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Bank Of America Ripoff on security Does not protect against fraud Forney Texas
I had a checking account with BOA for many years. The account in question started off with being charged for an online service that I had nothing to do with. I called Bank of America, sat on hold forever to be transefered to their fraud department where I sat yet again on hold for a very long time.
After an extremely long conversation with a customer service rep. who apparently could not stay focused long enough to understand the situation, I was finally told that the funds would be returned to my account and be available the next business day. At that time I cancled my Visa check card and ordered another one. I then called and cancled my online service with America Online, who graciously wanted to keep me with giving me 2 months free service, that I declined, went ahead and cancled.
A couple of weeks later I finally received my new Visa check card in the mail. A couple of days later I activated it. That night, Aol charges hit my account. Now, this would normally be just an AOL matter, due to them not cancling my service, but you see, the problem is they were using my new CARD NUMBER that I had not given them. I called the bank, sat on ignore, and was finally told that I must have given it to them because a few days before this they had tried to use the card before I had activated it!
Now mind you at the time they were using this card that was not activated, I did not even have it in my possesion. So back on hold I go to be transfered to the fraud department, where I sit on hold again, to be told that there is no way that BOA is responsible for batching out my card number that I had to or somone one in my house hold had to be responsible for this. Anyhow charges reversed AGAIN. Another card cancled and new one ordered.
Called AOL who says yes, your bank batched out the new card number to us, but no we can not release the proof with out a court order. HAHA wanted to laugh at this point, really. Cancled the service again. A week later, I have a charge that was drafted directly out of my checking account from a gym that I am not a member of. Called the bank, guess what I did, you got it sat on hold.
This time however since it was a direct draft they can not reverse the charge or any charges affilliated with it. They have to send me a form to fill out so they can investigate it. Anyhow to shorten this up a bit, the account was supposed to have been blocked, but no AOL got the latest card number and used it, they started transfering funds from other accounts, I have spent countless hours on the phone and in branches trying to get them off their rears to straiten this out.
Now I have over 200 dollars in over draft fees, and am being told that I should have managed my accounts better. I am now a month into this BOA reps have told me that their fraud department is extremely behind, wonder if it is because they can manage their customers accounts??, and i should just call this gym back.
Called the gym had the check in a couple of days. Now BOA is saying that they are not responsible for all the charges incurred, which yes, there were maybe 3 that could be considered my fault, course had I not spent all those hours doing the banks work, I might have had more time to balance my check book.
Course that does not count for the 6 others that the bank is responsible for.
Lisa
Canton, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jeff
Tampa,Florida,
U.S.A.
Be Carefull Who You Give Your Account Information
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, September 12, 2003
Unfortunatly I am extremly familiar with this situation. With that in mind here are some hints. First, be carefull who you give your checkcard number to. When you provide a company with your checkcard number you are giving them authorization to debit your account. Therefore, that is not considered fraud. Also, If you close and re-open your checkcard they submit a request to the bank with the proof of thier agreement with you (The Contract) and obtain your new checkcard number.
I noticed that AOL did not provide the cancellation number needed to cancel the service. The merchant has a reposibility to you also and they should be held accountable for it as well. As far as the Overdraft Fees are concerned, if they are a result of fraud they HAVE to be refunded by the bank per Federal Regulation E. Otherwise the merchant is reponsible for the charges that incured on the account. This is something associates should be aware of as well as customers but sadly, that is not always the situation. I honestly hope this helps you and others with these issues in the future.