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Report: #259996

Complaint Review: Bank Of America - Hartford Connecticut

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  • Reported By: Hartford Connecticut
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  • Bank Of America Hartford, Connecticut U.S.A.

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I have a checking account with them for 2 years and am about to close it. They've repeatedly charged overdraft fees for transactions that have happened before the actual overdraft was made.

I used to mantain a record of transactions but decided not to because it was always wrong because this bank charges fees for new things every month. In places where I use to withdraw money with no bank fees almost every day all of a sudden I now am charged $2 dollars extra besides the fee that the machine charges (usually 1 or 1.50).

Also, I read that for another customer they said it is policy to process large transactions first, that is crap, they do charge the overdraft fees for the smaller transactions to charge $35/transaction instead of only one $35 fee; but when I went online and checked my statement the transactions I was charged fees for were posted before the actual overdraft. So, I ask the bank; Will you please make up your mind?

When I withdrew the mere $20 it said I had a balance of $20.51 so after the transaction it was left with 51 cents. The next day I received an e-mail of the overdraft fees. The $20 transaction was made on a monday night well after closing hours and all transactions made before this last one should have posted by then according to policy. The last transaction had been the friday before (2 full business days had gone by), so I thought that was the correct balance. My mistake, caused by their procrastination. But what really pisses me off is that I trully thought I had the money available and I needed food for my babies so I withdrew only to find out that the money wasn't really available all I truly had were around $3. So instead of charging me with only one $35 dollar fee (which is way too much anyway) I got pinned with 3. It is wrong because according to a statement printout the only one which actually overdrew the account was the $20. And anyway it's not like they lost any money, checks enter by direct deposit every week so it would have been paid automaticaly.

To whom ever said that they do this so other more important checks don't bounce; it is Bull S, because when they charge overdraft fees the letters clearly state that all transactions have been PAID. In other words they didn't bounce anything. I beleive that since I always pay debit not credit transactions made with unavailable funds should be denied on the spot... why let it clear when the bank knows the funds are unavailable before the transaction even goes through. Because on this occasion the transactions "apparently" entered after the fact (although on the bank statement they appear before like they're supposed to) on other occasions things have cleared only to find out that the bank already knew days before the fact that I did not have enough funds to cover it. This prooves they only want to stiff their customers. Why allow the system to work like this only to charge customers even more for absolutely nothing in exchange, I mean I still have to pay the amount of the transaction added to the $35.

Bank of America does not care about their customers, only about their profit. What else can you say about some one who charges $35 for going over the limit only 75 cents.

They have stolen almost $200 from my children, because every fee they charge is one less trip to the grocery store that I can make. Which means dozens of less nutricious meals for my poor two year old. I mean we are all human, which in turn makes us imperfect, why should innocent children end up paying for a simple mistake? Why not charge only $5 dollars?, it's only net earnings for them any way it's not like they are loosing anything they're going to recuperate the overdrawn money as soon as a deposit is made so why punish loyal customers for being human. Fix the system so that overdrafts can't be made in the first place. Everything is electronic, they know intantly when I want to use the card I never write checks any more so why keep on using the lame excuse that it came in late. If I can put gas in my car using the card and come home and immediatly see the transaction in my online page, why can't they set the system up to stop the overdraft in the first place.

All they say are excuses and lies. Bank of America...you suck!!!

Yalines
Hartford, Connecticut
U.S.A.

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This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/10/2007 05:16 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/bank-of-america/hartford-connecticut-06106/bank-of-america-ripped-me-off-with-unjustified-and-outrageous-overdraft-feesthey-dont-259996. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
7Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#7 Consumer Comment

Your fault

AUTHOR: Susan - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, July 23, 2007

Sorry but it is your fault.

Like I tell my adult kids a debit card, or a paper check, is only as good as the cash in the account, less the amount of any checks or withdrawls that haven't cleared yet.

You have to keep track of your transactions so you don't spend more than you have. Balance and what you have spent on that balance that hasn't cleared yet are completly different things.

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#6 Consumer Suggestion

Yalines, The bank IS NOT at fault here.

AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, July 23, 2007

Yalines,

Admittedly, you do not keep an accurate checkbook register, and that is the main source of your problems, as is the case with most NSF related complaints.

Second, the terms and conditions brochure you got with your account is very clear as to funds availability AND fees. All you have to do is READ IT!

Using ANY non BofA atm will result in fees by the atm owner AND BofA. This is very clearly spelled out in the terms and conditions brochure. I know BofA policy inside and out as I have been a customer for approx 16 years and have never paid 1 NSF fee, or other accounting problem.

You are "floating" transactions counting on them hitting after your direct deposit. That simply does not work, as you have found out. You MUST have the money in your account and available BEFORE making a debit transaction or writing a check.

Furthermore, the bank has not "stolen" anything. They charged you the fees that you agreed upon when you opened the account. Plain and simple. If you really feel that they "stole" your money, file a police report for larceny.

Your report is ridiculous and there is no ripoff here.

Take responsibility for your own actions or lack thereof. Learn how to be responsible with your account and keep an accurate checkbook register.

Very simple solution here.

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#5 Consumer Comment

I totally agree with you

AUTHOR: Kimberly - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, July 21, 2007

I totally agree with you, Bank of america sucks, they dont stick to thier policys, they are supposed to be debiting your account largest to the smallest item, yet i see they will toss that 35.00 fee inbetween two higher debits instead of at the end where it should be if it is the lowest debit, so they can charge you another 35.00 again the next night.

THEY DONT STICK TO THIER OWN POLICYS. and then when called on it, THEY OUTRIGHT LIE! Bank of america is literally stealing money from us and getting away with it. WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP THEM? any idea? email me with any suggestions on how we can put a stop to these robberies being commited against our money.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

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#4 Consumer Comment

It's All About Money...

AUTHOR: Ei - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Something similiar happened to me at BOA but when I promised to walk with my CD's and savings, they reversed the charges. I still closed my account and moved my money to a credit union. You can always show any company what you think by walking.

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#3 Consumer Comment

Advise

AUTHOR: John - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Banks are making a KILLING off of taking advantage of poorer working class Americans who don't have the money to fight back or have bought-and-paid-for politicians to write them legislation.

In the interim: Use your bank account ONLY for making deposits and withdrawing CASH only. no checks, debits or automatic debits. If you need to pay someone by check, withdraw the money in cash from your account and get a money order to pay them...yes, it's a hassle and it will cost you in the 50 to 90 cent range each time but that's nothing compared to multiple NSF overdraft fees every month.

Get rid of all automatic debits from your checking account. if this involves dropping some non-essential luxury items like Netflix, which only accepts payments via automatic debits. then this must be done.

Use this system to stop banks from taking advantage of you. good luck.

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#2 Consumer Comment

Keeping low account balances will cause these problems

AUTHOR: Mike - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Banks don't necessarily process debits in the order they occur and keeping very low account balances will cause this. Constantly expecting a bank to process charges with only a few dollars extra in the account will get you in trouble every time.

Hate to tell you this, regardless of your financial and personal situations. you need to keep higher balances in your account and keep better track of your expenditures. I've dealt with Bank Of America for many years and never had the slightest problem.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

Heads up !!

AUTHOR: Terry - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

While I agree that Bank of America with a Checking Account Card should not allow electronic debits that over the limit in the first place ( it happened to me ). I bear responsibility also .

Upon each transaction, you can check your balance online the next day or Business day .

Also, as this poster stated (I use to keep a log of transactions ). If so, you'd know your true balance.

They also now send such a sheet with each mail statement and instructions on how to keep track .

For whatever reason we in todays society want to blame others for our faults.

If it were a credit card the same fees would apply , you agreed to them ( even if you didn't read the fine print upon signing up.

Bottom line, keep track of your transactions , it's your responsibility, not the banks .

If you don't like their policies, write a letter. If they receive enough letters of complaints, maybe they will halt overdrafts .

Just to note: It did take 3 overdraft purchases for the card to finally be denied, so I do see your point also.

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