Charter One Bank gift card lost for 500.00 dollars,bank states that money can't be returned and after 13 month bank fees will eat up remaining sum of 271.00 Chicago Illinois

On 12/21/07 i purchased a gift card from charter one bank in which at the time i had banked with over ten years,the card was for my son for x-mas.on 01/02/08 i received a phone call from my son stating he had lost the card after just two purchases.on 01/03/08 i went into the bank to see if i could stop the card,so no finder could use it and have the balance refunded,the banker said lets look and see,she went into her pc and began to tell me the card number and that my son had made his last purchase of 190.00 dollars the night before,leaving a balance of 271.00,but she stated it's like losing cash and the bank does not have to return the remainder to me.she went on to say that the card wasn't registered by me so there is no return policy.i asked her why wouldn't the teller inform customers of this policy upon buying these cards,she said you was supposed to read the small print on the back of the card,i ask its not a standard policy when a card is purchased of this value to automatically register the card or either be informed by a bank employee of the risk,she said you have to read the small print on the back of card.i said even when you obtain a credit card the company ask about credit card protection to guard against theft or lost cards and some credit limits are only 300.00 dollars,she said mr dixon its like losing cash.so i asked since you know whats left on the card,when the last purchase was made and you claimed you stopped use of the card then what happens to the 271.00,she said after 13 months the bank fees will eat that up,question to her isn't that against the law,she said you purchased this card before the law went into effect. she gave me the number to the card services and the lady on the phone repeated the same spill,i called their corperate office and the lady stated the same thing,i informed her that i had been to the bank in person and had called several numbers in which they gave me which started at 9a and my efforts to resolve issue ended at 6pm,i inform the lady that i had ask the quetion about the money being ate up after 13 months by bank fees,she said that is correct,i said ,i said isn't this against the law,she went on to repeat the spill that you purchased this card before the law was passed and that would not effect this issue,i said then since i can't get any resolve with this system i will be forced to file a complaint with bbb and illinois attorney general office,she said go right ahead that won't effect us either,they have great representatives in thier customer service department don't they?it felt like i had a pistol in my back,on 01/04/08 i went to charter one and closed two of my four accounts and plan to closee the rest this up coming week,beware of what you are walking into when you enter a bank that shares citizen and charter ones logo.

Gotripped
chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.