FISGlobal.com / Certegy
Reviews and Complaints

I was in a bad accident and became totaly and permanently disabled. I had written a check at a store, left, and had the accident. I just got out of the hospital and while opening my mail, got a final notice from Certegy Collections. I called them to explain why the check was not paid and alls they had to say was that if the check is not paid in full, they will report it to my credit report, they will not let me work out any type of payments and I have very little money right now and can't pay the bill in full. The manager said, "The checks 5 months old and you had no problem writing it before your accident...". These people are going to court!

Same thing happened to me today. Very upsetting. Lady on 800 # was very uninformative & couldn't understand her accent. If I cannot write a check with MORE than enough funds to cover my purchase, then my $ will go elsewhere! Totally agree w above statement. Very humiliating.

Truth is stranger than fiction, isn't it Chris? There is no Big Brother who knows all, sees all. On average, trying to identify bad checks is successful and pays off for merchants, so much so that they pay for the service. Individual cases are all over the map and can be comical.

Certegy is only one company that makes a living from attempting to mitigating the actions of criminals. To paraphrase Lee Ioccoca (and others, I am sure), "If you can find a better check verification service, buy it."

all you people that complain about checks being decline get with the program now days pay with a credit card or debit card.. checks are not a guarntee form of payment. your bank does not gurantee them. it has nothing to do with credit! for cashing checks go to the bank or get a bank account.

In regards to the comment regarding white, middle-aged people...
You just need to grow up, and stop being a racist pig.

What does race and a person's age have to do with Certegy? Absolutely nothing. I am certainly not a white, middle-aged person, and I have been wronged by Certegy just like the best of them. In regards to your comment about "All you people have to do is file complaints?"... what do you think you just did? Duh! Grow up and stop acting like a 2 year old. Just because somebody wronged you in some way, doesn't mean you need to go around randomly attacking people on a complaint board. How stupid?!? You're certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed - and that's a fact.

Actually that is not correct - your bank does guarantee the checks as long as you have sufficient funds to cover them. Checks are considered legal tender and should be accepted as long as their is proper identification. As far as your comment to "get with the program", I would suggest that you respect the rights & desires of an individual to conduct business in a manner which is appropriate for them. Would you tell someone who is riding a bike, "Get with the program. This is the 21st century - buy a car". Absolutely not... that is ludicrous.

attempted to cash my paycheck and was denied no reason given by merchant then called ur service was put on hold 41 mins i jus gave up reaching certegy by phone then tryed website also reason given for denial.Incidentally i was denied at merchant counter whilst my wife had grocery cart full. This so called service u offer is DISGUSTING & PATHETIC.There has to be laws that protect hard working law abiding citizens from companies like yours.

I wrote a $225 check at Boscovs dept. store and was denied. I never wrote a bad check in my entire life, plus had over $7000.00 in my checking account. What the heck is this company doing and do the businesses that use their service know they are losing millions of dollars worth of business on wrongful information. This is also humiliating and must be looked into.

my check was declined for authorization by Certegy Check Services at the Walgreens in Antioch TN 11/29/2017. I was told that a report would be sent to me stating the reason why. After 2 calls to the customer care department at [protected], i finally received a vaugue response that since there was a gap of 4 checks that they could not identify to who the checks were written, they could not approve my transaction. I was also told that if I were to fill out an application, that my future check writing would be considered after they "processed" the application. I received a letter stating that I was declined the priviledges of writing checks and my checks would not be authorized for future purchases. "The information does not meet the applicable criteria required for enrollment at this time."
Is there anyone out there who is part of a class action against this firm?
If so, please contact me: stevebruns1329@comcast.net

I won't take the time to detail my anger at having my check refused at Big Five Stores in Boise. I have a credit score average of 830, never had a check returned for insufficient funds, and at the time of the "refused check", I had a four figure balance in my checking account. I paid for my purchase with my Visa card then attempted to find a reason for the refusal. I phoned Certegy's toll free info number and got a recorded message saying "all representatives were helping other callers and to stay on the line". I waited and waited while other recorded messages reminded me that I would be helped by the next available person. I was determined to wait as long as it took. I put my cell phone on speaker and drove home. After a half hour and still no customer service person answered, I was home. I hung up the phone. If this is a "real" check verifying business they have no right to be this irresponsible without being held to account for their actions (or inactions). Irate in Idaho!

I received a LIHEAP check and attempted to cash it at Wal-Mart. The check is drawn on the State of Pennsylvania. Wal-Mart declined to cash it after running it through Certegy Check Services. I then tried phoning Certegy at the 866-6478 number and there is a recording. After you attempt to enter your id number, it states it cannot understand and hangs up. I called them at least a dozen times to no avail. If they don't allow a check drawn on the PA Treasurers office, who then will they approve checks for? LUDICROUS

The first run in I had with this company was after writing a $70 check at a Big 5 Sporting Goods. My check was denied and I was given information to contact Certegy to discuss the problem. First, in a panic, I called my bank to ensure my account had not been wiped out or something. After confirming I was in good standing at the bank, I called Certegy to learn that there's no legitimate reason that my check was denied other than that the numbers (routing, account, amount, etc) some how matched the guidelines (unspecified guidelines) that constituted fraudulent check cashing. I have no criminal history, negative bank history or negative check writing history, I had money in my account and a valid photo ID with me at the time I was trying to make the purchase and this company had the ability to deny my purchase FOR NO REASON. For a "solution", Certegy did try to get me to sign up to be a "gold member" with their companyh so I wouldn't have this problem but I told them to stick it where the sun don't shine. In my opinion, they are bullying consumers...unless we divulge more information about ourselves and give them the power to monitor us more closely, they will make it impossible for us to make purchases in any form other than cash. I've read that they can also randomly deny consumer's ATM transactions as well.
I am more convinced that I am being bullied as the same problem happened to me again yesterday at Target for a check under $200. I called Certegy immediately to learn the SAME BS they told me the first time. I told them that it was clear they were black listing me since I rarely write checks and this was the first opportunity they had to deny me again since the last run in. Of course, they denied they were seeking me out, but what the hell else do you call it? I just so happened to meet the "guidelines" again? What are the odds of that? Again, I was pursuaded to become a "gold member" with their company in order to prevent this harrassment...This time I agreed so I could get the paperwork in my hot little hands. I want to get as much info. about them as possible as I am certain they are running an illegal practice.
There is no difference from what they are doing than if I was randomly asked to leave a store upon entrance for NO REASON...would we stand for that? Let's not let this company get away with this. I've complained to every and any outfit that I could: Consumer Affairs, FTC, Better Business Bureau of West Florida, Target Corporate Offices, Big 5 and anyone else I can think of. Please do the same!

Every other week I get paid and cash it at Walmart. I suddenly got denied and handed a little slip of paper about this Certegy check services. This is after spending about an hour and a half shopping. I tried talking to certegy with the number on the little peice of paper only to hear someone asking personal info...like a fool...i answer his questions only to find out he has no answers and can't tell me why i was denied suddenly. He had a whole report of me being at Walmart cashing my check in the past. He had a very lame, "Sorry for the inconvenience". Nor did he seem to care or understand the embarrassment I experienced.
I can't help but to wonder why I was red flagged, since I don't do anything wrong to be red flagged. Maybe it is associated with the evil credit bureaus? Even if it was...it was a payroll check and well exceeded what i was purchasing. They have a data base of bussiness partners and I, personally, am avoiding all of them because of this horrible experience. They should not be able to get away with it. I am writing an angry letter and sending it to them, the known places that do business with them, the attorney general, and of course, my friendly local Walmart who I currently stopped doing business with do to this horrible humiliating experience. And anyone else I think of who should be aware of this practice.
They should not have this much control over people ecpecially since they totally are lousy at there judgements!

Would not approve a payroll check to be cashed after Walmart had me to endorse the check. Reason #2.. I make more money than they (Certegy) would cash weekly. I feel that this violated my civil rights. As long as the check is legal, They told me it was, they had no right to refuse approval to Walmart... THey (Certegy) has no right to tell me or anyone else how much money they can make on a payroll check... I am looking for attorneys and/or firms to file a class-action law suite against Certegy Check Services.

I'm not lying about my experience with them. I promise you THAT! It's all Bull [censored]!

I'm with you as far as how much you can make on a GOOD payroll check that they accept one week but deny the next week because it is for more than the week before! Our Walmart also charges to cash it, too. Walmart should stop dealing with these people if they value their customers.

We went to TARGET where we have shopped and spent lots of money over the past severa years. We tried to write a check for $227.42 and it was denied by Certegy and they said it was based on the info on my husband's driver's license. We have not written any bad checks to anyone and when we called this outfit, of course, they could not help us. I ended up putting the purchase on my credit card because I was so embaressed and the clerk acted like we were losers. I needed the items as I am a social worker and I was purchasing Xmas gifts withmy own money for the kids on my caseload. I had never heard of this Certegy outfit but when reading others experience, I see that we are not the only ones. My husband wrote a check at Best Buy just last week for over $400 with no problems at all.

I think Certigy is a class action lawsuit waiting to happen and I think that they will cause many reputable businesses to lose customers. I'm not likely to finish my Xmas shopping at Target and I guess I better use cash according to wack Certegy. Let's do something about them!

After reading through some of these complaints, I'm more concerned now about what happened tonight. I went to the local Walmart to cash a property tax refund check from the state and was denied. I got home and called the Certegy 800 number that they gave me, gave some of the personal info via an automated guy, and then heard a recording that the offices were closed for the day, and I would have to call tomorrow...the reason being #2, whatever that is...the people at Walmart asked if I had cashed a check in the past 7 days, which I haven't, not quite knowing why that matters anyway, and they also told me that it's 1 of 4 reasons, and that they don't know what they are...well, been cashing checks and spending lots of money there for years, and now I'm really discouraged with them, and now have a bigger concern for this so-called company Certegy! Guess I'll find out tomorrow if the state has problems issuing checks these days...Just had to vent, really excited to get this check and then something really lame like this happens!

Can you not see that they are frauds, flim flam artists, scammers. THEY SOLD MILLIONS OF PEOPLES CHECK ACCOUNT NUMBERS BACK IN 2007. HOW CAN ANY REPUTABLE STORE STILL DEAL WITH THEM. Theat y will deny your check, and then give you a phone number where no one can be reached. would a true legit company provide a phone number that has no one on the other end to answer. I think not. So, CERTIGY, why dont you respond to these thousands of complaints against you. ?

This is a horrible company. They refuse or red flag checks for no reason. They refuse to explain what is going on. Marshall's, T.J. Maxx, Target, Walgreens, Restoration Hardware all use this company.

What an embarrassment.

I wrote a check and it was denied. Last week I used my check card and it went through. I tried calling the company and was put on hold for 45 minutes. When I was finally spoken to I got the run around. They couldn't tell me why it was denied. I went to there web site and found several complaints on their company. I don't know why companies are using them. They are loosing all kinds of money.

I too tried to cash a check for a pair of shoes for my husband and I also was declined from certegy. I was humiliated and embarrassed. I called my bank and they said there was no problem and then I tried to call certegy and was on hold for a half hour and still not get anyone. I am furious over this check company. I wish there was something we could do.

0 Votes

I recently tried to cash a payroll check at Walmart and was denied by Certegy. This I cannot understand. If I had any bad credit or was overdrawn on my personal account and trying to kite a check, this would be expected. But to be denied cashing a company payroll check? I called their 800 # and got a computer voice that confirmed the denial, but gave no information as to why. Nor was there any online address available to inquire. I can either go to the 800# and listen to their computer voice, or write requesting a copy of my file. Why should I have to?

I recently tried to cash a payroll check at Walmart and was denied by Certegy. This I cannot understand. If I had any bad credit or was overdrawn on my personal account and trying to kite a check, this would be expected. But to be denied cashing a company payroll check? I called their 800 # and got a computer voice that confirmed the denial, but gave no information as to why. Nor was there any online address available to inquire. I can either go to the 800# and listen to their computer voice, or write requesting a copy of my file. Why should I have to?

Certegy is also used by 400, 000 other merchants across the us and canada.
Sooooo good luck avoiding them.
Also to everyone that keeps saying boo-hoo I can't write checks anymore blah blah blah
THE METHOD OF PAYMENT YOU ARE CHOOSING TO USE (CHECKS) ARE A NON-GUARANTEED FORM OF PAYMENT.
Get a debit card fast, because for all you fossils who don't realize it yet soon checks will be no more
and places like certegy will also be no more. and thank god because that poor company has taken the liability of billions of dumb peoples checks and have suffered for it and then get to listen to you ### cry all day long because you couldn't buy little tommy his new bike.
Well chances are you didn't have the money in your account anyways at the time you present your check
(which btw is ILLEGAL) and tommys probably a selfish ### like you and probably doesn't derserve the damn bike anyways.

I agree I too shopped at two local K-marts and my checks were declined. When I contacted Certergy Check Services they imformed me that there was no problem with my account or imformation it was just that system they use said that the check process fit a fraud possibility because of some explanation that they gave me that I still do not understand. K-mart has lost my business. You can't even write checks now

Well you do know that a check is not a guaranteed form of payment. A check is a piece of random paper that some one takes out of their pocket to sign. I would be surprised if someone didn't have a security system just for paper checks. I mean as a cashier I have no idea who that is or if that check is real or the id being shown isn't fake. I mean really. Who are you?

I tried to write a check at kmart and the same thing I know I had more than enough money to cover the check and when I called I talked to him and he said that my name was not on the system for writing bad checks but sometimes that just happens I had a cart of stuff harldy any cash and a store full of people. HOw embarassing is that to have them say my check was declined and then I had to void most of my purchase. This place is ridiculous something needs to be done about them..

I just had this happen to me yesterday! It was a Macys too! I called my bank first and they told me there were hold holds and i had more than enough to cover the check. They said it was a code two which meant identity theft. I am going back to Macys today with a print out of every complaint, a large company like that should not be using such a bad service! I dont know if this is bad but i do feel so much better knowing that it is not just me.

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one with this embarrassment provided by Certgey Check Service... I too had to leave my stuff behind because my check was refused. I dont write that many checks because i relied too much on debit card but it happened that my card had been compromised so the bank had to issue me a new card and in the meantime i have to rely on my checkbook to make purchases until my card arrives... The amount of the purchase was $54 and I can assure you I have at least 50 times as much in the account... I hope that businesses realize that Certegy is cutting in their business and not do business with it anymore...

Certegy is the WORST. I too do not write many checks but have good credit and no bad check history. I tried to write a check today because I didnt have my debit card with me. Same thing, Certegy declined and I had to leave my stuff at the store with a promise to the manager that I would return. I called the company and they said there is no bad credit nor was there any indication of a bad check but that their computer system had detected certain "markers" of security risk inherent with my check, the specifics of which they could not explain to me. I could only assume they thought I wasnt the person who I said I was and was stealing someones identity. However, I and the manager at the store assured them I had proper ID and was not a risk. They STILL would not give the approval code so the manager (who couldnt believe how stupid and rude they were) put an override on the register and put my check through. I will be putting in a complaint to our state attorney general as this practice is completely unjustified and constitutes interference with business relations.

This POS company did the same thing to me over a state issued check. They truly stuck then why on to tell me it may pose a risk. They should be pkt out of business

I also tried to cash my unemployment check at walmart and the same thing happend to me I call the certegy company and they said that I could not cash my check because it was a pattern, of course it is a pattern, if you get a reguler pay check and cash it every friday that is a pattern right. what is the deal I really dont understand

Pay some bills and get a bank account like the rest of the world. Its no ones problem but yours if they don't take your check. Your going to Walmart. Get a grip. No one has to cash your check. If it doesn't work you can take it somewhere else, I'm sure. Maybe the bank the check was drawn off of...

Screw Certegy. They did the same thing to me about 2 months ago. I do not use credit cards either. I had plenty of money in account and have overdraft protection. I called the 800 number and did talk to someone- a jerk- no less who could not tell me why my check was declined. I told him that I had written a check to Best Buy the previous day and it was declined. I did not freak because the checker had problems with typing in my DL #- she had to do it at three times...she could remember the digits from the moment she saw them until the moment typed. I figured that she typed in the wrong DL#. I used my secondary checking account and ecerything went through. I went to WalMart the next day...and was declined. They stated that I was declined the previous day. So I now knew what happened the previous day was not the cashier. I hounded the guy for reason. He stated he could not give me a reason. I asked them why they provide their phone number if they cannot give reasons. He stated that the reason was I had a check declined the previous day and I asked him again why the check the previous day was declined. He then stated the same. I told him that if his company could not provide a reason then, they were a waste of my time and my cell phone charges. He told me that I had to wait 7 business days to write a check. I contacted the bank- they told me to go to the store who stated that the DL # was probably typed in wrong. They are all idiots if you ask me.
I still write checks but, I try to carry cash.I have not gone back to Best Buy- yes, I have. I returned the item I purchased. It turned out to be the wrong item. I do not plan on shopping there anymore.
I love how these stores encourage purchasing on credit. Most people are in debt with credit cards and the stores are part of the problem...hanging their sweet carrots out for people who do not know how to say NO.