depending on how serious the issue is.

They may be within their rights to use the deposit towards overdrafts BUT if they were not in their rights to refuse the check and/or charge you the overdraft fee's then you've got something to dispute. Not only will they owe you the overdraft fee's, but if you end up having to take out a loan or are charged any fee's by anywhere for having things not get paid they are also responsible for this.

It's not on the topic of all this - but you really have to find a way to relax yourself. It is so easy to get irritated and upset over stuff like this but all it does it hurt us. I know anytime I'm upset (mad, sad, angry, hurt) my pain flares up, badly. This is going to sound horrible, but do what you can, and then accept that right now there is nothing you can do. You have to find some way to relax and get this anger frustration out or your going to pay the price for it in pain.

As far as things to do - there may be dollar theaters around you - and due to it being summer may theaters have children's matinee rates around 1-2 dollars. Also consider a walk in the park, or a day in the park with a picnic as something fun to do. Things as simple as a water fight with the parents involved are great fun for children. I remember one year where I didn't have much money but I bought 5$ worth of water balloons and a few cheap squirt guns for a fathers day. I told my brothers we were going to get dad when he got home. We made daddy a bucket of balloons with a water gun in it - put them out front. Then made a bunch for us, got out water guns full, and it was great fun. Sometimes the kids love having the parents play with them - and I admit I love that type of stuff now to. Other things to do that Dad and kids might enjoy that are simple are having the kids cook him breakfast, as I mentioned a picnic, a camp-out in the backyard (borrow the tent if you need to), you can wet grass down if you have a hill and slide down on trash bags, in home movie day, washing the car together (most kids love this), also stuff like visiting a fire station or things like that are fun also. (Can you tell we didn't have a lot of money when I grew up?) I know that for me growing up it wasn't WHAT we did with dad, it was the fact that we got to spend time with him where we didn't have to worry about getting yelled at for making a mess, or worry about him getting called by work. Heck, tickling matches in the living room were some of the highlights growing up.

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