![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-446358-100x100.png\")
Apparently, GameStop wants its employees to go on murderous rampages.
Apparently, GameStop wants its employees to go on murderous rampages.
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I work at GameStop and was directly advised my my manager to go ahead and get Direct Deposit set up ASAP because of the fees and and inconveniences attributed to the ComData cards.
@ChivalRuss: i also work at GameStop. Setting up direct deposit took almost 2 months when I first started working there. Then I quit and came back cause I couldn't find another job. It has been over 3 months and my direct deposit has not been set up yet. Every time I go to work, I continually tell myself that I need to find a new job.
@ChivalRuss: To be honest, my employer can \"recommend\" methods of payment all they want. I'm still going to do whatever works the best for me.
As long as they offer direct deposit and it doesn't cost anything I'll take it. If that's a problem for them they can stop offering it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-80140-100x100.png\")
There was once a youtube video (nearly 90 minutes long broken into 9 (10 minute) videos about the pitfalls of Gamestop. After viewing that video, I stopped shopping at Gamestop and have urged others to do so.
@iambeaker: That was a disgruntled employee with tons of misinformation who I'd be willing to bet either was a shitty employee or had a shitty manager, but hey it's on youtube, so it must be true right?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-156354-100x100.png\")
@Sparerib: feel free to buy that! they probably lost money on that game as they must have bouth it for at least a dollar twelve!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-591231-100x100.png\")
@iambeaker: It was Called Zero Originality.
Gaambit I can understand being kind of mad at him but if you would have finished watching the speech he explains why he did it in that style. If you ever do find the time I would recommended finishing it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350350-100x100.png\")
@Gaianna: It really depends on whose running the store both at Store management and district management level. I've worked at a fair number of Gamestops and shopped at a fair number of them.
Some are great, others are nightmares. It really all depends on the employees and the service philosophy of the manager.
@dragonfire81: I agree. There is a game stop up the road from me. I know the manager and a couple of his employees. They are always knowledgeable, never try and screw me over or sell me things I don't need. The one a couple of miles further down is terrible. Disorganized, lazy employees and poor service (they sold me a game so scratched the bottom of the disc wasn't even reflective anymore).
I went back to my regular store and they told me they hate that store. So there's ups and downs, just like any retail chain.
@KillTheAcademy: I recognize there is a possibility that you run the Mecca of all gamestops (ie: where customers aren't asked \"do you have any games to trade in today\" when they are blatantly NOT holding anything in their hands, where you don't push $20+ strategy guides that can easily be found online, where ridiculous disc replacement plans aren't condescendingly pushed, and where employees are knowledgeable and unbiased in their recommendations without sounding like mis informed elitist jerks). You in turn must recognize that the majority of gamestops fall into all of these stereotypes. I live in Dallas, home to the corporate headquarters, and yet there is not a lower ratio of shitty managers to good managers here. If anything it is worse, as there are (and I shit you not) up to 3 gamestops at a single intersection here - and not just one instance - every mall in the area has one inside the mall, one outside, and one across the street. With that high level of saturation, quality goes right out the window.
I have over $300 in gamestop giftcards that I can never find a reason to spend simply because their used games are shredded (rarely including the original case or the ever elusive manual), everything new is out of stock constantly because they order exactly one copy less than their store reserves and claim their are shortages (yet somehow best buy, walmart, target, and even 7-eleven now have bins full of the damn game), and those things that they do have are always higher than ordering from amazon, new egg, or one of a hundred other stores. I also cringe at the idea of being harassed when I walk in the door over the aforementioned snake oil sales techniques, such as asking if I have any games to trade in. Where exactly do the employees think I am hiding these games they are asking me about? Up my ass? No, I think not.
Moral of the story - your company sucks and I'm sorry you work for them. if you are an honest and knowledgeable guy than I am positive you deserve more than what they are paying you.
@exo:
Wow. Neither myself nor my staff is stupid enough to ask if people have trades when it's clear that they don't. We encourage them to bring them over the phone, when the person's at home with the potential trades right there.
We usually tell people to go to gamefaqs.com instead of buying the strat guide.
You're right, the game disc replacement things are stupid, hence I've never sold one.
As far as recommendations, we always say \"well this is just my opinion\" or something to that effect. No one has to take our advice, and I don't believe we come off as jerks.
As far as the used games corporate has a \"take everything in!\" mentality, but they're not the ones who have to process the returns when the stuff comes back defective. I make my guys be picky. The general rule is if you wouldn't buy it, take it as defective, that way we get to send them out and people don't buy them. Also we NEVER take games without cases. I hate that.
When it comes to new stuff, the staff at those stores are lying to you. The ratio between reservation copies vs walk in copies is 1:1.4. So if I get ten reseravtions, I'm getting 14 copies. Those guys are lying to you to punish you for not reserving and for that I'll apologize for them.
I fully understand the reputation Gamestop has from a portion of the hardcore gaming community and virtually everyone who posts on this site. I do all I can to keep myself and my sales staff from falling into that. If it means I have to break corporate policy, then that's what has to happen. We're constantly told \"make the customer happy regardless of policy\" which I have no problem doing all day long (unless the customer is a jerk).
I'm sorry you have to deal with asshats like that when it's time to buy a game. Our stores in Southern California (our district anyway) are not like that. We leave the dick moves to best buy and game crazy.
And you're right, I'm not paid enough.
@KillTheAcademy: Old topic, so you may not read this, but I'll post anyways - I seriously wish a manager like you worked near me. I would actually enjoy game shopping and not retreat the the internet. I have been collecting game systems since I was a kid and I really enjoy gaming, to me it is a past time, a hobby, and a great way to experience a storyline and/or art. To be able to shop somewhere that employed people with my same passion would be a pleasure. Although at their current pay rate all they ever have are high school temps and managers who (generally) are playing babysitter more than running the store.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-243013-100x100.png\")
@iambeaker: I saw that too. I didn't disagree with him (having worked there for years myself) but it went on WAY too long, not to mention that he ripped his whole format off of Yahtzee's game reviews at Zero Punctuation . Yahtzee speaks quickly but clearly. The YouTuber tries to speak quickly and ends up swallowing 3/4 of his words, making it incredibly difficult to sit through.
My girlfriend used to work at Hollister, and she had the option of live check or direct deposit. I am sure, on average, that Hollister employees are younger than Game Stop employees. That excuse is awful.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-199488-100x100.png\")
@davidamarcillo: I agree. You have to be 15 1/2 to work in most states (with a working permit) and I got my first checking account when I was 16. It's not like these young kids can't get a checking account.
And although it would teach them how to handle their own money, I do understand a parent's hesitation in having them get one. My dad thought twice about it when I was 16 but let me get it anyway.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1504-100x100.png\")
@shorty63136: Actually, it's more like 14 (though maybe you are talking about full-time work)([www.dol.gov]). There are limits on hours and types of work allowed.
I bet they get a kickback or cut out of their fees or some other sort of compensation for partnering with this card company. State labor boards need to put a stop to this. It is kind of like a high tech company store scam on their employees.
@bohemian: The business probably gets the service for free and saves any money that it used to cost them to have accounting put together checks. The service only gets paid when employees rack up fees.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-224192-100x100.png\")
@Erwos: \"Heck of an accusation\"? Seems obvious to me. If they were truly concerned about their employees without bank accounts, why not just pay them in cash or check (seeing as checks can be cashed even without a bank account) rather than taking this convoluted, fee-laden \"direct debit card\" route? The only possible reason for this is that they are getting some financial benefit from it.
@johnva: You seem to be confusing \"fiscally advantageous to GameStop\" with \"getting kickbacks\". I believe that cutting the cards is cheaper than cutting checks, but that is hardly as nefarious as the posted I responded to was trying to make it out to be.
@Erwos: I wouldn't be surprised if they're getting kickbacks, too. But of course we don't have proof of that.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-538684-100x100.png\")
@johnva: But that is the point that Erwos is getting at. Anything less than financial evidence is merely accusation and somewhat slanderous. If this was Gamestop's sole means of paying their employees then I could understand getting out pitchforks and torches, but it is their secondary route. Just because someone offers something that is not financially sound to the critical eye, doesn't mean it's illegal or even unethical. Lying to their employees about the length of time it takes to set up direct deposit however...
No no no. Corporations always put people before profits.
@bohemian: Exactly, Gamestop pays their employees this way to potentially cheat some of that money back into their pockets.
I don't understand why anyone would accept these cards instead of direct deposit. Go open an account at a credit union, get a free Visa debit card from there, and then have your check deposited to your account every pay day. Is there some reason people don't want bank/CU accounts? Wal-Mart is running ads advertising cash checking for $3. Why not open a checking account and do it free?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350988-100x100.png\")
@KHook321: Well....where I work we have quite a few employees who can't get a checking account due to too many overdrafts, etc. I can see the card being good for them but if you can get a bank account, direct deposit is better.
@Red-headed bookworm: Yep, this is the real reason why people usually don't get bank accounts. Chexsystems is the name of the major credit reporting agency for checking accounts, and they will open a negative file on someone if they have had lots of overdrafts, unpaid balances, bounced checks, etc. Most large banks then check new potential customers against it, which makes it very difficult to get another checking account if yours was closed for these reasons. I don't really blame the banks for doing this, and eventually you will be able to get a checking account again after enough time passes.
But yeah, that explains a lot of it. One thing you do NOT want to screw up in your life is your checking account, because then people get stuck with paying all these fees to cash checks, use prepaid debit cards, pay bills, etc. It would really suck to not be able to get a checking account.
@johnva: Yep, and the employees who have done this all go to those check cashing places to get their money. I wish we had something like this for them since, even with the fees, it would be better. I know one employee who was rehired and his old direct deposit info didn't stop when I told it to said he was overdrawn over $1000. Fortunately, the bank bounced the check back because the account was closed.
@KHook321: There are sometimes where banks will put holds on a check that is being deposited. Usually, if you deposit the check at the teller, that hold can be taken off, but that doesn't help the night owls out there.
Sadly, it all deals with people's misconceptions about bank accounts. I used to know people who would take specific checks they got and saved them for Wal*Mart so they could cash them there, and then spend the money there. Their argument was that they wanted to make sure they used certain cash just for walmart, but in reality, their bank account was way to overdrawn, and they needed groceries.
@midniteslayr: I have a bank account and the comdata card (I neglected to set up the direct deposit) but it's really not a bad arrangment. On payday, I use the comdata card at an ATM to withdraw the cash from my paycheck, then redeposit into my checking acct, with which I can use my nearly universally accepted mastercard branded card for transactions most anywhere. Aside from the standard ATM withdrawal fee, to do this costs me nothing.
@dragonfire81: Well the first transaction is supposed to be free. So if you are getting hit with an ATM fee something is wrong.
@dragonfire81: So, on payday you have to do the following:
1.) Find an ATM
2.) Take out a large cash deposit and pray/hope that your cash isn't lost or stolen before you can get to the bank
3.) Pay an ATM withdrawl fee for the use of *YOUR* hard-earned money
4.) Make a special trip to the bank to deposit this cash into your account
Please explain how this \"not a bad arrangement.\" On payday, I simply log on to my bank's website and verify that my money was deposited through DD (and it always is). That's it! No fees, no risk of my paycheck money being lost/stolen, and no extra trips.
Even a plain old check would be a better arrangement than this. At least it doesn't force a situation where you're carrying around your entire paycheck in cash, and you don't lose any money to ATM fees. I think you are bending over backward to convince yourself that this isn't a bad arrangement. It is clearly bad!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-543146-100x100.png\")
@heismanpat: Theoretically, if you use your own bank's ATM to withdraw the cash, you can then turn around and deposit it at the same ATM.
@Heismanpat: Actually I just use the ATM at my credit union to withdraw the money, then go deposit it using a teller a few feet away. This bank also happens to be maybe 1/4 of a mile from where I work and a mile or so from where I live.
I agreed DD would be more convenient, but I have no problems with my method.
@KHook321: I don't understand it either, I have had a bank account since I was 8 years old. However it must be for certain people in certain situations.
@KHook321: Is anyone else bothered by the fact that in those Wal Mart commercials, the couple decides to use the money they save by cashing checks with Wal Mart to buy a flat screen tv? Shouldn't they be saving that money and opening up a checking account so they can deposit their checks there? Or, if they need money quickly that badly, shouldn't they be saving that money they save too?
@KHook321: I think the appeal of check cashing places is that you don't need to have a social security number or good credit record. I think it might also seem a bit more \"under the table,\" although it probably leaves a paper trail just as clear as depositing a check at your bank and withdrawing cash.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-3865-100x100.png\")
@KHook321: I don't understand it either. When I was 16 or 17, I got a Commerce Bank Student Account. Free checking, no minimum balance, no fees, and a debit card.
I'd imagine the hassle of signing up for a checking account is nothing compaired to the pain of gettign one of those Cash Card things and not having it accepted everywhere.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-135039-100x100.png\")
Ritz Camera does the same thing, but we have the option of getting on direct deposit or cash card things. Naturally, everyone does direct deposit.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-489342-100x100.png\")
It must make employees of places that use these feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know how much their own employer hates them and wants to fuck them over. And I thought my job sucked - at least my boss doesn't try to put my paycheck on a scam cash card! (I have direct deposit)
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-395799-100x100.png\")
Movie Gallery and Office Team did the same thing. The fees were ridiculous. At the time, I owed my previous CU money (more than I made per pay period), and could not open a checking account. My only option was the debit card. I did eventually get the account back in the black and move on to grown up ways of dealing with money :)
@aliasmisskat: Office Team doesn't MAKE you get this card. You had to get one b/c you didn't have a checking acct.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103994-100x100.png\")
My non-profit agency that I work for had done away with paper checks for the paycheck - it is direct deposit only. We also qualify for a free account at a local credit union, and if a new employee does not have a back somewhere, is told to start up an account there for free.
At least in my area, all the banks have some sort of \"free\" account you can get. If the people don't like these \"cash cards\" - why not just open a bank account and get direct deposit?
@coan_net: We do checks or direct deposit. If you don't have an account, we have a deal with the local credit union and you get $75 just for opening an account.
I guess this is why we are constantly in the top 5 best places to work.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-280999-100x100.png\")
\"We employ mostly young people\" - are they asking for an age discrimination lawsuit from every older applicant they've had?
@cunninglinguine: In this economy, it may be the best you can get.
Most game stops tend to hire people between 19-27.
The stores I've worked at, typically most of the employees are over 21.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-570288-100x100.png\")
\"They claim it is because many of their employees are younger, and do not have bank accounts.\"
If you are too young to handle a bank account, you really shouldn't be working at all.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-126486-100x100.png\")
If the economy doesn't improve, you may find that you get paid in store credit.
I used to work at for gamestop, and my manager (who said he was told by our district manager) encouraged the use of the Comdata card. I opted for direct deposit, and through some mixup on corporate's end, it took about 3 months for me to start receiving my paycheck in my checking account. It could have been a unique situation to my store. My friend later got hired there and it took 2 months for him to start receiving a paycheck through direct deposit.
@th3truthiness: not sure if you are going to see this HTML - but - it sounds like you just had a poor store manger. I have never heard of a district manager actually pushing the ComData, and I knew a few DM's. I would be very interested to learn more about this. My guess is that you (and your friend) filled out your green direct deposit forms and gave them to your store manager. At that point, they probably sat on the store manager's desk for about 2 months before he/she got around to mailing them out to the corporate office. sucks for you guys.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-122634-100x100.png\")
When I worked at EZMoney (I know, I'm still trying to get my soul back), you were automatically enrolled in Comdata cards and had to fax HR a voided check to be able to switch over to direct deposit. There was never an inital choice. One of my friends had trouble getting HR to switch his check to DD. He spent three months on the stupid card cause they kept telling him they never received the fax.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-804913-100x100.png\")
@Cyco: I wasn't really provided an inital choice either.
The process of Direct Deposit was mentioned -as they were handing me my Comdata card-. My manager said \"Oh, the paperwork takes forever, Direct Deposit is a hassle, here, take this, it's much better\" and gave me the card.
I started working on getting Direct Deposit right away, and the process took forever, forcing me to use the card in the interim.
My company uses this too (but with a different card issuer). It's for those not on direct deposit - which is HIGHLY recommended. It saves a fortune in not having to cut checks or deal with the mail/pickup problems (and eliminates the fraud that happens with these). We put all paystubs online, regardless of how you get paid.
In this day and age, there's no reason not to have a checking account for your paycheck.
My employer (a nonprofit) offers only direct deposit or pre-loaded debit cards to our (mostly young) part time, college student employees. The problem is, when we use paper checks, the kids leave for summer or for school breaks or disappear with no forwarding address and sometimes, we have their checks (thousands of dollars worth in total) sitting here, waiting to be picked up for years. I think the fees on those cards are pretty unfair, but at the same time, it's easy enough to get a free bank account.
I don't know, I've always had a bank account since my first job at age 15. What about people who get paper checks and don't have bank accounts? Do they have to pay a fee to cash their checks? Is that unfair too?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-81313-100x100.png\")
Isn't this just a hi-tech version of the company store - it's disgusting honestly. There are so many far more transparent methods to help those that do not have a bank account, like helping them get one. It's disturbing to see this kind of greed - and yes, that's what it's bound to be because I am certain GameStop is making money off of this somehow. You can bet they are not paying for this 'convenience.' It's definitely enough to stop shopping there.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-45496-100x100.png\")
@Yogambo: ugh. Way to ignore the gamestop employees in the comments section who know what they are talking about.
I would take that a step further. If I were a manager and had a young employee who didn't have a bank account, my first job would be to march that kid down to the local branch and help him set one up. These cards are just abuse.
I bet a lot of retail companies use this. My first job when I was 18 was a summer job at a mall store, and I can imagine a lot of 18 year olds who may not have bank accounts set up yet. I did have a savings account at the time---things change so much though, I wouldn't think that a high schooler would need a checking account.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-8966-100x100.png\")
The Comdata card sounds horrid, but it would have a place in lots of industries. First to come to mind is janitorial. For some reason many of those on janitorial crews don't have checking accounts. Not sure if they're trying to stay off of someone's radar or not. They'd fall all over themselves for a way to get their money fast and not pay those check cashing places their pound of flesh.
@Koinu: Also, good luck accessing that website in anything but IE.
But they won't tell you you need to use IE. They'll just give you a 404.
Convenient.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-470278-100x100.png\")
By the OP's own admission, Gamestop is not requiring their employees to be paid with these cards, and from the other comments, they actively discourage it. For those sad employees who do use Comdata, I don't know what to tell you. Being gainfully employed while having no bank account leaves you few options.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-95687-100x100.png\")
Don't like paying for paychecks? Don't have employees. Charging people a cent to obtain money they rightfully earned should be illegal. Employers should bear all expenses of maintaining a workforce, this includes the supplies and processing for payroll. Those paychecks can't cost more than a quarter a piece (Laser checks aren't THAT expensive). I bet companies don't even pay Ceridian and ADP 1% of their total wage expenditures to process payroll.
My only guess is the companies offering these fee-laden cards to employers are giving the employers a kickback, of course this appeals to the accountants because an expense magically becomes income. \"LOOKIT They pay US to process our payroll\"
That being said, I don't have much of a problem with these cards being used for non-wage forms of compensation. I just have a problem with being charged for money that is truly earned.
@MrEvil: GAMESTOP DOESNT ISSUE PAYCHECKS. THEY ONLY HAVE DIRECT DEPOSIT OR COMDATA.If you're of legal age to be employed by Gamestop, and don't have your own checking account, then whoever does not deserve to have a life.
Lane Bryant uses this system for their seasonal hires. My husband was hired to move fixtures & other junk from one store to another. They told him because it was only for a few days, they could not establish direct deposit but the money could be withdrawn as cash at certain ATMs. After trying 4 of the specified ATMs and none would issue money without a fee, he complained as far up the chain as he could. 6 weeks later, they finally cut him a check so he could get his legal pay without fees. It's all BS.
This is definitely a good enough reason to stop shopping at Gamestop, but there are a million other good reasons to not shop there as well, like the fact that their prices are wayyyy too high especially in this economy. Gamestop has gone from a very customer friendly, specialized chain (back in the EB games days) to a chain that does not care in the least little bit. People buy their product like its going out of style so its not like they need me as a customer and I do just fine shopping without them. I ditched my edge card because I don't even need it anymore, it doesn't save me any money with gamestop's already high prices, and mind you I only paid 2$ for the card.
The only time I would go to them is if I had to buy a brand new game, as long as you are buying new games and keeping them and not trading them in for credit they are not making much money off you.
@Outrun1986: Yes, because Gamestop offering their employees 2 different ways to be paid gives you a good reason not to shop there.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-80915-100x100.png\")
My company uses a version of this thing for those who do not have direct deposit. It also has many user fees. One of my co-workers complained to me about it and I suggested he ask for a check to be sent instead. The company didn't like it but complied. Minnesota, luckily, is not a state where there is a mandatory direct deposit law. (Some states do have these laws)
My best advice would be to check the state's Department of Labor and see what the actual says.
If your company uses ADP or paychex for payroll suggest they move to an electronic platform. It does cut costs over paper, and employees have 24/7 access. Everyone will need to move to DD though.
Not to be whoring this out but I have always received great service from ADP.
For small companies.
my wife worked for a large outsourcing call center company for a few weeks, and after loosing her job due to 1 sick day (some of the 20 or so others were getting sick in her training class too) and a day off when a close friend died. she got sick about a week later again as did others and they fired her stating you can miss only 2 days of training ... so her direct deposit didn't go thru and she got stuck with one of these cards just like Gamestop does (I think it was a Comdata card too). It took some reading over on instructions how to get her paycheck, and boy was it a PITA!!
Luckily our bank's ATM gives out in $10 ammounts, so she withdrew all but like $2. That ammount over a year though can really add up!
Convenience my a$$
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-389492-100x100.png\")
younger people don't have bank accounts? wow. i am so glad i didn't know about that when i was 16. got a job -> got a paycheck -> went to the bank and said 'i would like to open an account and deposit this please' and they said 'we would be happy to hold onto your money for you!'
Some people don't have checking accounts for legal issues (like support/alimony/garnishment). This system should help them out.
Another non-news article. Delicious. BTW, Radioshack uses this too. I call this article non-news, because like someone else said, they don't encourage it normally. Any smart person would use direct deposit.
Despite that and the poor follow-through and policies of Comdata, I don't think this should reflect on Gamestop. If anything, they should be applauded for giving their customers/employees more choices for receiving money. No one forced them to accept the card.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-71417-100x100.png\")
Nothing new here. A lot of places use these kinds of debit cards, including Murphy USA (gas stations in front of WalMarts) and the State of Mississippi unemployment benefits.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-470941-100x100.png\")
Right before Circuit City went bankrupt they switched over to these kinds of cards. I never had to worry about it though, i've always used direct deposit at every job I worked.
A friend told me they did this at Qdoba Mexican grill
I used to work at a ups package processing center, and i remember hearing that newly hired people, (mostly kids between the ages of 18 to 24) were being paid with cards.
As a new hire trainer, i never got the memo about these cards, and so i was not prepared for the questions they had over them.
i left shortly after this started. which was around may of 08'
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-767887-100x100.png\")
Yes, the Comdata cards sound like a mess. HOWEVER, it is 2009 and what person doesn't have ANY bank account so they can take advantage of direct deposit??
The poster here could have opened a bank account and setup direct deposit as they should have much faster than all the time they have spent fighting Comdata fees.
Problem solved.
I worked at GameStop for 6 months like 6 years ago, and it was the same way then. The problem for me was that their payroll was so disorganized and terrible that I went through trying to get direct deposit 4 times and it never worked, so I always had that damn card. If nothing has changed since then, the first transaction of the pay period was always free, so I would just go to an ATM, withdraw all of the money I could and deposit it into my checking account. This always left like 7 dollars or whatever left on the card, but I didn't care too much.
Circuit City changed in the last few months to offer something similar to this as well. You could either have direct deposit or get paid on what I think was a Visa card. I'm not sure of the details of the card as I always used direct deposit, but it sent off alarms in my head the way the GameStop card did.
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I manage a Gamestop and when hiring employees I urge them to bring a check with them when I am filling out all of their paperwork so I can immediately send their direct deposit information to payroll. In no way shape or form do we \"encourage\" our employees to use the Comdata card - we encourage the exact opposite.
I worked there back in 2001-2002 and they had those as well.. I think they were just introducing it then. I stuck with my direct deposit.
Seriously, I would like for an attorney to check out state (or federal) laws and see if these actions are really legal. It seems like a scam to force an employee to pay a fee in order to get his paycheck. I'm guess that individually, the fees are so low that its not worthwhile to file an individual lawsuit, but a class action should be considered.
I too can't believe that in any normal situation it would take as much as four months to set up direct deposit. No place I've ever worked has taken more than one paycheck at most to set it up. Of course, these were places that otherwise paid you with a paper check, so I'm willing to allow that an employer that doesn't issue checks and uses these cards might take a little longer, but more than one month is ridiculous.
To me, this just simply sounds like yet another stupidity tax. Really, I don't get it. Since the employees are young, they don't have bank accounts?
Eh? I've had a checking account since I was 10 and had a paper route. It's how I paid for my newspapers. Way back, 25 years ago, before teh Internets, that's how it worked, your customers gave you money for the paper, you deposited the money in your account, wrote a check back to the local paper to pay for the cost of the newspapers you distributed all week, then kept the rest for yourself. But I digress.
How is being young a barrier to getting a bank account???
you guys covered this before, maybe not knowingly. The video posted on that page is one of like NINE videos of the employee telling about all the wrongs of the company. he does mention getting ripped off from the card system in one of those!
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When I worked for Kelly Temp Services they used to pay us on these types of cards. The good thing about them was for $1.10 a paycheck, I could get paid on Monday instead of Friday.. 3 days after I turned my timecard in. I would go directly to the bank and do a cash advance off the card and deposit it into my checking account.
It wasn't a bad deal and I figured the first 5-10 minutes I worked each week paid was worth getting my money quicker. Of course, I recognized they were riddled with fees and never used it for everyday use.
I worked for gamestop for a while, and had I know about the cards before being hired, I would have declined the job offer. Even though I was supposed to have direct deposit, my first paycheck didn't show up in my bank account, I wasn't too worried. Sometimes the first paycheck doesn't show up until the second pay cycle. It happens. Besides, it was a job for a little extra cash, not to pay rent, so I wasn't too worried about it.
When the second one didn't show up either, I talked to the manager about it. We went through everything and confirmed that yep, he'd sent off the appropriate paperwork for direct deposit, no problems. Alright, okay, probably a glitch in the system. We figured we'd give the system one more chance, and he said if nothing showed by then, that he'd take care of it.
Well, nothing showed. So he went to his boss, and his boss went one above that, and suddenly I have this \"ATM\" card in the mail, with all kinds of paperwork explaining the fees and how it's \"just like a bank card, but better!\" and other bullcrap. I didn't want the fees; I got paid a pittance anyway, so after the fees, there wasn't going to be much money left. So much for extra spending money! I called up the number on the card, managed to get some kind of human and let rip. I'd signed up for direct deposit specifically to avoid having to deal with the card, but I get the card anyway?
Anyway, the gent on the other end of the line told me that it was standard procedure to sign people up for the card anyway (without their knowledge or consent, yikes), and that I'd just have to suck up the fees. I wasn't having that. It might not have been much money, but by god, I'd dealt with Christmas customers trying to buy nonexistent Wiis to earn it, and I wanted my money. I told the guy I wanted them to cut me a check and switch me back to direct deposit, like I'd wanted in the first place. He tells me it's a no go. I either take the card (with fees!) or I don't get paid. Eff that.
Fortunately the story does have a happy ending. When the manager and the DM found out I was being given the run around, they raised hell (what they did exactly, I don't know, but I bless them for it) and a week later, I've got 3 weeks of back pay, and magically my direct deposit is working again. Yeeha!
Long story very short: The card is a rip-off, corporate knows it, will try to force you (not encourage, force) to use it, and will drag their feet to actually pay you your wages.
I loved my boss, but I refuse to work at Gamestop again because I refuse to deal with that damn card again and I don't trust them not to mess up my direct deposit.
comdata is an issuer of the debit card maestro.
It is strictly a debit card and you should be able to withdraw on any branded cirrus atm. Cirrus network ATMs should not give you a fee.
Any POS that has a keypad, should also work, but may give you a fee and so will any other atm.
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I worked at Gamestop in the season that saw them merge with EA. They had too little money to pay the seasonals they were required to hire, and so I only worked for one shift. I got one of those damn cards, and didn't bother to go through the hassle of activating it, losing money, and withdrawing all $14 they paid me.
I can't confirm who I am but according to the Gamestop new hire packet it is due to September 11th that we have Comdata.
This crap is for real?
I have never heard anything so fucking stupid. Sorry, I must use the real word because this is beyond my comprehension.
Oh sure, preloaded CC are fine for some purposes, but not everybody takes a CC in lieu of cash or checks (try using a CC with your small time LandLord), while other vendors or service providers (think the city utility company) legally can add a processing fee to handle a payment via a CC.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
And I am tightwad looking to save a buck in my business and I still think this is a major stupid idea.
I throughly agree. I am a GS worker and I thought it was bull-shit from the get go. I put in a direct deposit form over a YEAR ago and recieved nothing. I'm willing to bet that GS has a la 4 people working in that department.
For what it's worth, in Minnesota the law requires employers to provide a written record of hours worked, wages paid, deductions, etc. every pay period. It can be online, but it must be provided, subject to a $1,000 fine for every violation. I'm sure many other states have similar laws.
So if GameStop isn't providing a paystub--if the Comdata website is inaccurate or outdated--then GameStop is really playing with fire. They might get away with it for a while, but if the AG ever takes an interest, those $1,000 fines add up really fast. This seems like an astonishingly risky way to fleece a couple bucks off employees, but I've seen dumber corporate behavior.
My Regional Director told all 150 managers in his region that the comdata cards weren't the best idea and that we should either get direct deposit or withdraw all your cash in one transaction to avoid the fee. Sounds like a hostile attitude towards the workforce to me. Geez, consumerist, lay off.
Responsible journalism at its finest. I love how consumerist hears one story from a disgruntled employee in a bad situation and takes it to mean it's the norm for the entire company. I understand that this site is meant to be a consumer advocate, but sometimes I think you guys get up in arms about nothing. Was there any sort of follow up? Did you guys attempt to question other employees and investigate any of this?
Bias.
Chris had a bad experience at a gamestop so now every management level employee in the company must be a money grubbing, soul crushing bastard.
Grow up.
Movie Gallery also uses these cards. They will allow you to write checks on the account to get your money out but you must call the 800 number to get an authorization number. Movie Gallery does encourage you to use the cards.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-478071-100x100.png\")
lol at all of the bitter ex-gamestoppers... i manage a store and i've NEVER told my employees anything but get direct deposit asap... and i was never made to feel like i should encourage anyone to use the crapdata cards
When I worked at a Lowes Home Improvement Store they offered the option to give us the same offer, but they encouraged the use of Direct Deposit first and foremost.
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Yeah, this is not what Comdata was intended for. It serves a much better purpose for people who travel frequently for business. It's used heavily in the trucking industry which is why a lot of truck stops work some of their services around use of the card. Using Comdata the company you work for can advance money for food and fuel onto the card, and while there are some stores that won't take the card (usually small businesses) any major retailer that I've seen my dad (a truck driver) use it had no issues with it.
I don't recall my dad ever having issues with ATM fees or any usage fees for that matter. Any time I've used the card it was no different from a regular debit card, though I've only ever used it to buy groceries and not withdraw from an ATM. Cash back during purchase at the store was never an issue either. If he was getting charged a dollar per transaction I can't imagine he'd be using it as often as he does.
Combined with Comchecks it's a great way to get money transferred quickly and securely when he's out of town, needs something taken care of at home and he can't pay online. However, if I were offered a Comdata account in lieu of direct deposit at my workplace I would decline, since it's mostly unnecessary if you're just working in one place.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-44075-100x100.png\")
A lot of companies use some crappy cash card to deposit your pay into. I really recommend editing that article as our handbook, and every manager I've worked for, every DM I've worked for, and myself being an SM now, we ALWAYS encourage direct deposit, especially NOW how ... yucky ComData has gotten.
They used to have next to no fees at all. In fact, the only fee they had before was I think a dollar or something like that when you used it at the ATM. Out of nowhere, about halfway through 07, they added a crap ton of fees.
When I first started working at GS six years ago, I used this ComData thing for half a year since I had just moved and didn't want to deposit my money in my out of state bank account. They also give you these little checks you can activate by calling into the 1-800 number. Activate it with your net pay, go to a bank or a cashing place, deposit/cash your activated check. I never got denied this. Some places were clueless, but they give you instructions on what to do. Repeat these instructions to the teller and you're usually good to go.
Every ATM I took this to, it worked. I don't ever remember it being called a \"MasterCard\", (it is Maestro, but that's it). It's always been called a debit card, from what I can remember, and has always worked as such.
As I said though, they've only recently started nickel/and dimeing our employees. I can't stand it, personally. I always, always urge my dudes and dudettes to open up a damn checking/savings account if they don't have one.
Oh, and as for paystub? Yeah, you get one in the mail on the Saturday or Monday following the day you got paid. I honestly have only worked for one place that ever actually handed me a damn check to cash. I don't understand the fuss over all this.
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I noticed in the beginning that you commented about colleges doing this too. Our local community college offers a debit card system. However, they have a good reason for it. Our local community college took demographic information over the course of 4 semesters, to find out who their main students really were (and of course, this wasn't mandatory, but asked to please fill it out so they can better provide financial aide services). Something like a quarter of all students were divorcees, couldn't get a bank account due to the divorce, had messed up somewhere along the lines and couldn't get an account, was in the process of a divorce, all sorts of stuff. That quarter was getting paid via paper check, cashing it for a fee somewhere, and then carrying cash from there on out, sometimes in the 1000+ ranges. The debit card system was put into place to help these people, and it really does, and it ALSO has the option of ACH Transfer and Paper check to choose from. But the debit card at this college doesn't scam people like this one seems to be. It really is a mastercard, with the logo and all, and it is accepted by all the ATMs it lists to be accepted at, and you can withdrawal on the money penalty-free. They're not all bad. But I can see how places like this can abuse it.
I remember going to the bank and setting up my first bank account when I got my first job. The kids who didn't do that had to go to the currency exchange and pay a fee to cash their paycheck.
The card system seems to be not much different than the latter option.
Thats funny, I remember being told to immediately fill out direct deposit forms and send them into corporate if I have a checking account.
The direct deposit slip would normally take about 2-3 weeks to go through if you didn't fax the slip yourself. *I didn't provide a voided blank check the first time I filled out the form and didn't get another direct deposit slip from my manager for 3 weeks due to having none left.*
My direct deposit went through in 2 days. I used the comcrap card NEVER. The company also hands us 5 blank checks to write out through the comdat phone service. I always wrote out checks for my full paycheck and cashed them for the first 2 weeks.
Sounds to me like the \"anon gamestop employee\" is a tard.
former store manager - all new hires get a comData card in their 'orientation' kit. at least they are supposed to. this is assuming that the store is run well. if they want direct deposit, that is a possibility assuming that new hire has a bank account. i always told my employees to do the direct deposit because it was much easier and no extra fees. however, if you do not sign up for direct deposit right away, it can take a few weeks for HR to process all the paperwork. While waiting, the new employee has to use this comData card and is subject to any fees or penalties associated with it. i do not know why they use comData, but I ASSUME that it is a cost cutting measure for the company and/or they receive some sort of compensation for it. my advice for anyone that works there, use direct deposit and keep those numbers up = most hours for you. if you don't like selling gameInformer and reservations, and pushing used sales and trade-ins... get another job. for the record, i no longer shop there for a number of reasons. i have better luck selling my used games on half.com if i decide it is a game that i do not need to keep. usually get 80-90% of the initial purchase price back this way. technically no different than going through gamestop. the buyer can get it from me a little cheaper than what gamestop charges. and i get more than gamestop would give me as a trade in. this is a win/win situation that cuts out the middleman (leaving gamestop with slightly less ability to turn a profit).
As you can see in my photo, I too work at a gamestop.
The cards are horrible. Not only do they tack on fees like a cork board, but the taxes they take out on your checks every 2 weeks is fucking killer. The money I make doesn't even show at the end of the 2 week hell. Some places do checks every week, and for some reason even though this company makes millions, I still get stuck with the stupid fees. The only thing I can say I like about it is that my student loans can't see how much I get on this stupid card.
On another note the \"Zero Originality\" video (the guy saying all the bad shit about gamestop) is 1/2 true. It was pulled down after 1 week of being on youtube.com. He put the video up when the entire company had their management meeting in Las Vegas back in september. So the company wasn't really able to jump on and see what was going on. The day all the managers came back, the videos were taken down. A sad story in a world where we are supposed to have a freedom of speech, unless gamestop has something to say about it...
These Comdata cards are not so hideous since an alternative (DD) is offered. Like a user previously mentioned, the major banks in the US typically all use Checksystems to verify if a person has ever had a negligent account. If so, an account is typically not opened. For a while the bank I used to work for would override some of these reasons but things like excessive overdafts, ect were always a no-go for us. Many more people than most realize do have filings with Checksystems, (a surprising number, actually) and it takes anywhere from 5-7 YEARS for these bad listings to disappear since they are attached to your social security number. Overdraft an account for 50 dollars or more an let it close, most likely you'll have to dispute it with checksystem (paying the bank the overdraft and any fees is only the first step) then wait an x amount of time to have the bank resolve it on your credit report, and they may or may not remove it from Checksystems. The second reason why the Comdata cards are not so bad is that those bank accounts mentioned from 'Walmart', have horrible account types.
The majority of these bank accounts allow anyone to open one, with as little as a dollar, despite credit history but charge outrageous fees for ATM use, and DEBIT CARD USE, ect. These fees are just like Comdata but often much higher than the .25 - 1.00 I heard mentioned in previous posts. They also tend to get customs on overdraft fees as well. While 'anyone' can open them, they in their own right prey on those who have already had a bad run in with the banking system and often place excessive holds on common payroll checks making it even harder for Jane Doe to get her money when she needs it. So with this 'anyone can open one account' most people get hidden feed to death to the point the bank closes the account, or they end up paying more in fees than it's worth having the account for, especially on debit card purchases. If I had a choice between a Comdata card or an 'anyone can open me' account, I'd take the Comdata card in a second, their fees are at least a little more manageable than the 'for anyone' banks running around, and I can just get my cash/purchase a money order if absolutely needed.
Oh and as mentioned previously by another poster, comdata also has blank checks you can prefill, get an over the phone authorization for, (or make the bank teller do it) and simply cash at the bank. What I want to know is why this information was not presented with this article since Comdata is hardly the horrible monster company this article makes it out to be, if anything, it's helpful to many who don't have a bank account because they either can't or won't.
I would like to clarify some misconceptions about the use of the Comdata Card.
For many employees or other consumers who are unwilling or unable to obtain a bank account, pay cards provide a convenient and cost-effective option for receiving their payroll on time. Funds are available to the employee immediately, even if payday falls on their day off or if they are sick and can't go in to pick up their check.
All pay card providers, including Comdata, are governed by regulations that require full disclosure and transparency with respect to fees. We strive to provide complete information and cardholder materials that detail when and how cards can be used.
Comdata provides multiple methods for cardholders to access their payroll funds. The first withdrawal each pay period is always free of Comdata fees. Flexible options to access pay include:
Cirrus ATMs (MasterCard's ATM network) - more than 400,000 locations nationwide
Allpoint ATMs (surcharge-free ATM network) - nearly 40,000 locations or one out of every 12 ATMs in the United States
Maestro Point-of-Sale (MasterCard's PIN-based network) -nearly 2 million locations nationwide
Safeway grocery stores - card cash out services available at more than 1,700 locations
Comchek drafts - provided free to customers to use just like a check
In fact, cardholders spend less than $5 per month on average accessing their pay. This is significantly less expensive than check cashing services or many of the fees associated with using a bank account.
Additionally, Comdata's cardholder website (www.cardholder.comdata.com) provides detailed access to transaction history. Cardholders can use this site to check their balance, view card loads and monitor card withdrawals, all free of charge. Cardholders can also call Comdata's toll free number for account information and customer support. Comdata is available 24/7 to service and educate our cardholder base.
Thank you,
Carole Ford
Vice President, Comdata Corporate Payments
Not a lot of pity for cave-dwellers who don't have a bank account. There's few good reasons not to have a bank account. If you've previously overdrafted or NSFed, and you have terrible credit, that I can see, but young employees should not be having that problem. Even then, there is likely SOME bank that will open an account for you -- especially if you're going to use it for DD.
I'm sure there's a bank branch in the same mall as the GameStop where you work. Go on your lunch break or off day or before or after work. Then fill out the DD paperwork and quit whining.
I just began working at a WHG (Wisconsin Hospitality Group) Pizza hut and we are required to use the comdata cards ours however say mastercard i just started using so i havent been through what you have most likely been through. because today was my first pay day im still tryiing to figure it out but the pamphlet i was given says in order to get free withdraws you must go to an allpoint atm which can be found on allpointnetwork.com however there are not many of these i for instance have to go over 20 minutes to do this and thats a waist of gas. i was not given the one free transaction and i too think that the comdata cards are ridiculous
I work at Gamestop and as soon as they introduced the Card to me they told me that I need to get on the ball with setting up Direct Deposit, that I shouldn't use it for direct pay, and to use the checks it comes with to make sure my money is deposited into my bank account.
Your manager is an idiot.
I cannot believe a class action lawsuit has not been lodged against this company with this dishonest and deceptive payment practice. Gamestop is screwing it's employees.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-296530-100x100.png\")
They do NOT encurage you to use the Comdata cards, they clearly state in the handbook they want you to get direct deposit.
They say that they prefer to do direct deposit on paper, but when i tried to get one of my employees in the system, it took something along the lines of 3 months. @Koinu:
@Wombatish:
Your manager's an idiot. plain and simple. Direct Deposit takes affect in usually 2 weeks, depending on your bank.
As far as your bank \"not existing\" he never submitted the paperwork. He's lying to cover his laziness.
And how is it insulting to you for an employer to try and cut costs? If you don't like using the card, withdraw it all from the atm and deposit the cash into your bank. Or, you could transfer to a store with a competent manager and get your direct deposit set up in no time.
@Koinu: Besides the fact that you get interest if you direct deposit into your own savings account - the ComData card was HELLISH to use. I remember having to call in if I ever wanted to make a withdrawl or to check on my balance. It was a bear. Just for simplicity's sake alone did I choose direct deposit! (That was in 2004, though)
@Koinu: When I worked there, my boss said the same thing. It only took two pay periods for the Direct Deposit to happen. Though I was laid off last year, I still have $2 and some odd change on it. Not worth the hassle of trying to get it.
@Koinu: It may say that in the handbook, but it doesn't mean that managers are not unofficially encouraged to tell their employees to do otherwise.
@Koinu:
That's what they say to cover their asses, the real business reality is they are trying to make money off of their employees paychecks, they consider having to pay their employees an inconvenient loss and by working in collusion with this company they can recover some of that inconvenient loss through fees.
@Koinu: Hey Koinu
I'm the OP (I can get someone to confirm that via my email address, if possible).
My manager specifically told me that the Comdata card was very \"convenient\" and \"handy to have\" and that the direct deposit process could \"take as long as four months, often even longer\" (it ended up taking about that long).
He avoided submitting my paperwork for a while and when he finally did, my first set of paperwork was denied because my bank \"did not exist\" (it's a regular, licensed, local bank, FDIC insurance and everything). I re-submitted, and after about three months, it went through.
I would agree that it was just this one manager who was making waves, but I got similar lines about the \"convenience\" and \"how long direct deposit can take to process, how long the deposits can take to clear\" every time I called the corporate employee help-line. It is also somewhat ridiculous that they can activate my Comdata card in one to five days, and it takes a bare minimum of a month to get me setup with the ACH for Direct Deposit (a month was the lucky man's time frame).
Even if they encourage direct deposit, and even if I just had a bad experience, why are they offering these fee-ridden cards to their employees in the first place? To cut costs. And that's insulting, and possibly illegal.
@Koinu: whether they encourage direct deposit or not (which seems contradictory to their statements about employees not having bank accounts), it still takes about 2-3 pay periods for that to kick in. i worked at gamestop for a few months a while back and had this issue. so at least once, i got screwed with a fee.
i can't imagine anyone who doesn't have a bank account not being able to cash a check one way or another. before i had a bank account, a parent or older sibling could get a check cashed through their bank account if i signed it over to them.
this is only a scratch at the surface of the world of problems that make up gamestop as a company...and i'm not even talking about their crappy trade-in values.
@Koinu: Maybe it's just the manager at this particular GameStop? Still, I don't get his incentive for the card over the direct deposit.
@Koinu:
Teletech holdings (The outsourced company where Sprint/Nextel sends customer service calls.) Does this too, but they reccomend getting direct deposit. If you choose this awful system over the direct deposit, its kind of your own fault.
@Koinu: The video store I worked at years ago payed us this way. They also recommended we use direct deposit. The only thing that really sucked about it were no paper pay stubs. I think we had to specifically request pay stubs.