FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

this company decline checks with no real reason to decline the tranaction, they run a credit report and decline people base on credit report and never send a letter of decline, and they keep your info in there system.

I find it very fascinating that Wal-Mart is now unable to cash my checks, as they have been able to for well into a year. Then, three months ago I go about my daily routine of grabbing my check at Midnight from my work then heading on down to Wal-Mart (the only known retailer that cashes checks at midnight, which is quite useful if it WORKS) to get it cashed. Ah it had been fun to walk in there then come out with a wad of cash, but there's a problem...I have been declined? It was odd because three other people from my store (I worked at McDonald's at the time) were in front of me doing the same exact thing: cashing their checks. And I didn't even give it a second thought that I'd be declined, as all of them walked out with money...so then I asked them to try running it again, and of course I get that little slip of paper telling me to call this business number.

I sit on that paper for about 1 and a half months, assuming that it would work the next 6 attempts. But I was unsuccessful, and I hadn't yet tried to do the day thing...well after my 6th attempt I called up Certegy, entered the check information that they required and I was hit with some bs about preventing check fraud by apparently matching check-writing activity? Of course they said they'd immediately contact Wal-Mart's retailers, so I went back into Wal-Mart, with some sense of confidence. Hey, maybe it was actually working this time...then declined twice again and I was about to give up on Wal-Mart right then and there...though I decided to call Certegy in the morning.

Now here's where things get funny, I call them up and I get your typical (though not to be stereotypical or racist) guy from India as a man who hasn't the slightest clue what he's talking about. He tells me the reason I've been declined is due to my license number (which I haven't seen in any of these complaints thus far) and I thought..."why?". Well I asked WHY and he said because the numbers didn't match in their system, that it was declined...which is complete BS because when Wal-Mart or a Gas Station writes my DLN on a check it's merely for security purposes, not the computer. I asked if they could fix it there at Certegy and they told me no, that it had to be fixed at Wal-Mart. The reason this is so funny is that yes I had an Alabama Driver's License and used it to cash my checks at Wal-Mart, then I got my Kentucky license...and it still worked. And that number hasn't changed, even though both numbers were different on the licenses it still worked. But I go along with the guy, I'm curteous and all that...go down to Wal-Mart the next week because I already cashed the check at my bank and the next thing I know, apparently nobody at midnight knows how to change the number in their system! Well that's funny, because when I even mentioned the issue they looked at me like they hadn't the slightest clue what I was talking about...as if they never had an issue with Certegy before.

You know I even tried a different Wal-Mart and it still didn't work like 3 times out of my various attempts? So I come back the next morning, to talk to somebody at the Money Center (even though I got the check cashed elsewhere just before I got there, because my checks work everywhere else EXCEPT Wal-Mart for some reason now...) and she ignorately states that she cannot do anything without me having a check. BULL! All she had to do was pull up my information in their system and change the numbers, but I played ball...got my check the NEXT week and this being the final time I used Wal-Mart for my check cashing purposes...

Day-time, sunny out and so far everything was good and dandy. I walk up to the person I normally talked to months ago when I got them cashed during the day, and I tell her about the issue. She starts pulling it up in the computer and then...she too? She hits me with this thing that if they don't get an option to Override the information, they can't change anything. So they tell me to call the company and that THEY'RE supposed to do it. I laugh...I walk out with my check and I start cracking up. HAVE YOU GOT TO BE ****ING KIDDING ME?! Are these people really this stupid, I've tried for three months now to cash my checks at your stores and still...all you can do is send me in circles with a damn peice of paper telling me to call a bogus company?! Why not do what the gas stations do that don't have a check reading device, simply write the number on the check and give me the money...it's not like I'm getting paid 500 dollars! The most I made was 230 per week, but no...no cash for you!

So I gave up, I'm done with Wal-Mart...and I wanted to try one last time tonight at midnight but I wanted to look up Certegy first. And here I am, reading these complaints about this bs company that can't do anything right. Everyone's absolutely right, this company needs to have lawsuits up the ying-yang and be erased from the face of the planet...if I got to go down to HeadQuarters I would but sadly, I don't make enough to waste my time instead of feeding my 2 sons and wife to go all the way up to their HQ.

Here's a list of what retailers I've seen mentioned thus far that use Certegy:

Wal-Mart
Target
Walgreens
Big Lots!
Home Depot
Piggily Wiggilys
K-Mart
Kroger

There are other smaller grocery stores that have this issue, but damn...look I get paychecks and my bank account is screwing me over, so I have to get it cashed instead...I don't have a CHOICE with checks. I need them cashed at midnight because I live week to week with checks, I have 2 babies and it's hard to feed them as well as keep them up with diapers ! I don't have extra money, I need the money as soon as possible and I want my midnight cash checking back! I'm tired of this!

And this comment is to agree with Judy, towards people who feel that "check writing" is outdated...leave it be. Cash is also considered "outdated" but you're never going to stop people from using it, as long as money is in paper-form it will always be that way. Once everything is seriously on cards and in computer databases than in our pockets, THEN Mr. Whiner do you get the right to complain. Until then, people have the right to write checks and hold onto cash, for some of us it's our only option. What about individuals who have a job that gives you a check but does not offer a direct deposit? Though McDonalds does, I know plenty of people working for other companies that never got this right...they don't have a choice and must get their checks cashed immediately. And what about those of us that end up with bank accounts that steal money from your account without you doing any of these transactions? So you end up in the negatives and by having your check direct deposited or regularly deposited into a bank account it does nothing but possibly fix the negatives. And what does that leave you with? Less than what you originally had, and even more of that money is going to be stolen from you...

So here's my question for you up to date, above standards kind of folks...what the **** is your issue? If you have a problem with somebody writing a check, go to another line...or use a damn self-checkout (since everything else is outdated, these are a lot more common in most retailers than you, Mr. Whiner, might think). If you can't stand someone pulling out cash and exact change, whoopdie doo...not everyone can keep up with bank accounts or not everyone has one...and to say if you live in this time and place without having a bank account and that makes me below your standards, then sir you've got quite a problem.

Good day and I hope Certegy purges...

Is it a real check? Are you showing a real ID? HMMM how do you think a computer is going to know the difference. My guess would be that they are getting fraud checks or nsf checks from there. State or not All you need is a account number to make a fake check. My guess also would be that the account number was given to hundreds of people when given a check. Are they all honest?

You know my mom had her purse stolen. Within 2 hours the people that stole her info had printed checks and written them all over the city. Its that easy and fast for fraud. I just say thank you and use a guaranteed form of payment. I make sure to always have a back up just in case some one doesn't me and doesn't trust the IOU that a check is.

Without going into great detail, I, too, had a check declined today at Dillards Dept. store by Certigy. I have the highest of credit ratings and have never had a check declined in my entire life (63 years). After over an hour of many phone calls, I had no satisfactory information. I was given 3 separate corporate headquarter phone numbers and each time when I got a person to answer and I explained that I would like to talk to someone in the executive dept. to straighten out this problem, they switched me back to the same check authorization people that I talked to from the Department store phone. Each time I asked for the phone # of corporate headquarters, I was given a different number and told that the headquarters (1st) were in St. Petersberg, (2nd) in Jacksonville and (3rd) in Tampa. In other words, something is "fishy" here and I am being given the "runaround"! Tomorrow I am going to take this problem to our private banker and see what they can find out! Citergy is mailing me a form to fill out that supposedly will put me on their VIP list to ease this problem. Frankly, at this point, I am hesitant to give them anymore information.

I suggest that it would be a good idea to contact the executive offices of the companies and stores that use Citergy's services and let them know that many people are having problems both with contacting Citergy and with declined checks for no reason that makes sense.

I also would be happy to join in a class action lawsuit. Sharon from SC

I went to Wal-mart yesterday since it was payday. I went to cash my county issued check and Certigy denied me. I do not have bad credit although I guess it is not considered to be good either since I am only 17 and I don't own anything on my own. This was only my second pay check, and I have no checking accounts or anything of the sort. I just wanted my cash in hand and I became quite irrate at this Certigy company. They told me it was a Reason 3 code and that I may call to see why I was declined. I am definately going to do that once I am off work today.

This too have occured when I decided to stop using credit cards. There is money in the bank but because there is not a strong check writing history, we are denied and it is EXTREMLY EMBARASSING! I mentioned to the manager at our local grocery store that I could go down the street the Hen House Markets and they would take my check. He decided to take my check and asked if Hen House uses a check verifiying system and I told him no, they tend to it in house and allow you to write a check.

There was one day I had to get shampoo and pull-ups for my son, and I went to K-Mart, where I have shopped dozens of times, and NEVER had any issues. I wrote a check for $18.31 and was denied. I was so infuriated I left only to never return. I've heard so many horror stories of why people have been declined, it's ridiculous! There are plenty of good people out there, who are not about to commit check fraud, that get denied because of some fluke incident that has nothing to do with them, or even with the company at which they are writing their checks. Not everybody likes to carry around cash, and believe it or not, not everybody has a debit card. Most people any more are trying to eliminate their debt, but disgarding their credit cards and such. But not only have I had my checks denied because Certegy has a backwards approach to check verification, but I'm also into the business of handling merchant accounts for ACH processing and credit card processing. We are a rather small company and always make sure to put the merchant first and look out for their best interest. Certegy is one company that I would NEVER recommend to ANY of our merchants. There are plenty of services out there that are a million times better that Certegy, but because their name is more familar with the retail industry, they are used more often than not. For anybody that is interested, there are companies like TeleCheck or Geti (Global eTelecom) who have great pricing plans even for small ma & pa stores. They use similar methods to verify checks. But you also have to remember what it is that you are looking for. Whether it's processing the check through ACH (automated clearing house) or verifying that the account attached to the check actually has the money. But these above mentioned companies all provide the same services, but you don't get even remotely close to HALF the complaints as I've seen here today!

certegy are a pack of soulless, rude, arrogant bunch of bullies who get power trips when they make girls cry...
i was disgusted when i found out how these people spoke to my partner who is going through the toughest financial and medical situation of her life. she called them to see if she can organise a different strategy of payment to get on top of her debt and was put through to the most arogent person i have ever spoken too, i know what he sounds like becuase when i heard the story i called this man and told him what i thought of him. this person abused his power as a debt collect and outright bullied my girlfriend and threatened her with legal action when it wasnt even necessary and when she was crying on the phone to this man he said and i quote " oh you know what i change my mind.. you cant pay it off now, either return the good or pay the whole amount!.. "
when i heard how he treated my girlfriend i dont think i have ever been so angry in my life.. i understand that they have a job to do but there is no need for attitude and definitely no need to talk down to people and make them feel useless. this mans name is TIM and he works at the collections section of the Adelaide branch on certegy in australia, i cant not describe the disgust i feel for this persons actions. but on a brighter note a man called Angelo was very plesant to talk to and we resolved our problems in less then 5 mins.. i think this bully named TIM should learn how to deal with people like Angelo...

On 6/23/2009 I checked out of a store that I frequent (Target), averaging 3-4 transactions per month, wrote a check, on an account opened for five plus years, with my drivers license verified, which was declined. While the sales clerk was very friendly, all that she could offer was a slip of paper with the Certegy phone number. Ironically, I was able to use my Debit card, attached to the same checking account, to clear the transaction. A bit ironic.

When I called the Certegy number, the clerk took the info, pulled my credit report and checked my bank account, and came back to tell me that there was nothing derogatory on my report, nor was there a problem with my account. How reassuring to tell me something that I already know since I'm a banking exec at the institution where the checking account resides. I was informed that on occasion, the "model" would produce a false negative, that it is NOT based on your credit history or checking account soundness but on whether or not you fit a "fraudulent profile". I specifically asked for additional detail of the model - since I was in a store that I frequently shop, have held the same employment and residence for 10 years, had valid identification, and was using a checking account that has been opened and used for over 3 years. There was no detail provided, just "sincere apologies".

This was both humilating and embarassing. I have filled a complaint with Target and intend to consult my attorney as to a possible defimation of character. I do find it ironic that you can submit an application for "Gold status". I did some research and the Boston Globe previously did an article about Certegy which can be found at http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/...

I aslo fit the last paragraph of the application noteworthy.

Certegy Gold applicants have to provide detailed information about themselves, their employers, and their bank, including a voided check. Gold status doesn't cost anything, but members agree to pay a service fee to Certegy each time they write a "dishonored check."

Why would you ask for information already on file with the client's primary Financial Institution? I think that we're all well versed on what happened with the last little incident of customer information being leaked from Certegy with Bank of America clients. Another red flag is the agreement to pay a service fee to Certegy each time a check is dishonored. Again, why would a client agree to give approval to charge a service fee whenever they decide to "dishonor" a check that is indeed valid but the "model" recommends to decline? This is a deceptive way to reap profits for the company. Not unlike exorbitant interest rates and excessive fees.

Based on the number of complaints filed, I would suggest that you have your statisticians re-evaluate their "model". Perhaps enough law suits, Better Business Bureau and Attorney General complaints filed by financially savy individuals who have been "declined because they erroneously fit a fraudulent profile" will end this "fraudulent" income stream for Certegy.

Certegy check services is stupid. Get a class action lawsuit for this company, tag me in, humiliated me in Lowes, just wanted to buy a washer, even my bank called them, and told them it was okay, still say they need more information. Communists!

Oh, find someone to set it up and I, most cetainly, will sign it! My husband wrote a busines check at a local Cash America Pawn and the check was declined stated reason #2, which is what everyone else here is also discribing. I called Certegy and they asked all the information, said they check again and said they couldn't over ride the decision. This totally pissed me off so I called my bank; nothing wrong there and I called the company who prints up the checks; thinking perhaps there was a problems there.
My husband ran service calls; went BACK to that same pawn shop and presented the same check AGAIN; they ran it through and this time it was fine.
A week later, my husband goes to another of these pawn shops (they often have good deals on tools) and this purchase would have been $15. It was AGAIN declined by Certegy. Both Pawn shows commented that this machine was new. They had better get this corrected or there will INDEED be a law suite. We have been in business since 1979 and are not used to having our checks denied. There is something very wrong here.
Margaret Monteleone
Monteleone's Heating and Cooling

I just had the same problem in Home Depot. I have over $4, 000 in my checking account and tried to write a check for $680.22; the check was declined. The girl at the counter was extremely nice so I can't complain about her. She did say it was usually because I had written a bad check there before. I have never bounced a check so I know that was incorrect. It was during banking hours and my bank was a block away so I drove there and withdrew cash from my supposed "bad checking account" and then went back to pay for my purchase. It was so embarrassing. I usually only use my debit card but my bank has a $700 daily limit on it and I had already used it a few times today so I knew I could not charge the $680. The bank has offered to raise the limit but I actually feel more secure with it at $700 so if it were to be stolen that would be the maximum the thief could spend. This is my reasoning behind writing a check and for those saying "use your debit card" they obviously cannot afford to make large purchases otherwise they would know that most debit cards have a daily spending limit. I am planning on writing to the BBB and my states attorney. I too would be more than happy to file a class action law suit against them. I had never heard of them before and I even called my bank from Home Depot and they were going to verify the funds available but Home Depot would not accept that.

i had the same problem with home depot, lowes and pet smart. i went to home depot 2 times in one day and the same with lowes. i paid with dept and check. they had to call for the check verification. I had been in that morning and used a check with no problem. i called my bank and they have no issues on my account and they don’t understand why they declined the check. I don’t understand how this company can have a problem with our checks and our banks do not. Do they have access to the accounts? If they do who gave that to them?

I was in Staples over the weekend and bought office furniture for my home. I knew that I had more than enough funds in my account so a denial of my check at first caught me off guard. The cashier stated she could not provide any further information but I could use another method of payment. I was embarrassed since the transaction was holding up the line and my purchase. After a couple of attempts, I finally decided to leave. While in the parking lot I phone my bank who stated there were no holds on my account nor was their any problem with my checks and they also volunteered to speak with the store. I then called the Manager and told him if their store was going to deny my check at least offer an explanation of why. He disconnected their store from the check approval process and deferred to an outside agency, "Certegy" which makes all decisions regarding check acceptance. I asked for the number and after listening to a long pre-recorded narrative (apparantly this happens often enough that they need a pre-recorded message) I finally reached a live person. This person explained that their process is "random" and at any time anyone could be selected for this check denial. Then she told me that because this particular Staples store had been victimized due to fradulent activity and that my check fit the profile. What kind of BS is that? She also stated that it was not based on my checking account balance nor was there any negative check writing history but this was just a "random" process and if I used any of their selected stores it could happen again. Ok, now I'm paranoid about writing checks ever again in retail stores not knowing when I may randomly be selected as their "embarrased guest of the day." I'll use my card unless I'm paying bills. This place is crazy and unfair. I don't know how they have been able to get away with this for so long.

I was dumbfounded earlier today when a check I wrote to a local sporting goods store was declined- the store manager gave me a card referencing Certegy. Given that my credit is fine and plenty of money was in the account corresponding with the check, I left the store, having paid by credit card, concerned that maybe my identity had been breached. It then struck me that the last time I attempted to write a check from a different account at a different bank a year or so ago that I was declined then as well and was forced to use either a debit or a credit card. Upon viewing these comments regarding the declining of checks, I'm going to guess too that I fit the "profile" for a fraudulent check writer. Perhaps this one way large retailers can get around having to process checks. Sounds like good material for a class action suit. Too bad I'm not an attorney. Just an irritated consumer who's strongly considering engaging strictly in cash transactions. Shame on you corporate America!

How can we stop this from happening? I just had the same problem at DSW and I called, spoke to a representative and she didn’t have a clear response as to why my check wasn’t accept it… the lady kept telling me how Certegy is a company that makes sure no bad checks are written BLAH BLAH BLAH… but that the system does not really specify WHY it wasn’t accepted even thought it does tell them that I have NEVER had a bad check written… This is Unbelievable and unacceptable!

I just experienced this embarrassing situation today. I feel they should be sued. I tried to get gas since all I had on me was my check book and I was declined. When I called the 800 number they told me I had no negative information but my pattern for check writing was being monitored. DUHHHHH --- people do write checks you know. I was so ashamed and very upset. I guess I'll be keeping more cash on me from now on since I was told at anytime my checks could be declined. I don't think that is right - so I am all for a class action suit.

I would definitly go into a class action lawsuit against certegy my dog passed away Sunday after certegy declined my check and I was turned away from the emercency vets and took my dog home and that night my dog passed away thanks to certegy my dog did'nt get the care she needed which was a blood transfussion because she had hemloytic anemia...if certegy did'nt decline my check my dog would probably still be here she was only 4 years old ...please if anyone knows what we can do about this certegy please get back to me email address is astarchild518@aol.com thank you

IF YOU KNOW OF A WAY TO SUE THEM PLEASE CONTACT ME BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU THEY CAUSED ALOT OF HEARTACHE TO ME MY DOG DIED THIS SUNDAY BECAUSE CERTEGY DECLINED MY CHECK AT THE EMERGENCY VET HOSPITAL astarchild518@aol.com THANKS

I just got back from Walgreen's trying to pay for my things with a check. Guess What? Yeh, Certegy. I called the number they gave me and was told my checking account was closed! This was certainly a surprise to me since I've been using it everyday for the past 17 years! And naturally I got a recording. As so many others I am now scared to use my account because of the embarrassment. I think we need to boycott stores that use the certegy system. And a class action suit would also be nice. Sign me up!

To file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, you can go to http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm.

http://certegycheckservices.tk/ POST YOUR STORIES THERE

Guys I understand that you are embarrassed and I bet the sales clerk was too, but you have to remeber this is not the stores fault it is this certegy company. I wittnessed a sales clerk at this beautiful staples store who have probably the nicest employees that I have ever had to deal with, get chewed out by an angry customer whoes check was declined. This is no way the stores fault, especially not the kid running the checkout line. The stores have no way to know your banking history nor do they want to. Sue certegy not the store. You can take you buisness some place else but the problem is that they more than likely use certegy too. The problem is with certegy!

I tried cashing a refund check at Wal Mart today in the amount of $21.78 from overpayment from Sallie Mae student loans, but this certegy check services slip printed out. I am just now having a problem...never had this happen before I am depressed.

I as well have had the same issue at 2 stores. They said that they could see I had no bounced checks against my name, no fraud checks against me, but they still wouldn't take my check. I found out it was because I don't usually write checks. They want me to fill a form with my banking info so that they can contact my bank. Is that legal for them to require that in order for me to write a check? There is more than enough funds available and nobody else seems to have an issue with me writing a check. I am so angry with this company!

Certegy is truly the rip off of the century! I tried to write a check at Dicks sporting goods for football cleats for my son, and was turned down, the store was packed and this was very embarrassing, I called my bank right there on the spot and the money was in the account to cover the amount of the cleats. I did not have my debit card with me, so I had to drive to the bank, withdraw the money and go back to the store. The only reason I went back to the store was to redeem myself. The reason according to certegy that I was turned down was because they did not have enough information on me. How much information do they need? All the information that they need is if the funds are available. I am truly disgusted by this company. If you need to use a check writing service use Telecheck at least they are fair.

Hmmm!

The Certegy experiences continue. My wife just had a check declined at Target with no explanation available. After spending an hour shopping, her check was declined. I called our Credit Union where we have had our accounts for the psst 35 years and they verified that we had 100 times more funds in the account than the check was written for. This has happened now 3 times over a two month period ... credit checking and bank verification calls are always fine.

Certegy apparently has no oversight and declines appear to have no validity. Target is also effected in that, we will just stop shoping there since they are not interested in helping the customer solve this. My wife was put into the position at Target of 1) losing valuble time spent shopping, 2) embarrassed at the check-out with no immediate recourse with impotent Target staff and apparent lack of leadership to assist a loyal customer that has shopped at Target for many years .

Similar information will be posted at various websites and sent to Consumer Advocates like Clark Howard.

Sincerley perturbed,

Carl

Had a check declined at walgreens, spent a truck load of money there over the past years, they know me and know they've never had a problem with with my payments.

Try being guardian over someone and your only option is to write a check (debit cards aren't allowed and cash withdrawals from an account are a no-no without preapproval from the judge) and of course, they have to set up new accts with the guardianship, so it's a new record. Got denied for a "pattern of fraud". spent hours on the phone with them, the only solution they could give me was to mail me paperwork to fill out, then return it to them and maybe they would lift the denial. Talked to the bank, and they can't do anything. The person I have guardianship over requires many medications, so this is really a pain in the ###. I could have the meds transferred, but how do I know who does and doesn't use certegy?

I decided I wasn't going to battle this on my own. I've contacted my atty and he is looking into it. For now, I'm just hoping he can get the checks to clear. Once he has done that, I intend to ask about filing charges.

It is unfortunate if the Certegy employee treated you with disrespect, but Certegy's computers don't know you. It's really just math, plain and simple. Either the numbers involved fit a fraud pattern or they don't. Would you rather the clerk flip a coin or roll some dice? At least you could see it was fair. "Next!"

Checks are not guaranteed forms of payment. They are a promise to pay. If I cash your paycheck, I've purchased from you a promise that SOMEONE ELSE will pay. Suppose we were in a grocery store, I had only a check to pay for my food and I learn from the cashier that the store doesn't take checks at all. Would you offer to pay for my groceries with your debit card, if I offered to pay you back with my check? What if I wrote the check for 100 or 1000 dollars more than the purchase? What if you used a cell phone right there in line to call my bank (printed on the check) to verify the funds? Would you take it then? (Do you think I could have an accomplice at the bank ready to withdraw the funds when you finish the call?)

Knock yourself out, Carl. Merchants choose to pay to protect themselves from check fraud even at the expense of a (relatively very) few good customers because they have decided that it helps control losses and protect profits overall. If they didn't hire some company to do it for them, they'd be doing it themselves, and you might be the victim of a different imperfect scheme trying to scheme the schemers. Remember: the machine that evaluates the minimal characteristics of the transaction does not evaluate your character. A merchant can always choose to override a check authorization service's opinion of the transaction, if it is their policy to allow that of their employees. If it is any consolation, check authorization is a declining business because people are moving to other forms of payment.

I recently had a check declined by certegy, and i called the 800 number and i had trouble getting a real person to talk to, but at the end of the 3rd time trying to get a real person the voice automated person asked me "did i answer all your questions?" and i stated NO and what do you know i was transfered to a real person. This real person gave me a number for Early Warning Services to handle this matter further saying that my account has negative information . the number for that company is [protected]. maybe this will help everyone having trouble with certegy.

What can decent hardworking citizens do about this Certegy Check Services company? I, too, was embarrassed due to this company scanning my check. Since I've never written a bad check my entire life, this was aggravating to deal with. I did manage to communication with someone at Certegy, but was not happy with the fact that I feel I had to divulge information to someone I've never heard of. But the employee at the place where I wrote my check said that it came up with a problem when he scanned it. I still got purchase and the employee took my check, but said I needed to contact this Certegy Check Services, Inc. anyway. At Certegy, they tell me if I fill out a free and confidential application that it will improve my check acceptance tremendously anywhere. They also said that they guarantee checks for over 385, 000 companies and they are also protecting not only companies but the consumers as well. I'm sorry, but I do not trust any company based in Florida. So how can we the consumer protect ourselves from them? How can we find out who they do business with so that we can avoid another embarrassing moment? Someone please help. Thank you.

I agree with anyone that wants to start a class action suit against Certegy check service. I wrote a check at the store that I work at and the check was declined "due to my check writing profile". How embarassing! Bad enough that the check was declined but to have it happen with where I work! And I can't get anyone on the phone. I was on hold for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The soul of America has been shot out, dripping from shotgun-blast sized hole in our chest. Certegy pulled the trigger. Before I even called Certegy, I knew exactly who these people were, though I had never heard of them. They work well at a marketing conference, wearing their nametags nicely on their supplied laynards. The love to "network" themselves, shaking hands with everyone they meet, a coffee in one hand and a mobile phone device attached to their ear. They use multiple big words in the same sentence, even though in context they make no sense. As a business, they fail the customer in every possible way. My "fraudulent tendency" experience resulted in a twenty eigth minute wait before a human being appeared. How worthless of a wait. At Certegy, humans have no capabilities; the "system" is in charge. No one has the ability to override, not even supervisors, not even the owner (at least according to person number one that I spoke to)! They have no fax machines, no email capability, only letters that can be sent, according to the first four people I spoke with. The first supervisor I spoke with could not tell me any information, as to not give away the "flags" that pick up on fraudulent check writing tendencies. When I informed her(?) that I had written a check (business account, no less) the previous week at same location, I told her I obviously don't need any hints, as I was successful in the past. In all, I eventually was able to get closure to a very annoying situation, that could have been easily solved. One human to another, a verbal hanshake, a resolution that most every American would do with another. Treat each other like people. But not a Certegy. Not in the modern, Soulless America. I gave them my information, which they were able to confirm. They agreed that I was the proper operator of my account. Yet they could do nothing with this, aside from offering me membership to "Certegy Gold". Sorry Certegy, but I'd rather not join the ranks of the New Fascists, the ### of society which have drained the life out of our economy, and our country.

Last night, I wrote a check, which was decline, for $25.00 to Cracker Barrel, . First thing this morning, I headed to my bank, who informed me I had sufficient funds (I already knew that, of course). Today, I wrote a check to Lowe's to cover the cost of my flooring for my new home. It too was declined. Just 3 weeks prior, however, I wrote a check to Lowe's to cover the cost of cabinets - it was NOT declined. After Lowe's declined my check, we too called Certegy (while standing in line), who asked me for more information, which I gave. They told me that my check declined b/c their computer model tagged my check, indicating that my check 'could' be fraudulent and it was being rejected for my protection and for the protection of the merchant - to which I say - bull! She said it had nothing to do with my account and it had nothing to do with my credit. I knew she was lying when I asked what her computer model was based on, when she responded, "that was private and she could not give out that information."
I've read many complaints here - something is up - does anyone have any idea what can be done?

No law was broken. Certegy didn't want to insure your check. Your company didn't want to accept a check that isn't insured. You can't use personal checks as payment there. No big deal. Use cash or a credit card.

We have a continuing on-line deduction from our checking account for Go Daddy. com and has been on going for over a year now. All of a sudden the monthly deduction from our account has been declined as Certegy feels it is a fradulent claim. I spoke to Certegy in person and said monthly payments are still being declined. Now Certegy wants my company to fill out an application and send a voided check. There is information on the application I do not feel Certegy should have access to and I refuse to do so. I hope other businesses are paying attention and quit using this flawed service.