Complaint Review: Bank Of America

Yesterday, on May l, 2009, I called BoA customer service to confirm the terms of a personal checking account and to obtain BoA's assurances that I would have immediate access to my funds after opening the account. Additionally, I wanted BoA's assurance that I would have full and immediate access to funds from an online funds transfer from a family member's BoA account which would occur later that day, and that no fees would be incurred for this transaction.

After receiving BoA's assurances and in reliance on their representations, I went to the nearest BoA branch, in Coral Gables, FL, with the intention of opening a checking account for immediate access to funds deposited in that account. The Sr. Banking officer who assisted me at the branch reconfirmed to me that I would have no problem accessing the funds deposited in my account. These funds also included a funds transfer from another BoA account holder which I expected that same day. In reliance on these representations and assurances, I opened the checking account. The senior banking officer then gave me a temporary check card and assisted me in activating the card by making an ATM deposit at the same branch. She then instructed me to make a purchase with the ATM check card to further activate online banking.

I went home and contacted the family member who was to make the funds transfer from her BoA account to my account via BoA online banking. Afterward, she called me to let me know that although she entered $1,000 as the deposit amount, the online banking website only reflected $980 as the deposited amount. Later that evening, I called to order pizza delivery and gave them my new check card info to make the purchase. After several failed attempts, the pizza delivery store told me that the card was refused as "invalid."

I called BoA's "800" number on the back of the check card to report the problem. A BoA cust. svc. rep. told me that the card was not activated and their record showed "unusual activity." Using BoA's website, I signed in to access my account. I was directed to an "Accounts Overview Screen" which showed my account overdrawn in excess of $887,808.88, when the balance should have been $1080.00! I was then referred to BoA's e-commerce dept., and the rep. told me that there was a hold on my account. She said that I would need to speak with BoA's Check Fraud Dept. (800-317-6345) about the account, but that they were closed and would not be available until the next day (Sat., May 2, 2009).

It is clear that BoA is wrongfully holding my money! I am going to the BoA branch to address this situation as soon as they open in the morning. Now that I have researched and reviewed the many, many customer complaints of BoA's usurious, unfair and deceptive banking practices on "Ripoff Report" , I am inclined to close the account before I become further victimized by BoA. Will follow up with further report as to the outcome.

MiamiVictim
Coral Gables, Florida
U.S.A.