Ask for the fees, sure. But don’t threaten to cancel when everything is fair and square. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Sadly, the self-esteem movement of the last 30 years seems to have taken its toll on people being willing to admit they are ignorant, though. Now that virtually everything can be learned privately through an Internet connection, maybe that tax will be charged less often.

When I received the bill a month later, it had a late charge. First I felt the shame on me feeling and then, I felt frustrated. I had this account for years, paid in full to avoid interest charges and wham, there it was.

I went to the store, got to the service counter, explained my situation and got the fee dropped. Paid in full and I left happy, they kept a loyal customer and I still have my credit card for that store. If you are polite and have a long term relationship with the company, ask. Consider all your options if they refuse.

The current bank is actually worse. I have called several times about arbitrary new fees, and they basically tell me to pound sand. Glad we bailed you jerks out and then paid for your golden parachutes!!

But changing banks because *you* messed up doesn’t make any sense.

#getalife

I disagree with Trent’s last paragraph. I make one mistake and the business won’t grant me clemency, so I pull my account & go elsewhere? Don’t think so, unless they’re really obnoxious about it.

So, although it doesn’t hurt to ask, I’m always prepared to accept a ‘no’ if the fee was incurred by some action I took. Obviously, if it’s the business’s fault, I expect them to make it right. One needs to be willing to accept the consequences of ones’ own mistakes.

I have travel expenses for work, and sometimes a bill is due a day or two before payday. It rarely happens, but it’s a very nice thing to have!

Recently, I was charged a bank fee for going below a minimum balance (not an overdraft). I questioned the fee because I had made a check deposit from another local bank the same day as the withdrawal and thought that the check would clear the same day. In asking for the fee to be removed, I also learned that some checks from local banks are held longer than I thought. While it took 1/2 hour of my time to address this issue in person, I got my money back and also received important information that will help me to avoid any further fees.

D.B.