[nostatic]

So I have been a CU member for 11 years now. Since I don't live or work near the branch, I do most everything electronically. When I get physical checks, I deposit them at another CU branch, as they have reciprocity.

On 4Jan, I deposit a check from a small business, written to me, in the amount of $500. A few days later I check my online statement and see that the check was credited, then it was removed with the note, "altered check". They also assess $8 in fees. I call my CU to find out what is up. They say evidently the other CU thought the check was altered and denied it. Supposedly it will be sent back to me and I can bring it to my CU and see if they were honor it. So I have to wait 7-10 days for it to show up.

On the 10th day (yesterday), no sign of the check. I call the CU this am. I was previously told that if the check didn't show they could request another copy. I ask about that and find out a number of things:

a) they sent it to my old address, despite me calling to change address a year and a half ago when I moved. She asks, "well can you go see if you can find it?"

b) there is essentially no recourse to recover the $8 fees. Arbitrary decision by some bozo who opened the deposit envelope, and my bank would have to see the original check, determine that they made a mistake, then fight to get the fees back for me.

c) if the check doesn't show up, they can request another copy - at a cost of $5 for the check PLUS $10 per every 30 minutes spent "finding" the check.

d) they say I should just go to the issuer. I can do that, but he'll have to put a stop payment on the original check, which means I'll be out another $20 in fees his bank will charge

e) they wouldn't let me talk to a manager as she was "with a member right now."

So now I am supposed to drive to my old address, see if the new residents have my check (doubtful), then wait another 2 weeks to see if it gets back to my CU (doubtful), then try to get another check cut and sent to me (PITA) and in addition to my time wasted I only end up getting $472 deposited to my account instead of $500 due to the fees which I have no recourse in challenging. Oh, and of course I'm down $500 in my account balance while all this drags on.

About ready to close the account and go to my local Wells Fargo location. At least there they have an espresso machine and are friendly when I come in to get rolls of quarters...