Bank of America (STRIKE 2)

[HalMd]

If you enjoyed this thread, then you might enjoy this thread. I have heard people complain about Bank of America, but I normally get good service. Since they do not have a link for feedback on their site, I am complaining here.

Today I walked into my local Bank of America branch to deposit a check. The teller took the check and told me to...please sit down.

The deposit was

• To an account that is more than a year old.
• From a bank who has paid me in the past.
• Less than the amount of money in my account.
• With NO CASH BACK.

I have been banking for more than 25 years, and this is the first time a teller has asked me to "sit down" for a deposit.

After stewing for five minutes, I asked the bank manager to inquire. He basically said that the laws have changed. That they have to call the other bank if the check is over $10,000.

I assured him that he could have placed a hold on the funds. (What would they have done if I used the ATM or drivethrough???) He said that his branch has had fraud in the past. And they would need to "call the police if it was a bad check."



How is that for customer service?!? Sit down and wait for us. And if you're a criminal, then we are going to call the police.

If it happens again, then you will hear the giant sucking sound of my money moving to another bank.

[creditcardfree]

HalMd, I'm so sorry you were treated like a criminal. Next time take it to the ATM!!

[kealina]

Originally Posted by HalMd

If it happens again, then you will hear the giant sucking sound of my money moving to another bank.

i know it wasn't funny but this line made me smile... in my heard i heard this "giant sucking sound" and saw a giant money monster shlepping it's way out of the bank...

[PRICEPLUS]

You know it borders on comedy how your bank is treating you! Me, I would be moving my money and sending a letter as to why! I would also tell them that I will be telling anyone who has ears just how bad a bank they are.

First the letter and the huge charge and now after 25 years with them you are trweated disrespectfully! It really boggles the mind! :

[Armywife]

Incredible!! I had a similar incident with Washington Mutual Bank. I've since changed banks and even received a nice little bonus for changing banks ($100 @ chase bank).

[MonkeyMama]

I am not surprised. With the newer Patriot Act there are a lot of new rules and regulations on banking.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bank/20030930a1.asp

[HalMd]

Just to clarify, I have not been with Bank of America 25 years.

I am seriously considering leaving. It's just a pain to move all the automatic payments out of the checking account to a new one. Guess I will begin the process soon.

I had a checking account with BOA for over thirty years.
I recently closed that account and now bank with USAA.

When I closed the account I went into a local BOA branch.
Never having closed a checking account before I felt more comfortable doing it face to face. The manager waited on me.
I told him I wanted to close my account and I didn't want any fees.
<I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to banks>
I think they are chomping at the bit to gouge anyone whenever possible!

He said , would you like to do a wire transfer.
I replied, How much will that cost?
Oh, $25.00, he replied.
. I said, No thanks, other than walking out of here with cash, what other options do I have. He said I could get a cashiers check, which is what I did. It was free.

The manager also said, may I ask why you are leaving BOA after all these years.
I replied, I am banking with USAA where the checking really is FREE, even the checks and there is no minimum balance I need to carry.

[rob62521]

I recently had a certified check that I took to my bank. I was irritated because I was going through the drive -thru and pushed the buzzer to ask a question. The teller didn't bother to acknowledge the buzzer until after she did the transaction. I asked how if there would be a hold on the check and she said 7-10 days. I told her to undo the transaction since I needed some of the money in a couple of days. When I went in the next day to do another transaction, I spoke with another teller and she said that if I had spoken to a branch manager, they would have called the other bank the check was written on and made sure it was OK and they would have released the money the next day. Unfortunately the teller couldn't have been bothered to tell me that. I made a complaint about this. I'm beginning to think most banks really figure they have you over the barrel and do whatever they can to screw you. Yep, I've become very cynical. Oh yeah, I took the check to another bank and had no problems. Guess which bank didn't get the money in my money market account????

[saving_is_creepy]

Allyourworth:

How has your experience been with USAA so far?
I just signed up for a savings and checking account with them. I currently have BOA and they really can't compare. From what I understand BOA is in serious debt?... Can anyone confirm?

[Pupart]

Originally Posted by saving_is_creepy

Allyourworth:

How has your experience been with USAA so far?
I just signed up for a savings and checking account with them. I currently have BOA and they really can't compare. From what I understand BOA is in serious debt?... Can anyone confirm?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All Your Worth is now Pupart.
I haven't had any problems with USAA.

I don't have direct deposit though and they are doing away with quick deposit at the UPS store. Now deposits will be done through the USPS, but USAA will supply postage. It will take longer to post to an account.
But they also have deposit from home using ones scanner.I haven't done it yet, but plan to soon.I was told over the phone it was simple.I hope so!

Telephone customer service with USAA is a lot better. I haven't had to wait forever like I used to with BOA.

I have read some negative things about BOA credit card operation since they
bought MBNA.
I am so glad I am out of that scene! They are nothing but predators chomping at the bit to gouge you with fee after fee if they get the chance.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by HalMd

I walked into my local Bank of America branch to deposit a check.

Sorry, but I'm still baffled by this statement. It has been many years, probably 10 or more, since I physically entered a bank to make a deposit. That's what ATMs are for. At two local branches, I don't even have to get out of my car as they have drive-up ATMs. No lines. No hassles. Never had a problem. And yes, I am with BOA.

The only time I go into a bank is when I need to get change other than $20 bills (like when we have a yard sale). The other time is when we applied for our home equity loan. Everything else gets done either at the ATM or online.

The way you were treated is ridiculous, though. They should just process the check. So many of the new security restrictions are insane.

[HalMd]

At Bank of America, when I physically go inside to make a deposit, the funds are generally made available right away.

If I use the ATM, it may take several days for the funds to become available. This is the main reason I go inside.

Others have expressed fear/concern that checks can be lost in the ATM which is a real hassle. (This is not the main reason I do it.)

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by HalMd

At Bank of America, when I physically go inside to make a deposit, the funds are generally made available right away.

If I use the ATM, it may take several days for the funds to become available. This is the main reason I go inside.

Makes sense. Didn't know that as I've never been in that situation.

[ChimbleySweep]

I would like to extend my apologies to you. I don't work for Bank of America (it's too big for my tastes), but that situation is never okay. It was handled poorly, and I think you should try to go higher than that location's manager.

When we have situations like this at the bank where I work, we try to be as discreet as possible, so as not to unnecessarily upset or offend our customers.

I'm so sorry you were treated poorly.

[Pupart]

There wasn't no giant sucking sound when I closed my saving account with BOA cause I didn't have the account long and didn't make alot of deposits.

I closed it online and had my money transferred to the BOA checking account I used to have and had it for many years.
Checking the BOA website and typing in my personal info had me feeling the accounts were really closed.
Yesterday I receive a statement from BOA concerning the closed saving account. I was being charged a maintenance fee, minus 27 cents.
This was weird! I called their customer service and as usual I stayed on the line for about 30 minutes being transferred to three different people.
I was told that I had 27 cents interest in my account and for that they had reopned my account. They didn't bother to notify me or send me a check for 27 cents. No, they just reopened my account and then took my 27 cents and added thier monthly service fee since I didn't have any money in this
closed account which they had now reopned.
Mind boggling!
I finally got it straightened out. They didn't offer to send me my 27 cents, and I didn't think to even ask. I was more concerned that this account stay closed and I don't pile up a bunch of monthly fees on an account I had closed!
I am so glad I no longer bank with BOA. The rep thanked me for choosing BOA.
I actually choose BOA many years ago when they were a local bank and had good service. Now they are just another big greedy monster made even worse when they purchased MBNA.
I bank with USAA now and what a refreshing change it is!

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If it happens again, then you will hear the giant sucking sound of my money moving to another bank.[/quote]

[poundwise]

Consumer advocate Clark Howard recently went to bat for a gentleman who fared much worse than you. Knowing that you were made to sit and wait while they 'checked' on calling the police and seeing what happened to this man makes your experience somewhat scary.

Clark Howard: BOA

While I think this man should have had alarm bells going off when presented with this check in the first place, it is outlandish to hear BOA execs talk about the issue.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I hate them as well, too bad they have lots of ATMs, we have a mortage with them, and I hate changing. I loved Washington Mutual when we lived on the west coast.