After 5 years and a whole lot of crap, GTFCU has finally pushed me away from their bank. This weekend my wife bought an Ipad from walmart online which immediately froze my wife's debit card. Not soon after I realized that the bank thought it was suspicious for some reason so I told her to call the number on the back of the card. Well, the bank is closed over the holidays. Perfect!

Realizing that there has to be someone available to unfreeze the card, I logged onto their website and found this

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The biggest shopping weekend of the year is fast approaching and GTFCU is dedicated on providing you fast and convenient access to your account through the Visa debit card. However, because of recent fraud trends we have enacted higher levels of fraud protection which could cause some interruptions or declines at the point of sale.

If you plan on using your GTFCU debit card for holiday shopping this weekend, we ask that you contact our Card Services Dept. at 800-749-9732 ext 1005 beforehand so we may prevent any issues when you attempt to checkout. We want to ensure that your payment experience is as seamless as possible.

As always, we appreciate your membership and look forward to hearing from you.

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In my opinion, it's absurd that we have to call beforehand on one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year to use our own money, but that isn't what made me mad enough to switch. The number they gave with the extension does not work. It just hangs up on you after you dial the extension. Now my wife can't use her card for anything until the bank opens on Monday. My point is if you're going to freeze a card you better make damn sure you're available to unfreeze it.

Anyhow, i'm voicing my displeasure with the bank as best I can by withdrawing my account and telling my story. Some may have great experiences and that's perfectly fine by me, just wanted to share mine.

Does seem a little inconvenient.

I'm not too far behind you. I am so damn tired of the system being down at the first of the month for "maintenance" when I am trying to access my direct deposit money to pay bills online.

Second, I got a letter in the mail a couple of years ago trying to convince me to keep the overdraft protection because I don't want to be "embarrassed" by a card decline. I can use my own cell phone instantly to transfer funds from savings to checking I don't need the bank to charge me money to do something their computer system does seemlessly with no intervention.

What happens when you decline their overdraft protection? They charge you $25 for declined transactions, something AGAIN that a computer does automatically with ZERO intervention.

Banks have all the technology at their disposal to keep you from spending more money than you have. It seems that it is more in their best interest than mine to stop me from doing so but I get dinged. There is no profit in just declining the transaction.

I usually am a big fan, but having to call beforehand for large purchases?? Seriously? It's my money, I'll spend it if I want to. All that will make me do is stop using my debit card for anything over $100. I know it's just to keep people "safe" but still! I would maybe consider giving them a heads-up if I was putting something like a WDW vacation or something in the $2000 range on there...but a few hundred? Give me a break.

Bank of America for the win.

They suspend the transaction/card after the fact, and let you know via email, text, and phone call. In my case, they called and overnighted me a new card with a new number.

See, not *all* big banks are evil.

Wow. I went BF shopping at Macy's with my debit card. I guess I lucked out that they didn't freeze my card. My husband doesn't have a working Aggieland CU debit card at the moment because of another reason.

We have probably used or Visa ACU card three or four times a day since Wednesday and even purchased more than $2,000 worth of furniture on Friday with the card w/o issues.

I borrowed a couple of thousand from Aggieland CU a few weeks ago, and when I went through the drive through to withdraw the money from my account, the teller asked me what I was going to do with it - said it was "bank policy" to ask. I must be missing something because I don't see how this policy contributes to controlling identity theft or terrorists.

I used mine at an area mall on Tuesday, at the grocery store and the gas station on Saturday with no problems and I know my husband used his at Lowes. That's weird.


[This message has been edited by TxElsie (edited 11/27/2011 4:00p).]

It's very weird, especially considering we've purchased more expensive items online than that in the past. What i'm upset about is the inability to unfreeze it. I wouldn't be upset at all if it happened and had the ability to call to correct it.

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Wow. I went BF shopping at Macy's with my debit card. I guess I lucked out that they didn't freeze my card. My husband doesn't have a working Aggieland CU debit card at the moment because of another reason.

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Does your husband know about your interest in the new man? Did they have a sale on cheap dates at Macy's or what?

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My husband doesn't have a working Aggieland CU debit card at the moment because of another reason

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Well Fletch, here is her problem. She went looking for another guy with money....

p.s. Wells Fargo will call you (yes, actually call, as in with a live, non-automated person on the other end) to verify the purchase you just made. If its legit, the transaction goes through, nothing gets "frozen" and you go about your day knowing that your bank is actually looking out for you.

As a "member" with a business account with them, I haven't been too pleased either. I'm starting to look around for alternatives. Their online banking is horrible. They don't offer Quickbooks import for business accounts, and their check hold policy is pretty crappy.

It's unfortunate USAA doesn't offer business checking accounts, or my account would be with them.

Anyone have suggestions for any other local banks that don't rape businesses with fees but have good online banking portals, remote check deposit, and even better, an Android/iPhone cell phone app?

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As a "member" with a business account with them, I haven't been too pleased either. I'm starting to look around for alternatives. Their online banking is horrible. They don't offer Quickbooks import for business accounts, and their check hold policy is pretty crappy.

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We already dropped our business account with them, but that had more to do with available shared branch institutions in our area. I do agree that their online banking is terrible. We switched to Chase who isn't perfect either, but their online banking is leaps and bounds better.

I agree that Chase's options are better, but I really wanted to bank locally and support local businesses. GTFCU's e-banking is stuck in 1998, though, and the maintenance windows are horrible. I'd like to find a Texas bank or CU that has mobile deposit with reasonable fees.

People use debit cards to buy stuff?

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People use debit cards to buy stuff?

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That was my thought as well... haven't used a debit card in 10 yrs. Aggieland cu houses my bank account and I use it to pay off my credit card each month. They are too small of an operation to do a debit/credit card properly imo.

[This message has been edited by jagouar1 (edited 11/27/2011 5:27p).]

Yeah Jag, that is another issue. Trying to use the card at a place and being declined because they won't take it. Hasnt happened as often as it used to but it still does. That is when I use the CC.

I too am starting to think the only way to buy is with a CC and pay it off each month.

I deposited a large sum of money one time. (Pay check from previous employment) and was asked where the money came from and what it is was going to be used for.

I asked why they ask that and security reasons. For all the fraud checks that go through. (i.e. I send you a check for $1000 and you wire me $200)

This was with aggieland.

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Bank of America for the win.

They suspend the transaction/card after the fact, and let you know via email, text, and phone call. In my case, they called and overnighted me a new card with a new number.

See, not *all* big banks are evil.

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ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!.They are the biggest scam bank there ever was!.First off they want to check you credit score to "see" if your eligable to have an account with them,SERIOUSLY?.I have to have excellent credit to give you my money?Second,they charge you for ever little thing they can think of

:: shrug ::

Maybe you're just a jerk and they gave you the run-around.

I've never had my credit checked (other than when I got a credit card from them) and I haven't had a fee in years.

Agree with Fletch on Wells Fargo. I have had accounts with them for years and a debit and credit card. When there are purchases out of whack, they will allow the charge, but will call almost immediately to confirm the purchase. I have never had my cards deactivated.

It is as easy as transferring funds from checking to credit card online to pay the card off as well. Plus rewards points!

Howdy Everyone,

While I can’t cover specifically what transpired on this account, I can cover some of the steps on VCC protections.

Like other financial institutions, we call you if a transaction sets off a fraud alert with Visa Falcon and most transactions are allowed to go through. We make a call to the number on file to alert members of the fraud warning and verify if the transaction is valid. If we get a voicemail or answering machine and can leave a message, we will and normally allow 24-48 hrs. for a response. That is why it is always important to have an updated phone number on file with your financial institution. If Visa Falcon cannot verify the transaction then the card is frozen, which is standard protocol.

There are also purchase limit differences between using your card as a debit with a pin or as a credit with your signature.

As always, if you have questions or want to speak about your account, my office line is 979-694-3759.

Jason Goodman | VP
Aggieland Credit Union

Jason, thanks for the reply. My wife's phone number was on file, we did not receive a phone call.

[This message has been edited by 03ki11erAG (edited 11/28/2011 4:34p).]

I've received phone calls when we've been doing weird things - like stopping at Sams for tires, gas station for gas, WalMart for groceries and gas station 2 to buy beer - all in about an hour period.

They also called to ask about an attempt to use our card in Florida - the deal where someone tries to use it for a quarter or so to see if it works before buying more. Nipped that right in the bud. But I was grocery shopping at the time, and if they hadn't called and had just shut down the card, I'd have been upset. That's why I carry a second credit card.

Jason,

Can't something be done about the maintenance windows on the website? It's pretty unreasonable to take your online banking site down so early in the night. I don't know any company that schedules IT maintenance at 8pm. That should be done well after midnight.

Also, what's the deal with not offering Quickbooks sync on your business accounts? GTnet offers a Quickbooks file download, but it's been broken for as long as I've been a member.

I'd like to throw out a plug for the bank and trust. Anyone local to college station should give them a look. We switched because wells was going to start charging for checking. We have stayed because of all the bs going on in the financial sector. Banks "too big to fail" getting bailed out and the buying up smaller banks pisses me off.

The b&t website isn't as slick as wells fargos was. It it gets the job done.

[This message has been edited by Lgaggie (edited 11/28/2011 8:28p).]

I wasn't gonna post on this thread, because I've been with Aggieland for over a decade and have never had any trouble, but just now I went to go check my bank account, and voila - maintenance.

Usually their "maintenances" are in the middle of the night so it doesn't affect me - but if this is occurring so often, WHY?????

It happens around the first of EVERY month for the last 6 or so.

Its VERY convieient. When I shop for a new bank to switch from Aggieland this month I think I will be asking what their maintenance window is for online banking.

Right on the main site quote:

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GTNet, GTPay and GTCall will be unavailable
November 30th from 7:15PM to 1:00AM
due to month end processing. We apologize
for the inconvenience

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[This message has been edited by Allonym (edited 11/30/2011 9:45p).]

I can't even remember the last time their "regular monthly maintenance" did NOT occur during my waking hours. It's been like that for a long time. I just get done what I need to earlier in the day, but it is a huge pain! My husband is a code monkey and when he has to do after-hours updates, he does them late at night when it is very unlikely any of his clients would be using the system. I cannot figure out why ACU/GTFCU can't get a software system/3rd party who will do the updates in the hours when people aren't likely to be using them, i.e. maybe after 10 or 11 p.m.?

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I borrowed a couple of thousand from Aggieland CU a few weeks ago, and when I went through the drive through to withdraw the money from my account, the teller asked me what I was going to do with it - said it was "bank policy" to ask. I must be missing something because I don't see how this policy contributes to controlling identity theft or terrorists.

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i've withdrawn my money, not a loan, on a few occasions to buy high-dollar things, and have been asked this same question. the first time i answered. the other times i just said "to buy stuff". i wonder how much grief i would get if i said what i really wanted to... "i need to buy a new butt...mines cracked" and "i need to pay cash for the crack and hookers this weekend"

"sorry, its none of your business" would be my response.

if they asked again things would get more colorful.

My wife mentioned that GTFCU is tied to tu somehow and that might be why they changed their name here in town. She wasn't sure and I am NOT claiming this as fact. I'm wondering if anyone knows for sure about it.

Howdy,

I can assure you that we are not connected to tu. We do have members that are Texas graduates but we are not connected with the university in an official capacity. Through our shared branching service network, we also offer access to their credit union as well as thousands of other credit unions.

The question on the funds is an attempt to protect our members from fraud and scams that we see in the marketplace involving larger amounts of cash.

Txyaloo,
Give me a call, I have some information for you.

As always, feel free to call or visit with any other questions.

Jason Goodman | VP
Aggieland Credit Union

[This message has been edited by aggielandcu (edited 12/2/2011 12:43p).]