Conference 7.286::dcu

.0> DCU's policy on returned checks is not to return them with the statement,
.0> born out of the mandate to save money in processing and mailing costs.

You then pose a solution/question later:

.0> A possible solution would be to send a copy or the original cancelled 
.0> check with the statement.  I notice that other financial institutions
.0> that do not return checks make available copies of the reciepts or
.0> cancelled checks.  American Express and Bay Banks will send the customer
.0> copies of checks printed on sheets of paper.

Yes, and notice their service fees are higher than DCU's - they can afford
to offer that service.

.0> Why can't DCU do this?

You answered your own question by one of the first statements you made in .0,
detailed above, i.e. in saving the cost of mailing those checks and/or copies.
Unless they have changed their policy, copies are FREE if you need it for a
COURT appearance or some other LEGAL reason to prove you paid a bill.

.0> Why must we be at their mercy for a routine copy of a cancelled check and
.0> have to pay for it on top of that!

Someone from DCU should answer this officially.  My feeling is that due to
their fees being lower than AE or Baybank's, they don't have the funds from
those fees to pay for the labor of accessing the proper microfilm, loading it
into the transfer machine (that was also purchased and costs money to operate)
and spending $.29 plus the cost of the envelope in mailing this to you.  If
we want this service to be free, then the entire membership should be willing
to pay for it via flat fees on checking accounts.

Since I have been with DCU since it opened, I have never needed a copy of a
check.  If I had paid increased fees in order to obtain a 'free' copy of a
check at any time, for me (at least) that money would have gone to pay for
that service to others and done me no good.  This is similar to the phone
company's starting to charge us for information calls.  The cost for offering
this service used to be included in the base rate.  Since a small minority use
the majority of the service, they are correct in making THEM pay for it.  The
same goes for copies of checks.  Let the persons who use the service pay for
it rather than be covered by a fee on all.

    The checks in my DCU checkbook come with an automatic (or whatever it's
    called: "NCR copy"?) that gets made when the check is written. On two
    occasions that has been good enough to show that I wrote the check.  It
    clearly is not proof that the check was actually delivered or cashed,
    but the NCR copy combined with the monthly DCU statement showing the
    check was cashed has been good enough.

    I also add that if the people wanting proof need an official copy, then
    they can pay the charges for obtaining it.  It works for me.

>    but the NCR copy combined with the monthly DCU statement showing the
>    check was cashed has been good enough.

  Are you willing to show your creditor a record of all your transactions for
the month? This might work if see your creditor in person and he/she quickly
glances at the statement, but not if you need to send the proof by mail.
  I don't pay certain bills with DCU checks because there is a high probability
that I might need a canceled check. I'm not concerned about having to pay $1
to get a canceled check, but I am concerned about the delay. 

    No, I'm not willing to show most of it. I blocked out most of the
    statement before I made the copy.  And I did show it in person, not by
    mail.

Hmmm...this is interesting.  I have to come up with copies of 1 year's worth
of checks that I give my ex for child support (52 checks)..wonder how long 
this is going to take?  She is in the process of refinancing a mortgage and
needs them as proof of income..






Jim

Would either of the following work?

1) Explain that it costs quite a bit to come up with that many copies of
checks. Ask if they'd be willing to specify at random, say, 5 or 10
dates. If you can come up with every one of the "spot check" checks that
they would request, would they take that as indication that you pay
regularly?

2) Another thing I used once to prove payment was to show the person the
carbon for each requested check, as well as my monthly statement showing
that each of those check numbers had actually cleared my account. I blanked
out my account balance, but left the column that showed the check number
and the amount.

 We tried #1...didn't fly.


 Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of past statements.


 I spoke with the folks in the DCU office here (Dascomb Rd) this morning and
 they were quite helpful..the called over to Maynard and were told it will
 take a week.  The person in the office here called the check numbers over 
 to HQ.  I appreciate that effort.



 


 Thanks for the reply.



 Jim

    I've used Paul's "show them the check copy and the statement," and the
    answer is, "It is our policy to see the canceled check."

    Now, I know how to reply to officiousness when I hear it, and it is to
    be officious, but ever so reasonable, in return: "It is my policy to
    charge $1 for each canceled check, since they cost me that much from my
    credit union."

    So far, on the three occasions it has happened, that has always worked,
    and I've never had to actually get the canceled checks.

    
    Re: canceled support checks
    
    I had precisely the same problem for the same reason and since 
    I have my support direct deposited to my ex's account they accepted
    my statements showing all those deposits.
    
    Steve