Disputing Bank Charges

Have you noticed some extra fees on your bank statement lately? Don't worry, you are not alone. These days banks will charge fees for just about everything you can imagine. And most of the time those charges are completely unfair. And now that lawmakers have started listening to the general public when it comes to bank charges, it is easier to dispute them.

Here is what you need to do to dispute any bank charges you don't agree with.

First you need to gather all information pertaining to those fees. Print out any statements or emails that have the disputed charges on them. You should also make sure you save any correspondence you have with the bank. Once you have all information you will need to call the bank. Let them know that you are disputing bank charges.

You need to be able to tell them why you are disputing the charges. If they are unfair let them know that. You should also go back through the terms of service you received when you first opened the account. You need to be able to back up your dispute with cold, hard facts. This is the only way they will take you seriously. Otherwise they will give you the run around in an attempt to avoid reversing the charges.

Always stay calm when speaking to the representative. Be kind and remember it is not them who put the charges on your account. Some of them do not agree with the charges as well, but they have a job to do at the bank. However, you should hold your ground no matter what. If the representative can't help you don't be afraid to ask to speak to a manager.

Ask around to see if other customers have had the same problem with bank charges. If the bank has a history of unwarranted bank charges, you can use that to your advantage. Internet is the best place to search to get details of other customer complains.

Understand that this process can take some time. If you need a little help you can hire an agency to help you out. They understand the legal side and can get better results quicker. If for some reason the bank won't budge, you can file a complaint with the Federal Reserve Board or the Department of Banking in your state.

This should only be done as a last resort. I would say give the bank at least 60 days to resolve your claim. If after 60 days you still haven't heard anything, go ahead and file a complaint with those organizations. When you file the complaint they will look into it and you might end up getting your money after all.