McDonald's Worker Says She Was Required to Receive Pay on Fee-Laden Debit Card

[markomalley]

What is the point of this post? It’s completely irrelevant that you have never used an ATM in your life. I think this might just be a post to rile us up, but a lot of people, rich and poor, use an ATM. I believe she did have her own bank account, but even if she didn’t, why should she have to? Your post points out everything that is wrong with this new GOP Catholicism. Sure, side with the banks and this corporation that is trying to take a few dollars away from a single mother who is trying to make an honest living. I hope you sincerely think about how you came off with this arrogant post.

I, only on the rarest of occasions use an ATM.

If I need cash, I use my card at the grocery store and get $10-$100 back when I buy groceries…depending upon what my cash needs are.

If I do go to an ATM, I use one that is owned by my bank…and there is no charge.

I think those little ATMs they have at gas stations and convenience stores are a rip-off and I don’t choose to patronize them.

And, by the way, there are plenty of banks out there that issue debit cards and have no ATM charge and no monthly fee.

See here: nerdwallet.com/checking-accounts/

Or if you want prepaid debit cards, see here: doughroller.net/credit-cards/free-prepaid-credit-cards/

 

[Corki]

This forum just makes me understand more and more why I left Catholicism. Gone is the compassion that Jesus asked us to have for others and in is this business worship. .

How is it compassionate to take sides and always have to find a “bad guy”? I haven’t really seen anyone siding with McD in this thread. But there are a lot of people who are trying to see both sides of the story. Isn’t that more compassionate than to automatically side with the worker and villify the franchise owner? Isn’t he/she just as worthy of our compassion?

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

I think she will lose this lawsuit. According to JPMorganChase, “There are fees associated with the card based on card usage.” This means that whether or not fees are assessed depends upon how the cardholder uses the card. This Fee Schedule says, “One ATM withdrawal or over the counter cash withdrawal waved per pay period.” So it would seem to me that she decided to use this card as a debit card instead of taking advantage of the grace transaction to withdrawal the money without a fee. Its her own fault.

 

[stinkcat_14]

I think she will lose this lawsuit. According to JPMorganChase, “There are fees associated with the card based on card usage.” This means that whether or not fees are assessed depends upon how the cardholder uses the card. This Fee Schedule says, “One ATM withdrawal or over the counter cash withdrawal waved per pay period.” So it would seem to me that she decided to use this card as a debit card instead of taking advantage of the grace transaction to withdrawal the money without a fee. Its her own fault.

I think it will be an interesting case, because the law does say:

The employer shall pay in cash or by bank check.

If they are violating the law, then they do need to be held accountable.

portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=553525&mode=2

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

I think it will be an interesting case, because the law does say. If they are violating the law, then they do need to be held accountable.

I agree that it will be an interesting case. I paged through the law and what it says is, “The wages shall be payed in lawful money of the United States or check…” This law dates back to 1961 and the term “lawful money of the United States” is undefined. What does “lawful money of the United States” mean in 2013? Are glorified pre-paid debit cards (which is what those are) lawful money? I guess we’ll find out, but I think it would be silly for a judge to say that credit cards or debit cards aren’t legal tender.

 

[stinkcat_14]

I guess we’ll find out, but I think it would be silly for a judge to say that credit cards or debit cards aren’t legal tender.

On the other hand, nobody is required to accept a debit card, so it cannot itself be legal tender. I mean if you owe me $20 and you offer me a $20 bill, I cannot legally refuse. But if you offered me a debit card, I could refuse to accept that. Of course the courts could rule that it is equivalent to a check.

 

[Corki]

On the other hand, nobody is required to accept a debit card, so it cannot itself be legal tender. I mean if you owe me $20 and you offer me a $20 bill, I cannot legally refuse. But if you offered me a debit card, I could refuse to accept that. Of course the courts could rule that it is equivalent to a check.

And even more accepted. Lots more places accept debit cards than checks. Not to mention that a $1.50 fee to access the cash (after the first withdrawl) is cheaper than the fee to cash a check if you aren’t an account holder - $15 the last I checked.

Yes, she may not have been given a choice but that doesn’t necessarily mean she was legally harmed. The only option that would have left her better off (based on the few facts we have) would be a cash payroll. With all of the scrutiny on FLSA compliance and “under-the-table” work, I can’t imagine that any organization can afford to do cash payrolls anymore.

 

[maryjk]

I agree that it will be an interesting case. I paged through the law and what it says is, “The wages shall be payed in lawful money of the United States or check…” This law dates back to 1961 and the term “lawful money of the United States” is undefined. What does “lawful money of the United States” mean in 2013? Are glorified pre-paid debit cards (which is what those are) lawful money? I guess we’ll find out, but I think it would be silly for a judge to say that credit cards or debit cards aren’t legal tender.

On the other hand, nobody is required to accept a debit card, so it cannot itself be legal tender. I mean if you owe me $20 and you offer me a $20 bill, I cannot legally refuse. But if you offered me a debit card, I could refuse to accept that. Of course the courts could rule that it is equivalent to a check.

There are businesses that don’t take credit/debit cards.

So it is hard to believe that a judge could claim that these cards are the same as or equivalent to a check.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

On the other hand, nobody is required to accept a debit card, so it cannot itself be legal tender. I mean if you owe me $20 and you offer me a $20 bill, I cannot legally refuse. But if you offered me a debit card, I could refuse to accept that. Of course the courts could rule that it is equivalent to a check.

You got me there! Good point about the check too.

There are businesses that don’t take credit/debit cards.
So it is hard to believe that a judge could claim that these cards are the same as or equivalent to a check.

There are also many businesses that don’t accept checks anymore. Could a money transfer to a pre-paid debit card be considered equivalent to an electronic check (AKA direct deposit)? I don’t really know for sure, but I think it would depending on how the transaction takes place. If the card is refillable and the deposit is made to that card every pay period then its really no different than a direct deposit.

 

[Et_Cetera]

I thought the bigger problem was leaping to the conclusion the whole Catholic Faith is in error because a few members refuse to be gullible.

Don’t worry. It’s not just a thread about McDonald’s direct deposit.

 

[Et_Cetera]

Do you think you are guilty of what you accuse others of?

Oh, sure. I’m not a perfect person by any means. I do try to be really thankful for the advantages I’ve had in life though. I understand that not everyone starts from a level playing field.

 

[Trader]

I think she will lose this lawsuit. According to JPMorganChase, “There are fees associated with the card based on card usage.” This means that whether or not fees are assessed depends upon how the cardholder uses the card. This Fee Schedule says, “One ATM withdrawal or over the counter cash withdrawal waved per pay period.” So it would seem to me that she decided to use this card as a debit card instead of taking advantage of the grace transaction to withdrawal the money without a fee. Its her own fault.

I agree. This sounds like a case of financial illiteracy. The employees can get cash at a Chase branch or ATM without a fee even if they don’t have a Chase account. If the story was that unbanked employees had to pay check cashing fees at grocery stores or currency exchanges, the employer would also get blamed. Electronic payments are less expensive for the employer and for the employee, as well as being more secure.

It would be better to have a real checking account and have direct deposit. Chase paid me $125 to open a checking account and use direct deposit. The great thing about the problem of ignorance is that ignorance is 100% curable. All the new regulations about disclosing bank fees are useless when customers don’t read the fee schedules.

 

[gnjsdad]

You really like seeing lots of unemployed low skilled workers don’t you?

I am against greedy employers creating such a situation.

I am FOR this…

302. [Remuneration is the most important means for achieving justice in work relationships](http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...e_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html#The duty to work).[659] The “just wage is the legitimate fruit of work”.[660]
They commit grave injustice who refuse to pay a just wage or who do not give it in due time and in proportion to the work done (cf. Lv 19:13; Dt 24:14-15; Jas 5:4). A salary is the instrument that permits the labourer to gain access to the goods of the earth. “Remuneration for labour is to be such that man may be furnished the means to cultivate worthily his own material, social, cultural, and spiritual life and that of his dependents, in view of the function and productiveness of each one, the conditions of the factory or workshop, and the common good”.[661] The simple agreement between employee and employer with regard to the amount of pay to be received is not sufficient for the agreed-upon salary to qualify as a “just wage”, because a just wage “must not be below the level of subsistence”[662] of the worker: natural justice precedes and is above the freedom of the contract. (emphasis added).

 

[Corki]

I am against greedy employers creating such a situation.

Way to jump to conclusions and pass judegement on the franchise owner’s motives!

Debit card and direct deposit payment plans are safer and faster transactions for employees. For the vast majority of employees, it is much **better than **a paper check. How is changing a payroll to a method that is better for most of the employees characterized as a “greedy employer creating such a situation”?

 

[maryjk]

There are also many businesses that don’t accept checks anymore. Could a money transfer to a pre-paid debit card be considered equivalent to an electronic check (AKA direct deposit)? I don’t really know for sure, but I think it would depending on how the transaction takes place. If the card is refillable and the deposit is made to that card every pay period then its really no different than a direct deposit.

Well, I can write a check or use my debit card from my credit union the moment my pay hits my account. With no fee.

But if I used a prepaid debit card like the one that described and I wanted to buy something from Amazon, as an example, and I didn’t want to pay a fee, I would have to take that card somewhere to get cash, then deposit that cash into my credit union account.

I have to say, I would be highly upset if someone wanted to pay me with a prepaid card. I would want direct deposit or a check. I wouldn’t want to have to go to a specific ATM, withdraw my entire paycheck, and then carry that cash around. Heck, my credit union isn’t in the state where I live. So to get that money to my credit union, I would have to buy a money order or pay to transfer funds with Western Union. Sorry this sounds crazy.

Sorry, but a prepaid debit card is nothing like direct deposit.

 

[Dawnia]

Some of those payroll cards are a complete ripoff that take advantage of low income workers. One company I worked with on a contract basis only paid using a particular card. Once I got the card and read the terms and conditions, I terminated my working relationship with them. The fees to access the money were outrageous.

Why should anyone have to pay to get their wages…even if it is only a buck or two. That is a buck or two that they earned and likely can’t afford to do without. And it is usually the low income that get the short end of the stick when it comes to finances.

Although, I’m not so sure about the lawsuit. I would be more on her side if she was suing to get them to change their practices (if they need changed) rather than for monetary gain.

 

[seekerz]

What is the point of this post? It’s completely irrelevant that you have never used an ATM in your life. I think this might just be a post to rile us up, but a lot of people, rich and poor, use an ATM. I believe she did have her own bank account, but even if she didn’t, why should she have to? Your post points out everything that is wrong with this new GOP Catholicism. Sure, side with the banks and this corporation that is trying to take a few dollars away from a single mother who is trying to make an honest living. I hope you sincerely think about how you came off with this arrogant post.

She is trying to earn a living, but that’s not enough, if she feels the need to use an ATM like the other 98% of the country, she ends up being accused of WANTING to be on welfare.

Arrogant in the extreme.

 

[seekerz]

Some of those payroll cards are a complete ripoff that take advantage of low income workers. One company I worked with on a contract basis only paid using a particular card. Once I got the card and read the terms and conditions, I terminated my working relationship with them. The fees to access the money were outrageous.

Why should anyone have to pay to get their wages…even if it is only a buck or two. That is a buck or two that they earned and likely can’t afford to do without. And it is usually the low income that get the short end of the stick when it comes to finances.

Although, I’m not so sure about the lawsuit. I would be more on her side if she was suing to get them to change their practices (if they need changed) rather than for monetary gain.

How else is she supposed to recoup her losses and pay her legal fees?

 

[seekerz]

Way to jump to conclusions and pass judegement on the franchise owner’s motives!

Debit card and direct deposit payment plans are safer and faster transactions for employees. For the vast majority of employees, it is much **better than **a paper check. How is changing a payroll to a method that is better for most of the employees characterized as a “greedy employer creating such a situation”?

Define ‘better’. I have not seen a single one of those card that was not chock-full of all kinds of fees. A person has a right to the wages they work for without having to pay for the privilege.

 

[Dawnia]

How else is she supposed to recoup her losses and pay her legal fees?

Litigation cases are usually contingency based, so she wouldn’t have any legal fees (the lawyer takes a cut of any winnings, but if they lose, the lawyer is out the fees & expenses)

The news coverage isn’t exactly clear as to the specifics of what she’s suing for. The thing is, her employers didn’t charge her the fees, the bank did. Going after the employer in order to have options does nothing to change the fees being charged. So that is where my confusion is as to what she’s actually trying to accomplish with this suit. I would love to see a copy of the petition.