Any South State customers out there? (former First Federal customers) (mortgage, credit card)

[Caili]

We've had some major problems with South State since they took over/merged or whatever they did with First Federal, and are wondering if anyone else out there has experienced the same thing.

[TealDreamer]

We have. Don't know if they are just incompetent fools or if it is a result of the takeover...

[lilkttns]

No issues here. However, we just have basic checking and savings, both with minimal transactions per month. What sort of problems are you having?

[diddlydudette]

I'm not. I don't use that bank, but my mom has had some issues. Just yesterday she was telling me that she paid her SCE&G bill online and was charged a fee of 2.12. She had a choice of when to pay and chose 1 day and didn't realize there would be an extra charge. There was no pop-up or anything alerting of the fee.

Evidently bill pay is different than what she was used to. She was charged a late fee to SCE&G because she didn't realize the check and the electronic options get to the biller at different times. She always pays her bills on time. She is having to get used to a lot of differences after having used First Federal for so long.

She also got 2 credit cards from them (2 different types) and had to go to the bank and get that fixed. I forgot what the deal was exactly.

Anyway, I've heard her complain quite a bit but she's older and you know how older people like change.

[kingping]

I use them for my mortgage and haven't had any issues yet.

[MinkeyM]

I'm a former banker, my father was a banker, and my husband is a banker.

Take it from me...
There are people who are good bankers, but there is no such thing as a good bank.

[Caili]

We have done all our banking with First Fed, now South State, for the 3 adults in our household. We have multiple checking account, 3 savings accounts, our mortgage, our line of credit, and my CC for my jewelry business. We've had 3 issues since the takeover; two are pretty serious, one is just kafloogled.

The kafloogle is that hubbie opened a new checking account - after South State takeover - and was given an account number and some counter checks when he opened the account. Last week he attempted to order checks from Checks Unlimited, and was told his account had too many numbers, and to call the bank. So he called the branch, and was told, oh, yes, SS added account numbers to their new accounts, and to go order them from the company, Hamlin, that SS uses. He attempted to do that, and was told they couldn't process his order, and to get in touch with the bank. Huh?

The first serious issue was that they 'lost' a deposit for my jewelry account - for over two weeks. It would show up, then disappear, then show up and disappear, over and over. Was given a story about how they process deposits differently from the folks at the branch, and was told it was just a 'posting issue' by customer service at their 800 number. Finally got it straightened out, but for two weeks, I had no idea how much $$ I had in my account, and was unable to pay bills or make supply purchases from that account.

The second issue that just happened yesterday was this - I opened my accounts in the morning, and there was a deposit for over $3000 in our family checking account. When I looked at the deposit details, I saw the actual deposit slip. The account number had been incorrectly read - it was one number off from my account number. Called the branch, and at first the teller told me there's no way that could have happened; I said, well, it did, I'm looking at it, and asked to speak to the manager. She looked at the information, and said (again) that it was the fault of their machine that posts the checks - that the machine actually read the wrong handwritten account number. She said she would correct it, and we ended our conversation. Later that day I went back on line to see if it had been corrected; they posted the credit twice to my account and now I was $2000 negative balance, and my overdraft protection had kicked in with a transfer. Called the manager back, and she made twisty pretzels trying to explain to me how bank posting works. I told her I didn't care how it works, that I had lost faith with SS, and would be shopping around for new banks.

I hate to switch banks, but am really frustrated and also feel very insecure about what they do with my money now. Never, ever, had problems with First Fed, for 11 years!

[lilkttns]

Yep, with major issues like that, I'd be shopping around for a new bank as well. Let me know what you find. I'm thinking of switching to a new bank as well, preferably one with more locations nationwide (although I'm not a fan off the big banks, it makes it easier when traveling).

[TealDreamer]

Problem is, you can switch banks, but how many of them are worth the switch? We had Wachovia for years...even before it was Wachovia. When it changed to Wells Fargo, it was a change for the absolute worst.

We only have South State for our mortgage, but we've had continual problems.

In both cases, too many problems and issues to even list here...

[ProudPatriot07]

I only had one issue when the switch first took place. They had to link my First Federal and SCBT accounts together because I had accounts at both banks, but they quickly straightened it out.

I'm going to be on the lookout just in case. I knew they were issues right after the change but didn't know it was still occurring.