Bank of America trying to trick credit card customers into late charges.

[Kablooie]

Be careful not to throw away your BofA credit card statements.
They are purposely designed to look like junk mail so you'll toss it before opening and miss a payment.

We missed one payment because we never received the bill but they wouldn't cancel the late charge.

I searched online and found that many people are being caught with this scam and warned my wife about it.

Today this is the envelope the statement came in:



No mention of Bank of America anywhere. She nearly threw it away but then remembered my
warning and opened it.

They will do anything they can to trick you into extra payments.

[Naturyl]

1. I don't get credit card statements

Because I threw away my credit cards.

When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.

[dionysus]

2. not for nothing, but it clearly says in between two red lines "your statement is enclosed"

[tammywammy]

4. +1 n/t

[dionysus]

7. the hell you gonna do? i saw it instantly...

[tammywammy]

5. Dupe

[dionysus]

8. trupe

;)

[Kablooie]

10. and so to a hell of a lot of junk mail ads.

[dionysus]

15. you could just open all your mail or keep track of when your bills are due and expect the statements

:shrug:

[Kablooie]

23. Of course, but that doesn't change the fact the BofA is trying to trick customers.

[pipi_k]

26. No, sorry...

BoA is a sleazy outfit, that's for sure, but it's not "trying to trick" its customers.

I have two credit cards, both of which come the same exact way.

No mention of the bank, just the legend on the front, "Your statement is enclosed"

So far I've never been tricked into believing it's a piece of junk mail. And anyway, I do think it behooves people to keep track of when statements are due and watch for them, and never assume something with the word "Statement" right on the front, underlined in RED is a piece of junk mail.

Honestly, there are victims of banks, and then there are people who sabotage themselves.

I think this is a clear case of self-sabotage.

[liberalhistorian]

33. +1,000,000,000

Sometimes people really do need to exercise some responsibility. It very clearly says statement, underlined, and it's your responsibility to know when you're supposed to receive your statement and to keep close track of such things.

[dionysus]

29. you're killing me. of course banks are sleazy, but your statement was clearly labeled....

[EC]

13. Doesn't mean a thing...

I got political mail like that from Scot Walkers campaigne...when you turn it over, it says it's not a bill, then inside it talks about tax increases coming due (the bush tax cuts although they never say that - just list the individual parts of it set to expire)...so I would have thrown that away too...

[haifa lootin]

14. Not to defend them, but there is a reason they do not have a return address name

people will steal mail from mailboxes and zero in on what are obviously credit/debit card statements, to steal account numbers. Many people would be displeased if the mail DID clearly indicate where it came from...it's a no-win situation when dealing with thieves.

[tammywammy]

18. +1 n/t

[Knight Hawk]

22. Yes

BOA is paranoid about fraud and maybe they should be.I just returned from a trip to Ca.and Nv. They put a hold on my debit and credit cards because they were not sure it was me trying to use the cards.They called me on my cell and asked me a number of questions before they released the hold.I have had them for years and never had a problem traveling before.They asked me to call before I travel again and give them my iteneary.By the way from what I heard and saw for 5 days in Nevada I think Harry Reid is toast.

[EFerrari]

17. Junk mail always says your something is enclosed to get you to open it. n/t

[dionysus]

31. good lord, don't you keep track of your finacial statements?

:crazy:

[EFerrari]

32. goof lord, I didn't recall making any statement about what I do at all.

:crazy:

[notesdev]

19. So does half the junk mail I get

Don't you also get flooded with junk mail pretending to be legit business correspondence? I've seen them go as far as putting warnings on the envelope about felony mail tampering charges for obstructing delivery of their junk mail.

Back when I did business with BoA they had the company logo prominent on every envelope.

[dionysus]

20. a few of my statements have logos, most don't. but i have written down in a notebook whats due when

and pay it online. not trying to be hard on the OP but i recognize my statements when they come in the mail

[pipi_k]

28. Exactly...It just makes sense..

I write down in a notebook everything I charge to each card.

When my statement comes, I cross check with my list so I know there are no fraudulent charges, although my banks are pretty good about recognizing such things.

I know when the closing dates are, and I know when to expect the bills, and I know the payment due dates.

[alsame]

3. Other banks are doing it too - everyone with a credit card should beware. nt

[redirish28]

6. This is one of the many scams to get people into paying extra.

another scam is OPTING into a program that will let you go over your balance (that way you don't have to worry about being embarrassed.) and Charging overbalance fees that way.


A friend of my wife recently caught that bull crap.

[DJ13]

9. My CC sends an email alert that a payment is coming due

Usually at least 4 days before we receive the bill in the mail.

Then they post another email on the day they cash the check saying payment received.

[dionysus]

11. i immediately shred my statements and pay them all online.. the easiest way

[haifa lootin]

12. That's the same envelope BofA has used to send me statements for 5 years.

Did they pull a switcheroo on you?

[Kablooie]

24. It's a new card my teenage son got. My wife and I don't use BofA.

[dionysus]

30. well now you're familiar with it, don't throw it away.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. I also got a statement today, and thought it was junk mail.

Luck for me, I always open the junk mail before I toss it. I was shocked that it was my statement. I do not remember ever having this type of envelope used for my statement before.

Thanks for the heads up to others.

[unblock]

21. i check online as soon as my statement is available. i have reminders in quicken.

i immediately schedule my payments to hit my account on the due date, before my snail mail statement has even arrived.
i only use the physical statement as a double-check.


quite apart from any nefariousness on the part of banks, physical mail can get lost by the post office or swiped by prankster teens., so best not to rely 100% on them.

[DoBotherMe]

25. Yes, they are tricky

I have BoA too. The good news is that because of the new cc law your due date is always the same date each month. You can also pay at a BoA branch on the due date with no penalty. Good luck. Dana ; )

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.