posted on November 13, 2005 12:13:48 PM
At least locally, WAMU ATMs are saying that as of November 17, there will be a charge for using their ATMs unless you are a WAMU customer. (By this I assume they mean "unless you are accessing a WAMU account".)
This matters because many of us use those ATMs to pull cash out of our PayPal accounts. Looks like for me it's back to making transfers. Bummer.
posted on November 13, 2005 02:35:51 PM
I went to WM last week to see about an account. Their parking lot was being over-run by self-important people being rude to each other. I can understand the policy change.
posted on November 13, 2005 05:59:15 PM
I did away with Washington Mutual 2 years ago. That is one bank that should have it's charter revoked and be probhitibed from doing business in California.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on November 13, 2005 07:02:43 PM
"went to WM last week to see about an account. Their parking lot was being over-run by self-important people being rude to each other."
posted on November 13, 2005 07:04:24 PM
It's universal, the fee return - Actually, according to an article on MSNBC, they never charged in Oregon, but now will charge $2 - Ouch! It's definitely been nice to use the ATM there to get paypal money if I am not near a US bank ATM. Guess I will go strictly back to bank transfers.
As far as WAMU banking, I have an account there (I don't use them for the majority of my banking, I agree they suck) - One reason I have kept the account active is that my merchant account was associated with that account, but I recently switched that so I will dump the old merchant account, thus removing any need to keep a WAMU account.
While the article says you must be a WAMU customer, I agree with fluffy that it probably means you must have a WAMU branded ATM card to avoid fees.
posted on November 13, 2005 07:34:02 PM
I don't know how sparkz feels about it, but WAMU is aggressively trying to eliminate consumer banking choices by swallowing other banks whole. I hear their latest snack was Providian.
When there are only two or three very large banks left, guess who gets the short end of the stick.
WAMU would also like to see credit unions outlawed. I do actually have a WAMU account but I'll be closing it soon.
posted on November 13, 2005 08:00:56 PM
Mamachia...To make a long story short, WAMU systematically looted my daughter's savings account by service charging it away. When she bought her first car, we withdrew a major portion from the account for the purchase. The balance dropped below the normal minimum and they began the service charges. Problem is, this was a UGM account ant their method employed was illegal. I've got a couple of months left to make up my mind as to whether I will file a claim with FDIC for embezzelment. The people I spoke to on the phone and the employees at the local branch were the most nasty and obnoxious group of individuals I have ever dealt with. Their public relations skills were similar to those of employees of the state prison system. The funny part was, one week after I had to deposit 51 cents so I could close the account, 3 people walked into this branch and held them up. Got a bunch of money. I had a police scanner going at the time and heard everything that was happening. I was actually rooting for the robbers. Unfortunately, the crooks were not the brightest bulbs on the tree and got caught after a high speed chase on Hwy 99.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on November 13, 2005 09:00:52 PM
Sparkz, sorry to hear about what they did to your daughter. i know that I have had issues with them and had to fight with people over the phone.
Since WAMU is buying up little banks, they remind me a little of Feebay.
Mama
posted on November 13, 2005 09:11:54 PM
I didn't choose WAMU, they took over my bank in the late 1990's - That was a MISERABLE transition, they kept canceling my ATM card weeks after I got it, I had money taken out (that eventually was put back in) but the problem with WAMU is that their employees seem to be less trained than fast food workers. They are great if you want to make a basic deposit or withdrawal, but have a complicated banking transaction or problem, and good luck!
I wanted to leave them, but really, it is a pain in the butt! I had my merchant account and other business transactions tied to them, and being busy just dealt with it. I moved to Oregon in 2001, and was told I needed to close my account and open a brand new account here to have full access to my account. Instead of complaining, I actually thanked them, and told them I would be taking my business elsewhere! I went to US Bank, and am really happy with them.
While the Oregon WAMU employees seem somewhat more knowledgable than their California counterparts, there is no looking back. I keep one account with $5 in it (It is a free account, I figure it costs them something to send me my paperwork each month) and the other business account I have linked to that merchant account which is going away. I figure in January, I close down all my WAMU accounts.
WAMU will continue to grow and we will get to the point when there are only a couple of major players. That's too bad, because that isn't good for anyone. I don't think credit unions are going away, at this point I won't put up with WAMU if they take over my bank. I will leave before that happens.
