I have a negative on chexsystems but still got a bank account. So why are checksnow being denied?

Question

Ok, a couple of years ago I had a checking account and overdrew it a few times. For this I was reported to chexsystems. I was young and stupid. I paid it off but it is still negative regardless of whether you pay it off or not for 5 years. I just got a new bank account thru a bank that decided to give me a second chance. Last week I went to the store to get a few things and when it came time to pay I couldn’t find my debit card so I wrote a check. My check got denied??? I had sufficient funds in the bank for the purchase so I just don’t understand. Luckily I found my debit card(which worked fine) and could still pay for my purchases. Chexsystems states that they do not deny you a checking account that their information is only a tool for banks to use in making a decision about whether to give you a bank account or not. If this is the case then I don’t understand why since my bank gave me the checking account, that my checks are being denied. It just doesn’t seem fair. I paid off what I owed and I think I deserve a second chance. Does this mean I’m only going to be able to use my debit card for the next couple of years until the negative is off my account? Ridiculous!!!!

Answer 1

Have you contacted Chexsystems? Give them a call, they should be able to identify why you were denied. And, perhaps tell you how you can get off the list.

Also, are you sure it is Chexsystem that denied the check? Is the store where you were writing the check is one where you previously bounced a check? If so, they might have their own internal system for identifying past offenders.

Answer 2

That doesn't seem right. I have had some bad checks in the past and was never denied use of my checks. There may have been something wrong with their check machine. If you have ever written a bad check at the place you tried to use a check they will decline to accept a check. You may want to check with your bank to make sure there is nothing wrong with the codes on your check. I have stopped using checks all together, I only use my debit card. You can not get overdrawn with that. It is convenient and won't get you into trouble with checkalert or chexsystems.

Answer 3

Many companies use a similar review on you as banks do. If you're on Chex, that's why they won't take your take. You can get information from Chex Systems as to how to be removed but will typically need to go back to the bank that reported you and ask them to assist with it.