A FREE Checking Will COST You For Seven (7) Years!

 In May of 2012, I opened an account with Alabama Telco Credit Union.  At the time, they only had one location in Montgomery, but the person who helped me assured me that, as a member of the network, I could use any credit union downtown.   When I tried to use credit unions downtown, they told me that Alabama Telco was not part of the network.

Note: The woman at Telco (caucasian with a short bob) came into Telco on Saturdays and didn't really seem sure as to how to answer my questions.

The following week, I returned to Telco and told them that other credit unions would not assist their members in the Montgomery area.  Their response was: "we are open from 8:45 to 5:00; the extended hours mean you can always come to the Atlanta Hwy location."  I told the person sitting at the desk (the first one entering the building) that this was not acceptable.  She called the branch manager over and they both agreed that the Atlanta Hwy was the only location I could use.

I told the person sitting at the desk that I wished to close my account.  I specifically asked would I owe anything since I was closing it within a couple of weeks of opening it.  She told me NO.  I then proceeded to the teller and withdrew the money I had deposited (not a large amount).

At the end of May 2012, I received a statement stating my account was zero.  I considered the matter closed.

 

In October of 2012, Alabama Telco contacted the credit bureaus and reported a $5.46 charge off on my account.  Alabama Telco contends that I owe them for checks they ordered and told me were free at the time I opened my account.  When I closed my account, I was not informed I owed anything.  When I found out that this had happened, I immediately went to Alabama Telco.  Their response is that "We sent you statements saying you owed $5.46 and, therefore, it is your fault it got charged off."   I asked how did I owe $5.46 and she said I owed SHIPPING AND HANDLING on the checks.  I never was informed of this and, again, they could have subtracted that amount from the deposit that had already been made and withdrawn.  Their response: "you should have known the money would be withdrawn from your account after the checks came in."  Came in WHERE; WHERE are these checks?

How exactly can a bank customer be charged for FREE Checks AFTER their account is closed and AFTER they are informed that they owe nothing and are given a FULL REFUND on their account.  Now, my credit report is messed up for 7 years.

DO NOT USE THIS CREDIT UNION!