Consumer complaint received 2018-01-11
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE
State: OH
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Sub-issue: Overdrafts and overdraft fees

Complaint:
During the period of XXXX our checking account was charged an excessive amount of overdraft fees : XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$25.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} XXXX : {$37.00} Things spiraled out of control and we are unable to catch up. Every deposit we made was eaten up by overdraft fees. I talked to a branch manager who credited our account on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX XXXX overdraft fees, totaling {$70.00} but even then, things were so far out of control that we could not stop it. I have tried talking to customer service on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, but they said that there was nothing that they could do. I had previously called Huntington headquarters and spoke with someone in Customer Assistance and was told that there was nothing that could be done. I do n't mind paying for some of the charges since it was initially our fault that the account was overdrawn but to be charge over {$500.00} in overdraft fees is excessive. We were even charged twice in one instance with a {$25.00} sustained overdraft fee, so we actually got charged twice for an overdraft. 
And to make matters worse, Huntington claims to give account holders a 24 hour grace period if the account is overdrawn ; however, they do not notify you that the account is overdrawn until the day after it was overdrawn. Their notice states that a deposit must be made by midnight in order to avoid a fee, but again, this notice is given the next day and usually only 12 hours remains to bring the account current. With myself being sick with XXXX XXXX, and my father in law in the hospital, we could n't always run to the bank in time. I tried to speak to a branch manager about the notice actually only giving 12 hours notice but he stated that the 24 hour grace period starts when the account is overdrawn and it is policy to inform the account holder the following day. 
Here is a copy of a notice that I got recently regarding the 24 hour grace. Please read it carefully as the wording will show that the account holder is n't alerted until the following day XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ( 9 hours ago ) to me Your account ending in XXXX was overdrawn yesterday. We 're here to help. 

As a Huntington customer you have 24-Hour GracXXXX, which gives you time to make it right. Make a deposit today to fix the negative balance, and we 'll waive any fees from yesterday 's overdraft. Your deposit must be made before midnight CT and bring your account balance to at least - {$4.00}. The deposit must cover your current overdraft amount plus any transactions that may be processed today. 

To prevent future overdrafts and avoid fees, visit Manage Overdraft Options and tell us how to manage your transactions when you do n't have enough money in your account. You can pick the best options for you and find other valuable tools. 

If you have any questions, go to Huntington.com/grace, call XXXX ( XXXX ) or visit your local branch. 

With 24-Hour Grace we 're giving you more time, not more fees. 


It should n't be that they can punish an account holder for not having money by charging them so excessively. 15 overdrafts in a 2 week period of time, during the holidays is absolutely ridiculous! We are not rich ; we live primarily off of Social Security XXXX and ca n't afford to have such an excessive punishment.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief