New Dish collection issues

[Van]

While talking with my mother this weekend I found out that dish has resorted to a new way of getting theyre money from customers. My mother had sent in her monthly payment by check, a few days later she was at the bank and found that dish had debited her account before the check had even went to pending status, they bypassed the check and debited the account electronicly. She called them up and they admitted to doing this and went so far as to say that its legal to do so now, well she cancelled service and is now with comcast. To add further to this my grandfather checked his account and found the same thing and then also cancelled his service and is now a comcast customer as well.

If this is the case then not only can they now elec debit a checking account after only recieving one check but with the new law passed they dont have to wait for the post dating on the check anymore wich the industry estimates that bounced checks will go up by %20.

 

[thiggin2]

Well I think a check shouldn't be written unless you have the money to back it and most places dont take post dated anyways.

 

[chaddux]

I dont believe it is legal to set-up an automatic debit unless you agree to it. There is the new electronic-equivalent check but that is the just an electronic version of the check, not an automatic debit.

 

[charper1]

Well I think a check shouldn't be written unless you have the money to back it and most places dont take post dated anyways.

You are 1000% correct and it has actually been illegal to post date or "float" checks for many years. The government and banking industry consider this knowingly attempting to pass a bad check.

... and the new check legislation is called Check-21 and two of the reasons (of many) it was put into place was to speed up processing and to eliminate floaters.

 

[thiggin2]

I dont believe it is legal to set-up an automatic debit unless you agree to it. There is the new electronic-equivalent check but that is the just an electronic version of the check, not an automatic debit.

No they cant setup a electronic debit month to month but they can send a electronic debit for that one check they received.

 

[A_Noland]

This new processing rules will affect us all very soon. check this out

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/sto...-A765-6F9A9D781F1B}&siteid=google&dist=google

Some banks are already using this new "Check 21" rule. Going to make it hard to "float" a check.

 

[yellowdragon]

There's an article on Consumer Reports about this. Their recommendation is to issue a check when you're sure the funds are available.

 

[Mickdog]

When I retired from the Army, I left my pay going to the bank I had where I retired because I knew it would take 5 days to clear a check from where I live, unless it went through a credit union which works under a different system that narrowed that to two days. That is not going to work anymore. So, If you do not have the funds, do not write the check! As far as Dish doing it already, Well, some places have already converted to the new system. Some gas stations have started doing that as well, especially the major ones.

 

[Ddavis]

I received an announcement from Dish several months ago that they would be doing this. She should not have been surprised.

 

[dtanderson]

I guess that they should cancel cancel their house payment, car payment, and quit shopping (with checks) because everyone is switching to the e-check. I guess that she will have to cancel her Comcast account also because they will be doing this also. She wrote the check to DishNetwork, so she gave them permission to take the funds from here account. They have done nothing wrong.

 

[ShadowEKU]

Im not quite sure why its a problem to write them a check and them immediately transfer the money. technicly (by law) once you sign that check you are saying that the funds are available. I pay most of my bills over phone via echeck because its so much easier. I write about 3 checks a month. Rent, Utilities, Misc (if at all).

 

[thiggin2]

I received an announcement from Dish several months ago that they would be doing this. She should not have been surprised.

Now come to think about it I also remember receiving a statement from dish.

 

[MI_SAT]

I still get "float" by using credit card auto pay -- the credit card due date happens to be three weeks after DISH charges the account (on DISH's due date). Plus, I get $$$ back on my credit card.

Of course, each situation is different, particularly if you carry a credit card balance.

 

[GaryPen]

Van - As long as they have the check, they can get the money from her bank. Chances are, her cable company will be doing the same thing.

Now, if they automatically removed the money via EFT, without receiving a check, that would be wrong.

 

[mattb]

A lot of places are doing Echeck now, My credit card does it, my credit payment to Dell does and E* did (when I had their service) It's common.

 

[bcshields]

You still can rely on the post office for float time.

But I agree.. reconfigure your budget (what's a budget?) and write the check when you have the funds.

 

[chaddux]

Or get a credit card. I love my Citi card. Thus far, they have given me $175.08 in cash back and assorted other rebates.

 

[TheTony]

... and the new check legislation is called Check-21 and two of the reasons (of many) it was put into place was to speed up processing and to eliminate floaters.

Check 21 does not require any new processing. It simply sets a legal precedent for banks to be able to electronically send images of checks rather than physically transport them (via courier, etc) to be processed - if they choose to. Anything more than that is really the individual banks' implementation.