Several financial institutions are holding ME responsible for their own mistake?

Question

I signed up for a new checking account because I could get $75. I signed up online, then I went in to a branch. I asked them if I could take care of my 'signature card' then and there. (Since I signed up online, I needed a signature to make it active) They said I could do the signature there, and they would fax it in. 2 weeks later I have several hundred $ in my account. I paid bills online, but every one of those payments was rejected, and now I have 3 charges of $39 from 'returned payment fees' from the places I was trying to pay bills to. That is $117. The account has a withdrawal hold, and they 'never received my signature card.' A main part of my arguement is that when I log into my checking account online, it says that all funds are currently available. The other part is that I was told the account was good to go as soon as I turned in my signature card at the bank. No account will give me back my $39, so is the bank liable for the 3 charges?

I paid my bills because the bank personally told me that my account was ready to pay bills online AND because my account shows 'all funds available.' How can I get my $117 back? You will be much more likely to get 'best answer' if you have a source...

Answer 1

Something is way wrong.

If your signature card did not go through, then the account would not have been opened.

Go into the same branch and speak with a Manager (call and make an appointment first). They are responsible for your overdraft fees AS WELL AS the fees from the places you paid your bills. They need to write a letter to these places (ESPECIALLY if they were credit cards) stating their mistake.

Answer 2

Go to the bank in person with all your paper work. Ask to speak to the manager. Make HIM or HER get on the computer and starighten things out in their office. Make sure all the false charges are taken care of too...then make them print it out.
Then go find another bank that REALLY takes care of it's customers. (be careful of online banking, if the bank doesn't do businesss 'real time' your acct's will always be a mess.)