Consumer complaint received 2018-08-24
Company: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FNIS)
State: KS
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Other personal consumer report
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Old information reappears or never goes away

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I wrote a check to XXXX XXXX in XXXX, Kansas. The clerk informed me that my check had been declined. I subsequently paid with my debit card. I immediately went to my local bank to verify sufficient funds were in my account. The bank manager called XXXX XXXX and got the number for XXXX XXXX XXXX, the company responsible for declining my check. The manager placed a phone call to Certegy to explain that I had more than sufficient funds to cover the check I had written to XXXX XXXX. Certegys employee ultimately hung up on the bank manager during their conversation. I did not know anything about Certegy at that time so I did not take further action. 

Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX. I wrote a check to XXXX department store in XXXX, Kansas and was informed that my check had been declined by XXXX XXXX XXXX. I immediately phoned Certegys automated system but it offered absolutely no reason for declining my check. 

Since XX/XX/XXXX I have written several letters to Certegy trying to resolve this issue. By certified mail I have sent Certegy a copy of each declined check as well as a photocopy of my drivers license, my social security number and copies of my bank statements showing an account balance much more than sufficient on the day each of the declined checks were written. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX advising me that there were no returned checks on their file but my checks fell outside their approval guidelines. 

My complaint is this : XXXX XXXX XXXX is literally holding me hostage. I understand that their company represents many, many retail establishments throughout the US. Certegys computer algorithms are set to decline checks according to their predetermined criteria but Certegy will not reveal to me what I am doing that is causing them to decline my checks. So, now I can not write a check to any company they represent for fear that it will be declined by their company and I will face additional extreme embarrassment each time that happens. I only write about 3 or 4 checks each month. One to my credit card account, one to XXXX XXXX, one to my hairdresser and lately to my dentist. I realize that check writing is not used much these days but there are occasions when it is more convenient for me to write a check as opposed to using my debit or credit card. With Certegy declining any check I write I am helplessly under their control. Their letter gave a phone number to talk to one of their representatives but it was fully automated and could not handle a complaint over 2 weeks old. Again, I am their hostage. How can they do this to people?

I understand that Certegy has a program called VIP where you can enroll, pay a fee and perhaps avoid declined checks. For many years the Mafia had a similar protection program in XXXX and XXXX XXXX : Pay a fee and you are protected. Such a deal.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation