Bank of America, negligent, deny access to funds, online banking Nationwide

I charge that Bank of America is unlawfully denying me access to my accounts and was negligent in ever having the default set for its customers to log in using their Social Security Numbers.

Bank of America already cannot keep my credit card information straight. There is zero consistency in the billing period -- I'm sure to sap more money out of me -- and as of the last billing period I was never notified that my newest statement was available. I did not receive the statement in the mail, nor in my e-mail (which arrives any other month) and, what makes this time exceptionally different, the balance on the front page of my Bank of America online account didn't even reflect the new balance -- like it was never even updated!

But, after digging into my account, I found that, indeed, the new statement was out, but the balance on the actual credit card listing page was not consistent with the amount on the main account summary page. This could easily deceive a customer into believing that a new statement was not yet available (making it much easier for daily percentage rate to keep ticking up on the new balance). But I got lucky with that ...

... Now I don't have access to my online account at all!

According to an online representative, who refused to understand that I would not be updating my Online ID, Bank of America is allowed to refuse me access to online banking and refused to help me until I created a new login and passcode. I never received any notification about these account changes until I tried to log in (it's probably lost in the mail with my most recent credit card statement).

I do the majority of my banking online, and I appreciate that they want to take added security measures.

However, I feel that it is very strange, and probably illegal, to completely deny me access to my accounts because I refuse to pick an uncommon, unfamiliar new ID.

I am also very worried about what brought on BOA's sudden need for added security.

I have done all of my banking through BOA since 2004, and from the moment that I signed up for a checking account I have been logging in with my Social Security Number.

If it was fine for all of these years, what's the big rush now? And isn't BOA just admitting guilt by finally realizing -- and forcing every customer to fix -- their mistake (something every other smart company started doing in the late 90s)?

I handle all of my banking through BOA, and, until the end of 2007, had nothing but great things to say about them. This just adds on to the poor customer service and shady business practices I've been reading about and experiencing for months now.

Andrew
Durham, North Carolina
U.S.A.