How to complain to your bank -- and win!
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"I always recommend taking as many bites of the apple as possible," Phillips says. "I think there's a great benefit to calling first and being as polite as possible. Being confrontational isn't usually the most effective way to do things." But if phone calls don't work, try working out the problem face-to-face.

Whether you talk to someone on the phone or in person, get the person's name and title, then try to secure a promise that some action will be taken by a certain date. Summarize the discussion in a letter and send it to the bank. Keep a copy.

"The letter gives you a paper trail that you can use as you go higher," Phillips says. The letter can be used to prove that you took timely action.

An attorney-free approach
And, please, Phillips pleads: Don't go to a lawyer before you talk to someone from the bank. First try to resolve the problem yourself.

"Don't make a federal case out of everything," Phillips counsels. "Don't sue them. Send them a letter."

Some visitors to Hartman's Web site have e-mailed him accusations that he made a federal case out of his problem with Wells Fargo. It was fixed in 10 days, they point out, and he suffered no lasting harm. Hartman replies that the error should have been resolved with a short phone call capped with an apology.

What does Hartman's advice mean for people who bank over the Internet and don't have a nearby branch to walk into? It means they have to be ready to spend a lot of time on the phone, sometimes bouncing between customer-service and technical-support employees.

On the phone, your request to speak with a manager results in what is called an "escalation," in the jargon of customer-service professionals. These managers often act as a go-between with people who have the power to solve your problem. The frustrating process is one reason to choose an online bank carefully.

Getting it fixed
Other tips for complaining effectively when a bank makes a mistake:

• Before you complain, write a note to yourself describing the nature of the problem and what you want the bank to do about it. This will help you discuss the matter briefly and clearly -- and you're offering a possible solution, not just presenting a problem.
• Complain as soon as possible. This is especially important when you're dealing with financial institutions because you have a limited time to complain after you receive notice of a problem, such as a bank statement.
• Assemble all the papers you need, such as canceled checks and account statements, and be prepared to hand over copies.
• Remain calm.
• If an employee is unable or unwilling to help, contact someone higher up.
• Don't be coy when someone asks you your name, address and phone number.
• Threatening to alert the media probably won't get you anywhere. On the other hand, reporters are always happy to tell a tale of corporate misdeeds or incompetence.