Complaint Review: BANK OF AMERICA - Orlando Florida

I should have known someone like you wouldn't understand sarcasm, let alone anything else.  Oh well.

TWICE you referred to me as either a God or deity. Shall I apply for the restraining order now or later?

I had no idea you held me in such high esteem. Perhaps there is hope for you after all...

"Chrissy"?  Yes, your maturity level and intellect are clearly off the charts.  I tip my cap to your God-like intelligence.  I doubt you can grasp the concept of sarcasm even if something is dripping with it, but anything is possible, I suppose.

" Blame everyone and anyone for his irresponsibility and the irresponsibility of others...except HIMSELF and the DEADBEATS who overdraft"

When did I mention that I overdraft?  That's right, I didn't because I don't.  Making things up to support your laughable point gets you nowhere.

" Do NOTHING to avoid the overdrafts in the future"

I didn't suggest this either.  Sometimes overdrafts happen, whether it's a simple accident or it's unavoidable (an emergency).  If neither of these things have ever happened to you, it must be because you don't make mistakes and are therefore, a deity, which I already suspected when observing your super-human approach to overdraft avoidance.  Don't spend money you don't have?  Of course (slaps forehead)!  Why didn't I think of that?  Problem solved!

" Laugh all the way to the bank (Like that pun? Oh so appropriate...)"

Astounding wit.  How DO you do it?  The most hilarious part of all this is that you clearly think you are somehow above people that overdraft because you are able to waste your time belittling them and giving painfully obvious "advice".  I personally don't overdraft but I have seen first hand how these banks operate.  It's not exactly a secret.  "Keep track of your finances" and "don't spend money you don't have" are such simplistic statements that you should be attempting to spell your name with blocks rather than attempting to give any sort of financial advice.

I called you a doofus - which is defined as:

a stupid incompetent person

That's not name-calling; it's a statement of fact.

Since little Chrissy is intent on getting the last word (appropriate for his relative level of maturity and comprehension) and will no doubt continue to neglect iron-clad FACTS with useless, redundant rebuttals, let's just summarize this debate with two s-i-m-p-l-e comparisons (See how I s-p-e-l-l-e-d it out for you, Chris? Never let it be said I didn't help you out..):

The Chris Way:

1. Blame everyone and anyone for his irresponsibility and the irresponsibility of others...except HIMSELF and the DEADBEATS who overdraft

2. Do NOTHING to avoid the overdrafts in the future

3. Hand money to the banks he hates...voluntarily (BRILLIANT way to stick it to the man!)

4. Complain about it like a little girl

The Truth Detector Way:

1. Take responsibility for poor choices (i.e. spending money you don't have available) and manage an adult account like an adult

2. Avoid ALL overdrafts in the future by actually (gasp!) TRACKING FINANCES

3. Hand the bank NOTHING...and still recognize that I, not the bank, am responsible for my own finances

4. Laugh all the way to the bank (Like that pun? Oh so appropriate...)

My way? ZERO fees.

Chrissy's way? Fees so high, they're incalculable.

I have spoken...

"I don't think I could make it any clearer for you if I stenciled the word DOOFUS on your forehead...."

"Doofus"?  Really?  What are you, six years old?

I didn't think you were this dense, but, here we are.  Go back and read the report again.  The person said this:

"they process everything that was pending from past days and all of the sudden that large expense has caused all the others made before it over the limit. So even though I had money to buy that Starbucks coffee at the time, I am now in overdraft."

Now, in simple terms that even you can understand (well, that's overstepping; let's just say most people), the person made the prior transactions while the account had enough in the available balance but they were held until the large transaction went through.  That way, the transactions that were made PRIOR to the account going negative were then put through in order to cause a NSF for every transaction.  I don't know how much simpler this could be.  The person made ONE mistake, the large transaction that put the account in the negative.

Can a caveman understand? Yes.

Chris? Not so much.

Chris quipped:

The customer overdrafted ten times because the bank engineered the transaction order for maximum gouging.

No, Chris, the customer overdrafted ten times because he initiated ten transactions HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY and HE DIDN'T KEEP HIS END OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS HE SIGNED.

I don't think I could make it any clearer for you if I stenciled the word DOOFUS on your forehead....

"The customer isn't overdrafting once. When multiple transactions have insufficient funds, EACH ITEM CONSTITUTES AN OVERDRAFT per the account's terms and conditions.

If a customer overdrafts 10 transactions in accordance with terms and conditions signed and agreed-upon BEFORE THE ACCOUNT WAS OPENED, then 10 overdrafts occurred and will be assessed fees.

Ergo, just as an officer would give you 10 speeding tickets if you were caught speeding 10 times, you will pay 10 overdraft fees when you bounce 10 transactions. However, just as you would pay ZERO tickets if you didn't speed, you will pay ZERO overdraft fees if you simply manage your account like a RESPONSIBLE adult."

Once again, the point flew right over your head.  The customer overdrafted ten times because the bank engineered the transaction order for maximum gouging.  If he/she makes 9 small transactions while the available balance is above zero, then one large transaction which puts it in the negative, that customer made ONE mistake, not ten.  Unfortunately, the bank doesn't see it this way and holds the first nine transactions until the large one has a chance to go through, allowing all ten to cause overdrafts.  Don't give me that BS that the merchant is the one holding these.  That may be the case sometimes, but 9 different merchants probably didn't push their transactions through within minutes of each other coincidentally.  I don't know if that happened here, but I've seen it happen many times.

man who stood-up for the "little guy" many years ago. If there had been computers and an internet back then, he would have most likely been telling the people to SPEAK-OUT 'peacefully' on the worldwide web.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

 He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; -

Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims..

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault..

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Author, take some responsibility for your life.  The bank is not holding your pending transactions, the vendor's aren't sending them in on a timely basis.

I am sick and Tired of people LIKE YOU, blaming others for your stupidy, and neglect.  And you know you brought negative post on your self for going on this forum, and making your problems public as you did!!!

GROW THE F**K UP!!!

our driver's license, proof of auto insurance, our registration, and proof of health care insurance.

our driver's license, proof of auto insurance, our registration, and proof of health care insurance.

Just when you thought you were making a point to counter the responsibility advocates, you make our case for us (as if we needed your help)...

RonnyG hypothesized:

You are speeding..you know you did wrong when you were speeding and you get pulled over. You expect you are going to get a ticket...

So instead of one speeding ticket..the officer gives you 10 speeding tickets.

A rational adult responds:

The problem with your analogy is this:

The customer isn't overdrafting once. When multiple transactions have insufficient funds, EACH ITEM CONSTITUTES AN OVERDRAFT per the account's terms and conditions.

If a customer overdrafts 10 transactions in accordance with terms and conditions signed and agreed-upon BEFORE THE ACCOUNT WAS OPENED, then 10 overdrafts occurred and will be assessed fees.

Ergo, just as an officer would give you 10 speeding tickets if you were caught speeding 10 times, you will pay 10 overdraft fees when you bounce 10 transactions. However, just as you would pay ZERO tickets if you didn't speed, you will pay ZERO overdraft fees if you simply manage your account like a RESPONSIBLE adult.

Yet another example of how RESPONSIBILITY wins every time. Don't initiate transactions you don't have the money to cover, and your overdraft fees reduce to ZERO.

It's a solution so simple, a caveman can understand it...

A hypothetical analogy...

You are speeding..you know you did wrong when you were speeding and you get pulled over. You expect you are going to get a ticket...

So instead of one speeding ticket..the officer gives you 10 speeding tickets.

Would the solution to that be "just don't speed"?  Of course..but at the same time why was the driver punished 10 times the amount as the violation warranted?? Whatever the reason..it is wrong and any normal non-coward would fight it. Sure, some bank defenders are going to tell you to check your terms and conditions and you may find where it says they can re-sequence transactions highest to lowest..but this still does not make it right..and does not mean you have to take the fleecing. Obviously the OP did not realize the bank would do this or the $40.00 cup of coffee would not have been purchase.

Also granted the OP must now be fully aware of how this bank operates and will be a lot more careful with the card...2 months of this is too much..stop using the card!

We have a law firm "investigating" this practice by the banks. If you have been a victim of transaction manipulation and "re-sequencing" which directly caused the ADDITIONAL fees on top of the actual legitimate overdraft(s) fees... instead of "victim"... it should be "Plaintiff".

I am not allowed to give out websites or phone numbers here it seems but if you google "Finkelstein Thompson LLP" you can find contact info there to help with the "investigation"...

It is alleged that some banks, are in violation of 12 U.S.C. 4303(b)(1) for their failure to disclose that the condition precedent of a pre-existing overdraft could cause the assessment of additional overdraft fees.  Instead, the banks have been lying to consumers that the condition precedent was insufficient funds.

[The true reason why you were assessed the additional overdraft fees that you did NOT cause is because you actually had a pre-existing overdraft in your account that the bank used to manipulate your account to create additional overdraft fees by a creative accounting practice].

[The bank then falsely accused you of being at fault for the additional overdrafts you didnt cause by lying to you about having insufficient funds in your account.  In fact, without the pre-existing overdraft(s) in your account (condition precedent), it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for the banks creative accounting practice to have assessed additional overdraft fees against you that you did not create].

[That is why the bank engages in tactics to make you overdraft your account. For example, the bank will not immediately post your correct available balance or the bank will drop a hold on your account to only apply it later to make you believe you have more available funds in your account then you do. The bank will also split two pre-existing overdrafts created on the same date so it can create additional overdraft fees on two different posting dates instead of one].

Leroy Yoakam, and Karl all knew when the STOCK MARKET was going to CRASH well before it happened, correct?

GET ALL OF YOUR MONEY OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET, & CASH IN YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS NOW!

Interesting how you mentioned that Clarke Howard talks about Bank of America.  Yet you seem to miss his other points especially how to avoid the fees.  He talks quite a bit about people managing their money.  On more than one occasion I know he has talked about the same thing that others have said here. 

This includes using something to manage your accounts, whether that is some Financial Software package, using a register or even a notebook.  I believe that he has mentioned mint.com as a good site that you may want to look at.  You also need to stop all of your automatic debits, go back to using checks.  It also may include getting rid of your Debit Card and going back to using cash.  All of which would have eliminated(or at least minimized) your fees.

The bank is not your accountant, which is why YOU need to manage your money.  It appears that while you didn't come right out and say it, you are using on-line banking.  This is inaccurate for many reasons, and the reasons are beyond the banks control, as they have to do with the merchant actually posting the debit.  The bank is not going to remind you that you have a Withdraw coming out in a few days and buying that coffee at Starbucks may not be the best idea.  It is your responsibility to remember you have a debit coming out.  While you may have the money "now", that you will cause you to be short in a few days when the other withdraw comes out.  So you can make the decision to get the Coffee, or overdraft.  However, if you overdraft you unfortunately have to pay the fees as a result.  This is also not unique to BofA, BofA post transactions the same as every other bank out there.

That this is not a Bank of America problem. This is a "Little Guy" problem. The bank is not holding transactions and waiting until a big one comes in. The debits are pending because the merchant has not posted the actual transaction. This can take up to a week and is totally dependent on the merchant and whatever company they use to process their credit/debit transactions.

 Additionally, it is not possible for BofA to rack up overdraft charges unless you spend more than you have. They merely compound your mistake by ordering transactions from largest to smallest (which every major bank does). If you don't overdraft in the first place, they can order the transactions anyway they like and it should make a bit of difference to you.

 Your post makes it sound like you're using online banking info to determine how much you have. That is wrong. Because of the way debit transactions are done, the only way you can be sure of how much money you have is to keep an independent check register. Only you know exactly how much you have spent using checks or debits. The bank only finds out when the final transaction hits their system.

 Clark Howard's main point is to get people to be smarter in handling their finances. The things you have complained about here would happen to you at any major bank today. They're all the same. By tracking your finances a little better, you can make this a non-existent issue.