FISGlobal.com / Certegy review: declined checks! 620

I have boycotted Lane Bryant, Sears (denied my Grandmothers check to pay for a freezer, so they used their Sears card. Then wrote out a check at THE SAME TILL to pay off their Sears charge and THAT check was accepted!) Best Buy is also on my list! All because my check writing fits a "pattern" that certagy has determined! These are the only ones in my area that I have discovered use this company.

I agree with you all about Certegy being absolutely awful. It's too bad there isn't a better company out there that these retailers can use. But, for the people cashing paychecks, how about using a bank or credit union? I have a credit union account, don't pay fees to cash checks, and also use direct deposit, and have for over ten years with no problems whatsoever.

I too was a victom of certergy. I tried to cash a check at the local Walmart in Monroe, LA that the State Of Louisiana had given me for $700.00. Obviously the check was good it came from the Capitol of Louisiana, but the wouldnt cash it. I don't no who they are but they definitely need to go out of business

Certegy bulldozed over me this morning when I presented my check to K-Mart, by refusing to allow my check to go through. I was astonished, as I frequent this store every week, with never any problems before. The clerk called for me and Certegy stated that there is not a problem with insufficient funds, but that I had been writing too many checks. I called the number myself then, and was told that when a real person came on the phone I was to give them my name, bank account number, and driver's license number. I hung up. WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF THEIRS? As long as the store and my bank have no problem with it, neither should they. It seems that this "middle man" questionable, possible-scam-practices company should be discredited and shut down. Why won't our lawmakers do anything about it? 10-4-08

I'VE BEEN DENIED TWICE FOR CHECK WRITING AT TARGET, TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR, WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IS SEVERAL OTHER TIMES THIS YEAR I WROTE A CHECK AT TARGET, AND THEY WENT THROUGH, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WAS DECLINED TODAY, AND YES IT IS VERY EMBARRASSING, KNOW ONE CARES, THEY JUST WANT THEIR MONEY!

On 10/6/08, I submitted a check to Office Max for $228.00 and was categorized as a category 2. There was no reason for this and the subsequent communications with Certegy were equally frustrating. A company that cannot override its own computer, when the computer model is incorrect is not worth having my business. They suggested that I register with them to get VIP status, however, I prefer to have nothing to do with them and will so advise my business associates to do likewise.

I agree with the comment that said, stay away from stores that use Certegy. I will certainly be contacting Sears by email, in person, and by phone to express my complete disgust with their choice of Certegy for check verification.

I do not normally shop at Sears as I am a builder and generally use local building suppliers in conjuction with Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. At the customers request, I stopped at Sears to buy an additional garage door opener to match one which had been recently replaced. The customer needed one remote to operate both openers.

Long story short, my check was rejected. I was not given a reason why. As I stood with one of my employees and other customers, I was totally embarrassed and confused. The clerk simply handed my check back, saying "I can't do anything with this". When I asked who Certegy was, and what did he mean by saying, "I can't do anything with this", he shrugged his shoulders and said it's not Sears, it's Certegy.

After several frustrating minutes, of trying to get to the bottom of why I was rejected, I gave up and simply used my business Visa Debit Card, from the same account. The transaction went without a hitch, as there were significant funds in this account. This account has never had any negative activity, EVER.

I don't even care to try to contact Certegy as I am sure of what there response will be. As previously noted, I will be contacting Sears instead, in hopes that they may be sensitive to my frustration. If not, I will never shop at Sears (or any other retailer), that is involved with this organization.

Today, October 9th, 2008, I was shopping at a Belk's store in Guntersville,
AL. While the cashier was getting my purchases tabulated, I asked if they would take a check. Her reply was yes. When she was finished, I wrote a check in
the amount of $154.60. When she attempted to process my transaction,
apparently she was signaled to call Certegy, who informed her not to accept
my check. I paid with a credit card and asked the clerk did they say why and
she said no. I teased her and said, "Aren't you glad I didn't get angry?"

Without me asking, she gave me a telephone number to call [protected]).

Later, after arriving home, I checked my bank account(online) to be sure there was no problem there. I didn't see any need there for the refusal, so I called the number the clerk had given me. After some goobledygook from someone, I asked to speak with a supervisor. Sherry, the supervisor advised me that it was their job to inform the merchant not to accept my check because of some profile. At this point, I asked with whom I was speaking, since up until that moment I thought it was Belk's customer service.

Sherry said the name at least 3 times and finally I asked her to spell what
she was saying: C-E-R-T-E-G-Y. I said, "Who are you?" She explains
and tells me that stores don't have to take a check w/o their permission.
I replied, "I was facing the store clerk, who was holding my driver's license while
she talked to someone, so there was little doubt I was not being represented by anyone else". That doesnt matter. Bad ### Certegy has spoken.

Tomorrow, Belk, Inc. will get to hear my story. By the way, I have a Belk's
Charge card on which I owe nothing, and after today, probably never will.
I used a Visa card to pay the bill.

Let me end by saying, my parent's had enough faith in me to put me on their
checking account when I was 12 years old. Today, 50 plus years later, was
the first time in my life I ever had a check turned down by anyone.

So much for credit history. I just met the wrong profile and that was
Certegy. Isn't profiling illegal?

Thanks for being a space on the net where I could share my story.

A little follow up- Yes, it is embarrassing to be in the presence of your
39 year old son when something like this happens. I was so naive
about the matter, I didn't know there were such services. Now I do.

I belive this company is going about things all wrong. first of all filling out a application to write a check is a joke. I have one & the info they won't i belive is to personal. I will not fill it out. Like some people i only write checks once in a while but you never know when you may need to but what about the older people thats all they know. I think Its very sad. people should have a # to be able to call the B.B.B & F.T C I also belive there needs to be a lawsuit on this company.

I, too, am a victim of Certegy. My check to a local clothing store was declined on 10-10-08. My checking account balance is over $7, 000. I have never bounced a check, pay my bills on time and my credit card balance in full each month.

I am outraged! After researching Certegy, which is a subsidiary of Fidelity National Information Services, I have written a letter to:
Mr. Lee A. Kennedy
President and CEO
Fidelity National Information Services
601 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204

With a cc to:
Mr. William P. Foley II
Chairman of the Board
Fidelity National Information Services
1711 Alamo Pintado Road
Solvang, CA 93463

I also sent a cc to the clothing store CEO.

I advise everyone to do the same.

Hey Everyone! I use to work for certegy and I can tell you that it was no way our decision to decline your checks. I felt just as bad telling to cashier to decline check as you did. If you don't hardly write checks..you get declined because the system doesn't have enough check writing history on you, so it doesn't know if you are a good check writer or not..so regardless of whether or not you have the money in your account or not..the system see's you as a risk..so it tells us to decline it.

Then if you are a regular check writer..the system "knows" your normal patterns so if you start writing more checks that you usually do..like around Christmas time like one poster said..it will flag it and decline it because it thinks someone stole your check. Or if you write a check for alot more that you usually do..it will flag and it decline it for the same reason. So we, as reps, have NO control whatsoever on the decision. My view is, if you have the money in the account, then you should get approved..but that's not what the system tells us to do and we can't change it..or atleast I can't. Sorry!

A class acti0n lawsuit is very much needed. Count me in. A terrible organization with incompitent non-existent regulation.

I tried giving a $1, 000+ check to the people at Circuit City and they denied it through their wonderful service of Certegy! That's sarcasm people... I was trying to buy a laptop and this happens. I had no other form of payment, but I had ample funds in my account to cover it. I left disappointed in the company that offered good prices, but was associating their company with this company who discriminates against sincere buyers.

This place is ridiculous! We have no reason to refuse your check and there's nothing wrong regarding your account, but we're gonna reject it anyway. How ignorant is that? What if someone doesn't have a credit card? Or a debit card? Or cash? They're just supposed to walk away from what might be important purchases because some computer thinks their check is an "unusual" purchase? Like prescriptions, car repairs, diapers or formula. Personally, if after 10, 15, 30 years these merchants no longer want my checks and will believe some stupid computer telling them not to accept it, they don't want me to shop in their store. It's probably all a plot to force everyone into using debit cards, which like the cell phone, I don't have and don't want.

I am so sick and tired of being declined by this company. It only happens to my at 1 store. It has happened to me 3 times between May and October of 2008. 1st time I called, I was told I would be up'd to "VIP" status.. 4 months later, I was declined again, I called and they pushed me to "Maximum VIP" and asked me if I was still in the store... I told her "NO, and even if I were in the store, what can you do about it?" She told me she could reverse the decline, and they could run the check again.. So a week ago, when it happened yet AGAIN! I called standing 2 feel from the check out lane. THIS time I was told there was nothing they could do about it. I shop at this store all the time, because I get my prescriptions there. I am tired of being embarrassed by these people, SOMETHING needs to be done. I am going to contact the Better Business Bureau.

My checks were declined by 2 stores today because of Certegy. As they told me - We don' thave any negative information on you, we just don't have any history of your writing checks. I've been writing checks since 1980. The first store - World Market, I used my credit card since I had pre-ordered 40 bottles of wine. The 2nd store, Dillards, I walked away from the purchase. If retailers are going to use Certegy, then I just won't shop there. I even went to the bank and they couldn't understand why my check would be declined. At Dillards, I asked the manager to call the bank and she said it was store policy to go with what Certegy said -- so they lost my business.

Certegy denied my check at walmart and after I called the number provided to me [protected]) I never get a real reason why my check was denied. NOW I KNOW. MANY INDIAN GAMING CASINOS HAVE STOPPED USING CERTEGY. WHY? LACKED OF SERVICE AND QUALITY. PLEASE READ ON. On July 3, 2007 Certegy announced via press release that their security had been compromised by one of its own employees. Nearly 3 million names had been stolen and sold to marketing companies who then contacted various consumers with "offers to sell stuff".[1]

From a phone call to their call center [protected]) ony Jul 28, 2007, a Certegy representative stated that the information that was sold was limited to: Name, Address, Phone number, and last 4 digits of the account in question. If the account was a checking account and only if the account holder's birthdate was printed on the checks, then that birthdate was also included in the sold information. Copies of Letters sent to customers whose information was compromised stated FULL Social security numbers, Birth dates, checking account numbers were shared along with driver license account information.

Sullivan, either on his own or through S&S Computer Services, sold the consumer information to JAM Marketing, a Seminole-based, data broker. JAM admitted to Certegy that it paid Sullivan and/or S&S "substantial consideration" in exchange for the information.

In late July 2007, Certegy announced that the number of records compromised was greater than originally stated. 8.5 million consumer records from the check authorizing company, more than 3 times the original estimate was stated.

Certegy's check verification service has been criticized as inadequate due to complaints that Certegy often denies check writing privileges to consumers who have ample funds in their accounts and no history of writing bad checks. Denied customers are often directed to call the company's toll free number, to sometimes find that Certegy can provide no reason for the denial and is unable to remove the flags that caused the check to be rejected. Many Indian Gaming Casinos have stopped using Certegy because of their lacked service and quality.

On May 3, 2008 Notices from the Administrator for the US District Court PO Box 3689 Portland, OR 97208 were sent out on a class action law suit to Certegy victims stating a reimbursement for identity theft up to $20, 000 and would pay for "certain out of pocket expenses". The website www.dataSettlement.com online forms mention reimbursement for printing of check for new accounts ($40) and 2 years of credit monitoring services ($180). Phone calls can also be placed at [protected] about the class action law suit.

My checks have been declined on two separate occasions, first by Target and now Lowes. They both unfortunately use Certegy Check Services. When I called the Certegy people, I was given the biggest run around and then was told by their employee that my check at Target had been declined because my name was misspelled. What in the world is going on? What can be done about this sham of a company?

Since Friday I've done some research. Bad checks cost retailers $21Billion a year -- that's terrible - so they're looking for ways to protect themselves. As with most things in life there are unintended consequences and that is what is going on with Certegy. Since the stories are all the same - in essence, Certegy is practicing extortion of your personal information -- everytime they tell someone - fill out the application or give us your personal information and we'll make you a VIP or Gold member and this won't happen again, that's extortion. You have a relationship with your bank, you are trying to have a business relationship with the retailer -- no one else should be involved. Yes, businesses have a right to protect themselves - it should not be at the expense of their good customers who are made to feel like felons when standing in line trying to purchase something.

I want to encourage all retailers to get reports from Certegy regarding the number of transactions declined, codes associated with those declines and $$ amount. This will give retailers a good idea of lost revenue. Will some people quickly find another means to pay for their purchases so they don't feel embarrassed? Sure, but I encourage them not to, they should be willing to WALK AWAY. No "thing" can replace the dignity of your personal information, OR who you CHOOSE to give it to. You should not be extorted into giving your personal information to a 3rd party in order to write a check. Every night on the news we hear about retail sales are down - when I heard that Friday night - I laughed, I no longer thought - how terrible, the economy is falling part...I thought - that's because people are walking out of retailers because they're not on file with Certegy and can't get their checks approved. There has got to be a better way!. Here's the letter I've printed out and will be giving to store managers from now on when I WALK AWAY! Christmas is coming - it's a very important time to retailers -- My friends and family will be much more respectful of less gifts when I tell them why. Feel free to use the letter, modify to your own situation.

Date:
Dear __________________(store name), (store #_____)

Your establishment has chosen to use Certegy as your check verifying service. Because I refuse to turn over precious personal information to Certegy and become a “gold member” my check has been declined today with a “code 2”.

Please be advised that in discussion with Certegy they have confirmed they have no negative financial information regarding me, the problem is they don’t have a history with me because I do not have any history with THEM. Although I have a 10+ relationship with my bank and have been writing checks since 1980.

I understand businesses have the right to take pre-cautions to ensure their business is protected from consumers who are felons and pass bad checks. However, I am not that person and your choice of process has now affected our relationship.

I also understand that by utilizing Certegy your company believes they are being protected. Certegy assumes the risk of bad checks, which is their guarantee to you. And because they are assuming the risk, they will decline anyone who does not have a history with THEM, not you or their ability to meet their financial obligations.

Your financial success as an organization is important to all citizens as you provide jobs and goods to consumers. If you were to take the time and research the reports you receive from Certegy regarding DECLINED – Code 2, you will get a good idea of the revenue you have lost by customers who have walked away humiliated, and embarrassed because their check was declined only because they do not have relationship with Certegy, when what they were looking for was a business relationship with you. I am thankful my local car dealership values their relationship with their customers as they happily took my check for a new Saturn Sky – paid in full. More than you lost today, however, my personal integrity, dignity and personal information are priceless to me.

Now that I understand the process, I will no longer be humiliated when this happens. I will simply give this letter to your store manager and leave without the item(s) I was going to purchase.

Your revenue loss from this customer today was $_________________

Please feel free to contact me when you have a different process in place and wish to have a relationship with your customers, I may consider returning.

Certegy is indeed dishonest. I used to work for them in HR and our practices then were to cut off the caller if they sounded informed. Beware them like the plague. If you employee their services it is alienating your consumers and hopefully you will see diminishing returns until you drop them.

I work at a Loft and If the computer declines the check there is no way to bypass it, we have to call the number and sometimes you need to make a phone call to clear things up. Our company is corporately owned and we have no say in which check services are being used at the store level. Sorry if it's inconvenient.

Ditto here. 42 y.o. mom buying cat food, dog food, diapers, lightbululbs etc. at KMArt. Never wrote a bad check. Plenty of money in account to cover check, Great credit scores, Etc. Totally stumped with check being declined. Called Certegy, received cryptic non-answer to my question of "why". This is rediculous.

My son was trying to cash a corporate check for 120.00 and was given a Code 2 by Certegy. He's cashed checks through Safeway several times and it always cleared Certegy but this one didn't. He called the 800 number and was given a bunch of long winded excuses. I have had the same thing happen to me as well. A corporate, well known company check was denied because this company doesn't have their information correct.

I believe they don't have any real form of policy to follow and this is why one person doesn't know what the other is doing at Certegy. I believe they "say" it's for lack of funds or negative information on file or bad checks and on and on, but I think it's an excuse to make it look as though they are doing what they promised the business who has hired them to be their watchdog and the businesses are trusting Certegy to do that however, Certegy isn’t really working for them.

Certegy isn't consistent enough. They just say whatever is convenient at that time to deny the account. If they are going by check NUMBERS or ROUTING numbers to decide whether to accept or deny a check shows what I am saying to be true. Those two things should have NOTHING to do with whether a check is cashed or not. It should have to do with whether or not the account that money is coming out of has sufficient funds. That is the ONLY thing that should matter. So it sounds to me like Certegy has decided they have the right to make decisions in all our lives that we haven’t given them permission to make.

Safeway, Albertsons, Wal-Mart, and all you other companies that are trying to protect yourselves against fraud. You’re losing a lot of money and customers due to Certegy being affiliated with your company. You may want to think twice and find a better way of doing business because Certegy is making the money off you, you would have made had that check went through. All those fees they are charging the consumers, falsely I might add, and all those corporation/companies paying them to “watchdog” checks going through. Hmm, I think that’s a pretty lucrative business for Certegy!

I have cashed numerous payroll checks within the last month and half... Today, was turned down, wal-mart associate rude, handed me a receipt, call this number.. After being on hold, speaking with two representatives, from certegy... Neither could give me a straight answer.. Is this good customer service, I think not.. Wal-mart, word of mouth just might catch up with you greedy corporate people... enough said.

I recently tried to cash my goverment check @ Walmart & was denied because of security check reasons. I am trying to understand this mess but right now, I am unable to pay my rent, no food in my house...TODAY ! The amount of the check is $1054.00. Every month, I go to Walmart to cash this type of check. Afterwards, I shop in the same store. But because I had this problem...I WILL NOT be a patron of Walmart ever again...I have no friends, No car, & Certgery has nerve to say...THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT...

I live in Puerto Rico and yesterday we went to Wal-Mart with my Social Security check to pay for our groceries and they told us they are using a new system that charges $4.00 on top of the percentage you have to spend at the store. I had to enter my social security number a couple of times and it kept saying that it was not a match, 64 years with the same number. Then the machine printed out a piece of paper giving me a reason why I was declined. I had to leave my cart full of groceries. I've been paying with my Social Security check for the past two years and never had a problem. This is very humiliating. This is the most secured check in this country. It's bad enough that the price of food is high and now they are making things worst for us. I had to go to our local supermarket and had no problem there with the check. I hope they don't ever use this Certegy Service.

I just had this happen to me, late afternoon yesterday, after picking my Child up from School, and heading to Cash my Work Check.

It came back denied, with a little white slip
I, stood there for a few mintues, wondering what?
I've never had that happen, ever.

I'm a Good- Working Class, part of Society.

So, the Cashier said, Well, let me try it agan..
Still----

This is very strange, unbelievable, and yes, quite embarrassing.
I'll never forget the moments that seemed liked hour, with people around everywhere, as this was going on Yesterday.

I am calling this "Certegy Check Services.". although it does not seem to be such a "Service.", to me.
However, from reading the above compaints.. "Am I even going to get through?"

I am not unable to pay my Rent---
I had to go talk to my Landlord.. and confise with more embarrassment.

Oh, and as well, I have to now, have all my pay put onto a "Money Card.", which I had to Purchase..
Time, Money, abundant Headaches.

I, too, am afraid to write any more checks, or do anything with a check for that matter.

Payroll checks from a large corporation being denied weekly. Have not been able to cash a payroll check in 3-4 weeks. This is a huge inconveniece and when you call the number they only tell you they have no idea why it is happening but it cannot be reversed.

I went and got $30 of gas on a cheking account that is hardly used but have had for 25 years. Come to find out that they too use this company and basically the lady on the other end told me that it was b/c I hadn't written any checks in that store and although they had cks from a Babies R Us used the week before that didn't matter. SO, I reiterated...baiscally, it goes by store, by buying pattern, thru them. So- I may write 50 checks for gas, but if I go to another store where I have '0' checks written it could happen again. I was soooo embarassed! I have perfect credit and to be stopped for $30 gas with a LINE of people I felt like a ###! PLUS, it was raining and I had my 17 mo. old son waiting in the car. I was pissed! I don't want to go back. I am however printing this out and giving it to the Kum and Go on 180th & Pacifc so they can see what kind of people they do business with. DON"T GET GAS THERE AS THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU.

this is to everyone who is having problem with certegy check services .. you need to contact the better business, call [protected] or use the web site www.boston.bbb.org for info
they were very helpful, just to let everyone know that this check cashing service does have a lot of red flags with the bbb and that is a on going class acting suit with them also so you may be entitle to some thing coming back to you for all the mess that we been throught with this company
hope this help a little for everyone, i know this company put me trought hell and i am fighting back too

I recently opened a Home Equity Line of Credit to do Home Renovations. I was at the supplier ordering the new cabinets I wanted for my kitchen, wrote a check for $1051 and Certigy DENIED the check. This a new account with more than sufficient funds and they denied the check for no apparent reason. It was embarrassing because I was with my Contractor who will be handling this work and who will also be paid from this same account. So of course he may question whether he should take a check from me to pay his fees. Who is monitoring this company, and for them to say that it is "confidential" the criteria they use to decide how they accept or not accept checks is not acceptable. I was angry and embarrassed, and something needs to be done about this company. I plan to go to my bank and discuss this with them to see if there is anything they can do about this company.

I am attaching a letter I have sent to certegy. Perhaps everyone experiencing the stupidity of this company should form an association to insure they go belly-up sometime in the near future.

Certegy Check Services, Inc.
11601 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL. 3371

Dear Idiot!

Enclosed is your letter sent to me dated 11/14/08. Notice how it is addressed. (Dear Brown). I guess this tells it all about your company. You employ people that do not even have the common sense to proof read a letter sent to a consumer.
When your company refused to authorize a check to a Coach store, I had the Asst. Manager of the store call my bank, speak with the manager of the branch and confirm that I had more than enough in the account to cover the amount of the sale. Still you idiots refused to authorize resulting in a sale of almost $1, 000 being lost at a time when every sale is meaningful to all merchants. I have also contacted the home offices of Coach in the U.S. and informed them that I will no longer be purchasing any of their products. In fact, when I left Coach, I went to Nordstroms and purchased a very nice and very expensive Prada bag for my wife. Interestingly enough, this store accepted my check without any problem. The sale was in excess of $2, 000.
I will be spending much of my spare time shopping with my wife this holiday season and I will be doing everything in my power to strongly suggest that any merchant utilizing your company as a check clearing house sever any contractual agreement lest they lose business because of your inability to recognize a valid purchase.
When I called your customer care department ( and I use the term “customer care” with no respect to your company), I demanded a copy of any and all documentation you have in your possession concerning me. Naturally, you have not complied with this demand and are now in violation of Federal regulations. I am now, on the advice of my attorney, making this demand in writing. If I do not receive this documentation within 30 business days, I will have no alternative other than to take this situation to the next level.
It is absolutely amazing how a company operated in a manner such as you operate your company has remained in business.

With no regard for your success,

David Brown
20 West Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
e-mail: mdbr.2@verizon.net

I was at a One Day sale at Macy's. Stood in line a long time to purchase a jacket that was on sale. With the coupon and after tax, the purchase price was $34.44. I wrote a check, which was declined. I was quite embarrassed because of the long line of people. I used a credit care to complete the transaction. I didn't understand "why" the check wasn't honored because I had previously written a check 30 minutes prior, still in Macy's, in another line in the housewares department for $52.99. It didn't make sense that the larger amount was approved minutes sooner but this one was not. I tried to call the number to Certegy on the bottom of my charge receipt but I have never been able to reach a live person to have a discussion or ask a question and obtain more details.

I wrote a check to albertsons in Scottsdale today and was approved and the I wrote a check at goodwill for 23.00 and it was denied. I spoke with Certegy and they said it was an arbitrary decision and that my record had no negative action on it. I wasted 30 minutes trying to get the information from goodwill as to who had the authority to deny my check. Not only is this embarrassing it is time consuming. No they want me to send them all my banking information. I am very hesitant to do this. Does anyone know what a solution is to this invasive service? Certegy?

I wrote a check today to Radio Shack to get a portable DVD player for my kids. My check was declined because of a code 2 from Certegy. When I called the 1-800 number they wanted me to fill out an application with all of my information on it. My husband and I do not write checks often, so they did not have enough check writing information from us on file. I had more than enough funds in the bank to cover the amount of the check. Just a suggestion to the merchants that use Certegy, how about trying to get a REAL check authorization company or machine instead of losing money because of this idiotic company not knowing ### about your consumer, or not even having the know how on calling and verifying funds through the bank line.

Today, 11/25/08 I wrote a check in the amount of $279.98 for two power inverters that were going to be used by the volunteer fire department I am a member of for an upcoming Christmas Parade. The clerk said the check was declined by Certegy due to Code 2 which is basically not enough info on the department. The VFD has more money in there account than my persnal will ever see. When I called Certegy to find out why I wasted a check, after waiting 19 minutes for someone to answer, I was told since I am not on the account they would not discuss it with me. I am the treasurer for the department but do not sign checks due to my wife being a signatory. I am boycotting any business that uses Certegy. Someone has to stop them. You would think that theb retail world would get tired of the loss of sales they are causing.
To hell with them!

I too was turned down when trying to cash a check at Walmart. It was only for $10 and the check was a rebate from Walmart Discover Card. I called Certegy and the customer service agent said it appeared that the Walmart associate keyed in my birth date incorrectly.

That makes sense to me, but I hope Certegy doesn't have other major problems as the other complaints suggest.

I attempted to write a check for $69.31 at our local K-Mart and the check printed out denied immediately on the back all the way down the back of the check with Certegy information. I used a credit card to complete the purchase. I called Certegy and they could not find the transaction. The next day I called and again they could not find the transaction.

I was told that there was nothing found on me or the checking account when she did a check while I was on the phone that was negative. She believed the check wasn't processed at the store. With over $2000 in the checking account and having never written a bad check I'm now worried about using checks anymore because of Certegy's poor service and lack of ability to explain their processes. Businesses that use their "service" should re-evaluate Certegy's benefit as loyal customers are being driven away.

I was declined at K-Mart due to the fact that something in my check met risk factors in the "model" that Certegy uses. It had nothing to do with bad checks, of which I don't have. I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. I have found that complaining to the proper govt agency gets results. If enough people do this, they will have to investigate the way Certegy does business.