Bank Of America Time to make Bank of America pay for their bad practices and complete lack of customer service! ripoff Phoenix Arizona
Time to switch banks!! I'm currently working on laying out a plan that has ALL of the information and necessary links for BofA customers who want to change banks but think it's too difficult and possibly dangerous (considering the bank's practices that we know all too well). Since Bank of America thrives on hitting you when you're down, it's critical that all outstanding checks, debits, automatic payments, etc. be handled before the move.
I called ONCE (last week) for the first time in over 15 years with them -- starting with what used to be Security Pacific when I was 16 -- to request a reversal of TWO out of FOUR overdraft charges, and have since realized that calling them triggers the "bad customer" flag (yes... I know it's my fault for not having the money and I didn't really even think they'd reverse the charges, but they treated me so badly that I quickly realized they had the same little script for everyone and that it didn't matter if I was a crackwhore or Mother Teresa).
Two days later, and for the first time ever since I have banked with them (since 1987 to be more precise), they decided to hold my deposit (the check was from the same payer as my last two deposits) for a week! Then, after allowing six transactions totaling about $800 to post, I emailed them asking when I would have access to my money because my card didn't work.
Big mistake!! This obviously triggered another "screw you" tactic of returning a $260 check that showed as pending just hours before I sent the note. All of the sudden, it shows as returned on 9/16, and it was 9/17 before it showed as returned... literally minutes before they released the hold and gave me access to my money on 9/17. So I now have $1,700 in my account with a returned check for $260 that I'm sure they will charge me for and knowing full well that SRP (my utilities company) will charge me $20 for the return and require a certified or cash payment to cover the check.
I'm done with them, but NONE OF THIS MATTERS IF NOBODY DOES ANYTHING BUT COMPLAIN. I'm happy to report that my husband's accounts, which I suggested he open at BofA and which I manage, are not linked to me because we have different last names and accounts. My measly $3,000 per month and $5,000 credit card won't be missed, but our $30,000 Home Equity Line of Credit, $25,000 Car Loan, $15,000 credit card, and the checking account will hopefully at least be recognized as an avoidable loss, especially when I make it SIMPLE and almost PROFITABLE for large numbers of people to move to banks that care more about keeping the mid-range customers (and their moderate amounts of money) than gouging them while giving every accommodation to those they think deserve it.
Never in my life have I actually voiced my dissatisfaction, or posted anything to a forum, but after being a loyal, paying, non-complaining, low risk customer for 17 years and then being treated like a low-life by an hourly phone rep, I am now determined to make sure BofA doesn't get rewarded for thinking that they can treat people like dirt, regardless of their history with them. I can only do this by making sure that no one I know now or come to know in the future ever opens an account, gets a credit card or obtains a loan through BofA and that everyone I know who currently banks with them changes banks.
Oh... by the way, I WAS a college student for 8 years and have two degrees including my MBA (Master of Business Administration), so the ubiquitous "stupid college student" responses I keep seeing don't apply here. Look for my site in the next couple of months so we can easily and seamlessly do what all of the Pro-BofA people keep suggesting we do.... take our money to another bank (or credit union, as I am finding in my compilation of best banks).
No matter what, try to open a new checking account and keep only the minimum amount needed in BofA until you can move everything over. It's not as hard as you would think, but hopefully you'll have all the information you need right at your fingertips in the near future. Remember:
"Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Dawn
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Bank of America
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Katy
Jonesboro,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
College for you, Mike?
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, October 12, 2004
Dear Mike,
I, too, have worked in banking, and it was commonplace for us to reverse charges.
BTW,
There denotes a place, i.e. "We like to bank there."
Their denotes a set of people, i.e. "Their BoA experience was terrible!"
They're is representative of they are, i.e. "They're going to switch banks soon, just like most people that have to put up with BoA's customer service department."
Good luck in the future, Mike. Uncompromising, unyielding, uneducated jackasses like you have a good future with BoA.
Scott
Surprise,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Been There Done That...
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 27, 2004
Zia -
I tried that and even showed them my receipt, they said that "anyone can make a deposit to an ATM with an empty envelope and get a receipt"
Zia
Modesto,California,
U.S.A.
Scott, here's how it works.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 27, 2004
if depositing at an atm, press the button that says that you will receive a transaction record. you will receive a receipt at the end of the transacion.
Zia
Modesto,California,
U.S.A.
Scott, here's how it works.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 27, 2004
if depositing at an atm, press the button that says that you will receive a transaction record. you will receive a receipt at the end of the transacion.
Zia
Modesto,California,
U.S.A.
Scott, here's how it works.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 27, 2004
if depositing at an atm, press the button that says that you will receive a transaction record. you will receive a receipt at the end of the transacion.
Zia
Modesto,California,
U.S.A.
Scott, here's how it works.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 27, 2004
if depositing at an atm, press the button that says that you will receive a transaction record. you will receive a receipt at the end of the transacion.
Mile
Jersey City,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
There is Always 2 sides to every story
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, September 21, 2004
If you say what has happen is true the way you describe in this report then Bank of America is at fault in everyway.
If your problem was my problem I would have got my money back. The reason I would have gotton my money back is because I will not let anyone screw me over. I would have filed a report with the police the bank is located in. I would have contacted the bank and made sure they were aware and if they would not help me in anyway I would make there life very miserable.
If that check was cashed at a bank. I will ask them where is was cashed. I would then have the police go to that branch and find out who cashed it. The bank has cameras with the time stamped on the tape. The bank will know what day is was cashed so all they would have to do is look over the video. NEVER let anyone screw you over. No matter how big they may be. You just have to get in contact with the right people!.
Paul
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
You go Dawn! Build your web site!
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 20, 2004
I love Dawn. She doesn't have 30 minutes to sit down and balance her checking account. But, she has all the time in the world to build a web site. You go girl!
A new invention just came out that solves this problem quite easily. Let me explain how it works. If your account is always overdrawn and you always have overdraft fees, this invention is made just for you. It's a little "magic" book. The way it works is you write down how much money you put into the bank. Then you subtract all the money you take out of the bank. You use a scientific device developed for the space shuttle to help you. It's a flat little box with numbered buttons. You simply enter the amount of money you start with, push the minus key, then enter the amount of money on your check. This incredible device uses computer technology to give you the exact amount of money you have left to spend. Naturally, you have to be a rocket scientist to use these two devices. After all, they were developed for astronauts. But in the end, it will save you tons of money on bank fees. Plus all that time you will have to invest to build a web site complaining about the bank. Give this a try and tell us if it helps! Perhaps other people can do the same thing. Think of all the time it will save everyone if they don't have to switch banks. I know this sound crazy, but it just might work.
"Never underestimate the power of a bankbook and a pocket calculator. Indeed, they could save us all." Joseph Mead (Margaret's high-tech brother)
Julie
Malone,New York,
U.S.A.
Sorry Mike, I have to disagree, What she was looking for was a little bit of good customer service after 16 loyal years with them
#12Consumer Comment
Sun, September 19, 2004
I myself work in a bank.(NOT B OF A) My response to Dawn would not have been anywhere as cold as yours. She stated it was her fault, we don't need to remind her. What she was looking for was a little bit of good customer service after 16 loyal years with them. I myself would not want to see a customer of mine walk out the door over two charges that can easily be reversed. I could see if this happened evey month for 16 years, but once? Yes Mike a bank is a business and yes they lent her money( and are making money from those loans!!!), but, most businesses retain these customers with quality customer service. I understand there is only so much you can do for customers and am not saying that we as bankers can help in all cases, but,I think in this case the customer was more important than the 60 or so dollars she asked for back.
Dawn, did you try your local branch? Sometimes you have better luck there than a 1-800 #. Good luck to you!
Scott
Suprise,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Took me for $3300.00!
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, September 18, 2004
Back about 8 years ago or so, I was traveling on the road, and was getting rather large expense checks from my employer to pay the Amex Card that I was using for business.
One such check was for $3300.00, and I deposited it at a branch ATM locally that was then near my home while I was back in town on one weekend.
The check was cashed, (employer showed me check), but the money never made it into my account.
I fought them tooth and nail, but seemed to have "no record" of such a transaction.
So I had to go and take out a loan to pay the Amex Bill, because I did not have the $3300 to fork over.....
I now call them "Bank of Amnesia"
Never will they have my business again... no matter how many perks or free checks they offer to me.
Mike
Jersey City,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Bank of America is not a Fault
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, September 18, 2004
Before I started my own business I used to work for Bank of America .
Dawn states she is upset because the bank should of "reverse TWO out of FOUR overdraft charges". Also, "being treated like a low-life by an hourly phone rep".
A bank is a business Dawn. When you signed up with BOA back in 1987, you signed that piece of paper which explains there fees. Also, if they change there policy BOA will inform you of these changes. This means you are aware of these fees. It is not the responsibility of the bank to hold your hand every time you make a purchase. Not only did you go over once, but four times.
That Dawn is not a low risk customer" as you say you are.
I understand things happen and we get caught up but you fuss and complain about a company that has been loyal to you since 1987 is just wrong. Hey, they even lent you money that was not yours for you to make a purchase.
You are contradicting yourself
You state "I know it's my fault for not having the money and I didn't really even think they'd reverse the charges, but they treated me so badly that I quickly realized they had the same little script for everyone and that it didn't matter if I was a crackwhore or Mother Teresa".
First your upset because of the charges. Next, you understand the banks position and agree it's your fault. Now, you are upset with the customer service.
You say you were Being treated like a low-life by an hourly phone rep". I guess you used the word hourly because it has a meaning of A low pay no good rep". That shows some class in your part. There are many high paying hourly jobs. My employee's earn $45 an hour or more depending on the contract we have with a business.
These reps have to deal with customers like you who don't know how to maintain there account. It is people like you who destroy a good company's image. Just because you were being treated like crap from one or two Reps should not be the reason for you to degrade the whole company. Example: Do you think the Whole U.S ARMY abuses prisoners? It's the few. Does that give you the right to destroy all?
You state I WAS a college student for 8 years and have two degrees including my MBA (Master of Business Administration), so the ubiquitous "stupid college student" responses I keep seeing don't apply here.
Give me a break. A woman who has her Master's in Business Administration can't handle her own bank account. A waste of 8 years I see.