If a bank account is only overdrawn by 85c, can they still 'bounce' a customer's cheque?

It doesn’t matter if it’s 85 cents or 85 dollars. To a bank, overdrawn is overdrawn.

There are such things as account insurance that banks offer to their best customers. People with this insurance are covered for a certain amount if they become overdrawn.

From what you’ve written here, though, I’m not sure I understand why this person is asking you for the $200. Can you provide further details?

The ignore the facts that surround the request and just say, “Sorry, I don’t have it to lend.”

@Hawaii_Jake – it’s supposed to be for the late rent fee to her apartment, and the bank fees for the bounced cheque

Your story isn’t clear, @trailsillustrated . Are you saying she thinks you owe it to her? Or she owes the fees to someone else (nothing to do with you) and is asking you for help in paying them?

@Jeruba, she’s asking me for $200.00. Because, she says she had 85c less in her bank account than her rent cheque, so it ‘bounced’, now she says the bank fees for the ‘bounced’ cheque plus the fees added to her rent, because it will now be late, will be $200.00. I don’t owe her anything, it’s a relative, who will go to our father if I don’t give her the money. It’s not a loan, she just wants to me ( or someone) to give her the money.

Overdraft is overdraft. The amount doesn’t matter.

Yup unless you have a deposit pending ( direct deposit on the same day ). Overdrawn is overdrawn. Banks make big money on overdraft and penalty charges. Why would they stop making money?

The amount is possible. Banks for a while were processing the biggest checks first on the day, not what order they happened to come in to the bank so they could maximize OD fees. If you don’t want to give it to her just say you don’t have it. You have to learn to say no sometime in your life.

I have no idea @josie don’t have this kind of bank account. Thanks all.

The kind of account is irrelevant. She bounced a check. She wants money to cover the bounced check. You can give it to her, or not. It’s up to you. It has nothing to do with her excuse for needing the money. If you give it to her, it will be a gift. She will probably ask you for future gifts. At some point you will have to say no.

If she were my sister, and she did this regularly, I would not give her the money.

the bank can send a check back for a penny overdrawn… having worked for a bank I have seen it. But that being said there is probably more to the story than he is saying because even with a $35 od fee plus a returned check fee I don’t get to $200 unless the landlord is charging him over a $100 in late fees.

@trailsillustrated : From what I gather, it sounds like this person wants you to pay for their mistake, which you shouldn’t do.

Back in the good old days when a customer was usually personally acquainted with the bank manager, overdrafts were often covered by the bank and the customer was advised to come in and make it good as soon as possible. These days, I have no idea who my bank manager is and I am sure he/she would not even consider covering my check. Actually that is why I love electronic banking, you can’t spend money that isn’t there!

You can definitely bounce a check over 85 cents, but it’s still a bounced check. The larger picture is that she’s not in control of her finances.

Don’t do it! If you give her the money you will be setting a precedent that will come back to haunt you.

Had she not wasted her money on other things she would have had the 85 cents. That is not your problem.

“Sorry I don’t have that kind of money to lend.” Say it now! .

Some banks will cover minor overdrafts, but that is the exception but not the rule. They can and will, and you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake.