GETTING A TAX REFUND NOW COMES WITH A FEE
DON'T THE BANKS GET ENOUGH OF OUR MONEY, NOW THERE'S A FEE FOR WITHDRAWING OUR TAX REFUNDS
A funny thing happened this week, my mother received her big $63 tax refund from New York State. No the big $63 check wasn't the funny, the funny thing was that I discovered what Bank of America is pulling in regards to charging a withdrawal fee from their banks, after the first initial withdrawal. Huh?
Mind you, I haven't received a refund in the mail in several years (the joys of being a freelancer). But, as I remember, receiving my refund always came with no surprises. Whatever you got, you earned. I presume this debit card scam, came about because the government figured people would prefer a debit card instead of the good old fashioned check. Now a days, it kind of makes sense. Well, this debit thing was a complete surprise to my mother. And once my mother received the it, she couldn't stop bitching and complaining about receiving it (you see she hates debit cards).
Well today, my mother came in to whine because she discovered in the small print on the how-to-use-the-debit-card brochure (which came with the debit card) that there was this withdrawal fee. When I read it I was amazed to discover that she was right. That after the initial withdrawal, each successive withdrawal costs you a buck. That's $1.00. That is correct. The banks are making money off of our tax refunds. What brainiac came up with this plan. Doesn't the bank charge us enough fees.
Once I got over my initial outrage. I decided to call up my local congresswoman, figuring this is something that she as my elected official should be aware of. And should do something about. To rid us of another unnecessary banking fee. Congresswoman Helene Weinstein, wasn't in, but I spoke to her male assistant. It seems that in fact according to her aide, that on the tax form itself, where you mark how you want your refund returned. There is a fee (as the brochure explains) if you wish to receive a debit card. My mom swears she never approved this.
I told the gentlemen that's well and good. So at least its in writing, but it doesn't make it correct. And it seems my mother hadn't a clue she had agreed on this. How dare they charge for people withdrawing money from their refund. When the gentlemen then said, "that my mother could call up and cancel the debit card and actually receive a good old fashioned refund check" I explained thats good for my mother but what about the thousands of people who might be getting charged for withdrawing and not being aware of it.
Just one man's opinion
© Neil Feigeles, Neilizms, Tuesday, April 17, 2012
