FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

I am so happy I only use my debit card...

Dont you hate it when you are behind someone that pays with a check, then something like that happens to them? Dont know whether to laugh or cry for them, just sayin :)

i am also very angry about this company last nigh went to walmart to cash a money gram that was purchased at the same walmart for 1000 .00 dollars and they denied to cash it i called the 1800-number with code 3 what ever that means i talked to a rep and he said i couldnt cash it there i was pisssed the money gram was purchased there and i could not cash it there what the hell funny they let you purchase money grams then dont let you cash them hmm ...its not right the rep i talked to said that it was three merchants i was dealing with walmart, money gram, and certegy...

I just came from the grocery store that I always shop at. My debit card number was recently stolen so I have just begun to write checks again. I wrote a check to Bi-lo (store #550) maybe two weeks before for around $250 that went through just fine(the first check i may have written to a store in a couple of years) I even wrote the check for $25 dollars more than what I owed for the groceries! So I decided to start writing checks instead of depending on my debit card so much. I tried to write a check today for around $150 to the same store and was declined. It was very embarrasing. I was told I had to call a number if I wanted to find out why. When I did I was told that there were no bad marks against me I just don't usually write checks and it wasn't because i didn't have money in the account b/c they don't have access to that information. And they could not override the decision.I was just out of luck if I didn't have another form of payment. When I asked if this would keep happening if I wrote checks I was told in around about way that I could try the next day or two but I would be declined today. They could not give me a straight answer about any other day. I don't understand why I would be declined today if I wasn't declined the first time I wrote a check there for over the amount I owed. I was able to give them all the information they requested and had no bad marks so I should have been able to use my check or else why do I pay to get checks in the first place. On a side note when I told the assistant manager that I had my debit card in my car could I go get it and pay with that before they wiped out my transaction I was told "I could try". So it made me feel even littler because they thought I didn't have any money b/c I was declined. She looked really suprised when it went through right away. But I will not be shopping there anymore either. I am going to check out all the grocery stores around and find one that does not use Certegy check services.

its stupid u cant cash refund checks cause peole dont know wat the hell there doin i called the number but no help at all i paid 13000 in taxes n your tellin me i have a problem cashing 1200 check get with the [censor]ing program people

I tried to cash my payrole check at Wal Mart. It was declined reason 3. I called the number as many times as I could and was disconected each time. I had cashed my checks there before without any problems.

On 31811 I went into Walmart to Cash my Payroll check. I was told after entering my SS# and info. that it had been declined. Not the check just me and was given a piece of paper to call Certegy. I called and was told by Certegy that the transaction had been declined for my good. That they did not know exactly why. That I had nothing against me on file for me or against me but that the information is entered into a database and that the computer then tells them whether it will be accepted or declined but "even they" do not know why or what the determining factor. This is an unjust practice. First what is this database that is being kept? Second, this is a credit tracking system. Certegy is guaranteeing the check processing (backing it for payment) to the store at the time of cashing. When declined for credit there must be full disclosure for the reason by the vendor through the use of the credit service (in this case EquifaxFidelity Information Services. Which is as you know...by definition a credit bureau and as such I demand full disclosure as to what the "FICO" score (or what ever you want to call this scoring system) so that I can meet or other wise correct any errors in order to be able to cash my "PAYROLL" Check. This is also a violation of my rights under the fair credit collections act. I suggest that someone looks into this because it wont be long before you will be seeing a class action suite if these practices continue. This type of data collection must stop or give me full disclosure... In addition it was also insinuated that this data base cross references my credit background. Again if this is correct than it most definitely is violating my rights. I will continue this argument as is necessary to see that justice is done for everyone in the future. Just as was done so that the FICO and credit reports were made available... My next stop is to my state legislature and to my congressman. What has happened to our country is truly a shame. I'm a hard working, honest but Poor man and demand respect.

At walmart I was there to cash my work check as I always do, when the cashier told me that me that he couldnt cash the check and gave me a number to call. Upon calling the number all I got was a machine telling me that the check has been clear. So I try again and it wouldnt go thru. It was embassing to me because people was standing there waiting to so their business. I had to take it to a check cashing store that charges high rates to cash. I'm still try to take to someone at Certegy Cash Services

Filled up my truck early in the morning and paid by check no problem. Then when we got back in to town had to fill up again. This time my check was refused. when I called to 800 # all I get is a text about joining the group for $9.99 a month. This is very embarrassing. I have the money in the bank and even if I didn't I have overdraft protection. If a company is refusing your check then they should at least have a person answering the phone to explain why. If there is a law suit I would like to be listed.

If you have had a negative experience with Certegy as I have, I recommend the following steps be taken:
Contact the retail businesses that you frequent and ask if they use Certegy.
If so, explain the the retailers management that you will no longer do business with them as long as they use Certegy.
Call Certegy and let them know how displeased you are and ask to be placed on their VIP listing.
Then never use and retailer that uses Certegy.

If enough people follow these simple steps (Albeit time consuming), the retailers and Certegy will eventually start to feel the pain.

i had the same experience...how can these people make these kinds of decisions based on "fraudlent model"...horse poo! If businesses continue to use them i will take my money and go somewhere like a mom and pop and give them the business...which i should do anyways...target you suck!

I recently had the same embarrassing experience at Kroger, where I have used checks many of times. They declined my check because it said thirdparty returned check. I had to call kroger check recovery (did not write a bad check), they told me I had to call certegy, they told me I had to call someone else. But to tell Kroger as much shopping I do at Kroger, they will never see me back in their stores. They had my name but that is all they had, certegy could not even tell me what is was for they just wanted me to call another number. FRUSTRATING! I do not write many check except for my rent and that is it for a whole month.

Went to Eastern Mountain Sports to buy my wife Mother's Day gifts totaling $421. Much to my surprise my check was declined. When asked why, they said they didn't know, they go though Certegy. Furious and embarrassed I asked for the number for Certegy. Certegy said there was no reason for my denial - no bounced checks, no fraudulent activity with my license number - NOTHING! They said the model their computer system uses, calculates the risk factors and I was a high risk...WTF. Nothing to base their denial on except a computer model! Very disturbing and aggravating to say the least. I walked out of the store feeling and probably looking like a loser. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO GO!

AW! YOU WROTE A CHECK TO ANOTHER RETAILER AND IT BOUNCED... KROGER GAVE YOU THE WRONG NUMBER TO CALL INITIALLY... THEIR FAULT! NOT YOURS! NOW, PAY THAT BAD CHECK AND DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! GET
A DEBIT CARD AND THROW THAT CHECKBOOK AWAY!

So It's my problem now for all the dishonest DB's in this world. That's just great. Your right cash is king, but come on. Not one single bounced check in my life and I'm being discriminated against, not fair and it should be outlawed.

My husband and I just tried to cash our income return check at Wal-Mart. We were declined because of information given to them by Certegy. When we called the number, we got a vague response about "patterns of identity theft" and "protective measures." It's a GOVERNMENT CHECK! How can they refuse to cash it? Certegy is obviously out of control.

Went to Walmart to cash State Unemployment check and Certergy declined my check which I have cashed there consistently and shopped at Walmart afterwards. I have filed a complaint with Walmart and they said this is becoming a nusiance over and over again at all locations and they are losing customers over this companies inability to communicate with people that need the service of checks being cashed. Bank of America has been communicating along with other services to rectify the situation and issues. Hopefully we get this non communicating company out of the system and get some people to talk to as in the old school of ettiquette.

Today, I tried to cash a county payroll check and was declined. I never use checks and use direct deposit but because I added an account, they sent out a check for the first run. I was declined they said for reason number two also and it was for I guess the store's protection and falling in some paremeter. Nothing to do with me. The store is in the county I work for, it made no sense and especially since I just cashed a check last week at the same store with no problem. It was a refund check, though. I figure from now on, just go to the bank, which is what I did. But you would think government and payroll checks would not have this problem. Refund from a company would more than likely be declined. Not the case with Certesy. Yes, their customer service is worthless, whatever the automated service tells you is all you will get from the rep. Fustrating but lessen learned

I shop at Publix weekly. Never had a bad check. went in on 6/11/11 to do my grocery shopping and was told my check is declined. I was shocked, was told to call Certegy check servcies/ I did and all it said was there is no negative information about me but I didn't meet their profile? What? Never had any problems before. So had to leave with out groceries. Tried again the next day. Same thing denied. WTF is going on. Is there not a law or something to stop these people from denying your check when there is nothing negative against you? Been writing checks for 25 years and had never had a bounce check or anything. These people need to be shut down or fined.

I would be very glad to join in a class action law suit against Certegy Check Services. This company needs to be made to explain to the public what they are doing with our credit. This is the most embarrassed I have been in a long time. I have worked hard my entire life to keep from this kind of thing happening to me, and there I was standing in the middle of Wal Mart, left holding a buggy full of merchandise, and even though I know I have the funds to more than cover the amount of the check, Wal Mart would not take my check. I work for a global service company that would be out- of- business in short order if we treated our customers the way Wal Mart is allowing this crank company to treat thier customers. This kind of treament, described in previous complaints and experienced by myself is absurd, not to mention probably illegal !

I'm agree with the person that would like to do a class action lawsuite against this company! What an embarrassment they have caused me on more than one occassion! They should be investigated by the Feds for what they are doing to us hard working, middle class citizens of this great country!

Went to Walmart today with a Payroll check. Was told the same ### and bull story that there was no negative information but that there it was something to do with identity theft crap they give everyone. I had my state issued driver license with me so I could prove i was really who I said I was. I did get to talk to someone from Certegy.. If anyone hears of a class action please let me know.. This was very embarrassing.. I needed that check cashed today. My bank is not in this area and now I have to take time off from work so that I can go to the bank where the check was written on.. More issues..

I too, was a victim due to Certegy.
I know they probably don't care if their customer looses a customer, but their customer (Big Lots) lost a customer today because Certegy rejected my check. I had proper identification (D.L.) and anything else they might have wanted to prove who I am. So, in the future, I won't be shopping at Big Lots or any other company that uses Certegy. I was given a little card with a phone number and a code as to why my check was rejected. I was informed that it was for my protection to prevent fraud and etc. I was standing with people behind me and people beside me and everyone could hear that my check has been rejected. It was embarrassing and cruel.
There is a flaw with this system and it needs to be addressed and fixed.

A check? It just sounds so archaic. the other people on line must have been cursing you

I went into DSW today to do an exchange and had to write a check for $10.98. My account has over $2k and my credit is perfect. I was carrying a bag worth in excess of $1250. Certegy declined my check. LOL! From now on I'll stick to Neiman Marcus. I may have to pay a fortune but at least I'll get treated better. Certegy ought to be put out of business.

I tried cashing a reimbursement check at WalMart yesterday for $9.79. It got declined. The cashier looked at my pityingly. I got concerned since I had identity theft problem several years ago, and so I quickly called Certegy. The only reason they could tell me was that I had cashed a check with WalMart five days earlier, and that I should wait another week or so again to cash it because it looked like the last check I cashed hasn't closed yet. What did that mean? I had never heard of this policy before! I said so this is the Policy that WalMart has in place when it comes to cashing checks? The answere was yes. What I would like establishments to do is to post a sign that says that check cashing is approved by Certegy, and that consumer is allowed to cash one check each month. Is this another way of forcing consumers to use banks no matter how inconvenient the location may be? Or is this another way to wean consumers to STOP writing checks altogether?

Its interesting that you write a check for 17.00 dollars one week at a grocery in June just to have it declined the next week. When contacting Certegy it was due to an inconsistant profile usage of the checks. I usually use my bankcard I but have been trying to alleviate the amount of checks in my checkbook. The people before me and after me went right through with their items no problem with those EBT cards. What is happening to our country it seems you have to be on welfare to get what you need at certain stores. The working people who pay taxes are under more stingent monitoring system than those who don't want to work. We wonder why things are happening the way they are today.

On the last Sunday of January, 2011, I was the victim of a break-in. The thieves stole some checks and tried running up some bills. I visited my bank and took the appropriate action. Within the next couple of months, had a nightmare as various collection companies tried to collect. With the majority of them, a faxed police report and phone call, and that was it. Not Certegy...they wanted personal info, notarized copies, the works. Sent in the paperwork, still not satisfied. Fed up, I finally even had my bank type out a notarized letter, on top of the PD report and other paperwork. Have yet to hear from the jackals. Also got the runaround when it came to getting a live person to talk too...had to play number tag. On top of that, they harassed my mother, even though they had MY number on file. Have no love for this company.

I went to walmart on a Friday to get my $66 payroll check cashed and they would not cash it! And I have been there many times before and cashed checks under that with not problem. When I called the number they gave me, it just said they would not cash the check because it's more than the amount they have done before! I thought that was a stupid reason! Normally I would go to a bank but when I got off work it was closed. That is why I went there in the first place. Now I have to wait until Tuesday on my next day off. I never heard of anything this ridiculous!

I have also had problems with Certegy. I tried to get the Target Debit Card and was told more information was needed and I would get a letter. Letter from Target denied me because of info from Certegy. After contacting Certegy to get whatever info they have against me, they show money owed on a 2008 check. The check in questions was a fraudulent check written in 2008 and supposedly signed by my husband (who passed away in 2002). I had filed a police report in 2008 and filed a claim with my bank. My bank investigated and it was proven fraudulent. I sent a copy of everything to Certegy and they said it would be cleared. After a few months I tried again, with same results. I wrote to Cergety for an explanation and they replied that they cannot delete the check info because it is a transaction that actually happened, they have the fraud reports and my name will be on a preferred list so it does not happen again. Waited a couple of monhs and tried at Target again ... and again was told, more information was needed. I am positive I will be receiving another Target letter denying me. I also think they need a class-action suit filed against them. I am going to try contacting Target credit company, sending them my entire package that I sent Certegy re fraud and also a copy of these complaints ... maybe they'll go with another check clearing company. I just want a debit card which comes out of my account ... NOT a credit card.

Refused to accept my check at Dollar General yesterday. My bank was nice enough to send the money to me at the store by courrier. But I cannot reach Certegy Check Services by computer or speak to anyone live by telephone to correct matters. A recording told me that they have a returned check, but I HAVE NO RETURNED CHECKS! I am older and disabled, and so very frustrated that I cannot get this error corrected due to Certegy being unavailable!

Beverley Atkin Isaac
721 W. Ogeechee St.
Sylvania, GA 30467
beverley.isaac@yahoo.com

I urge everyone who has a complaint against CERTIFY to file a complaint with the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC). I have filed a complaint with them regarding my experience with CERTEGY. When I called them today, I asked what happens to my complaint? Anything or do you just take it and that's it? She said when they get alot of complaints on one company, that's what catches their attention. You can file the complaint online.

i to frist took my check then on my second and thrid return was turned down in font of a store full of people .i do not under stand they could take my frist check but now they can not.they have no cause and said it should not efect my next trans action but like you i not want to be embarced in front of a store full of people again. lisa belcher from napoleon, ohio

Ms. Isaac, I am very sorry that you had that experience at the Dollar store. I too am disabled and I know how hard it is to get out and try and take care of my business without something like this happening to you. Thank goodness the people at your bank were kind enough to come and take care of this for you.
As to you MR. 123321 - I think you were very rude to Ms. Isaac who stated she is elderly and disabled, you have no idea what goes on in her life and if she is "with the times" and has a debit card or not. She might have one and loaned it out to her young grandson who was "NOT WITH THE TIMES" and DIDN'T have a debit card.
So, before you start your crap of checks are a risk for a store - if they felt they were that big of a risk, then the store should just QUIT taking them ALL TOGETHER.
NOW, MR. 123321 GET WITH THE TIMES AND BE RESPECTFUL TO YOUR ELDERS OR DIDN'T YOU HAVE PARENTS?
BTW, Lisha45, thank you so much for your info!

It's bad enough that it is random check rejection or haven't you gkenigmatic and Jim52 read ANY of the complaints against this fly-by-night company Certegy or not. What started out as part of a good company (Equifax) and then splintered off to this. It's no wonder they have been on the market for so long and no one credible wants to buy them now. If you think Certegy is so great may I interest you two in a "Certegy Gold Application"? I know I personally would never ever give a company that much information about me just to keep my check from "RANDOMLY BEING DECLINED" - and that is what it is for and it is NOT GUARENTEED !
Ms. gkenigmatic and Mr. Jim52, you should read on how the people were impacted when CERTEGY lost 5.9 million consumer identification information files.
And finally, since the two of you feel so "safe" read this site http://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/certegy.html

I purchased a mattress from Mattress Firm in Knoxville Tn and paid in full with a personal check. Almost 3 months later I received a letter from Certegy stating for me to make payment to them immediately for the same amount I paid Mattress Firm plus $30 service charge because my check I used to pay Mattress Firm was returned unpaid. I took the letter straight to my bank and was told that there had not been a check presented to them for payment. The bank suggested that we contact Mattress Firm and ask for a photo copy of the front and back of the check in question and they could only tell us that we needed to speak with Certegy that they were unable to give us any answers. I have written to Certegy and ask them for a photo copy of the check to be faxed or mailed to me with no response. My money was in the bank when the check was written and is still in the bank with plenty of proof showing this to be true. Certegy has threatened me with denying my checks through their merchants if I don't send them money. I have reported both companies to The Better Business Bureau and The Federal Trade Commission. My next step is to talk to an attorney and I would recommend that everyone report this company. Consumers who do business in good faith should have some protection from this scam.

You see a check returned and then it is redeposited and you still have the check declined.Need to stop this harassement on people that are trying to keep their credit somewhat outstanding.Certegy does not seem to know what they are doing or the staff that is emploted with them doesn't.

I agree, went to cash a check for my Local 302, Operators Union retirement, cashed last two times - now with the economic news no more checks cashed. Some bogus number two as the reason, can't get ahold of a real person, they ask you to give all your confidential info to find out. SCREW THE LAWSUIT, ITS TIME FOR THE ROPE, and I am serious.

Certegy should be placed in the Fraudulent Companies category and dismantled! After having a check declined at Wal-Greens, I, too went through the whole business of getting only automated service and no good reason for having my check declined. My local bank is checking into this situation as I had ample money in my account. I am embarrassed and frustrated that a "company" can do this to any individual, at any time, with total lack of consequences! I believe I will go back to the old fashion way of pulling the money I need out of my account weekly and paying cash for everything! If any one hears of action being taken against Certegy please post it. Patricia Curran 8/18/11

I too was turned down when trying to MONEY a check at Walmart. It was only for $10 and the check was a rebate from Walmart Learn Card. I called Certegy and the customer service agent said it appeared that the Walmart associate keyed in my birth date incorrectly.