People are denied the ability every day to open a checking or savings account because of an entry in the Chexsystems database. Why? If you have an entry in Chexsystems, fairly or otherwise, it’s due to bounced checks. For more info. here is creditinfocenter’s page on Chexsystems.
Now there’s a new database which banks are using to screen new checking applicants, Early Warning Systems (EWS). Early Warning Systems (previously Primary Payment Systems), along with other participating organizations, share information with financial institution who subscribe to it about potential customers which may be a risk.
If you have an entry in EWS, most banks will turn down your application to open a checking or savings account with them. Again, the most likely reason for your inclusion in the database is excessive overdrafts or bounced checks.
Think you’re being given a new “life” as far as being able to open a checking account with banks that don’t use Chexsystems, but use EWS instead? Nope. Almost everyone reported to Chexsystems is also reported to EWS.
So who is EWS? Early Warning Services is a limited liability company owned by Bank of America, BB&T Corporation, JPMorgan Chase, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo. From their website describing services to financial institutions:
Account Opening and Funding
New account fraud cost the financial services industry $14.7 billion in 2007, and cost victims $1,066 per case, according to the 2008 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research. To prevent such monumental losses and protect their customers, financial institutions need to be able to screen new demand deposit accounts (DDA) applicants for a prior history of fraud and/or account abuse (emphasis mine), as well as perform identity verification and compliance list screening. In addition, verifying a funding account at another institution reduces the fraud risks associated with new accounts.
Early Warning Solutions deliver superior analytics and advanced capabilities, including identity verification, account history and account owner authentication, to help organizations stop fraud at the door.
Like Chexsystems, EWS is a credit reporting agency, and because of this, you are entitled to see a copy of your report and it is your right to dispute. Those wishing to obtain consumer report information should contact EWS’s Consumer Call Center at 800-325-7775.
Early Warning Services
8777 E. Harford Drive Suit 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
800-325-7775
http://www.earlywarning.com/index.asp
Have you been denied the ability to open a savings or checking account because of an entry in EWS? Tell us by leaving a comment!
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EWS is absolute B.S.!!!!! I have ONE returned check which was paid within 24 hours of being returned, and EWS has ruined my ability to write a check at any local business. My bank was very surprised that one check (which was promptly taken care of) is causing such a problem. I have more than $12,000 in the bank and cannot currently write a $30 check. This is complete nonsense.
Yes, I have been denied because of being reported by BofA and it was not for bounced checks.
This type og agencies are Ok. to protect the greatest delinquents of the world, who contribute to the worlwide actual financial crisis, by the owners of those organizations, who must be in jail, however they maintain records for poor people who made little mistakes in writing checks for $100 or less money, keeping they apart to this corrupt system.
God is no going to Bless America for this!
The banks come to the American public with their hand out, saying “we made bed decisions. We need billions of dollars to cover our losses.” Our elected politicians say, “Sure. Have a few billion dollars so you can keep right on stomping the little guy and cruising around on your yacht.”
Now the business to big to fail are in the business of making sure you fail if you make a mistake in your financial life. Or worse yet, they are in a position to completely disrupt your financial life due to something that wasn’t your mistake in the first place.
I was denied the opportunity to make a purchase using a check at a national merchant. They had no idea why, but gave me the number for their check processing company, TeleCheck. A call to TeleCheck revealed that they had no specific information other than my account was reported as closed by Early Warning Systems, even though my account is not closed and I had visited the bank to add significant additional funds to the account the day before. TeleCheck told me I would have to contact EWS. EWS was closed on a busy shopping day, so in spite of my discussion with the merchant and phone calls to two different companies, I still have no idea why my check was declined.
Wake up people! Our lives are being controlled by the American czars at the high end of our financial institutions. These people have the power to take money from your pocket whenever they choose, either by grabbing billions at a time using their political connections or $35 at a time by manipulating your deposits and withdrawls to maximize your fees. Now it appears they are adding to their arsenal the power to banish individuals from the financial world altogether. Certainly some of the banished are real criminals who’s removal benefits us all, but others are the powerless classes who made a mistake that led to their banishment. Worse yet, is the uncountable multitudes who are denied access to the American banking system because of a beurocratic error or a computer glitch.
Where do you go when those who control the game won’t even let you play? How do you live life if you can’t open a bank account, cash a check, pay your bills, or even work for a company who uses direct deposit? The fact is that when you become black balled by the financial gods, you’re forced into the underworld of pawn shops, payday loans, title loans, and government programs.
There is a war going on here and no one is even aware. If one of these big companies is trying to banish you from the successful class, you need to fight with everything you have, or risk permanent entrapment in the growing underclass in America.
I opened an account at BOA on Dec 3 2009. I deposited over $1500 on a Wells Fargo check from CLEAR. BOA closed my acocunt within less than 24 hours. On Dec. 4 I went to bank to make another deposit and was told my account my closed. Fine! I don’t have to do business with BOA, however, BOA had put a hold on my funds until 12/09/09. Since the account was closed by the BOA Risk Dept. I now would not get my money until 12/17/09 (mailed to me via Certified BOA funds). The problem here is that BOA was paid by Wells Fargo after midnight on the 3rd of Dec. BOA risk dept says my account is not closed but pending closure.
The account would be closed on the 16th and a check mailed on the 17th. The problem I have is that none of this is diclosed at the time of opening the account. I feel that BOA or any bank using Chexsystems or EWS should conduct proper due diligence prior to accepting or opening an account. I had employyes to pay and obligations that needed to be handled. This has caused me sooo much havoc!!! As for my labled “account abuse” at another institution, it was ntohing more than bank automated debit charges that needed to be paid. I needed that money to handle that account.
I say, forget using the banking systems who use this type of strong arm and think they can just hold your money as long as they choose before it is released to you. I’m still waiting on my money. As for my personal BOA account that was opened months ago, I had a negative balance which I was planning to clear up once my business check cleared on the 9th. At this point, I will just send BOA a letter to kiss my ass, and that those funds can be reported to whomever because I won’t pay it now. I will keep that money as damages for keeping my money in business account for 2 weeks without my permission!!! What they do is make your account overdrawn by $888,000 so that no transactions can take place until they’ve made whatever interest off your money being held. I’ll be glad when they are shut down and fined to death for illegally holding account depositor’s money unlawfully!
The same thing happened to me that happened to Atlanta Business women. BofA is collecting interest off of my money that is sitting in their bank because they haven’t fully closed my account AND they are charging me $35 for every transaction that comes through because They closed my account with out my knowledge. But what I find the most interesting is that this company EWS is owned by Bank of America, therefore when you file a dispute against Bank of America with them, they informed me that Bank of America has the final say on whether or not your name will come off of EWS. Now does that seem right? They Say Bank of America has to abide my the law in their decision making, but we all know BofA does NOT follow the law… look at BofA’s website… So pretty much you are Screwed for 5 Years.
I just recently switched banks because of a cross country move. I found upon my relocation that I was unable to open a new account because of a FRAUD reporting on Chexsystems and EWS by BoA. (An account that *I* closed two years ago when switching from BoA to Wachovia).
I contacted BoA’s recovery dept who told me that I had a balance of .04 owed on this account. Are you kidding me .04??? So I offer to go into a local branch and give them .04. My biggest concern was this “fraud” labeling. Fraud is a BIG word in my world so I wanted to know what was going on.
The recovery dept said that they had NO IDEA why it was flagged as a ‘fraud’ account and would immediately take it off chexsystems and write off the .04. They even faxed a letter to the nearest branch to state what they were doing.
So here I go, letter in hand feeling accomplished to my new bank of choice. Accounted opened… yay, right? One week and $1500.00 in deposits later my new account is frozen.
So I find myself back on the phone with BoA. They assure me that I’ve been taken off chexsystems. but Ahhh… there is another dept that I need to speak to. The “risk” dept. These are the ones that report to EWS.
I FINALLY get through to the BoA risk dept and am RUDELY told that they WILL NOT take me off of EWS or remove the fraud flag.
By this point I am furious! Why not? I’ve never committed fraud!!!!
It seems that 18mo BEFORE I closed my account (seemingly .04 overdrawn) someone had written me a bad check. After MUCH thought, I remembered that my elderly mother had written me a check for my birthday which I deposited. The next week it was returned. She had grabbed an old check book and not realizing her mistake, written me a 50.00 check on her old (closed) account. It was promptly taken care of and did not at any point cause me to be over drawn.
HOWEVER in BoA’s eyes… this was fraud on my part. It is/was MY fault because I deposited a faulty check.
So now that my Chexsystems name is clear over .04.. I am still on EWS .. WITH.. a fraud listing over a 50.00 check from a 81 year old woman who just made a mistake.
Insane!
Like the above posts I recently opened a new checking account, Three weeks after opening the account the bank “CHASE BANK” Closes my business account, and bounces all of my payroll checks to my employees. I Promptly opened a bank account at a bank that does not use EWS. I requested the info from EWS. BOA had reported me in 2006 for “fraud” and first of all there was no “fraud” involved. I have found out that I can not open and leave open any accounts at any banks that uses EWS. I have never commited any such “fraud”, and this is totaly not ethical what they are doing. I am thinking about filing a lawsuite because when I disputed the record on EWS all they did was send me a letter stating that they verified that it was reported to them. It said nothing about it being verified that it was reported accurately, and that the “fraud” language was correct.
Everyone, you should sue EWS and its parent company Bank of America under the FCRA and the FDCPA for violating those laws. I am and I will vindicate my name because of their abusinve practices.
I too have had this crap happen. I had lost my debit card a few months ago – BofA, I contacted their fraud department which took care of the fraud charges only to have them reverse the decicion and take back the monies from my account, to which I only found out about getting a letter in the mail the day after they did this. I had direct deposit from my job, which I called the morning of payday and it showed my direct deposit, therefore I sent off my “bills”. The next morning I go to pay a bill on line and my balance is in overdraft due to BofA taking back out “thier” monies. I called their fruad department and they said there is no appeal process for that transaction, once determination letter is sent pretty much they will not look at it again. So, then my “bills” came in and bounced. I opened a account in the meantime to change my direct deposit to “be safe” with my monies – Chase account. 1 1/2 months later, I got an “alert” text message, from Chase that my account is 9million $ overdrawn???WTH??? So I call Chase and after spending several hours on the phone, I finally get an answer that BofA has reported me to EWS with abuse. After spending several hours again at the BofA branch with a manager, who one says he has never heard of EWS and that he and their “recovery department” says “No BofA is not reporting anything on you” Bottom line and 3 days of fighting, I found out it is all for nothing, Chase closed my account, BofA closed my account and I too am screwed for the next 5 years by being on the EWS reporting!!!! this is such crap, they don’t even give you a chance to fight the dispute, oh Chase did give me 5 to 7 business days to dispute but then sent me a letter 2 days later that says they changed their mind and will close account immediately, BUT yet they let a check clear 2 days after the date they said account would be closed!!!!!! Someone really needs to protect us from this junk. I am just a little guy with no way to get a lawyer to help, but I am sure it would just cost me more to fight and like the rest of us we just get to suck it all up while they get their wallets fatter!!!!!!
Where did you get your information – particularly this one phrase:
“Almost everyone reported to Chexsystems is also reported to EWS.”
Can you confirm that? I am investigating changing from chex to EWS.
WACHOVIA IS WORSE THEN BOFA they report you for a 1.00 fee and make it look like a fraud this is crazy and even more crazy that chase bank can not look into it and resolve it before one has set up direct deposit or anything making ones life a living hell… now the shit part is the poor people get fucked but the real fucking fraud people get away with there crime cuz they dont use there name or there money and because it is my money and my name i am on the fucking black list makes no sense
It is bad enough that debtors are selling their due accounts when it gets close to falling off your credit report so that it remains on them ruining your credit, Chexsystems and now EWS are making sure that we can’t get credit or a checking account. It could be one return check..an honest mistake..and they crucify you. CitiBank is still after my parents and they defaulted on a Visa card about 30 years ago. LOL
So, who regulates Chexsystems and EWS? What is their reporting threshold? And how do resolve an outstanding dispute with them?
I find it (ironic) that the very crooks (banks) that got us into this worldwide financial meltdown are now reporting everything as fraud. I wonder what would happen if all of the poor and middle class people they took homes from through foreclosure fraud packaged as securities would sue them if they would own up to their fraud.
I wrote a check for $47.00 3 months ago and the check were declined. The store told me to call early warning. When I called early warning they told me because I had 4 checks to bouce I would be in their system for at total of 90 days. I have already paid the checks off but I still have to wait 90 days to write a check. I do not think this is fair to me.
Approximately a year ago my home was broken into and with what was stolen the robber had enough to commit identity theft as well. My bank account was cleared out and he took out loans in my name. When I went to my bank to get things sorted I turned in police reports showing what had happened. However because I never paid the negative balance of my account or the loans (since it was the robber who took the money not me) they reported the accounts to EWS. I was not informed of this but was nervous about using the same bank that this man had information for so I tried to switch banks. I opened an account with Wachovia. A week later I went to take out some money from my direct deposit pay check. I was informed the account was closed and though my paycheck was deposited I would have to wait 30 days for it to be mailed to me. I was getting married in a week and need the money to pay for wedding bills. Thankfully there were some decent people at the bank who worked some magic and got me my money. Unfortunately I still cannot get EWS to remove me from their system even with police documents and still cannot get a regular bank account. I checked into check systems to see if they were causing it, but I’m not even in their files, just EWS.
Ok, so we all know how they’ve victimized everyone, but how do you get out of it? Is there a list of banks that will open an account for you to cash your checks while you are still on the systems so that you can take care of the care of the problems.
Early Warning Services (EWS) is a growing problem now to many that have been reported. Due to the huge demand of people that have asked me questions on disputing with EWS, I have now created a page of instructions to help those wishing to dispute and attempt removal. Because it is a little different than Chexsystems and Telecheck, I have a specific outline and sample letters that you can follow on the following page :http://www.chexsystemsdisputes.com/EWS__Telecheck_Removal.html
Early Warning Services and Telecheck are the same as Chexsystems in that they are all credit reporting agencies. It is your right to a free annual report from all of them and it is your right to dispute. EWS works a little different than Chexsystems. This is explained on the page above.
i have had the same problem u can dispute the problem but that it it will stay on for 5 to 7 years i have been dealing with ews and bank of america for the last 3 weeks and nothing 5 banks own esw wich r bank of america, bbt wachoiva, jp morgan and fifth third it hell trust me
EWS is reporting a fraud committed on an old account. I paid the full amount and Wachovia removed it from ChexSystems. EWS refuses and is sabotaging every effort to get an account.
To anyone who says companies like EWS are protecting anyone or anything, you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. The biggest fraud perpetuators in the world are IN the banks themselves. Bank of America reported me for “fraud” because of 1 mistake in the year I was with them (I made an ATM deposit and forgot to put the check in, value? $100) and now I can’t get a bank account for SEVEN YEARS. It doesn’t matter if you pay it off, Bank of Amerca (#1 fraudster in the recent economic meltdown) absolutely refuses to remove the record.
Screw banks. Bunch of criminals.
I also am in EWS.. I had 900 hundred in a b of a saving . I made a atm deposit but forgot the check in the envelope to my checking( i pulled out 40 dollars). My account was closed, labeled fraud even though I had 900 in another accout. It took 21 days to get my 900 and i still have a fraud label in ews
i had an issue with bofa in late 2006 and after paying back the money through ews they decided theyd keep me there anyway… closing a current account with wachovia… and after contacting ews recently they told me theyd remove me from their list on august 2013. now i have to find new places to hide my money…
I am also on EWS from making 1 mistake with BANK OF AMERICA. I made a deposit and forgot to put the check in the envelope. When they opened on Monday (this happened on a Saturday) I went into the branch to explain what happened and to deposit the check over the counter. I was told that everything would be fine, she would leave a note for the teller who emptied the maching. My account was never even overdrawn but apparently when they saw the empty envelope they immediately reported me to EWS as doing fraud. That was SIX years ago and they refuse to remove it and no bank will give me a checking account. BEWARE OF BANK OF AMERICA, they are the real fraudsters who take advantage of hard-working, everyday “little” people.
got an account opened but it was closed a week later. i had one deposit returned with bank of america in 2006 and chexsystems is clean now and paid but this ews told my new bank and they froze my account and closed it. beware they will open your account and close it later!!
Wow! Reading these comments and I see I’m in good company. I also had a similar issue with of all places, BANK OF AMERICA. Now I’m in EWS and they very nastly told me they will not remove me. I was able to remove it with Chexsytems but when I went back to EWS they said they didn’t care, and since I already disputed it once I could not dispute it again, EVER! All I can do is contact BOA and try to get them to remove it, well that was a month ago and still haven’t heard back from BOA, big surprise there.
Early Warning Services is a terrible company. Do not work for them. They chase good employees away and do not like A personality types.
BOFA reported me to EWS in 12/16/2008. I paid BofA in May of 2010 and they opened a business and a personal checking and savings account for me in june of 2010. 6 months ago I went to go close my business account because it was through a corporation. I went last Saturday to go open a business checking as a sole proprietor. They ended up closing ALL my accounts, including the one I have had for a year now due to EWS. I dont get it? I have had a perfect account with them for the last year, why close it? BofA sucks!!!!
Both EWS and Chexsystems are problems if you have issues in the past and many online companies are now running hard credit checks.
EWS received a report from Compass Bank on my employment stating “unfavorable employment record” because I blew the whistle on employees using unethical sales practices for bonuses. I was never notified till I was hired by another financial institution and they rescinded their offer because of this report. In the “right to work state” employees have no recourse to big banks and agencies like EWS.
I hate these guys at EWS. I wish death on all of them and their families. I cannot believe the horror that this company has put me through, even after paying off each and every debt I owed. I am not broke, divorced, and rarely get to see my children. It is companies like this that make people turn hostile. May you reap what you sew EWS…
ews is set up to humiliate and misjudge people. even if you pay the debt to the bank you owe, it’s at the bank’s descretion to remove you from their system and the debt can only be disputed only once. So, if you are not removed, it defeats the purpose of paying the debt because this whole process is used to display what they think is your charactor so you best bet would be to research and utilize banks who are not affiliated with ews!! the company is some straight up b.s.!!
im glad im not alone the same thing has happend to me. Except some one actually commited fraud on my account i went into washington mutual on payday because i couldnt find my bank card, I had direct deposit. I was told someone did s blank deposit they took the money out of my account and closed my account. i disputed the account, Washington mutual denied my dispute. I am not still fighting with check systems. And washington mutual/chase is telling me now the account doesnt exsist and they cannot locate it theres nothing they can do i will just have to wait till it falls of in 7 years. all over 150- that was not my fault. this is really sad. The people that really work hard for thier lively hood and value there name and credit always get treated like crap and the criminals keep going and MESSING up people credit and name.
I am in checksystem and EWS because of something I did not do as well. I lost my BofA Business Bank Card which clearly had my picture on it and someone deposited a large amount of money in the atm and withdrew 500 hundred dollars, well the deposit was blank and they Closed my account. I disputed and filed a claim, got a police report and everything and still no actions. I thought the ATM cameras would prove it was not me and I reported my card as soon as I noticed. Now my business will be ruined cuz I can’t even open a account no where, I have tried. I am immediately labeled soon as I get my social looked up as a fraud and I did nothing.
If some people are already paid off and the debts they owed, and EWS refuses to remove them from the list. EWS is not encouraging the customers to pay their debts.
When the future people are on EWS list, they don’t need to pay their debts if EWS continue on this injust way.
Well I see Im not the only one. A fraudulant company sent me a check and I deposited it. I wasnt aware, but BOA shut down my account and told me I could NEVER bank with them again. They then put me in Chexsystems, which gave me hell, and then EWS… Ive paid off BOA, and Chexsystems have cleared me but EWS say I have to do all of this crap to be removed but its up to BOA….so there was no sense in paying them right? A bunch of crap. Im not a criminal and WE all deserve an account!!! Stupid Banks
Well, after taking responsibility for a mistake with Chase Bank, and making efforts to pay off my debt, I recently had my BB&T account closed the same day my direct deposit posted. With no warning, I was in the process of paying my rent and was informed my account was now closed and monies would be mailed to me in a cashiers check. With rent due, I didnt receive my money for almost 3 weeks, causing late fees and late charges that accrued daily and returned check fees for other monthly bills that only further exacerbated my financial situation. I mean,.. at this point, it really makes it hard to continue making payments to my old bank when I have just been set back almost 2 months by this collaboration of banks and EWS.
This is so crazy. I opened an acct with Sun Trust to deposit a settlement check. The next day I go online just to “look” at my money while it was on a 5 day hold. Low and behold they closed my account….did I mention this was 6 days before Christmas? Yep….Sun Trust closed my acct and told me I would have to wait a full 7 business days before I would get a check mailed to me for my money….. I was in tears. They told me a company named Early Warning Systems provided them with info from Bank of America from an acct in 2006. Question….why call yourself “Early Warning system when you wait till after the acct is opened and funded to notify the banks? Atleast with Chexsystems they deny the acct from the beginning. EWS is a fraud to allow banks to hold your own money until they decide to close your acct…….by the way…it was my kids worst Christmas ever….shame on you guys. Your a SCAM EWS……SCAM I SAY!!!!!!
Not only will this system effect your consumer banking, it has had the effect of blacklisting my wife from all banking jobs. She was let go from B of A a little less than a year ago, and even though the bank denied her claim for UI benefits, the state agreed that the reasons for letting her go were unfounded and largely due to pressure from within the bank, in addition to her being singled out amongst all of the branch management. Now, a year later, she gets offered a job at a different bank, only to have her offer rescinded and told there is a fraud red flag on her consumer report. We requested a copy of the report, and here it is sitting in front of me…..
“Unfavorable Employment Record”
…..is the only description of claimed “fraud”. It seems there is very little confirmation, validation or due process in regards to this system, and its being used by banks to add a further hurdle to consumers trying to be responsible and employees trying to move on from a poor employer. This should be illegal, and with the inefficient manner in which this system is operated, its bordering on libel in my opinion, with the difficulty that arises when you try to get answers or resolution.
I have had problems with BofA too. They suck, I was able to get a checking account, thank God.
i have filed bankruptcy and i had an account with my ex fiance, and he screwed me up, and i can not open up an account no where. i have wrote and sent them paperwork saying and showing then that it was not me that was doing the fraudlant activity. now my name is in this database and i can not find a way to get out. i can not believe this, i had to open up an account on line with HSBC, which i have had over 2years now, and they are good, but i would like to have a local bank that is in my area, but i can’t because the only ones that is here, is bank of america, wells fargo, suntrust, etc. so it is hard, so if there is anyone that may have suggestions, please help. thanks
I think that all that money that was given to these banks needs to be given to people who have made simple mistakes on there account like,overdraft fees that was charged cause you didn’t pay overdraft in five days so we charged you another 36 bucks but got your deposit the next day.Suntrust charge you 36 for every five days your account is over drawn.Say that you have 300 in the account and you paid a bill with it.Ok account is now 0.00 ok You forgot that you did spend 5.00 at Mcdonalds thats 36 plus 36 more if not paid in five days.Now they do offer that 5 dollars and under no nsf fee.What a load of crap.4.98 and under maybe.It’s in there handbook Five and under.Anyway this bank has stolen over 1500.00 from me every time I put alot of money inthe account and spend some I write it off amd I call the account to make sure we’re on the same page and we were.But tjen I minght twoweeks before I use it again and guess what 400 or so is missing.I contact them they say oh the automated system was wrong,I say thats not true ill bring you my bank book and prove it.They say it don’t matter
I made an HONEST MISTAKE and actually corrected it the very next day, but it didn’t matter – my name got on Chexsystems. I disputed it several times, but it didn’t matter. So now I’m off the Chexsystems list – I went to open a bank account – and was denied because my name still shows on EWS. I hadn’t heard of EWS before! I called EWS and they said because I tried to open an acct while still on their list, they are going to “punish” me by keeping my name on their list for even LONGER!!! But I didn’t even know about EWS til I tried to open the acct AFTER my name cleared from Chexsystems!!! NOW what do I do????? Someone please help!
Bank of America is the problem here