Big Bank Fees, Dispute Resolution Stacked Against Customers
A new report by Pew Charitable Trusts finds that nearly half of banks, including four of the nation’s five largest, still "reorder" checking account transactions -- a practice that can dramatically increase overdraft fees by processing larger withdrawals first, leaving smaller transactions to pile up fees. The practice is particularly onerous for low-income consumers who are unable to maintain high average balances. The study also found that an increasing number of banks are imposing new limits on consumer rights when resolving disputes and that one-third of big banks have yet to adopt summary disclosure graphics to cut through confusing checking account agreements that average 44 pages.