Certegy

• Introduction • One Strike, You're Out • The Paperless Trail • The Disloyal Opposition • Warning Shots • The Starving Class • An Alternative: PassChecking --- • Consumer Complaints about Chexsystems • Consumer Complaints about Certegy

Tim of Clear Lake, IA June 4, 2009

I went to target today and lke others on this site had the same issue with certegy who rejected my check even though I had over 2000. in my checking and my check was for 242.00.

I was told I did not have anything negative but was flagged as high risk by their system but could not give me a specific reason. I was furious. I just bought a new home as well as a new car etc. I called target headquarters in minneapolis and they did not seem to care. I am doen with Target.

Michelle of Conroe , TX June 2, 2009

I recently opened my own business in Conroe, Tx. As a new busioness owner I am in need of some supplies. Today I attempted to write a check (for printer ink)to the Walgreens around the corner. The amount was only 45.89 and they declined my check. When I called certegy to find out why....they simply said it was not due to any negative information..but as a prevention! Prevention from what? I was told since they had little to no history on me that they decided to limit my check writing ability until I had built up more history! I would like to know what country this is....! Since when does Certegy have the right to arbitrarily decide when to who and how much I can write a check for? I have no returned checks. I have done nothing wrong . It was not a personal check it was a company check!

The young man said that a certain amount of time would need to pass in order for them to accept the liability????? Liability for 45.00? I asked how much time has to pass...how long do I have to wait before I can write a 45.00 check for ink? I was told there was no set time and there was no answer available! Not only am I humiliated but I am furious that someone else is in control of how I run my business. what right do they have to do this? I repeatedly asked for the time frame which I could write a check and was told the risk managment department makes the decision? Based on what information??? I was not given an answer and was told there was no answer to my questions. How do I avoid the embarrassment next time even though I have done nothing wrong?

Mary of clayton , IL May 29, 2009

I need help because I had a check that was declined from Ceretgy from music land, now don't get me wrong, I just didn't have an cash on me, and my Debit card was wearing a little thin so when my daughter asked me for something that was 3 I didn't have a huge problem writing a check. I had about 950 in the account and the check went through I thought with out a problem. Comes to find out it was flagged on a recent credit check because Ceretgy had declined the check and did not inform me or my bank.

I do not have an over draft charge for being over drawn-BECAUSE I WASN'T and now I have 3 of neg. credit which is just silly, but to make it worse there is no contact information on anything, it's just sitting there and the very nice lady at our bank has no idea on how to take care of it. has anyone else got the 1-800- number?

Nicole of Fouke, AR May 29, 2009

I, like all the others on here, had the most humilating experience of my life in the middle of Target today! I have had a checking account for well over 15 years and NEVER have I EVER had ANY problems! While trying to purchase my items with my Target check card (which requires my pin #) and is linked directly to my checking account, my form of payment was declined. I had no doubt whatsoever that the funds were available so I called the # given to me by Certegy. They gave me the same spill as everyone else that, they periodically alter their criteria for approving checks, etc. and that mine looked suspect for fraudulent activity.

I was appalled! I am standing in front of the Target associate with my ID not to mention the fact that I used my pin #. After arguing with Sam, I asked to speak with her supervisor. I then get Emily, who repeated the same script that Sam had. She basically said that even though my bank had confirmed availablity of funds they didn't care. I asked her who she was to determine how and where I spend my funds. She tried to pass off this line about it being for my own protection.

Ok, if that were true that would be one thing, but first of all, I never reported a lost or stolen card, the amount I spent at Target was totally normal for me, I used my pin # for the transaction, and I am standing in person with photo ID in front of the Target associate who is verifying that I am who I say I am! So if the whole purpose is to protect me, then their fears should have been alleviated. That was not their agenda at all! I was completely and totally humiliated, not to mention that I was so upset and crying that my 3 yr. old daughter was crying hysterically also. Believe me if there is ever a class action law suit, you can sign me up!

D. of New York, NY May 28, 2009

Like many of the others who filed complaints, my check was declined at Best Buy on 5/27/09 by Certegy. They claimed it was due to possible fraudulent activity on my account and that my account fit something patternistic of said 'fraudulent activity.' Of course after contacting my bank and being assured my account was in good standing with no flags, I called Certegy back and received the same information and was offered the option of being sent an application to fill out to sign up for their service so this won't happen again. There are NO problems with my account so how they were able to determine possible fraudulent activity is suspect and their practice of trying to get me to sign up for something while I'm standing in a store on my cell freaking out that there's a problem with my account is despicable and should be illegal.

Wendy of Providence Village, TX May 26, 2009

I tried to cash a check today at Target for 236 and was declined by Certegy. It was a humiliating experience to say the least. I got on my cell phone immediately and called the company. After asking me for all sorts of personal information over the phone, they told me that I did not have any negative information in their systems but that I met a pattern of fraud. What they finally explained to me was that there had been a break in my check numbers and they consider a break in check numbers as a fraud risk. I had written three checks to Walmart over the holiday and they are apparently not linked since they deposit them electronically.

The customer service rep said that they were unable to do anything about it and that I would not be able to write any more checks. I did not have any cash with me and had just spent an hour shopping with my one year old daughter who was having a meltdown while I talked to them on the cell so I left the store, called back and spoke with a manager. Again, I was told that I would be unable to cash checks.

I asked them to call my bank. I gave them information verifying my account. They told me it was for my own protection. I told them I have fraud protection on my checks. They said they have no way to verify that and that again no checks would be accepted. They offered to upgrade me, as they have with the previous complainees. I finally hung up. I would also be interested in a class action lawsuit. It was an exhausting couple of hours dealing with this company. I cannot believe that stores use this service - they are the ones who are perpetrating fraud. It cost me over four hours of my time and emotional energy as I had to listen to my daughter scream at the top of her lungs while I dealt with this company. I had to drive over 20 minutes to our bank and get cash so that I could come back and re-shop for the items I had already picked out. It was also humiliating.

Valeria of Baltimore, MD May 20, 2009

I had tried to write a check at Norris Honda in Baltimore Maryland for a A/C install in my new Honda that came with out one when I bought it. The amount of the check was over 2000. I had more than enough money in the bank that could cover the amount of the check. My check was denied due to Certegy. I was able to complete the transaction and get my car using my bank debit card. It was so embarrassing as I was standing there with my young daughter and husband to have a check we knew was good denied outright by a second party like Certegy.

I was given an 800 number and a Code #2 to call which I did once we got home. They said it had nothing to do with me but a pattern of checks that are written for various amounts all over the country. My check at that particular time fit this pattern. Now how can an isolated check exhibit a pattern is beyond me. But I could fix this in the future could sign up for their Gold checking cashing service to reduce the likelyhood of this happening again.

I feel these people are doing some Choicepoint scam that existed in the 80s gathering information about people and then trying to sell them something they need to use anyway. I hope someone starts a class action lawsuit so I can get in on it. If you find any business you do business with uses this check verification company use some other form of payment if you relly need their services or refuse to do business with them at all and tell them why you are leaving..

SANDRA of Lowell, MA May 24, 2009

I Attemped to write a check in the amount of 77. 41 to KMart for merchandise on 5/24/09. They use CERTEGY to verify all checks. I was denied and a whole blurb was written on the back of the check by the register, with a code and a phone # which was obliterated by other printing. I GOOGLED CERTEGY and found out I was not the only person having troubles with CERTEGY check verification services.

I called the customer service # and found the automated answering service exasperating. I did finally get to a live person who tried to explain that the check was denied because of a "pattern" but would not elaborate. There was no negative information in my file, and they knew the account had sufficient funds, but they still flagged it because my information was similar information of others doing business at THIS KMart. I will be contacting the Attorney General in Massachusetts because they do not deny on personal information, i.e.

I've written a prior bad check, they accessed the account and there were not sufficient funds. How can they continue to be in business, and why do chain stores continue to use them?

Jerry of Houston, TX May 19, 2009

This is an update to a previous post (See Jerry from Houston Texas). I had called Academy and they were concerned that Certegy was denying my checks with no reason other than they did not like my spending pattern. Academy did call back 2 times to ask more questions. On Friday (5-15-09) Certegy called me at my house. They apologized for the inconvenience and stated that they had upgraded me to a higher level so this kind of problem would not happen again.

Today (5-19*09) my wife and I again went to Academy and tried to purchase a few items as a test. Big surprise the check was once again declined. This time the check was for 67.06 with a balance in the account of over 3000.00 I called Certegy and spoke with a Derrick. I was put on hold for a few minutes so he could research the problem. Derrick told me that there was no problem with my account, started to go into a lengthy explanation. I stopped him and said that he was going to tell me that I was rejected because Certegy "did not like my spending pattern". He said that was correct.

I have contacted Academy and left a message for them to contact me (I have no doubt that they will). I will post updates as I get more information. Can someone tell me how to find a lawyer that would like to take this case or a class action lawsuit. I am going to try to start up a website about this. I have had enough with a lame company like Certegy. You can upgrade to a 'gold member' but have to send in a voided blank check in order to do so. So tell me why I would want to send in a blank vided chek to a company that has had at least one lawsuit of over 8 million because they let a employee steal personal information.

Keith of Bristol, TN May 14, 2009

I have had the same problem with Certegy unjustly declining 2 checks recently, more than enough funds in account to cover checks. No history of ever writing a bad check, checks weren't even large amounts. Same story, "I set off a flag". The deal is this. Certegy had an employee steal over 8.5 million peoples data a couple years ago, just so happens I'm one of them that was notified my data was stolen and sold. Well Certegy "settled" so that they can't be sued back around August of 08 or so. Funny thing is, I've never had a check denied until after their settlement, so it sounds like since they know THEIR employee stole/sold my info they're just going to "decline" my checks at random until the statute of limitations runs out.

It should be illegal to refuse checks and embarrass people the way they do, and now they want me to fill out a form with more of my personal data than they had before, really? After YOUR employee stole/sold the data they already had on me you want more private info? Did you not have enough to completely establish a fake account using my information?

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