Complain about a product or service

Astoria Federal Savings Bank

Roman of New York, NY August 12, 2009

Bank applied three 30.00 and one 35.00 overdraft fee between 08/10/09 and 08/11/09, resulting checking account to go into negative balance by -113.70. Is that kind of rapid firepower even legal? What kind of business practice is that? I've been a customer with this bank for the last 16 years. Checking account has negative balance of -113.70. Unable to buy food, pay for electricity and phone service. Short on current month rent.

Fernando of Brooklyn, NY March 9, 2006

I was injured in a work related accident dated 04/20/2005, and have since been unable to return to full duty employment. My income has been drastically reduced, and it wasn’t until late December 2005 that I would receive compensation benefits or checks on a weekly basis. I have essentially gone from about 40,000.00 or 600.00 (after taxes) per week, to exactly 259.69 per week (workers compensation weekly benefit amount).Needless to say, the discrepancy is income has resulted in extreme financial hardship for my family and I.

I had been a customer of Astoria Federal Savings bank for a few years up until this point. I had held a checking account from the beginning of my relationship with this institution. My records with them would indicate an account in good standing prior to my accident.

After my accident, I fell behind with a payment due for a check issued without sufficient funds. A change of address on my part and simply not being able to pay this bill, and any bills for that matter, led this account to be closed out and referred to a collection agency. I am certain that if my financial situation would not have been altered, this would never have had occurred. I finally received a notice from the collection agency hired by Astoria Federal Savings (Global Recovery Services India private limited) stating that a payment was immediately due and to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Included in this letter was the fact that my account was already forwarded to the ChexSys database. At the time I was unaware of the ChexSys consumer reporting agency, but later learned that I would not be able to open a checking account for a period of 5 years.

With all of the above information at my disposal, I went ahead and called Global Recovery and spoke to agent Samuel. This agent gave me the option of payment via his collection agency, or payment via the bank branch in which my account was originally established. I had explained my current financial situation to this agent, and he assured me that a payment in full would resolve this matter, and have my file removed from ChexSys, since Global Recovery was directly affiliated with ChexSys. With monies borrowed from family, I opted to head to the bank and resolve this matter in person. Once at the bank, I had the pleasure of speaking to the assistant branch manger Karen, who seemed compassionate and willing to hear my situation and help resolve my conflict.

Karen was made aware of my discussion with Global recovery and of what I had been informed. Ultimately, I was assured that a payment would resolve the matter, and my file would indeed be removed from ChexSys, but that this would take about 30 business days. I was prepared to make a payment on the spot, and did so. I walked out of the bank satisfied about having handled this matter as quickly as possible.

The new year of 2006 is well under way, I am still not actively employed, and not much has changed regarding my injury or financial situation. Unfortunately, the same applies to my status with ChexSys. I have unsuccessfully attempted to open up checking accounts with whom ever would grant me the opportunity, but have been declined every single institution that I have walked into.

Global recovery is completely unhelpful in further assisting me, and I have attempted to call Astoria Federal, but they consider this file closed. In conclusion, I believe that Global Recovery and Astoria Federal Savings were dishonest and deceitful and used my position of weakness to sell me empty promises in order to the collect money due.

According to ChexSys, the file can be removed from their system, but only if Astoria Federal Savings request it to be removed. Without sounding repetitive, this is what I assumed would happen, but has not. During this time, my credit and information pertaining to it are of importance more now than ever. I have a median credit score of about 690 and I will not allow crooked agencies to unfairly damage my reputation. Contacting your company is the first step that will be taken by me in regard to this matter. I am hopeful that this will ratify the situation, but am prepared to proceed to the next step.

Randy of coram, NY May 28, 2009

I had to cover a check for 399 for lipa. It was memorial weekend and I didnt make it to the bank in time. So first thing tues morning I went with the 210.00 to cover the balance, which i knew it was my fault. But every little check snoballed to 30.00 bounce fee which totals 210.00.

When i went there tues morning they said my account was 1.33 in the positive. Only to find out they charged me 30.00 2 more times and again the next day. I am collecting uemployment and I only recieved 125. Astoria fedaerl deducted it all. Now the 1st check i can see but the other 6 isnt right and unjustified. After pleading with them i only recieved 2 back. Still i was ripped out for 150.00.

Beulah of Highlands, NJ December 5, 2008

My husband and I was offered a stipulation agreement by Astoria to prevent forclosur. As per the agreement we had to pay 8000.00 and thern 2780.00 by March 27, 2000. In the mean time we sold the property as per the pay off but the two payments were not applied nor were they refunded. No specific explanation was given and all communication has ceased.

Marian of East Islip, NY April 3, 2007

Getting hit with overdraft fees because AVAILABLE balance reflected on-line and on the telephone are not the true available balance that you get when you go to the teller. A fewtimes I thought it may have been my error, but I realize now there is a glich in the system. I have spoken to people that have had the same problem that I have with Astoria. It puts checks deposited immediately as available funds, and that is not the case. I have tried to get my point across many times that this is not right, and that if I use the telephone or on-line, I should be confident that the available balance I am being quoted is true.

Jon of Oakdale, NY September 28, 2004

I deposited 2 checks into my account. I wanted to purchase airline tickets that were on sale so I checked my account online to see if they had cleared. One check had cleared and was in the available funds. The other check had not cleared and the amount was under current balance but not under available. So I checked my account the following day and all of the money was under available balance..the checks had cleared. So I went ahead and purchased 2 airline tickets. Southwest charged my account separately for the 2 tickets 143.80 each for a total of 287.60. I had an available balance before the purchase of 326.19 so After my purchase I had 38.59. Well I went on my account and there was 2 overdraft charges of 30 (a total of 60).

So I called the bank to complain and they told me that I was getting charged because when I made the purchase the funds were not available. I tried to explain that my account online said that my funds were available. I am very careful with my account and I know that the account said that the funds were available. I called the main branch also and I was basically told "Oh well you have to pay the Fee of 60, for overdraft" EVEN though I had the money IN my account!! So they have already taken the 38.59 that was in my account and they say I owe another 21.41. I tried to resolve this and I am not getting anywhere. It is completely unfair for them just to take my 60 when I HAD the money in my account!!

Sara of Sound Beach, NY May 25, 2004

I had a car for sale listed on newsday.com for 1800.00. I recieved an email from a person telling me that his client would like to purchase my car, however, it would need to be transported. He asked if he could send me a cashier's check for 5,000.00, and if I would forward the extra money to the shipping agent. When I recieved the cashier's check in the mail I took it to my bank, Astoria Federal, and deposited it. I asked the teller to examine the check, since I did not know who it was coming from. After checking with her superior, the teller informed me that the check was fine, it had cleared right away, and the funds were available immediately. At this time I did not request instant funds or credit. Three days later I went back to the bank again because the person purchasing my car said he could no longer take it and asked for the money back.

I was told that there were no problems with the check, and that it was clear. So I took the 5,000 out of my account and sent the money back via Western Union. One week after the check had cleared 5,000 waa debited from my account, leaving me with almost nothing. When I went to the bank on the following business day, I was told that the check did not clear, but that I would recieve it in the mail and may redeposit it. Three days later I recieved a copy of the check stamped "fraudulent. do not redeposit". After many meetings with various representatives from the bank, they refuse to take responsibility for this loss, even though I had been assured more than once that the check had cleared. Knowing nothing about banking, I trusted Astoria Federal when they gave me this information and would never have sent the money back if they would not have cleared the check. Astoria has a very careless procedure in checking certified checks. They do not call the bank in which the check was sent, and do not look for signs of a fraudulent check. Because of their mistake, I do not have the money to pay for my college tuition. I am studying to be a teacher. I have copies, reciepts, documentation, and emails from the customer. I have also filed two police reports, spoken to a detective, and notified the FBI.

Stephen of Killeen, TX March 2, 2003

i have a checking account w/ astoria. im also in the military, so i use the direct deposit feature. ive been a member of astoria for 2 years now. last week, on 2/28, i was supposed to be paid. i wasnt. so i called 1800 astoria to find out if something was wrong. i was told that my account was closed. i talked to a customer service specialist and was told that they could not help me. i would have to talk to the branch. i called them and they told me it had been closed by discretion of the manager. they told me i would need to come to the branch. i callled back 1800 astoria and told them my story, including i am stationed in texas, and someone by the name of riochelle told me not to worry, she was handling the situation. i was told that i would be paid on sat mar 1st, and my account would be reopened. saturday came and i was not paid and my account was still not open. i called her back and she told me that she personally talked to the branch and that i would be paid. she then told me that my account was open but my direct deposit had been sent back to the department of defense by someone in the branch. i still have not been paid or know when i will be.

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