Cushion your checking account. Bank of America rant.

[Jesda]

TIMELINE:

6/2/2009 - Jesda deposits $250 at BofA ATM in Chesterfield MO6/3/2009 - "counter credit" appears in my account for $250.

1/7/2010 - Bank of America removes $500 from my account to reconcile an error.

The $250 credit from 6/3/09 (OVER SIX MONTHS AGO) was apparently a mistake, but they claimed they didn't have documentation or proof that I deposited $250 on 6/2/09 to begin with. So they took their $250 error AS WELL AS the $250 I deposited... without warning or notice.

I called and talked to two friendly and apologetic people in customer service who tried to dig and pull up images and receipts, but nothing came of it. They filed a claim and said it would take about ten days to resolve it, but mentioned that the claim could be rejected because there's no apparent documentation, and because I'm past a 60 day window from when the problem began.

So, I have only 60 days to file a claim for fraud or for an error. They have unlimited days. Sounds like B.S.

Tonight I have to go put $1000 in to bring my account back up from -$451. This account is tied to shipping and other services, so I need it to ship these orders out and, well, TO EAT. My credit union account is only savings and I don't have a debit card with them to use for online shipping. I should have opened checking with them just in case.

JESDA IS MAD.

[anti_flag_army]

my girlfriend had a similar issue, she deposited 500 in an ATM, then a few weeks later she gets a letter saying that they never received any funds and they removed the amount from her account. They were much more helpful though, she went in and explained what happened and they credited her back no questions asked (this was at a credit union BTW)

I have never heard of anyone with problems with BoA though.... I use wells fargo and have heard horror stories for years but never had a problem. Hope it gets worked out for you!

[snwbrdr435]

Another reason why BoA sucks c***. Im in the process of canceling everything with them and switching over to a CU

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Major banks are on the down swing...especially when CU customer service and plain old piece of mind is so much better

[breadbox]

No one told me when I first got an account that you could even do that. Once I found out I guess around 15, I thought it was crazy. I want to see a teller punch it in and give me a receipt that is correct. I have been screwed enough in person I hate machines.

[BusyBadger]

Hmmm, the new BoA diet plan - they'll take your money so you can't eat.

I am truly surprised that you aren't using a credit union. Yank your money out of there as soon as you can and make it known to them (and everyone else around) why you are doing it.

Then get the word out to everyone you can in order to hit them in the only place that will ever make them change the way they do business.

[dusred]

Since we gave them assloads of money to keep them afloat they figured they'd kick us all in the balls to pay us back.

they've pulled similar shens on me before. As soon as my line of credit is paid off with them I'm out. . . and I hope they burn in hell.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yep. This is I why I do everything through my credit union. Banks suck.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

I can honestly say that out of all the banks I've used over the years BoA has given me the least number of problems and the less stress to deal with. They've always corrected any errors they've made and gave me a huge heads up when my check card was fraudulently used thanks to a purchase I made via Paypal (apparently Paypal isn't as safe as they claim and my card number was used in China to buy $275 worth of cosmetics while I was asleep at home in NE Philly). Needless to say they canceled the fraudulent charges and reimbursed me for one of them as it was to a local company via internet and canceled my card to reissue me a new card with a new number.

[Black on Gold]

Yep. This is I why I do everything through my credit union. Banks suck.

Werd, switched over from BoA last year

[krash]

BoA does suck. I'm about to switch to my credit union. Everytime you do a deposit, click on "print receipt with check images." Thats what I do, just in case this BS happens.

[Beancooker]

That sucks. One more reason Wells Fargo rocks. In all the years I have had an account with them, they have never tried to f**k me.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I went to BOA about 2 weeks ago, in an attempt to do a wire transfer to my stock account...

One of the hottest girls I've ever seen walked up and asked if I needed any help. I told her what I was trying to do... and she told me I can't do it there... I need to do it online. I told her that I had tried that, and it didn't work. She informed me that I was doing it wrong, and printed me out some directions. I asked her what would happen if I didn't have online banking, and she informed me that they could do it in the store. I went home, and again, it didn't work. Some crap popped up after that and I couldn't get to the bank (I was busy, or it was a holiday). Since then, the stock I was planning on buying went up over 15%

I don't even understand why the physical bank is there anymore. Just slap a few ATMs in a parkinglot if you aren't planning on helping your customers.

[nissangirl74]

I haven't heard anything good about BofA other than they have good rates on mortgages. I prefer credit unions over big banks everyday.

[MinisterofDOOM]

That sucks. One more reason Wells Fargo rocks. In all the years I have had an account with them, they have never tried to f**k me.

No. Hell's Fargo sucks. They are THE reason I switched to my current credit union. They gave me so much trouble it was unbelievable. My checking account would regularly see $100+ "authorization" charges from actual transactions smaller than $10. And if that caused me to overdraft I'd have to fight them tooth and nail to get the fees waived. At first I wrote it off to idiot vendors/cashiers. But when it kept happening at unrelated companies/locations repeatedly, time after time after time, I eventually got fed up. I never knew whether I'd have money or whether some screwup with my debit card would leave me stranded. That is NOT cool, especially when it takes an argument and a phone call EVERY TIME to get my money back and my fee waived.

[numbnuts240]

these threads about boa sucking keep popping up, but i have had nothing but stellar experiences with them. i have a checking, savings, and credit accounts with them and i've had zero issues with their service. when the automatic bill payment on my credit card didn't go through on time, they reversed the late fees and dropped the issue on my credit. they have called and e-mailed when suspicious charges to my checking account popped up and resolved them right away. maybe i'm in the minority that doesn't see the problems that you guys do

[Jesda]

I'm going to head to my local branch to chat with someone about this. If there isn't a resolution within a week, I will be:

1. Buying a picket sign2. Hiring a lawyer

[HashiriyaS14]

I use a local bank and I've never had any issues.

I also only deposit in person, during business hours.

Doesn't sound like a fun problem to have.

[RobPaulson]

that sucks jesda, i ALWAYS deposit checks/cash in person to a teller, i've never been screwed like this, but then again i've never deposited money at an ATM (although i do understand the convenience)

Personally I use ETRADE as my primary bank.

[Joe]

bank of america can suck my d!ck

i have 2 checking accounts and 1 savings account through them. my 2nd checking account is a special one rarely used for racing/hosting events. i usually keep 0 balance in it.

i purchased something and sent the money with paypal, it accidentally came from the 2nd account with a 0 balance so obviously it overdrafted. i have no problem paying the overdraft but i had NO idea for over a week that this had happened.

i get the notice in the mail about the overdraft and go look, i see the paypal transaction (oops) the overdraft (duh) then 48 hours after the transaction there is an "extended negative balance fee" of $45. i didnt even get the god damn notice for a week! how can it be extended!

i called them and they basically told me they would do nothing. i refused to pay the extended overdraft fee because it was complete bulls*** and they knew it.

they f***ing TOOK the money out of my savings account 2 weeks later. f***ing cockbags. i hate b of a.

[seyath]

That's why I had Commerce Bank (now TD Bank).Never had a problem with them.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

they f***ing TOOK the money out of my savings account 2 weeks later. f***ing cockbags. i hate b of a.

WOW. You should probably go in and tell them to give you all of your money in cash, and to close your account... unless they give you that fee back.

...then go in the next day and close your account anyway.

[etschell]

sucks but this is why they have od protection. sounds expensive but it really works if you keep low balance accounts.

[C-Kwik]

Go speak with a manager at your local branch. Branch employees are typically more helpful than call center employees. Managers at Branches have a good amount of authority and plenty of problem solving experience.

As for the issue about the 60 day window, if that comes up, ask them how they determined there was a problem without documentation. Ask them what the error was that made them determine that they should pull the money from your account. Do try and find anything that would prove your deposit if you can.

I do have a question though. Did you not notice the counter credit in your account before? And if so, why didn't you ask about it then?

[HashiriyaS14]

i get the notice in the mail about the overdraft and go look, i see the paypal transaction (oops) the overdraft (duh) then 48 hours after the transaction there is an "extended negative balance fee" of $45. i didnt even get the god damn notice for a week! how can it be extended!

^^This is why everyone should check their bank balances/activity online, every single day.

[Bubba1]

I haven't heard anything good about BofA other than they have good rates on mortgages. I prefer credit unions over big banks everyday.

My bank was acquired by BofA a few ago. I have had no real problems with them. I caught one error they made on a monthly statement and they corrected it within a couple of days.

[Mr1der]

I f***in' hate banks.

they'll do anything to f*** you.

they act like a bunch of damn 13 year olds....

[s14_girl]

This is the second bad experience with B of A I've heard about in a fairly short time. A couple weeks ago, a good friend of mine was very upset when B of A sent some random person her credit card when they called in and claimed to be her and said it was lost. They didn't ask for verification of identity to speak of. I have a credit card with them right now, but am thinking seriously of switching to a credit union.

[Jesda]

The folks at the local branch tried their best. Everyone from 1-800 customer service to the employees at the local branch are empathizing and apologizing profusely for the bank's error, but say they can't override the decision of the other department.

Basically, BOA is a giant cloud in the sky, and the employees are servants that pray to the magic cloud and hope their prayers are answered. The mysterious cloud has full control over everything that goes on, and its untouchable, omniscient, and omnipotent.

SEVEN DAMN MONTHS LATER the freaking burden of proof is on me. That's BS. They should have involved me from the very beginning and TALKED to me about the transaction. I give them 200% of my personal data and contact info for a reason.

[Jesda]

I just got a letter from some mysterious Bank of America office in Phoenix saying they were rejecting my claim. I've filed a formal complaint with the OCC, which probably won't do much. I'm keeping every single shred of evidence in a file folder -- I will no longer deal with this bank without double-copies of everything.

I've moved on to another bank in the meantime.