Went to cash a check at Mechanics bank at Hilltop. I cash the same check every other week at this branch, San Pablo, or Pinole Valley. I do not have an account here, but the check is a personal check from a Mechanics bank account holder, and it is for $100.00 every time. Recently, they've made changes to their check cashing policies including the most recent change where the fee went from $5.00 to $6.00, to cash a check that is over $100.00. I am never charged this fee because the check is for $100.00, and the policy states the fee is to be applied whenever the value of the check is OVER $100.00. Today, the Hilltop branch told me I cannot cash this check unless they collect the $6.00 fee. I calmly tried to explain that I am aware of, and clearly understand the policies they have in place, however they do not apply to me in this particular situation. The teller asks for assistance, I'm assuming from a manager, who approaches without introducing herself, or having a name tag. The two of them discuss the issue in Spanish, for about 3-4 minutes. The assumed manager lady then asks me how many times I've been in that branch within the past 3 months, to cash one of these checks...I didn't have an exact number for her, but I tried, I'm thinking 2 checks per month × 3 months...that's 6 possible times. So, I said at least twice. Instead of using that time to pull up the policy on the computer, for the win..she had the teller doing a search to basically answer her own question. She got very excited and said "Ha! There's no record of you ever cashing a check here, and unless you agree to the fee, you won't be cashing here today either." I asked to speak to the manager, and she leaned toward the safety glass partition and quietly said "that would be Me." I was beside myself, how unprofessional, blatantly rude, and disrespectful. I then went to the San Pablo branch, and I had to explain why the check was already endorsed by me and all the info was written on it by the other teller at Hilltop, but I decided to come there instead. She asked what happened, and for my own personal gratification, I said, "Humor me for a sec, how about I tell you what happened in about 2 minutes" (about the time it would take for her to explain any fees I would be charged)
About 1 minute goes by, and she asked me, "Please don't tell me they tried to charge you to cash this check!"
As she's counting out one hundred dollars in 20's and sliding it under the glass to me. The lady at hilltop, the really rude one, isn't even the manager!! She lied!! She may be a supervisor of something, but she's definitely NOT the manager. I felt disrespected once they started discussing me and my issue in Spanish, especially when I realized that that is when she was telling the young lady helping me, to look up the history of the last 3 months, and that if they don't match, my answer and her search results, then refuse to help me at all. Basically, excersising their right to refuse service to anyone. I went to take the check and my driver's license back off of the desk, and the fake manager slapped her fingers down on them.
Right?
I was saying to myself "not today Satan". She looked up at me and immediately let go of my stuff. Which was the best decision she could make at that moment, for all of our sakes.
End result: cashed the check with no problem at the other branch. No fee was charged. read more
