Bank Of America kenneth d. lewis Corporate Headquarters, Nationwide

FYI, I was a customer of Fleet when B of A bought them out.  I knew that B of A would eventually turn into a monster, because that's what they were when I lived in California in the 90s.  (I actually sued them in small claims court there for holding a paycheck of mine for absolutely no reason, and the judge even gave me a few hundred punitive for having to miss work for all of this nonsense.)

Well, at first they were really nice to Fleet customers, then year by year they turned into the crooks I remember from California.  I used to make 6 figures up until earlier this year when the economy went south.  Until then I could barely be bothered with following the exact amounts in my checkbook.  A lot of things got by me, but I didn't have time to deal with it -- if the amount was small enough, I had to let it slide.

Well, as soon as I went on unemployment, which is only about $400/week where I am, I noticed that the money was going down a little fast -- in fact for the weeks that I tracked it exactly, they were stealing between $3 and $6/week, every single week.  It didn't show as a fee, the balance would just go down.  I've encountered this before, from banks in California, when you leave an account open too long.  I guess they figure that you're not going to contest a few bucks when to prove the true balance you'd need to go back years.  I mentioned this to them a few times, even bounced a couple of checks because of money they'd stolen (and they don't like reversing those fees -- which shows you they're in financial trouble).  Finally, I discovered that if I take out the money in a few big chunks (as in, one or two bills and the rest in larger ATM withdrawals, that the stealing dropped below $2/week or didn't happen at all some weeks -- word to those who use their check cards for everything!  Have you really scrutinized how it adds up?  I pay cash for everything now -- food, gas, everything -- just because B of A will steal from me if they think they can get away with it.

Another time I had one big hotel charge come through that sent the account negative -- I'd forgotten about it and it came back on me.  But to get the maximum number of overage fees that they could, B of A re-ordered the list so that 3 tiny little charges for gas and food came first, so they took THREE overage charges instead of just one.  Now wasn't that nice of them?  I called them over and over, and they were just jerks -- "we order the list with the big charges first, so that the major charges go through -- we do it to help you."  Yeah, how about the order in which the charges went through?  But that doesn't matter to B of A when they can shaft their customers for more money!

So I've decided to leave B of A as soon as my taxes are filed.  Well, they had to give me at least one more problem -- some dopey little company that I authorized for a $40 charge decided to charge me an additional $100, just to be nice.  I called B of A and complained that it was fraud and completely unauthorized, that I'd suffer extreme hardship by not having access to that money (as it is am barely eating -- some days), but they wouldn't reverse the charge for me.  Said I'd have to wait until the company itself gave me a refund.  This is despite the fact that I'm on Unemployment right now and this is 1/4 of my income for the week.  I called B of A several times including a number online for their corporate HQ, but most of the time couldn't even get through to their call center.  A couple of guys I talked to were clowns and jerks.  Finally, in calling back to ask for management, a lady explained that they might be able to help me tomorrow instead, after it supposedly posts officially.  I'll call back, but I think it was just a way of getting rid of me.  As it is, their software should be able to handle fraudulent charges right away.  To not do so is participating in the fraud, as far as I'm concerned.

Long story short, I can't wait to get rid of my B of A account.  You'd think that they'd like to keep their customers that usually have large balances, but it's simply not true.  They're jerks to EVERYONE.  Find yourself a smaller bank that cares about your business, or a credit union if you can.  You'll never get anywhere with B of A.

Oh, and BY THE WAY, they received MASSIVE bailout money.  Why don't you write your Congressman about what happened?  I don't think people like that should get any taxpayer money.  They already make enough by shafting their customers for every dime they can get.

I read your account of what happened and feel for you. But lets look at the situation realistically. As cruel as it may sound, the bank is not a charity, which leads me to my next question. Did you know that you were going to be overdrawn? If so, I am certain you must have someone who could have deposited $10.00 into your account. Having worked for the bank, you should know, fixed income or not, it is very dangerous to work with such close balances as you did. Let's be honest, you can't run your account down to six dollars. You are inviting problems. As to writing to the bank, looking for support or sympathy? You should know better. You would have been better served by contacting your church and asking them for help. As I stated above, banks are not charities, UNLESS it has serious, positive PR implications. If you wanted to force the bank into assisting you, you should have coordinated this attempt thru your local media. I can assure you, the bank would have jumped into action in an effort to show its best face towards the public, but your rambling letter to the bank, about your sister, her accounts, her relationship with the bank, your past employment, 3rd degree burns...your letter ended up in the trash. If the bank would have helped you, why not other victims? Why not some Iraq veteran? Why not some WWII vet? Why not some cop who got shot in the line of duty? All have legitimate needs, none more than you. The bank is a business and needs to see a return for their generousity. Perhaps you contacting a politician who in turn would have first vetted your claim to assure its validity would have served you better, as a politician has access to the bank management which you do not have. I am sorry, our country is full of people who have needs, looking at a multi-billion business for help, espcialy a bank, is being unrealistic. Look at our mortgage situation. Millions have lost their homes, a disaster far worse than what had happened to you, yet I have heard of no bank which felt sorry for the home owners and forgave the mortgage default. No, millions lost their homes, everything and the banks stood by. Good luck to you in the future, try not to let your checking account balance get as low as you did. It is dangerous and invites only future financial problems. HWH - Buffalo

It is high time people STOP looking at politicians to help us when we mess up . I've been disabled officially since I was 30. I had my first surgery at 19 and at the age of 48 I just had my 45th surgery. I need another one, my husband had major surgery this past Tuesday. I have one arm that I can not use, I still volunteer and find a way to help my husband out. So, you are going to have to stop looking at everyone else to help you and start with a budget, get on a plan, if you have any, cut up credit cards, listen to Dave Ramsey ( don't know who he is, google him) you could learn a lot about how to help yourself from him.

I can tell you , you won't get a wheel chair from the government, soc security does not pay but just the basic and I know that hardly covers baisc care. I understand your frustration, I do. However, the politicians are not out there to "fix" our problems, and believe me, "universal healthcare " now that is a disaster waiting to happen! I run a chronic pain site and I have people who have that in other countries. Feel like waiting 6 months to even see about getting a MRI? No not getting one, just an appt to talk to the Dr about needing one. Need a knee replacement? You will wait well over a year for one. I've had 45th replacements. I would be dead by now, no doubt. So, I help others out, I volunteer, I stay busy, which tends to keep disabled people healthier overall. I've decided to be proactive not re active.

Good luck and tell your sister if she has no money, to NOT to use that credit line. That my friend would be a disaster!!!!!

If you need help how to get out of the mess your'e in, listen to the archives of The dave ramsey show on your computer. iHe does not charge a thing, so it is competly free. Now that is where you need to start!

Peace,

Cat

I am so sorry for what happened to you. It seems BOA has no regards for the disabled and considers them a nusance.

My friend had a terrible car accident, teenagers ran a light and smashed into her car leaving her in a coma for 3 months. Her purse was stolen at the scene of the accident and the thiefs wrote and were able to cash checks for more than $10,000.

She did not find out about this till many months later after very painful rehabilitation.

Did Bank of America do something about replacing her stolen money. NO!
They claimed it was more than 60 days and she should have reported the fraud immediately.

Hello, she was in a coma for three months.

Files of paperwork showing proof of her accident and her condition were fedex to Mr. Kenneth Lewis. Was there a response NO!NO!NO! Only a receipt that some mail clerk signed for the package.

Yes they received it but could care less. They are all about making money and more money.

And the copies of the checks they produced, not readable. Where are the original checks. According the check 21 law, they don't have to send the checks back with the statement but must supply legible copies upon request. And I think they must keep the originals.

They claim they don't have originals and that the copies are the best copies they could produce. BULL!!! LIARS!!!

Fraudsters and very corrupt.

And why can they get away with it, well they were the biggest corporate contributors to the Bush campaign. Corruption all the way to the top.

Bottom line anybody with a Bank of America account close it now. Any account, checking, savings, credit card, etc. Go to another bank, they are plenty out there.

I am so sorry for what happened to you. It seems BOA has no regards for the disabled and considers them a nusance.

My friend had a terrible car accident, teenagers ran a light and smashed into her car leaving her in a coma for 3 months. Her purse was stolen at the scene of the accident and the thiefs wrote and were able to cash checks for more than $10,000.

She did not find out about this till many months later after very painful rehabilitation.

Did Bank of America do something about replacing her stolen money. NO!
They claimed it was more than 60 days and she should have reported the fraud immediately.

Hello, she was in a coma for three months.

Files of paperwork showing proof of her accident and her condition were fedex to Mr. Kenneth Lewis. Was there a response NO!NO!NO! Only a receipt that some mail clerk signed for the package.

Yes they received it but could care less. They are all about making money and more money.

And the copies of the checks they produced, not readable. Where are the original checks. According the check 21 law, they don't have to send the checks back with the statement but must supply legible copies upon request. And I think they must keep the originals.

They claim they don't have originals and that the copies are the best copies they could produce. BULL!!! LIARS!!!

Fraudsters and very corrupt.

And why can they get away with it, well they were the biggest corporate contributors to the Bush campaign. Corruption all the way to the top.

Bottom line anybody with a Bank of America account close it now. Any account, checking, savings, credit card, etc. Go to another bank, they are plenty out there.

I am so sorry for what happened to you. It seems BOA has no regards for the disabled and considers them a nusance.

My friend had a terrible car accident, teenagers ran a light and smashed into her car leaving her in a coma for 3 months. Her purse was stolen at the scene of the accident and the thiefs wrote and were able to cash checks for more than $10,000.

She did not find out about this till many months later after very painful rehabilitation.

Did Bank of America do something about replacing her stolen money. NO!
They claimed it was more than 60 days and she should have reported the fraud immediately.

Hello, she was in a coma for three months.

Files of paperwork showing proof of her accident and her condition were fedex to Mr. Kenneth Lewis. Was there a response NO!NO!NO! Only a receipt that some mail clerk signed for the package.

Yes they received it but could care less. They are all about making money and more money.

And the copies of the checks they produced, not readable. Where are the original checks. According the check 21 law, they don't have to send the checks back with the statement but must supply legible copies upon request. And I think they must keep the originals.

They claim they don't have originals and that the copies are the best copies they could produce. BULL!!! LIARS!!!

Fraudsters and very corrupt.

And why can they get away with it, well they were the biggest corporate contributors to the Bush campaign. Corruption all the way to the top.

Bottom line anybody with a Bank of America account close it now. Any account, checking, savings, credit card, etc. Go to another bank, they are plenty out there.

I am so sorry for what happened to you. It seems BOA has no regards for the disabled and considers them a nusance.

My friend had a terrible car accident, teenagers ran a light and smashed into her car leaving her in a coma for 3 months. Her purse was stolen at the scene of the accident and the thiefs wrote and were able to cash checks for more than $10,000.

She did not find out about this till many months later after very painful rehabilitation.

Did Bank of America do something about replacing her stolen money. NO!
They claimed it was more than 60 days and she should have reported the fraud immediately.

Hello, she was in a coma for three months.

Files of paperwork showing proof of her accident and her condition were fedex to Mr. Kenneth Lewis. Was there a response NO!NO!NO! Only a receipt that some mail clerk signed for the package.

Yes they received it but could care less. They are all about making money and more money.

And the copies of the checks they produced, not readable. Where are the original checks. According the check 21 law, they don't have to send the checks back with the statement but must supply legible copies upon request. And I think they must keep the originals.

They claim they don't have originals and that the copies are the best copies they could produce. BULL!!! LIARS!!!

Fraudsters and very corrupt.

And why can they get away with it, well they were the biggest corporate contributors to the Bush campaign. Corruption all the way to the top.

Bottom line anybody with a Bank of America account close it now. Any account, checking, savings, credit card, etc. Go to another bank, they are plenty out there.