Anyone have 'Bank of America' horror stories?

[ChoralScholar]

I deposited a 6,000 dollar check from Boston University last Wed. They have placed a hold on the check, which is somewhat understandable (they cite Patriot Act BS).

However, I have checks coming in and they are bouncing them and returning them left and right, plus charging me 34.00 each. They tell me they won't release any funds until Thursday, and then, only 4400 of it. The rest will come on Monday.

I'm dumbfounded. I don't know what to do. I'm reading things on the internet about others who have had the exact same problem.

You got a story? We can commiserate.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. They charge $5 for non-account holders to cash checks there.

I used to regularly do this, then deposit the cash into my Chevy Chase account, so I wouldn't have a hold on the funds.

When I (politely) registered my shock and disgust with the teller; she said, "Well if you want to open an account here you can cash checks any time." I told her I wouldn't open an account there if it was the last bank on earth.

[MissB]

2. It isn't all that unusual to have banks hold large checks.

They should've disclosed that to you when you went to deposit it.

If I were you, I'd head down to the bank and talk to someone in person. You might get more action that way.

My credit union, btw, doesn't hold checks like that. :D

[WindRavenX]

3. oh man

I don't want to read these. I'm with BoA and have zero problems with them--makes me think I'm due for something :scared:

[MissB]

4. One day, you'll go to the atm to withdraw money

and you'll get roadkill instead.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Yes.

I once deposited a check at the ATM. According to the receipt, the funds were released immediately. I go out and make several small purchases (about $60 total). A few days, later, I somehow find out I've overdrawn my account. Well, the receipt lied and the funds were not released until the next day. However, my purchases immediately went through. I was charged with almost $200 in overdraft fees, almost as much as the deposited check. When I argued with them, I was treated like a complete loser idiot. They told me that even though it said the funds were released, the deposit was made at 5:02pm and therefore, would not go through until the next day. The guy told me that I should be more careful next time, because I should watch out for buying a $40 cup of coffee. His supervisor was not much nicer on the phone. Going into my actual branch did not prove any better.

I've since stopped banking with them. I got a notice a few weeks ago from a collection agency. They had put my closed account into collections because of $10 in fees owed, which weren't there when I closed the account.

[SmileyBoy]

6. Anyone remember the North Hollywood shootout of 1997??

THAT was a Bank of America horror story.:scared:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

9. right,. well more like a Bank of America Bruckheimer movie.

not necessarily a horror,lolz.

[YouthInAsia]

7. i hate bank of america. They're always charging me these extra little

charges. I asked them to reorder me checks and the f'in genius I spoke to assured me he would. of course, he didnt. So I waited and I waited. No checks came. I needed to write my rent ASAP so I went down there and told them my story. Anyway, they said they'd do some sort of a bank check for me but managed to CHARGE ME $34.00 to write it up. I lost it right there in the bank. big fight ensued, said they reverse the charge. When I got next months statement, guess what was STILL on there as a deduction? You got it......the $34.00 charge. I thought about holding the place up but then quickly shook that idea off.

[shanti]

8. i dumped them years ago

and never looked back. i HATE b of a.

[Floogeldy]

10. It's an out-of-state check.

They always get put on hold.

Live and learn.

[SeattleGirl]

11. I was one humiliated in front of customers and other employees

by this piece of crap woman at BOA. I went in to deposit my paycheck and get some cash back. The teller told me that my account was overdrawn and I couldn't have any cash back, even though my check was for a lot more than the amount I was overdrawn. I only wanted $20 back, which still would have left plenty to cover how much I was in the hole. No dice, says the teller. So I asked if there was a supervisor I could speak to, and was directed to the piece of crap woman.

I went to this woman's desk to talk to her. As you know, most desks are out in the main room of the bank, so there really is no privacy. I told the woman I had just been informed I was overdrawn, had a check to deposit that would more than cover it, and wanted $20 in cash back (I had absolutely no cash on me at all). This woman proceeded to berate me in a very loud voice for overdrawing my account (I made an error in my check book), including telling me that I was the most irresponsible person she had ever met (I rather doubt that).

Of course, everyone in the bank turned to look at me because of how loudly this woman's voice was. I don't think I've ever been so humiliated in my life.

What I ended up doing was go to a check-cashing place, got cash, went to a different branch of BOA, deposited enough money to cover the amount I was in the hole, and closed my account. I have stepped foot in a BOA only one time since then (and this incident happened a number of years ago), and that was to interview the HR person regarding a client of mine who was employed by BOA.

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. Bank of America is the offical bank of Wal-Mart

just thought you might like that info.

[TK421]

13. I still owe those bastards $2600.00. I had to consolidate three cards

in order to lower the interest rate and pay them off quicker....they are bastards to deal with, and snotty to boot

[radwriter0555]

14. Sunwest Credit Union services your area. Credit Unions are the ONLY way

to bank.

http://www.sunwestfcu.org/

There are more. Just google Credit Union and your town.

It's best favor you can do for yourself. CU rates for buying a car are fantastic.

[CarpeDiebold]

15. Oh man, I feel bad for y'all

I'm with BoA and they've been awesome for me. :shrug: luck of the draw I guess.

Choral, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Hope it works out for you :)

[ChoralScholar]

17. One month ago, I would have said the same thing. EOM

[azmouse]

24. I've never had any problems with BofA either.

I don't think they're any better or any worse than any other bank.

[veganred]

16. Bank of America is Evil!

I had several personal and business accounts with Bank of America over a ten year period including financing my car. They made a great deal of mistakes over my car note, threatening to repossess my car several times when the payments were not late.

So many other experiences that I won't go into but the worst and last was when I deposited an American Express cashiers check into the account for the nonprofit organization in which I was running. It was for $10,000 and was anonymous which was not so unusual for our organization. I did not try making any withdraws on the account after the deposit was made and was horrified to find out one day my balance said -$187,000. It should have been $12,000 and some odd dollars. When calling they said the deposit I made for with a counterfeit check which was a surprise to me. They held me accountable (which I was cleared of later) and shut down my personal accounts and business accounts. I had to sign some legal documents to testify that I did not know this was a fake check.

I still don't know who sent that check and if it really was fake. My boyfriend and I looked at it for hours (with joy) after receiving it and it really looked authentic to us. After being a loyal customer for over ten years and in good standing you think they would have given me the benefit of the doubt (since I had not money withdraws against the check) and not treated me so poorly.

[meegbear]

18. Screwed me over with credit cards ...

When the banks my cards were from were tranferred to BoA, 3 cards, they raised my rates. August last year, I was late on paying one of the cards. When the bankruptcy law went into effect in October, they retroactively raised it to 31% interest.

I have joined a credit consolidation service to pay off my bills, starting in February. I have a fourth card with Chase and they signed on no problem. BoA has technically signed on, but they'll still "processing" it, so I'm still having the same bills and rates with them.

Assholes.

[hopein08]

19. My uncle is a vice-president of Bank of America in San Francisco

he's VP of Foreign Investments or something like that.

[nini]

20. They screwed me over years ago over a credit card issue

I paid them off and after struggling for years finally got back on my feet financially.

They took over a bank I had a credit card with (Fleet - I think) and when I got the new card I called them up to cancel the account. They asked why - I told them I would NEVER give them another penny of my money after how they screwed me over when I needed a break. Now that I'm making good money they all of a sudden want my business again? fuck them up and down every which way. They've ended up losing a lot of money in mortgage fees etc now that I have all those things. I want them to fall apart and go to hell.

[Thtwudbeme]

21. heh heh

I have one HELLUVA "Bank of America" story....but, will PM it to you. I will NOT post it on a public board, but God, I wish I could!

[nini]

22. I HATE them... I normally don't get annoyed at businesses

but what they did to me was underhanded. Fuck 'em.


Can't wait to see your story.. :D

[Thtwudbeme]

23. It's good...it's about one of the head honchos of BOA

I had to deal with ALL the players in that story for years--including the small children.

[ChoralScholar]

30. I'd love to hear your story... PM Me. EOM

[skygazer]

25. I hate banks. All banks.

Even the best of them screw you repeatedly. Take fees, for instance. My bank is up to $25 on overdraft charges (which sure beats your $34 but is still absurd).

What is it that those charges are paying for? All the actions taken (the notice that's sent out, the charge to your account, the refusal or payment of any checks or transactions) is done by computer. So they're not paying for any human being's time, effort or work - they're just enriching the bank.

And it's YOUR money! Your money is not just sitting in a vault, gathering dust, waiting patiently for you to call for it. No, it's out making money for the bank! So they're getting money left and right - from the investments YOUR money is paying for as well as all the ridiculous fees you have to pay. I finally left Wells Fargo when they charged me a fee for asking a question over the telephone - 2 dollars to talk to a human being! About a mistake THEY made!

And yet we have to have a damn bank. We need it to pay bills, to write checks, to establish credit, to rent a car, etc. They have us over a barrel and they rape us on a daily basis. :grr:

[Cathyclysmic]

26. Any check is subject to be held

And a check over $5000.00 can be held longer. Charter one, Citizens and National City (i.e. any bank ) would do the same thing. And, I kind of like Bank of America. Sorry Dude. May want to deposit big checks into your saving so they have time to verify it's a good check.

[ChoralScholar]

29. I don't mind that they held it. After years of student loan

checks, I am certainly no stranger to that. But, I've never had a bank bounce checks against it. Keep me from withdrawing money, yes, but never sent checks back.

OTOH, There has to be a more efficient way for banks to work... especially in the day and age where they are trying to minimize float times (i.e. Check21), they are doing nothing to improve their own internal transaction times.

I have really liked BoA up to this point. I just feel so helpless.

[AllegroRondo]

27. Kept charging monthly service fees

to maintain a checking account even though it was supposed to be free with direct deposit.

The first time I called, they said "Oh, we'll fix that right away."
The second time, I cancelled my account. If you cant do what you said you would, you dont want my business.

[RubyDuby in GA]

28. Years ago, when I first got out of school and was working my first job

I got paid every week. I went to deposit my check which was for $600 and something (don't remember the exact amount). I was on my lunch break, so I went through the drive thru, did my thing and went back to work. A few days later I get a call from some company I had written a check to to pay my monthly account with and was informed that the check bounced. I got several more calls like that throughout the day. I then went to Bank of America the next day to get a statement and find out what was going on. I then found out that the idiot teller keyed it in wrong and my account was only credited with $60 and something. THEN the kicker was that I had to prove that they messed up. I didn't have the teller receipt. Who looks at those things when you're barely in your 20s and in a drive thru? It took me a few days to gather all my documentation, but I proved it and then I had to have a knock-down drag out fight with the bank manager to get them to remove all the overdraft fees. Yes, I stood in the bank and screamed at the top of my lungs "Why the hell should I have to pay overdraft fees when I just proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was your employee that made the mistake???" I then also made them contact all the people that I had written checks to with a letter and the credit bureaus explaining what happened and how it was not my fault.

Assholes.