Consumer complaint received 2017-06-11
Company: First Data Corporation
State: OH
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Check cashing service
Issue: Problem with customer service

Complaint:
My Check was declined by XXXX XXXX in XXXX, Ohio, where I reside on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX The amount was {$62.00} and I was paying for pictures that I printed from their photo center. The receipt stated and I quote, " XXXX XXXX has decided not to accept your check. Our decision not to accept your check is based on, in part, on advice from TeleCheck. '' ... '' TeleCheck did not decide to decline your check, and is unable to provide you with specific reason ( s ) why this adverse action was taken. '' I had more than enough to cover the amount in my checking account. I was forced to use my credit card to pay for the pictures. The receipt gave a number where I could call and find out more information. Upon calling I had to enter the Denial record # XXXX and the amount the check was for. I was then told by a robot that my denial was due to the previous activity tracked by TeleCheck dealing with my routing number. I asked to talk to a customer service representative. Before she even spoke with me she got my address, phone number, and the last 4 digits of my checking account number. She told me that TeleCheck monitored my spending and that suspicious activity had taken place. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He referred to himself as, " XXXX '', and tried to repeat the same information. He stated that he would try and " update '' my records but could n't guarantee that I would n't be declined in the future. I asked him how long a period of time was stated in their " General Terms and Conditions '' and he said that there was not a set limit of time. I asked him how the process of declination happens and he said that Telecheck monitors spending activity of customers and if it seems out of the ordinary or " suspicious '' they decline. I replied, " How is tracking my spending habits legal? That 's not legal is it? '' He replied, No not really, but ... '' and tried to skip past that fact and cover it up. I asked him to explain how a company was allowed to track my spending habits. They processed a check on XXXX XXXX, 2017 from the same XXXX XXXX with no issues, but it was to buy medicine. He also denied that TeleCheck had General Terms and Conditions that I could look at to see what I was entitled to as a person who had used their service as a third party. I was discriminated against by profiling and invasion of privacy. TeleCheck does not have the legal right to track my spending habits and deny my purchases randomly. They also make you feel as it is your fault when you call and try to figure out what is happening to you. They do not have the right to allow some purchases and deny others because the purchases " seem suspicious '' or " out of the ordinary purchase range '' or even inquire about what I am buying and when. After reading several consumer reporting site and reading that the FTC charged them with a crime in which they had to pay millions for, more needs to be done with this company. They are selling my information based on my spending habits and profiling me based on what I purchase. I find it funny they approved the check I used to pay for my medicine since part of the lawsuit that the FTC brought against them, involved TeleCheck denying people the ability to pay for medicine and food. I also have premium checking in which any declined check is PAID FOR by my bank in full so there is no need for a return fee, and I pay a fee to my bank if that happens.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation