Untitled Document

Dear Bird Talk:

I wonder how many Snowbirds who have bank accounts in florida realize that the tellers are NOT responsible for cheques??? I have a receipt for $400 deposited on December 7, 2005 in the form of 4 x $50, 10 x $20 and am in dispute with the bank regarding the amount of the deposit. I have fi led a grievance stating my case that I am positive I deposited $400 in American Express Travellers Cheques because I checked each one prior to leaving home, writing my account number on each cheque, and signing them in the appropriate place and paper clipping them to a deposit slip from the bank.

They tell me the only way around this situation is to cash the cheques, take the cash, count it, and then make the deposit - ridiculous I would say - wouldn’t you ???

My husband and I will defi nitely be leaving this bank after the holidays are over and all of our outstanding cheques are paid as we both feel that the bank deducting $100 from our account was completely uncalled for. The bank representative called us this evening, December 23rd, to tell us that they will not be
settling in our favour. This is defi nitely a lesson for the learning. Unfortunately for me, when I returned home from making the deposit, I checked off the deposited Travellers cheques and destroyed the receipts - why would I keep them when I deposited the $400 in a secure place like the bank????

What good is it for a bank to give you a receipt for the amount you deposited and then question your deposit the following day and take out what they feel the deposit was without notifying you as to what they are doing and why ???

I can’t imagine banking in Canada being carried on in this manner and I am one disgruntled customer at the moment.

Sincerely, Mrs. J. Valleau

This should serve as a stern warning for all Canadians who conduct business with foreign banks, in any country. Keep all of the receipts that are issued to you from the bank teller. Make photocopies of the bank drafts and money orders you purchase. If you insist on discarding receipts instead of keeping them on fi le, hang onto them for a month and don’t throw them away until you have reconciled the transaction with your bank statement or bank book.

Dear Bird Talk,

Today I am writing as a self-appointed poster boy for prostate cancer awareness, to male snowbirds across Canada.

Many of your readers are men, probably well over 55 who may have sons or male relatives in the 40 plus age group.

My message is short. Men, start testing for prostate cancer early. forty isn’t too soon and if prostate cancer is/was in the family, you should start testing ven earlier.

Two tests are simple and fast. The PSA (prostate serum antigen) test is a blood test that can be included along with other laboratory blood work, (however, the physician must specifi cally request the PSA test on a laboratory form). The other test is a digital rectal exam, known as a DRE. This test is just what the name implies. The examining doctor is able to feel the prostate gland located adjacent to the rectum wall. Abnormal growths are easily identifi ed with the“educated digit”. Ask your doctor what each test identifi es.

Biopsies of such growths can be excised, during a more elaborate procedure, performed by a trained specialist, and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This procedure is a bit uncomfortable to some but its nothing too bad and only takes a short time.

Early detection allows for proper treatment and extended lives. If you are not tested regularly, start today.

For additional information please contact the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network at 1-888-939-3333.

John Dobbin, prostate cancer survivor/snowbird, Alberta

Thanks John. Great advice! It is never too early to be proactive with this condition. Now if we could just get the Health Care System to pay for the PSA Test instead of inconveniencing us with the petty charges for testing we are already taxed for, that would be something…

Dear Sirs:

I recently had a disturbing banking experience with Bank of America in Fort Myers, Florida. A normal deposit of $4,000.00 USD from my local U.S. Dollar account at TD Canada Trust was hit with a transaction deduction and service charges of $110.00 USD, on the pretense that it was a banker’s “collection item” and not a normal “clearing item”.

I have made many previous deposits the same way. When I pressed for reversal of the charge, the TD Canada Trust were kind enough to credit my account, but the Bank of America took the position that Canadians are credit risks, and this is the cost of doing business with them.

This policy and practice is, I am sure, limited to the Bank of America since I have done business at many Florida banks. Your membership should be alerted that they stand the risk of being charged a defacto collection fee without prior warning and, while TD Canada Trust covered the charge as a matter of good public relations, the collection charge originated with the Bank of America.

I enclosed a copy of the Bank of America letter.

Yours very truly,
J. Bruce Gardner

The only reason why there is a delay in“collecting” foreign items is because of the Patriot Act. The purpose of the Patriot Act most certainly is not to prevent Canadians from depositing money into the American Economy. This policy of treating your deposit as a collection item instead of a clearing item doesn’t do a lot to make a Canadian feel welcome at their bank. It does, however, provide another reason why the Snowbird Currency Exchange is a good program to move your money hassle free.

Dear Mr. Gardner,

Thank you for your recent letter.

All foreign items must be sent for collection. We continue to experience significant losses on foreign items. Due to the length of time it can take for the foreign items to clear, and the inherent risk associated with making funds available before the item clears, we can not simply deposit the item.

Collection is the only means we have available to us to more effectively reduce and manage risk. Our experience with Canadian items has been particularly troublesome. We are attempting to prevent fraud, forgery and counterfeit items.

Collecting items has become our standard operating procedure to reduce losses, which are growing at unacceptable rates.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A. O’Donnell
Consumer Market Executive
Lee/Collier Market
Bank of America

Dear Bird Talk,

I have enclosed a picture of the group of Canadians that winter in Avon Park, Florida.

We had a wonderful pot luck dinner, using your placemats as decoration. Many of us met new friends and a few of us were so surprised to find out just how close we lived to each other when in Canada.

The name of our park is “Reflection on Silver Lake”. It is a family owned, 55 plus active retirement park... an absolutely wonderful place to spend a winter!!!

Keep up your good work for Snowbirds.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Gould

Thank you, Bonnie. We will do our best. By the way, that is a great picture!

	Dear Bird Talk: I wonder how many Snowbirds who have bank accounts in florida realize that the tellers are NOT responsible for cheques??? I have a receipt for $400 deposited on December 7, 2005 in the form of 4 x $50, 10 x $20 and am in dispute with the bank regarding the amount of the deposit. I have fi led a grievance stating my case that I am positive I deposited $400 in American Express Travellers Cheques because I checked each one prior to leaving home, writing my account number on each cheque, and signing them in the appropriate place and paper clipping them to a deposit slip from the bank. They tell me the only way around this situation is to cash the cheques, take the cash, count it, and then make the deposit - ridiculous I would say - wouldn’t you ??? My husband and I will defi nitely be leaving this bank after the holidays are over and all of our outstanding cheques are paid as we both feel that the bank deducting $100 from our account was completely uncalled for. The bank representative called us this evening, December 23rd, to tell us that they will not be settling in our favour. This is defi nitely a lesson for the learning. Unfortunately for me, when I returned home from making the deposit, I checked off the deposited Travellers cheques and destroyed the receipts - why would I keep them when I deposited the $400 in a secure place like the bank???? What good is it for a bank to give you a receipt for the amount you deposited and then question your deposit the following day and take out what they feel the deposit was without notifying you as to what they are doing and why ??? I can’t imagine banking in Canada being carried on in this manner and I am one disgruntled customer at the moment. Sincerely, Mrs. J. Valleau This should serve as a stern warning for all Canadians who conduct business with foreign banks, in any country. Keep all of the receipts that are issued to you from the bank teller. Make photocopies of the bank drafts and money orders you purchase. If you insist on discarding receipts instead of keeping them on fi le, hang onto them for a month and don’t throw them away until you have reconciled the transaction with your bank statement or bank book.


	Dear Bird Talk, Today I am writing as a self-appointed poster boy for prostate cancer awareness, to male snowbirds across Canada. Many of your readers are men, probably well over 55 who may have sons or male relatives in the 40 plus age group. My message is short. Men, start testing for prostate cancer early. forty isn’t too soon and if prostate cancer is/was in the family, you should start testing ven earlier. Two tests are simple and fast. The PSA (prostate serum antigen) test is a blood test that can be included along with other laboratory blood work, (however, the physician must specifi cally request the PSA test on a laboratory form). The other test is a digital rectal exam, known as a DRE. This test is just what the name implies. The examining doctor is able to feel the prostate gland located adjacent to the rectum wall. Abnormal growths are easily identifi ed with the“educated digit”. Ask your doctor what each test identifi es. Biopsies of such growths can be excised, during a more elaborate procedure, performed by a trained specialist, and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This procedure is a bit uncomfortable to some but its nothing too bad and only takes a short time. Early detection allows for proper treatment and extended lives. If you are not tested regularly, start today. For additional information please contact the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network at 1-888-939-3333. John Dobbin, prostate cancer survivor/snowbird, Alberta Thanks John. Great advice! It is never too early to be proactive with this condition. Now if we could just get the Health Care System to pay for the PSA Test instead of inconveniencing us with the petty charges for testing we are already taxed for, that would be something…


	Dear Sirs: I recently had a disturbing banking experience with Bank of America in Fort Myers, Florida. A normal deposit of $4,000.00 USD from my local U.S. Dollar account at TD Canada Trust was hit with a transaction deduction and service charges of $110.00 USD, on the pretense that it was a banker’s “collection item” and not a normal “clearing item”. I have made many previous deposits the same way. When I pressed for reversal of the charge, the TD Canada Trust were kind enough to credit my account, but the Bank of America took the position that Canadians are credit risks, and this is the cost of doing business with them. This policy and practice is, I am sure, limited to the Bank of America since I have done business at many Florida banks. Your membership should be alerted that they stand the risk of being charged a defacto collection fee without prior warning and, while TD Canada Trust covered the charge as a matter of good public relations, the collection charge originated with the Bank of America. I enclosed a copy of the Bank of America letter. Yours very truly, J. Bruce Gardner The only reason why there is a delay in“collecting” foreign items is because of the Patriot Act. The purpose of the Patriot Act most certainly is not to prevent Canadians from depositing money into the American Economy. This policy of treating your deposit as a collection item instead of a clearing item doesn’t do a lot to make a Canadian feel welcome at their bank. It does, however, provide another reason why the Snowbird Currency Exchange is a good program to move your money hassle free.

	Dear Mr. Gardner, Thank you for your recent letter. All foreign items must be sent for collection. We continue to experience significant losses on foreign items. Due to the length of time it can take for the foreign items to clear, and the inherent risk associated with making funds available before the item clears, we can not simply deposit the item. Collection is the only means we have available to us to more effectively reduce and manage risk. Our experience with Canadian items has been particularly troublesome. We are attempting to prevent fraud, forgery and counterfeit items. Collecting items has become our standard operating procedure to reduce losses, which are growing at unacceptable rates. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Thank you. Sincerely, Kenneth A. O’Donnell Consumer Market Executive Lee/Collier Market Bank of America


	Dear Bird Talk, I have enclosed a picture of the group of Canadians that winter in Avon Park, Florida. We had a wonderful pot luck dinner, using your placemats as decoration. Many of us met new friends and a few of us were so surprised to find out just how close we lived to each other when in Canada. The name of our park is “Reflection on Silver Lake”. It is a family owned, 55 plus active retirement park... an absolutely wonderful place to spend a winter!!! Keep up your good work for Snowbirds. Sincerely, Bonnie Gould Thank you, Bonnie. We will do our best. By the way, that is a great picture!