How much longer must we put up with columnist Legge?
Published: November 8, 2009
How preposterous does “editorial columnist” Robert Legge have to be to warrant scrutiny from the Star-Exponent’s “editorial board”? His expose Thursday of the local banking industry (“Overdraft charges have banks turning small misfortunes into gold”) certainly surpasses his “insider” analysis of the National Rifle Association published last spring.
Who knew that our local banks —scandalous, despicable, outrageous — as they are, gouged, scammed and manipulated without account holders’ knowledge or consent and charged interest (camouflaged as “fees”) amounting to “thousands of percent”?
It is way past time for the banks to recognize that lattes and music downloads are not only personal necessities but newly recognized entitlements to be enjoyed without penalty or fees. So what if my debit card expenses (for the true necessities for life itself) overrun my account balance (hey, keeping up with my money and bank accounts is such a hassle!)? Let the banks get over it, for crying out loud!
I have come to the conclusion that Madison County lunacy does far more damage to the schemes of the Obama administration than Fox News will ever do, but since censorship is in vogue, perhaps it’s time for the Culpeper Star-Exponent to shun those who make the newspaper look really bad. My gut feeling is that your readership follows the national pattern — those of us who subscribe and read the local paper are probably not the gourmet coffee and iPod-tunes crowd that Mr. Legge identifies with in his assault on the banking evils of Culpeper.
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Reader Reactions
P.S. I should have said FURTHER attack, but, if you feel so inclined, bring it on, big boy.
I will give you this, rjma you are persistant…Either that you only see what you want to see..What is wrong with you??? what are you trying to make me say, that I approve of these practices? No, I won’t say that because it would not be true. I don’t believe in anything that takes advantage of others. Sorry, but I won’t give you fodder for an attack on me although I’m sure you’d love that.
OK Rogersk, Let me rephrase. Do you have any problem with these bank practices that I have questioned? Do you think they are fair to customers? If you think $35 or even $39 is OK for a one cent error, at what level do you think is too high? $59, $99?
Did I say anywhere I thought this practice was fair???? I don’t think so.. You did it again, rjma, putting your own spin on others comments.
brew, show me a lie. I think what the right wingers hate is the way I say it, not what I say.
OK Rogersk, I specifically made the point of using debit cards because they are electronic, making instant deduction from account easy), they do not come with a check register on a checkbook, they are far more often used for small transactions, and are rapidly increasing in use.
But do you think that someone should be charged $39 for a 1 cent overage?
I’d be fine with that except that many banks simply sign you up for this service without even notifying customers. How can you possibly think that is fair?
Banks also often manipulate the sequence of checks and deposits at the end of the day to cause more of these $39 charges. How can you possibly think that is fair? Why should I have to work so hard to justify this to you?
It’s a $38B ripoff which finally hopefully is coming to an end thanks to Fed action…which only came about because the Congress was going to do it for them. The Fed has far too long been weak on consumer protection.
Sandalwood…You can read whatever you want by whomever you want…even rjma, but I believe AC is a hate monger and I am just not going to buy into her garbage. That’s just me, you can do as you choose.
Because I know that rjma will jump on my comment let me clarify..There are banks that will approve the use of a debit card against insufficient funds and then charge their fees. and NO, rjma, I do not know from personal experience.
rjma…You show me where I defended “big banks” Nowhere!!!! As for your not mentioning checks you are exactly right. You talked about debit cards. Again, you are using the tactics and technicalities that you always do when you are called on something. The only difference between checks and debit cards is that the merchant (or seller) gets an immediate reply when the card is swiped and the check has to go to the bank for verification. I believe that my remarks were in defense of the populace against your ideas. BTW an account can be overdrawn by the use of a debit card and the same fees apply.
What is really the most astonishing part of this discussion is that there really Americans like Mr. Kidwell, Rogersk, etc. who are so supportive of big banks, especially after we taxpayers bailed them out last fall to the tune of $700B.
They must be thrilled to have such supporters as yourselves.
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