Honest Folks Finish Last At BOA

Folks this is a long one, but it's really good and Katrina's problems give you a great idea on how this company works. Definitely worth the time...

"Oh my God I can't believe there is a whole blog on how much they suck. I thought it was me! Here's our story...

In early September my husband and I received a check in the amount of $3229.45, we deposited it in our account through the ATM on Friday night and proceeded to pay bills and so on. Well, Monday morning came along, and I logged into my online banking and BAM: 6 overdraft charges. And why? Because BOA chooses how they process transactions; they chose to process all our debits (which in no way added up to our deposit) in front of our very large deposit (which came before the debits) and hit us with overdraft charges. As I looked down the page ... hmmm, no deposit. I was livid and sent my husband to the bank (I would have gotten myself arrested). The teller promptly apologized, refunded us the charges, and then took the deposit out of the ATM and processed it as a counter credit in the form of cash. So I think, "OK great, BOA is a decent bank." ... hahaha...

Tuesday comes along, I check my account and to my surprise another deposit of $3229.45 which brings my account to well over $7000.00 (including money already in there). I showed my husband and he went to the bank yet again to let them know we had a double deposit. BOA said no problem we will handle it and that amount will be out of your account in 2 days. So 2 days passes with agony because of course I want to say screw you BOA I'm going to spend it for the many times my deposits and debits disappeared then reappeared and the many overdraft fees you charged me before this incident for no reason, but my husband was the voice of reason and we left it alone.

Well on the 3rd day it was still there. My husband went to the bank again and this time she said I informed the ATM department and they know so it's up to them. Oh great so now we are stuck trying to figure out our balance. We never use cash and in our account the money is in-out, in-out, in-out. My husband and I make deposits and debits with out informing each other and this system works for us. Well now I'm transferring this supposed bank mistake out of out main account into our secondary account to try to make the numbers work, they never worked out. We never figured out our balance and it was a constant battle. The bills that I scheduled months in advance and knew were covered, somehow on paper were not covered with that money out of the account. So I told my husband they must have taken this double deposit out when they said they were going to. So now I transfer it back again and decide "Hey screw it I'm paying my bills and it's there mistake so let them deal with the consequences if they didn't take it out."

Ok this brings us to October 4, 2005. In the mail there is a letter from BOA and it reads like this:

Amount: $3229.45
Claim # *********SEP05
Account Number ending in: ****

Dear Blah Blah

We sincerely thank you for notifying us of the credit that posted to your account in error. In light of this information, your account was debited $3229.45 on October 3, 2005. Bank of America appreciates your business and values you as a customer. If we may assist you in the future do not hesitate to call.

ATM/Debit Card Operations DEPC01

OK see the "was debited" right? ... Well today is November 8, 2005 and I receive a phone call from my upset husband "Katrina we have a huge problem, check the account". I check the account and there are 7 negative items that were cleared between Nov. 5-7 (I checked the account yesterday they were cleared then, not pending) And now my account is negative and BOA squeezed a credit correction in before them in the amount of $3229.45! OMG It is well over 2 months of this, after a letter that told us in black and white 1 month and 4 days ago that it was already taken care of. Oh and the $433.00 deposit we made yesterday mysteriously disappeared from yesterday's register. Why wasn't their "credit correction" in pending? Why did they send me a letter saying it was taken out? Why do they think they can put that "correction" before my already cleared items and charge me overdraft charges? Who is going to pay my bills now that my account is negative $3223? And a phone call to them today produced this..."We can't help you, it wasn't taken out, you will have to go to a branch to sort it out, you got a letter really?, well your going to have to prove it."

OMG I definitely have the letter and I definitely am not eating that 3229.45 ... We tried to be honest and still got screwed. I will be closing all 3 accounts I have with [BOA]. And according to the NYS Banking Commission you were supposed to inform us of the "set back charges" along with a reason. You did not because otherwise we would have produced this letter then. What would have been your reason anyway? ... The moron behind the desk that should have done it but didn't and sent me a letter anyway will have to eat it! I WILL TAKE THIS TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. You cannot do this to people and then say too bad.

That is our story and I really, really hope you post it because what they are doing to me is just plain wrong and I want people to know how bad they blow. BOA is apparently notorious for this stuff too bad I didn't find your blog before I opened up my accounts with them. Thank you for your blog!

Thank you so much (PS) We are going to the branch tomorrow."

Being honest about their error and it came back & bit y'all in the ass, huh? That sucks bigtime. That'd be like finding someone's wallet, calling them up to return it, and meeting up with them only to find that they've brought a posse to beat the crap out of you and steal your wallet too. Good luck, Katrina!

And this is a reminder to folks out there, if you get screwed, do something about it. Write every website you can (see our links). Call every consumer watchdog in the media. Make it hurt them. And for future reference remember: You can't play nice with a cheat.