Bank of America is Stealing Our Money after debit card fraud

Just hoping to get their attention at Bank of America. Links would be most welcomed, just to give this post a temporary bump in the Google search results.  C'mon, you've given the harassed, grandma-bus monitor well over half-a-million dollars, all I'm asking is one link. Let the wee people of America be heard.

After going through the Bank of America fraud claim process, which was a huge pain in the ass, Bank of America re-charged my account for some of the obviously fraudulent charges that I wrote about back in the end of April. At the time, it was Bank of America that actually flagged these charges as fraudulent, almost immediately.

I must have had three or four lengthy phone calls with Bank of America fraud dealing with this matter. Their fraud department dealt with the fraud in dribs and drabs, mailing three claim questionnaires for me to complete. I completed and returned all of the forms promptly.

I received automated phone calls that left messages telling me that that they'd received the forms and there was no need for me to take any further action. Up until to now, I've been patient and nothing but pleasant and fully cooperative. I want them to nail the thieves, some of whom are traceable due to the nature of the transactions.

So now I see that Bank of America just re-debited my account for several of the fraudulent transactions.

I called claims, which is an ordeal in and of itself because their automated phone system doesn't yield easily to this kind of call. When I finally reached a live human being in the claims department, I had to re-tell the story I've already told several times, before I was transferred to someone else and had to tell the story again.

Their records show that someone tried to call me to ask a question about the claim and I had no voice mail so they couldn't leave a message. Funny how that works. Nobody else has complained that they couldn't reach my voicemail, and the Bank of America automated call system called and left messages on my voice mail telling me I didn't need to take any further action on the claims.

So now they've judged the fraudulent charges as my charges or deemed me uncooperative or whatever and re-debited my account for the fraudulent charges. The fraud representative said today that they would reopen the case, but the charges stay on my card until and if they reverse their decision. Oh, and they'll need to speak with me again, by phone, even though, today, I answered the questions they were supposed to ask when they couldn't reach me by phone. I have no voicemail, you see, except when it's the Bank of America fraud department's automated-call system calling and leaving a voicemail telling me that I do not need take any further action on my claims.

Today, I asked the fraud representative if they could contact me by email, just to give me a head's up, in the event that they have trouble leaving a phone message again. No can do. Apparently the fraud department can't send an email to say we're trying to reach you, though they did send an email alert when the fraud was first detected, and Bank of America regularly spams my email account with promotions. I guess phones and email accounts only work when Bank of America machines are making the phone calls and sending the emails.

After all the trouble Bank of America has gotten into for ripping off their customers with fee shenanigans and mortgage fraud, you'd think they'd try a little harder to not continue screwing with the customers, but here's the icing on this fraudulent cake: I learned on the news about three weeks after the fraud that my card may have been compromised along with many, many thousands of other Bank of America cards because of a breach of Bank of America security. Their fault, but it has turned into my problem.

I've had this particular account for over 20 years. I guess they think I just got up one day in late April 2012 and decided to falsely claim fraud for airline tickets between cities I've never visited, and charge a child's tuition to a Catholic school in Connecticut. Bank of America has the names of the people who did this, but they can't seem to go after the criminals. They seem more determined to screw their customer, instead.

Here is what would make me happy: re-credit my account without delay; email me if you can't reach me by telephone; and tell me why the F you have to talk to me yet again, even though I answered all of your questions. And if you want to go the distance, let me know if my account was one of those compromised by your lax security, admit your wrongdoing and apologize.  Hey, I can dream.

Update:

The account as been re-credited for the false charges. Thanks to all those who spread the word and provided wise counsel.

Comments

[Cheryl Fuller]

Two words for you : credit union.

[The Other Ralph]

What's the difference between Bank of America and thieving rat bastards?

I don't know, that's why I'm asking.

[NMissC]

That's the first time I've used the Tweet button on your blog....

[Dr X]

NMissC,

Thanks for the link and the tweet!

[The Chief]

Since the BoA police decided to drop the investigation, you should contact a real police agency that has the power to investigate the crime. Bank of America should be required to turn over all of the information they have so that the real police can pursue the criminals.

[Pierre Corneille]

I had an account at LaSalle bank, and then, as you probably know, B of A bought them out. I closed the account because they upped the fee. So far, so good. And I got a letter saying how sad they were to hear I was leaving them, and I got a cashiers check for the amount I had left in the account, about $30.00. So far so good.

Then, about 6 months later, I get a collection notice telling me I owed the B of A about $20.00 or so for fees because my account had late fees and had been charged off. I was very angry because I have immaculate credit. Good credit is always important, but especially so because my income is very low at the moment and I need to have access to credit just in case.

I do agree with The Chief. It's probable that bank fraud departments don't have a big say in actual prosecution of criminals (I don't know, just going by instinct). I'm not sure who oversees such prosecutions, however.

At any rate, sorry to hear about all this. And good luck.

[Dr X]

Pierre Corneille,

Did you check your credit files and, if the charge-off appeared, were you able to remove the negative information?

That could be quite a scam if BoA has systematically done this to other customers who close their accounts. Customer closes their account, add a bogus $20 charge, write off the bogus charge, do that over and over, and it adds up to a nice corporate tax deduction, even if it does unjust harm to former BoA customers. Not only that, everyone hit with one of these phony charge-offs is supposed to add the twenty to their net and pay taxes on it.

[stephany]

Dr X--I'm getting feedback from B of A on Twitter.. you'll see the "ats" in your list...they want contact info, hope this will resolve it!

[Dr X]

Thanks.

[BofAexposed]

Simple solution-Get yout money out!

Join a Credit Union or a local bank.

[Chris Kittell]

Dr. X - I am a consumer attorney who has represented consumers against Bank of America many times. I just linked to your ordeal with BOA on my blog at http://fcralawyer.blogspot.com/. Hope it helps.

[Dr X]

Thank you, Chris!

[GR]

I know you should always call your local state polce and local police regarding fraud. This really should be done, if the charges were out of state! Contact the school and other places who charged your card fraudulently. Get a lawyer. There are many hungry lions out there now, due to the economy willing to cut a fee to help or call your local legal aid and ask them for advice. Don't wait on the bank. I definitely wouldnt take it lying down.

[Lizza]

I am going through the same thing with BoA....there was a fraudulent charge on my acount in august....and here we are in november. i have been calling just about every other day for the past 3 mon. Because everytime i speak ewith them they tell me 'O it should be resloved within 2-3 business days' they "claim" to have fraud protection but i have yet to experience that protection at this point I want NOTHING to do BoA ....they seem to be just as big of a scammer than the people who hacked my bank account in the first place by putting me in the hole even more with overdraft charges because they credited my account the amount that was stolen and then a month later took it back without warning and now are charging me overdraft fees.....my account has overdraft protection...hmmm apparantly not i think im sticking to the good old fashion save my own money in a "hiding spot" at home where i know its safe ;)

[you deserved it]

i work for bank of america fraud...if we debited it back it was fully investigated and you made the charge, end of story.

Dr X replies: We did not deserve it. And in the end, it was credited back because we did not make the charges.

[Harold G. Neuman]

Public Radio told me something today. I did not know that BOA lost 40 billion during the subprime tsunami. Seems they bought an institution whose books were cooked, well-done OR burnt. I do not care so much about BOA, inasmuch as I have no dealings with them. They have, however, affected me indirectly. For that, they can go suck rocks; or, set up a colony in Greenland. Take some goats. Learn to fish. And get used to seal meat...