Guanghu Cui was poring over his TD Bank statements in March, preparing to pay taxes for his small immigration consulting firm in Oakville, Ont., when he noticed a $1.50 fee for sending an e-transfer.
It was surprising, because when he’d opened his business account three years ago, his financial adviser told him the plan included five free transactions a month and he’d never exceeded that number.
Cui complained and eventually TD said it would reimburse him for the fees and compensate him for his “frustration and inconvenience.”
But when the paperwork arrived for Cui to sign, it included a condition saying he must “keep it confidential.” While he could speak about the dispute, he would not be allowed to tell anyone that TD had offered compensation.
Cui emailed TD to say he wouldn’t take the offer if the bank didn’t drop the gag order.
“I was told the offer is final and there’s no room for negotiation… take it or leave it,” said Cui. “That is just unfair. And that is unethical.”
I had the same experience with Citibank in 2001. I began saying “good morning, Michael. You’re the 22nd person I’ve spoken to in my attempts to get this resolved.”. They expressed incredulity, and that let me highlight the experience so far with names and comments. Nothing came of their sympathy, I’m sure.
Finally, after 29 people and me quoting chapter and verse of their obligations while they searched for money they misplaced - a sizable sum for me at the time - they did their bare responsibility and I had funds to use.
Sooo never doing business again with those guys.