According to Robert, Chase is taking the Steve Urkel approach to persuasion, asking him again and again if he would like to partake in its delicious overdraft protection, brushing off his continuous “no” answers as Steve always did to Laura in Family Matters.

Read between the lines of his story and you can practically hear Chase sneer “I’m wearing you down, baby. I’m wearing you dooooown!”

I have been inundated with phone calls, bothersome requests for my time on bank visits, and mailings regarding “how my debit card works” from Chase bank over the past few months. Now, as near as I can tell, all they needed to know from the outset was whether or not I wanted to take advantage of their offer for Chase Overdraft Coverage for which you have made several postings already – however, just so we’re clear, I will copy and paste the options from their website:

“Select “Yes” if you want Chase to authorize and pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions. Your everyday debit card purchases may be approved at Chase’s discretion, when you don’t have sufficient available funds. Standard overdraft fees may apply. Note: By choosing “Yes,” your account(s) will reflect your decision effective immediately.

Select “No” if you do not want Chase to authorize and pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions. Your everyday debit card purchases will be declined if you don’t have sufficient funds. Accordingly, you will not be charged insufficient funds/overdraft fees for everyday debit card transactions. Note: By choosing “No,” your account(s) will reflect your decision on or before the second business day after your decision has been submitted.”

Simply put, this reads to me “Are you authorizing us (Chase Bank) to allow you to overdraw your account and thus charge you an overdraft fee, or would you prefer we decline your card in the event you don’t have enough money to pay for a purchase?”

No-brainer, right? No, I would not like you to allow me to spend money I don’t have and charge me even more money that I don’t have for the privilege of being allowed to make this purchase.

Problem is, I have declined this outright several times – both online and in person, and yet I am still being harangued every time I interact with my bank.

Is there anything I can do to get this to come to an end, or do I Just have to wait the week or so until whatever deadline they’re aiming for is past?

If you’ve opted out of the overdraft protection racket, has your bank been as persistent at getting you to reconsider?

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