From: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Foreign ATM Fees Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Date: 4 Jan 93 22:34:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: ISC-Bunker Ramo, An Olivetti Company

tzs@stein.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith) writes:

>phaedrus@halcyon.com (Mark Phaedrus) writes:
>>     (And may I say that I've always been very satisfied with Seafirst's
>>customer service; for example, if I'm depositing a paycheck or something else

>First, they don't allow transfer from checking or savings to credit card
>at the ATM.  At Wells Fargo, my credit cards were "linked" to my ATM card,
>and I could just punch "transfer" "from checking" "to other" and then select
>which credit card from the menu and make a payment.  With Seafirst, I've
>got to write a check.  Furthermore, to check my credit card balance at the
>ATM at Seafirst, I've got to insert the credit card and enter my credit card
>PIN.  At Wells Fargo, I could check the balance on all linked accounts using
>just the ATM card.  In fact, at Wells Fargo, I could get a cash advance on
>the credit card without using the credit card -- I could get it through the
>ATM card.

I'm not sure about the credit-card-cash-advance-via-ATM-card scenario,
but I can make a direct transfer from ch/sa to cc from the ATM. I've
done it when I had overdrafts charged to my credit card (they send me a
notice in the mail when they do this; I slap my forehead and say "duh").

I suspect your Seafirst Visa is not "linked" with your checking and
savings.  I had this problem when I first opened my Seafirst account -
they asked me if I wanted a credit card, I said "no".  Then later they 
told me about the "overdraft protection" feature, which costs nothing
if you don't use it, and I said "OK, gimme one".  A month or so later,
my direct-deposit still hadn't caught up, though my employer assured
me it would, and I overdrafted.  They paid the checks (totalling some
$500), but charged me overdraft fees, smelly-socks fees, Lord knows
what kinda fees.  I went in and asked about the Visa overdraft thing;
they looked and determined my accounts weren't "linked".  I explained
their error, they credited the fees and sent me a new Visa with a
better account number (for them).  Works fine ever since.

This creditcard "overdraft protection" is a decent alternative to cash
advances - just write a bigger check than you can cover; fees are the
same as cash advances.  I have direct-deposit for my paycheck, and
sometimes write large checks early to faraway creditors and bet on the
float.  Usually works.

Note that I'm "special" to Seafirst - at some time in the past, my
employer did a lot of banking with them.  All employees got free
checking accounts, ATM cards, etc.  I've had my account for about 8
years now; they may no longer offer this to my co-workers; I'm not
sure - but they haven't revoked my "free account" status, and I ain't
gonna ask 'em about it.  Similarly with other "account packages" at
many banks - what somebody got years ago may no longer be available to
new accounts, though they may still use those rules for old accounts.

--
Carl Paukstis, RRR&RSG             |"The good news is that Clinton will have to
 Olivetti North America/Spokane,WA | work hard to do worse than Bush in terms
 Phone: +1 509 927-5439            | of economic policy.  The bad news is that
 Mail: carlp@mail.spk.olivetti.com | he will probably manage to do so"-Ed Ipser
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