Avoid Chase Checking fee by maintaining a $0 balance?

[yoav]

I heard this is working for Chase business accounts, but did anyone have experience getting rid of the $12 (in NY) monthly service fee for Chase Total Checking by keeping a $0 balance?

[Devorah]

I heard this is working for Chase business accounts, but did anyone have experience getting rid of the $12 (in NY) monthly service fee for Chase Total Checking by keeping a $0 balance?

they used to take whatever u had in the a/c,  but recently i have been left with a negative balance after being charged the fee.

[yoav]

So I guess the best way to get around the fee is by changing the account into a college account right after receiving the signup bonus... (although you won't be charged for the first two billing cycles of account opening)

[yoav]

But can the college account be linked to the freedom card to get the 10P per swip? 

[bubbles]

But can the college account be linked to the freedom card to get the 10P per swip?

Yes

[WhyEye]

So I guess the best way to get around the fee is by changing the account into a college account right after receiving the signup bonus... (although you won't be charged for the first two billing cycles of account opening)

Do you have to be a college student?

[bubbles]

Do you have to be a college student?

officially i would guess yeah but they didnt ask for any proof when i opened it

[AsherO]

they used to take whatever u had in the a/c,  but recently i have been left with a negative balance after being charged the fee.

+1, these Chase fees are starting to get crazy. I miss the WaMu days.

[aussiebochur]

+1, these Chase fees are starting to get crazy. I miss the WaMu days.

5 swipes a month ain't that hard.

[AsherO]

5 swipes a month ain't that hard.

Does it actually have to be swipes, or can I pay $1 using the debit as credit.

[Devorah]

Does it actually have to be swipes, or can I pay $1 using the debit as credit.

yes u can use debit card as credit and it doesn't have to be $1 - any amount works.  Just don't wait 'til the end of the month as there is sometimes a lag until it posts.

[yoav]

Does it actually have to be swipes, or can I pay $1 using the debit as credit.

.          For new accounts, it doesn't help anymore to do 5 swips per month to avoid the fee, so for me who open and close each calendar year to get the sign up bonus, its not an option.

[yoav]

Do you have to be a college student?

.       When I did it online I didn't have to provide proof, but you need to enter a college name (ex. Dans Churn Colleg) but when I did it in the branch I had to show proof, (which isn't so hard, given the technology of Microsoft Word).  But remember, you won't be eligible for the signup bonus when you open a college acc, so first open a total acc, and after you got the bonus step into a branch and change it.

[Redbull3]

(ex. Dans Churn Colleg)

lmao

I do my banking elsewhere but I opened a total checking to get $150, and kept it open for exclusives with freedom. You guys probably know this but it deserves mention once in this thread: the fee is waived with monthly direct deposits totalling $500.

[DynamoDave]

Can you still use ING to do that monthly Direct Deposit?  If so is it a transfer to the Chase account or P2P payment?

--Dave

[YG]

So I guess the best way to get around the fee is by changing the account into a college account right after receiving the signup bonus... (although you won't be charged for the first two billing cycles of account opening)

Do the fees only start being charged after the first two months?
(browsed chase.com and did DDF search and found nothing)

If I present a letter stating that I'm enrolled in a college but the date on the letter is from before the summer, does anyone have experience that would indicate the likelihood of it being accepted?

[yoav]

Do the fees only start being charged after the first two months?
(browsed chase.com and did DDF search and found nothing)

told that by a banker and experienced it twice.

[yoav]

If I present a letter stating that I'm enrolled in a college but the date on the letter is from before the summer, does anyone have experience that would indicate the likelihood of it being accepted?

it has to be a date which shows you're currently enrolled. But you give try, bankers are not always so book-minded.

[YG]

told that by a banker and experienced it twice.

thanx

it has to be a date which shows you're currently enrolled. But you give try, bankers are not always so book-minded.

So if I try it and it doesn't work, I can just close the account on the spot at no cost and then find someone to open a linked account with?

- Im just looking to have an open chase checking account (with minimal balance) for exclusives with freedom.

[Redbull3]

thanx

So if I try it and it doesn't work, I can just close the account on the spot at no cost and then find someone to open a linked account with?

- Im just looking to have an open chase checking account (with minimal balance) for exclusives with freedom.

You should at least get some cash for opening it imo
This only after 30 seconds of searching:
https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/marketing/page/190925_get125&ID=0000013623&MSC=IQ44815045&jp_cmp=rb/NBBankingNationalMBM/sea/na/BankingGeo
The above link might get you $125 (there might be better ones out there?) and I've also read that you can buy someone's $200 code from ebay for like $10 and use it to come out $190 ahead, ymmv.