My WaMu checking account was converted into a Chase Free Classic Checking account. No monthly fees (no minimmum balance) as long as I have one customer initiated transaction every six months.

You should have received a "migration" booklet (~40-50 pages) last year describing the features/fees of your new account.

During the transition from WaMu to Chase, they ran ads promoting "free" checking (i.e. same as previous WaMu) so I don't feel I was misleading anyone.

What type of a Chase checking account do you have? My Chase Free Classic Checking is still free.

I was one of those who was a WaMu free chkg acct customer. I just checked my acct and I haven't been knicked for a monthly fee. I haven't been doing "5 or more debit purchases per statement." I DID receive a notices, however, and one of them seemed to indicate that I would soon lose my 1 free overdraft fee that WaMu gave me. I never used it but I thought that was a real barn burner...coming from a bank! Now, Chase will pay (and at their preference and upon customer request) an overdraft debit but still charges the hefty overdraft bank "fee."

I too have a wamu free checking that is still free with no transactions required...I was going to close it but the bank guy said that was a mistake that the account was grandfathered in from wamu and would always be free, and I should keep it open. I opened a chase checking in sept 09 to get the CO points and the first month there is no fee, the second month they charged me, I complained at the branch and they told me about the 5 debit card transactions to keep it free....since I too am a contractor with no direct deposit....they refunded the charge as goodwill and when i went home i looked at the signup package that came with the account and right on the first page in big letters were the requirements to avoid a monthly service charge...not hidden, easy to find....so the original poster was just like me, too lazy to read the terms....he just didnt figure it out after the first time they charged him....guess he doesnt read his monthly statements either.

There is a secret to avoid being charged the monthly service fee. Simply keep your balance at $0. My personal banker at Chase who looks out for me has informed me that Chase accounts with $0 do not incur the monthly service fee, and I have seen this in action for many months now.

Now of course, if some of you actually use your Chase account, then the $0 won't be any good. But, for those of you who opened Chase accounts just for the bonuses, take out all the money once you qualify for the bonus, and you won't be hit with any service fees. Of course, you should keep the account open for 6 months before closing it out completely, because Chase threatens to take back incentives if accounts are closed before then.

BTW that is absolutely correct. They recently sent me a change notice that my "free" outgoing wires would no longer be free. They originally promised to keep all the benefits that were associated with my free WaMu checking account.

Do you know if your account simply has to be at zero when the statement closes or if they use a daily average? The reason I ask is that I'm planning on moving 12,500 NAs through Chase before I bid them farewell (original plan was to spread the wealth around to all of my banks; this little fee thing earned Chase the whole lot), but they won't be in my account for more than a day.

I'm pretty sure you did not receive AAdvantage miles from Chase. Was this suggestion made at Chase or at Citibank?

Yeah, I had the same experience - got nailed with the $6 monthly fee, and was told I had received the info buried in the stack of papers I got when I opened the acct.
As was suggested - either do a paypal transfer, or make some small purchases every month. For example - a couple of stops at a grocery store, getting a few bananas, purchased at the self-checkout, one banana at a time.
Be sure to close the acct after 6 months, then be sure to re-open another one, since you're allowed to open one a calendar year.

I realize you don't like the terms being changed (I don't like delta...they killed NW) but at the same time seriously how hard is it to make 5 debit purchases.

If you are one of the old ladies holding everyone up at the grocery store writing checks.....I hate to be the one to tell you but....psssst debit cards do the exact same thing, only simpler.

I have a WaMu Case as well and it is named "Extra Free Checking" in my profile. Now I do quite a few transactions with it, PayPal transfers and my CO Debit Card purchases and have never been charged a fee yet.

Will wait what comes. I certainly did NOT recieve any mailing.

Really? This is the only feature I really use. I don't recall getting anything about it, though. Of course, it would be easy to miss.

Was your WaMu account one that was set up online?

It was was setup online somewhere around 2004 or so.

Sounds like I may have to check on this, as I'm about to send a wire off to Asia. I do have a HELOC with them, but don't know if that is counted or not.