- Report: #106691
Complaint Review: Bank Of America - Tampa Florida
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Bank Of America
Tampa, 33511 Florida, U.S.A.
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Bank Of America Ripoff Debited my account without permission Tampa Florida
I opened an account with Bank of America and received a debit card with the Visa logo on it. approxiametly six months after opening this account I began planning a weekend trip to Atlanta, GA. I used my Bank of America debit card to secure reservations with both Delta airlines and Hyatt hotel companies through priceline.com.
Three days after making these reservations, my schedule at work changed I was unable to go on this trip. I immediately went back online and cancelled the reservations. I then called the priceline.com customer service number to confirm the cancellations.
One month later, on the date of the reservations, the cost of both the hotel room and plane ticket were deducted from my account. I immediately called priceline.com and was informed that they could not and did not authorize the deduction once the reservation was cancelled. I then contacted Delta airlines and Hyatt hotel and inquired about the deduction. Neither company showed any record of my reservations because they had been cancelled through priceline.com and both companies denied the deduction.
I then contacted Bank of America. After getting the run around and being on hold for various B of A personnel for 2 hours and 7 minutes, the only response I received was: Because B of A was not directly contacted with the cancellation information, the deduction was made from my account as if the tickets were purchased. I was then told that because the funds were not available my account would be closed and I would be responsible for paying Bank of America the balance.
This is absurd. Neither of the services were used. Neither of the companies that provided the services profited, why is Bank Of America not acknowledging my cancellation?
Christine
Tampa, Florida
U.S.A.
Three days after making these reservations, my schedule at work changed I was unable to go on this trip. I immediately went back online and cancelled the reservations. I then called the priceline.com customer service number to confirm the cancellations.
One month later, on the date of the reservations, the cost of both the hotel room and plane ticket were deducted from my account. I immediately called priceline.com and was informed that they could not and did not authorize the deduction once the reservation was cancelled. I then contacted Delta airlines and Hyatt hotel and inquired about the deduction. Neither company showed any record of my reservations because they had been cancelled through priceline.com and both companies denied the deduction.
I then contacted Bank of America. After getting the run around and being on hold for various B of A personnel for 2 hours and 7 minutes, the only response I received was: Because B of A was not directly contacted with the cancellation information, the deduction was made from my account as if the tickets were purchased. I was then told that because the funds were not available my account would be closed and I would be responsible for paying Bank of America the balance.
This is absurd. Neither of the services were used. Neither of the companies that provided the services profited, why is Bank Of America not acknowledging my cancellation?
Christine
Tampa, Florida
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
John
White,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I Agree... original posting is bogus
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, September 03, 2004
I think the original posting is bogus. Every other complaint about Priceline their card was charged immediately and there are no refunds. The original poster probably decided to cancel their vacation and is trying to make the bank look bad so maybe they will give them money. Please post real rip-offs and not these bogus ones.
Sherri
Piedmont,California,
U.S.A.
PRICELINE IS NOT BEING UPFRONT WITH YOU
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, September 02, 2004
Your problem was caused by Priceline.com. Bank of America would have had to had either an electronic charge slip or a paper one from Priceline in order for the funds to be taken out by BOA. What happens when you use your check card like a Visa or Mastercard is that the merchant gets authorization from the bank and it essentially guarantees that the merchant will be paid when the charge is presented to the bank. If you made the purchase online, they get immediate authorization for the charge (which deducts your bank account balance for the moment), but the actual slip may not present for several days. Most banks will show your account back to the balance before the purchase on the next business day. Then the slip comes in and is paid by the bank, whether or not it puts you into overdraft. Sounds as if Priceline had not finalized your reservations, which is why they have no record of it. You need to go after Priceline. I don't understand why BOA closed your account though, unless you had a history of large overdrafts. Good luck.
Pat
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
I think you are blaming the wrong company in this case.
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, September 02, 2004
Christine, This rebuttal is based on my own personal experience. I think you are blaming the wrong company in this case. If I'm not mistaken, once you accept an offer from priceline.com, you are locked into that deal. Priceline's own website says that reservations are non-cancelable and non-refundable. It does say that you can change your reservation, but that the normal change rules apply per the airline. I don't think the fault here is with B of A. Although it does seem a little strange that your account was not charged until the date of the reservations. Something about the timing of the charges does not seem right. Once you accepted the offer from priceline, the charge should have been immediately put through on your debit card, and cleared B of A within 3-5 business days.
