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Originally Posted by onesnowyowl
In the case of overdrafts and fees, here is what I would do:
Go to the local branch of your bank, explain what happened with the overdraft, and explain that you would like to pay them, at the very least, the money you overdrafted. If they waive the fees, you will keep your money at their bank. If not, pay the fees and close your account. Find a bank that offers overdraft protection and sign up for this. Even if you keep your money at their bank, GET OVERDRAFT PROTECTION.
Your bank is supposed to work for you. There are TONS of banks to choose from any more, so make it clear to them that you could take your money anywhere else. If they shrug their shoulders at you, they're not the kind of bank you want to be with anyways. You want a bank with good customer service, good products, and helpful employees.
And, please, GET OVERDRAFT PROTECTION. Furthermore, realize the bank will NEVER decline your card. They will let you overdraw your account to death.
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I second everything onesnowyowl said. While I don't overdraw my account, my son has done it frequently, and the branch manager reversed the bank charges each time. It's common knowledge they CAN; you just need to find out if they WILL. My suspicion is that they won't do it in this case, and I'd recommend you change to a credit union or savings and loan after they refuse. It will make you feel better, but I doubt that anyone at your former bank will care.
I'm curious about something, though--why does everyone seem to use a debit card? If you have a problem with a purchase, the money is gone from your account with a debit card. If you use a credit card, you can often handle the problem through the credit card company, and not have to try to get your money back from a corporation, or shyster, or whatever.
I would think that an over the limit fee on a credit card would be smaller than the charges you rang up, and there would only be one charge instead of multiple ones.
The suggestion about carrying a small amount of cash isn't a bad one, either, although it wasn't broached in an ideal way.