Is it legal for an ex-employer to take money OUT of your checking account without asking your permission?

It seems like I'm getting the 'run-around' when I call looking for answers. One reason I got was that I was taken out of the system late, so they 'over-payed' me, but that they weren't sure. I left the company in good-standing, gave my 2 week notice and did everything I was supposed to when leaving a job. I had direct deposit and I was a salaried employee. But doesn't signing up for direct deposit only authorize a company to deposit money into an accound, not take money out of a checking account?
Check with your bank, they should know how your employer was able to do it. I didn't realize this was legal either.
It might depend on what state you live in. If they did overpay you, then the money is owed back to the employer. It wouldn't have been your money -- no matter if they made the mistake or not. However, they can't take money that isn't theirs to begin with.

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Answers:
I used to work in a call center for a company that did this same thing. The main reason a company would do this is if they indeed overpayed you at ANY time you were paid more than you were supposed to receive (which is one reason why I don't do direct deposit). Supposedly, they would do the vice versa if they underpayed you (which I TRULY doubt). That two-week notice is the timeframe they use in order to make sure both parties leave with what is owed to them. It sucks unfortunately, but they can do that. You can always contest it and ask how they came up with you being over-payed and ask for documents and anything else you can think of. I saw this all too often and I was suspicious of it myself, but there's really no way of finding out exactly where their figures come from except to straight out ask them. Good luck on your search.
Sounds like theft, to me.
Of course not.

Visit your local bank, ask to talk to the bank manager. If it's true, they won't stand for this stuff, and will help you take steps to fix it.

On edit: if they honestly overpaid you, maybe, but it'd be pretty sloppy accounting on their part. It wouldn't hurt to talk to the branch manager anyway, have them try to figure out what happened, or point you to someone who could.
YES go to your bank and fill out a dispute form and they will fight it from there.It is totally illegal, without your consent first...it might take a month or two to get it back but you should.
Talk to your bank, they may be able to get the money back for you. Close your account and open one with a new number, don't give out the numbers. (you'll be sorry)