Warning: that 'free' debit card from your credit union cost me $47

I signed up for a new checking account at a local credit union thinking I was saving on fees. They offered a free debit card with no monthly charges. After three months I noticed my balance was short by $47. Turns out they hit me with a $3.50 fee every time I used an out-of-network ATM, plus a $2 fee for getting paper statements mailed to me. Nobody told me about these charges upfront. I only caught it because I finally checked my account statement last week. Has anyone else gotten burned by hidden fees on a so called free account?

3 comments

3 Comments

piperbailey1mo ago

Did you try calling them and asking for the fees to be reversed? I had almost the exact same thing happen and a polite but firm phone call got me a full refund because they couldn't prove I was ever told about the charges. Just switch to a credit union that lists fees right on their website, and set up alerts on your phone to check your balance every week so you catch stuff like this early.

max_torres441mo ago

Start by reading the fine print next time. I know it sounds boring but that's where they hide all the junk fees. I got hit with a similar thing from a different bank over the "inactivity fee" which is basically just a tax on forgetting you have an account. A credit union should know better honestly. They always brag about being the good guys but then pull this stuff. Lesson learned I guess. Just switch to a different one that actually posts their fees on the first page of their website.

taylorshah1mo ago

Man it's honestly just another example of how nothing is ever really free anymore and you have to watch every single thing like a hawk to not get nickel and dimed to death.