- Report: #534247
Complaint Review: Bank Of America BofA - Internet
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Bank Of America BofA
Internet, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
BankofAmerica.com
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Bank Of America, BofA Merchant Hold I just paid $38.15 dollars a gallon for gas. but I had the money to cover it. Internet
I stopped at the local gas station knowing I had $25.00 dollars still available in my Bank of America Checking Account. As I had done numerous time before I used my debit/Credit card from my checking account to pay at the pump. I only pumped $10.00 dollars and change, enough to get to work that night. Payday was tomorrow and I could fill the tank then.
The next day as I was checking my direct deposit amount I noticed that yesterdays transaction were still pending. That usually means TROUBLE when you bank with BofA.
Can't get any help till they have posted. Okay I thought maybe the merchant was a little late in posting, no big deal. That night when deposits are to post and debits are juggled to maximize the biggest amount of overdraft fees possible I was a victim of BANK OF AMERICA Strong Arm Robbery.
Get this:Money is in the Bank. Account is positive. Debit card at Gas Pump, Merchant Hold request $50.00 dollars to be held for transaction. I didn't see no sign at that pump telling me I needed to have $50 dollars plus what I was going to pump dollar wise in my bank account. I had pumped gas there countless time and this never happened. My account being at $25 dollars and with the $50 dollar Merchant Hold put the account NEGATIVE. I pumped my gas, stopped at $10 dollars and some change. Well there was the first BofA ding. A cool $35 dollars profit for good old BANDITS OF AMERICA. WE APPRECIATE YOU BUSINESS as the are reaching into our pockets and taking our money, with a smile to add insult to the injury.
I saw what had happened, overdraft charge for what? I wrote Customer Service an Email demanding an explanation for the Overdraft charge. That's when the Merchant Hold came up. They look hard for any and all reasons to rip off their customers. I was told that this was not a banking error and that they were perfectly in the right to charge me the overdraft fee. I was hot, not this time, oh no I'm not paying them $35 dollars for the privilege of pumping gas. I had the money to cover what I spent.
I checked with the Owner of the station and he told me yes he will request a Merchant Hold if someone tries to pay at the pump with a debit card. But will resent the Hold immediately, that same day as a matter of fact, for amounts under $20 dollars. Once again sending the Bandits another Email. I start out this time reminding them that they are trusted to protect our money. Then why were they letting me overdraw my account, why not just refuse the transaction and save me $35 dollars.
Then I ask them WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE HOLD TO BE REMOVED then proceed with the debit??? Oh no we can't do that, we don't make any victim fees that way. Never is the bank wrong, never is the CUSTOMER FIRST, it's your never going to win. We already have your money so what you going to do now?
What do you do, now? BANDITS OF AMERICA just keep on knocking us down and like the bullies they are, they just don't quit. How do you fight a bully like that? A couple of quick key strokes and your life is ruined, you find yourself bankrupt, homeless with a ruined Credit Report and a Chex systems ID. I hate Bullies, I know hate is a strong word and should not be use lightly, but I do. Just another blow to the head from the BANDIT BULLIES OF AMERICA. And just think we all pitched in and bailed these "blood suckers" out of the mess they got themselves into. What a racket, I want to start my own bank, it's your license to steal and steal and steal. And no one can touch them, just try and find the same person twice at that bank, it's as if they never existed or it was just a figment of our imagination, whom did you speak to? No one here by that name. I see it now each day they come into work they go to the random name generator and get the days new name. Cause tomorrow they will be some one new and what ever they promised some one yesterday, let they just try and prove it. Bullies today, yesterday and tomorrow.
The next day as I was checking my direct deposit amount I noticed that yesterdays transaction were still pending. That usually means TROUBLE when you bank with BofA.
Can't get any help till they have posted. Okay I thought maybe the merchant was a little late in posting, no big deal. That night when deposits are to post and debits are juggled to maximize the biggest amount of overdraft fees possible I was a victim of BANK OF AMERICA Strong Arm Robbery.
Get this:Money is in the Bank. Account is positive. Debit card at Gas Pump, Merchant Hold request $50.00 dollars to be held for transaction. I didn't see no sign at that pump telling me I needed to have $50 dollars plus what I was going to pump dollar wise in my bank account. I had pumped gas there countless time and this never happened. My account being at $25 dollars and with the $50 dollar Merchant Hold put the account NEGATIVE. I pumped my gas, stopped at $10 dollars and some change. Well there was the first BofA ding. A cool $35 dollars profit for good old BANDITS OF AMERICA. WE APPRECIATE YOU BUSINESS as the are reaching into our pockets and taking our money, with a smile to add insult to the injury.
I saw what had happened, overdraft charge for what? I wrote Customer Service an Email demanding an explanation for the Overdraft charge. That's when the Merchant Hold came up. They look hard for any and all reasons to rip off their customers. I was told that this was not a banking error and that they were perfectly in the right to charge me the overdraft fee. I was hot, not this time, oh no I'm not paying them $35 dollars for the privilege of pumping gas. I had the money to cover what I spent.
I checked with the Owner of the station and he told me yes he will request a Merchant Hold if someone tries to pay at the pump with a debit card. But will resent the Hold immediately, that same day as a matter of fact, for amounts under $20 dollars. Once again sending the Bandits another Email. I start out this time reminding them that they are trusted to protect our money. Then why were they letting me overdraw my account, why not just refuse the transaction and save me $35 dollars.
Then I ask them WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE HOLD TO BE REMOVED then proceed with the debit??? Oh no we can't do that, we don't make any victim fees that way. Never is the bank wrong, never is the CUSTOMER FIRST, it's your never going to win. We already have your money so what you going to do now?
What do you do, now? BANDITS OF AMERICA just keep on knocking us down and like the bullies they are, they just don't quit. How do you fight a bully like that? A couple of quick key strokes and your life is ruined, you find yourself bankrupt, homeless with a ruined Credit Report and a Chex systems ID. I hate Bullies, I know hate is a strong word and should not be use lightly, but I do. Just another blow to the head from the BANDIT BULLIES OF AMERICA. And just think we all pitched in and bailed these "blood suckers" out of the mess they got themselves into. What a racket, I want to start my own bank, it's your license to steal and steal and steal. And no one can touch them, just try and find the same person twice at that bank, it's as if they never existed or it was just a figment of our imagination, whom did you speak to? No one here by that name. I see it now each day they come into work they go to the random name generator and get the days new name. Cause tomorrow they will be some one new and what ever they promised some one yesterday, let they just try and prove it. Bullies today, yesterday and tomorrow.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Guy
Oceanside,California,
U.S.A.
Taking it to the Bank
#2Author of original report
Sat, December 12, 2009
I truly appreciate the time taken to give your advice and will take it to the bank so to speak. I am going to look into just what are the laws concerning Merchant Holds on accounts in California. I'll share what I find with the members of Ripoff Report.
As for changing banks, that's another twisted tail. I was victim of Identify Theft in 2006. I did everything by the book; Police Reports, Bank Reports, Credit reporting bureaus Fraud Alert. And the CREDIT UNION still reported me to CHEX SYSYEMS.
We (Cypress Police Orange County California) caught the person responsible, made an arrest but the wimpy District Attorney let them go. To afraid that they wouldn't get the conviction and damage their Golden Record of convictions. Red handed, busted, confessed to the Police and was let go. With "MY MONEY" still in his pockets. What a slap to the face. Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union now called TeachersFirst Federal Credit Union has me listed for Account Abuse and Fraud Activity.
Go figure, here when the crook went to the walk up ATM's none of the camera got a clear picture of the guy. One got a picture of his shoes, another got the ear, and the others just didn't work. Our cameras were broken, okay I can buy one maybe two but all the cameras at the branch! The crook used the stolen card four times and cleaned me out plus an additional $1,600 in deposit the empty envelope, then withdrawal the reported deposited funds.
But I do want to tell you how much your advice has helped open my eyes and I will be using your suggestions. Does anyone know where I can get VICTIM INSURANCE at an affordable rate, Good Lord knows I need it.
MPP
United States of AmericaPerhaps?
#3General Comment
Sat, December 05, 2009
My question for you is why do you continue to bank at Bank of America? I had had many of the same issues with an old bank. I have since started banking at only credit unions. I recommend them as they rarely have hidden fees of any kind like the ones you enocountered with Bank of America. Also, if you have other issues for instance a company charging you fees when you canceled or when you didn't sign up for some thing... these banks are almost always on your side and will fight to help get your money back and erase over charges. I have banked with 3 seperate credit unions and have yet to have any sort of complaint with any of them.
Jeanski
Hamburg,New York,
U.S.A.
another option
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, December 05, 2009
In addtion to Robert's excellent suggestion, another option would be to go inside the station and use the ATM to withdraw cash and then pay. Even if you have to pay a $2.00 fee to use the ATM (if it's not a BOA ATM) you save the potential overdraft fiasco.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Your real report..
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, December 05, 2009
Should be on the Gas Station. As THEY are the ones that held the money without notification to you. Bank of America, by way of their terms, DID notify you of their fees. If there was no sign anywhere at the Gas Station you may have a valid claim against them to pay the fees that were caused by it.
As a tip to avoid that "hold" in the future do not pay at the pump. Go inside to the Cashier and request a specific amount. This goes for any gas station whether or not they have a notice that they "hold" money.
Now, you will have people inform you that you can opt-out of this "overdraft protection". This "overdraft protection" is why it was approved. If you opted-out it MAY have declined your card at the pump because of the attempted hold.
This only stops your debit card if you are currently negative, so it is still possible to be hit with these fees. Even if you do opt-out, I would suggest that if you know your balance is low then go inside instead of paying at the pump.
