Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Subissue: Overdrafts and overdraft fees
Consumer Complaint: I was a student working full time and going to school so I was just getting by paying bills. I would be charged crazy over draft fees of {$35.00} every time I went over. And by over I mean a {$1.00} at most {$10.00}. They opened a cash rewards with my debit card that I had no clue about until I looked on my app one day and thought it was kind of weird. I had a credit card with them. My limit was {$500.00} and all of a sudden it went up to {$5000.00} in two weeks. I had to pay {$8000.00} because of the interest that would be made on it after using that money. My checks would deposit late. I dont remember dates but I have been out of a lot of money because of all of this.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: TX
Zip: 762XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Opening an account
Subissue: Account opened as a result of fraud
Consumer Complaint: I had a fraudulent bank account opened under my social security number and Bank of America took 8 months to close it even after filing several complaints and emails.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: PA
Zip: 156XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Deposits and withdrawals
Consumer Complaint: Hello, I made an in-person deposit in form of a United States Treasury check at my local Bank of America branch on XX/XX/XXXX and was assured the funds would be available the next business day. The teller swiped the check through their reader and verified the authenticity of the check. Later on in the evening of XX/XX/XXXX I received an email from Bank of America telling me that my funds would not be available until the end of the following week on XX/XX/XXXX due to them believing the item/check may be returned. That is simply unacceptable. We are talking about a somehow larger check, sure, but its a valid check from the US Treasury and not subject to significant holds under Regulation CC and if, on the rare occasion, an exception is invoked you better be very sure there are grounds for that and you arent placing an undue burden on the customer. A week and half hold for the full amount of the deposit of an, again, US TREASURY check is simply unacceptable, so I have to wonder why and how this decision was made. Apparently the person at the bank, who actually held the check and verified it, had no issues with it, so what happened here? Someone in the processing center came across this deposit and decided to just slap on a hold on it due to believing the funds wouldnt be available from the US Treasury? My account is in good standing and has always been so. My balances are typically in the neighborhood and have been in excess of this $ XXXX deposit, so its not like Im a new customer or someone who isnt known to the bank. Was it my foreign sounding name that caused someone to put this hold on my account, because I cant imagine what else it was? BoA didnt even attempt to mitigate the situation even somewhat by making a portion of the check available, but instead is holding the entire amount. BoA also did this after close of business at which point I couldnt go back into the branch and ask for the check back so I could deposit it at my credit union, who wouldnt have acted in this manner. There simply is no good reason to have this long of a hold on a properly endorsed check from the US Treasury, because surely if the check was fraudulent, law enforcement for the treasury wouldnt be waiting until the end of next week to notify BoA and myself of that l, and if the check cleared, it would happen also way before that, so for me to not have access to the funds before some arbitrary date is unacceptable.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NC
Zip: 28105
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Opening an account
Subissue: Didn't receive terms that were advertised
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2023 I opened a Bank of America checking account through a link on their website offering a {$100.00} bonus for opening a new account and receiving {$1000.00} in direct deposits within 90 days using code XXXX. The bonus was supposed to post within 60 days of meeting the terms. I met the terms on XX/XX/2023 after receiving {$1000.00} in direct deposits from my employer. On XX/XX/XXXX I called Bank of America and was told no promotional code showed on my account. I explained that I applied using a promo on their website. They asked for the promo code I used three months prior which I did not know off hand. On XX/XX/XXXX I found that I had took a screen shot of the application with the promo code XXXX so I called back. I told them I had used the code. They then told me that they could see that the code was added to my application which contradicted what I'd been told the previous day. They then tried to tell me that I didn't have {$1000.00} in deposits to meet the promo. Then I manually added up each deposit and told them it came to {$1000.00}. Eventually they added it up and acquiesced. Then they told me that I did meet all the qualifications but that I hadn't received the bonus because 60 days hadn't passed yet. I then told them that the terms were met on XX/XX/XXXX and since today is XX/XX/XXXX that is well over 60 days. Then they said that it would be looked into. I recently read about the legal action against Bank of America and one of the issues seemed to be their unwillingness to pay bonuses even when terms are met so I decided to file this complaint.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: CA
Zip: 90034
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Opening an account
Subissue: Account opened as a result of fraud
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX, I logged into my Bank of America ( " BOA '' ) online banking services and noticed an account that I did not open. Specifically, it was an " Adv Safebalance Banking '' account ending in XXXX. I immediately called BOA 's fraud department to let them know I did not open the account ending in XXXX. While waiting on hold for BOA fraud, a few things immediately raised concerns for me : ( 1 ) This account ending in XXXX had transactions dating back to XX/XX/XXXX ; however, this was not associated with my online banking services until XX/XX/XXXX. ( I log into my BOA app every day, so I can confirm this account was not associated until XX/XX/XXXX. ) ( 2 ) The transactions for the account ending in XXXX dated back to XX/XX/XXXX and were extremely suspicious. It appears that whoever opened this account was receiving large XXXX transfers and then pulling out money in intervals of {$500.00} at an ATM in XXXX. First, I am not self-employed, so I have never received XXXX transfers with " other income '' as the subject line, yet alone multiple in the same day. Second, I have been their customer for 15 years so they know I am not self-employed. Third, I live in New Jersey and am pretty sure I was doing transaction in New Jersey on this date. I do not understand why they would allow someone to do ATM transactions in a different state. Once the fraud department took me off hold on XX/XX/XXXX, I learned that this person allegedly used my SSN and DOB to open this account online on XX/XX/XXXX. However, I was never notified that someone was trying to open an account in my name with a different email address and phone number than the ones associated with my account. Again, I've been a customer of BOA for nearly 15 years. I have only had one phone number associated with my account ever, and I only had 2 email addresses ( one from my time at XXXX and then transitioned to my personal gmail account ). If someone had my SSN and DOB, I should have been alerted when such fraudster was trying to open an account in my name with a different email address and phone number. I told the BOA fraud department I did not open this account, and I wanted them to close this account as soon as their investigation is done. I had to close all of my other accounts with BOA and open new accounts because of this fraud, which caused a lot of work on my end because my main checking account is with BOA. As soon as I wrapped up with the BOA representative on XX/XX/XXXX, I placed a fraud alert on my credit report and placed a freeze across the three credit bureaus. I also made an account with the FTC at identitytheft.gov, my reference number is XXXX. I also contacted XXXX also filed a police report with the XXXX XXXX Police Department, file number is XXXX. I also contacted XXXX. As such, on my end, I placed all the appropriate reports for this identity theft. What's concerning to me is BOA 's handling of this identity theft. For starters, it is now XX/XX/XXXX and NO ONE from BOA 's fraud department has provided me an update on the status of my identity theft claim. I understand that BOA needs an affidavit to move forward with their investigation ; however, they should not make it difficult for the victims of identity theft to receive such affidavit. Even though this fraudster could open this account fully online, I was told I had to either fax or mail this affidavit in, which does not seem fair for the victims of identity theft. Further, I requested their uniform affidavit for identity theft via email, but after many phone calls and emails, I never got it via email. I finally got it via regular mail on XX/XX/XXXX and immediately sent my affidavit ( with nearly XXXX pages of supporting documents ) via Priority Mail Express ( tracking number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). They received such affidavit on Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX. I have called on XX/XX/XXXX, and twice on the XXXX - provided the tracking number and requested that someone contact me to let me know if they need anything else to close the account. I also sent a notice to furnisher using the template from XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX. Still, as of XX/XX/XXXX, NO ONE has contacted me or provided a status update. I have lodged over 9 complaints against BOA throughout this process- have called so many times to get updates and still as of XX/XX/XXXX no updates. It's not acceptable. I'm a victim of identity theft. I believe they either have a vast amount of broken controls internally, lack of training across departments, and/or bad actors on the inside because something is not right here. I need answers. I've had enough.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NJ
Zip: 07302
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Fees or interest
Subissue: Charged too much interest
Consumer Complaint: I have an XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with Bank of America. I have a balance transfer balance and I use the card for monthly purchases. The balance transfer balance has a 0 % interest rate for the duration of the promotion which is XXXX, 2024. I pay the monthly minimum for the balance transfer promotion and I pay in full my monthly purchases by the due date shown on the statement. I called BofA and the rep stated I am charged interest on the monthly purchases despite paying the balance in full because I made the payment after the statement closed. I said " of course I paid after the statement closed and before the due date. This is how I know how much to pay! '' The rep said I need to look online a day before the statement closes, see how much in purchases I made, and make that payment a day before the statement closes. I asked " what if there are pending charges, etc ''. The rep replied " pending charges won't show on the closing statement. This is bizarre, should be illegal, and is simply a way for Bank of America to collect interest charges. NO ONE pays their credit card prior to the statement closing date to avoid interest charges. This practice needs to stop.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: OR
Zip: 97333
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Fee problem
Consumer Complaint: investigate to see if i am owed any double overdraft fees my account no longer exists
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MD
Zip: 21213
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account
Subissue: Transaction was not authorized
Consumer Complaint: XX/XX/XXXX a legal order was taken out of my account for XXXX from checking and XXXX from savings. I called multiple times to Fraud and legal department they said it was a garnishment and would send me the copy called XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX never sent the documents. Was told a number that did not work to call. I was told by legal department I only had one garnishment. This caused checks to get rejected and fees applied to my account. On XX/XX/XXXX another legal fee was taken and garnished in the amount of XXXX these funds came from back ordered XXXX XXXX XXXX of Michigan. A child daycare check written when the money was in got bounced and fees from both boa and the childcare were charged to me. I called and was on hold for over XXXX on multiple days XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX no answers no copy of the garnishment and they said child support can be garnished in the state of Michigan. The {$200.00} sign on bonus was never given. A legal notice written only from boa with the date of XX/XX/XXXX is attached yet funds were take XXXX XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. The amount that the written order Is {$3400.00} however they took at least {$4300.00}.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MI
Zip: 488XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Deposits and withdrawals
Consumer Complaint: I fell victim to the Bank of America Scheme. I filed a report with fed agency that oversees banking. I deposited a check into BOA and they released the funds then placed a hold on it and I overdraft the account. The check showed cleared so I began to pay bills then the next day I look and the check has an additional 30 day hold on it and overdrafted my account forcing me to pay. The check was a certified check from my lawyer from a settlement I had won. I called the bank of the issuing bank and it had cleared the account but yet Bank of America withheld my funds for 30 days. They even charged me overdrafts.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NY
Zip: 12144
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Subissue: Overdrafts and overdraft fees
Consumer Complaint: BOA charged {$35.00} overdraft fees a few times when my funds got low. It was under a stressful time during covid and all of it. I did not have the chance to call to inquire why. I thought as a longtime BOA customer that they would help in some ways, but apparently, they didn't and kept charging the fees.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MD
Zip: 207XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A