I don't know what to do. I've been reported to Chex Systems by Bank of America because someone wrote me a bad check. I've talked to several people and they will not help me. I do not owe them any money, but they closed out my account.
I am also on Chex Systems by Wamu - I owe them money, but I'm currently working w/them to pay it off.

I cannot seem to get a bank account anywhere now that BofA closed my account. I need a bank account - I cannot live w/out one.

TCF opened my account, let me fund it, sent me checks, and the closed it. Fifth Third approved me, and when I went into the branch to fund it, I was denied. National City denied me. Charter One denied me. Chase denied me.

Would a credit union approve me? I'm currently looking into those.

I applied for an online payment account through HSBC and I was apparantely approved, I just need to mail a check in...but I don't really get how this account works. I won't get checks, so how will I pay bills? Also, how do I make deposits?
They won't close my account after it's opened will they?

Any suggestions/advice?

When was your BOFA account closed? and WAMU??? If they are recent, try a credit union that uses Telecheck, like Compass Bank. Usually Wal-mart has banks inside their stores that offer "second chance" banking.

What city and state are you located?

Maybe others can chime in to help.

applying at many different places and being denied can actually hurt you more. Stop applying because this may cause a fraud alert on your report which can hurt you even more. HSBC is no longer a good option... they will open an account but will more than likely close it at a later time.

Options really depend on where you live as to what is best for you. Where exactly are you?

I'm very sorry this happened to you! This is the first time that I've heard that the customer can be reported to Chexsystems for someone else's bad check

yes actually it happens all the time. It is most common for those with business accounts who accept personal checks all the time

Since even friends and relatives potentially can be the ones that could give you a bad check, then when I go to deposit the check is there something that I as the customer can do to lessen the risk of the bank deciding to penalize me by reporting me to Checks Systems ?

Something like .. depositing the check instead of cashing it ? depositing it and then waiting x-number of days before withdrawing funds from my checking account ? going with a smaller bank or CU instead of a big bank ? etc.

Not really... smaller banks are generally quicker to close and report to chexsystems. There are some banks that will allow it to happen a few times but anymore that is rare. And from what I can tell, no, it does not make a difference whether you cash it or deposit it and wait for it to clear.

The only for sure way to avoid this is to take the check to the bank it is written on and cash it there.