What are the steps I should take if I’m a victim of identity theft?

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you’re entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. When you correct your credit report, use an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter explaining your request, to get the fastest and most complete results.

Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

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2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It’s important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.

When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:

* For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn’t have special forms, use the sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for “billing inquiries,” NOT the address for sending your payments.
* For new unauthorized accounts, you can either file a dispute directly with the company or file a report with the police and provide a copy, called an “Identity Theft Report,” to the company.
o If you want to file a dispute directly with the company, and do not want to file a report with the police, ask if the company accepts the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56 KB). If it does not, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms.
o However, filing a report with the police and then providing the company with an Identity Theft Report will give you greater protection.  For example, if the company has already reported these unauthorized accounts or debts on your credit report, an Identity Theft Report will require them to stop reporting that fraudulent information. Use the cover letter to explain to the company the rights you have by using the Identity Theft Report.  More information about getting and using an Identity Theft Report can be found here.

Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.

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3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.  Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims’ complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.

Additionally, you can provide a printed copy of your online Complaint form to the police to incorporate into their police report.  The printed FTC ID Theft Complaint, in conjunction with the police report, can constitute an Identity Theft Report and entitle you to certain protections.  This Identity Theft Report can be used to (1) permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report; (2) ensure that debts do not reappear on your credit report; (3) prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft; and (4) place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft.   Ask them if you can file the report in person.   If you cannot, ask if you can file a report over the Internet or telephone.  See below for information about Automated Reports.
If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a “Miscellaneous Incident” report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

When you go to your local police department to file your report, bring a printed copy of your FTC ID Theft Complaint form, your cover letter, and your supporting documentation. The cover letter explains why a police report and an ID Theft Complaint are so important to victims.

Ask the officer to attach or incorporate the ID Theft Complaint into their police report. Tell them that you need a copy of the Identity Theft Report (the police report with your ID Theft Complaint attached or incorporated)to dispute the fraudulent accounts and debts created by the identity thief. (In some jurisdictions the officer will not be able to give you a copy of the official police report, but should be able to sign your Complaint and write the police report number in the “Law Enforcement Report” section.)

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What is a fraud alert?
There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert.

* An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You may ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of identity theft. An initial alert is appropriate if your wallet has been stolen or if you’ve been taken in by a “phishing” scam. With an initial fraud alert, potential creditors must use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name.  However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you.  When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to order one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
* An extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you’ve been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report. An automated Identity Theft Report, such as the printed ID Theft Complaint available from this Web site, should be sufficient to obtain an extended fraud alert. With an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must actually contact you, or meet with you in person, before they issue you credit.  When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.

To place either of these alerts on your credit report, or to have them removed, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your Social Security number, name, address and other personal information requested by the consumer reporting company.

As mentioned, depending on the type of fraud alert you place, potential creditors must either contact you or take reasonable steps to verify your identity.  This may cause some delays if you’re trying to obtain credit. To compensate for possible delays, you may wish to include a cell phone number, where you can be reached easily, in your alert. Remember to keep all contact information in your alert current.

What does a fraud alert not do?

While a fraud alert can help keep an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name, it’s not a solution to all types of identity theft.  It will not protect you from an identity thief using your existing credit cards or other accounts.  It also will not protect you from an identity thief opening new accounts in your name that do not require a credit check – such as a telephone, wireless, or bank account.  And, if there’s identity theft already going on when you place the fraud alert, the fraud alert alone won’t stop it.  A fraud alert, however, can be extremely useful in stopping identity theft that involves opening a new line of credit.

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What is a credit freeze?

Many states have laws that let consumers “freeze” their credit – in other words, letting a consumer restrict access to his or her credit report. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze.  This means that it’s unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name.  Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score – nor does it keep you from getting your free annual credit report, or from buying your credit report or score.

Credit freeze laws vary from state to state.  In some states, anyone can freeze their credit file, while in other states, only identity theft victims can.  The cost of placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a credit freeze also varies.  Many states make credit freezes free for identity theft victims, while other consumers pay a fee – typically $10.  It’s also important to know that these costs are for each of the credit reporting agencies.  If you want to freeze your credit, it would mean placing the freeze with each of three credit reporting agencies, and paying the fee to each one.

You can find more information about credit freeze laws specific to your state by clicking here, including information on how to place one.

Who can access my credit report if I place a credit freeze?

If you place a credit freeze, you will continue to have access to your free annual credit report.  You’ll also be able to buy your credit report and credit score even after placing a credit freeze.  Companies that you do business with will still have access to your credit report – for example, your mortgage, credit card, or cell phone company – as would collection agencies that are working for one of those companies.  Companies will also still be able to offer you prescreened credit.  Those are the credit offers you receive in the mail that you have not applied for.  Additionally, in some states, potential employers, insurance companies, landlords, and other non-creditors can still get access to your credit report with a credit freeze in place.

Can I temporarily lift my credit freeze if I need to let someone check my credit report?

If you want to apply for a loan or credit card, or otherwise need to give someone access to your credit report and that person is not covered by an exception to the credit freeze law, you would need to temporarily lift the credit freeze.  You would do that by using a PIN that each credit reporting agency would send once you placed the credit freeze.  In most states, you’d have to pay a fee to lift the credit freeze.  Most states currently give the credit reporting agencies three days to lift the credit freeze.  This might keep you from getting “instant” credit, which may be something to weigh when considering a credit freeze.

What does a credit freeze not do?

While a credit freeze can help keep an identity thief from opening most new accounts in your name, it’s not a solution to all types of identity theft.  It will not protect you, for example, from an identity thief who uses your existing credit cards or other accounts.   There are also new accounts, such as telephone, wireless, and bank accounts, which an ID thief could open without a credit check.  In addition, some creditors might open an account without first getting your credit report.  And, if there’s identity theft already going on when you place the credit freeze, the freeze itself won’t be able to stop it.  While a credit freeze may not protect you in these kinds of cases, it can protect you from the vast majority of identity theft that involves opening a new line of credit.

What’s the difference between a credit freeze and a fraud alert?

A fraud alert is another tool for people who’ve had their ID stolen – or who suspect it may have been stolen.  With a fraud alert in place, businesses may still check your credit report.  Depending on whether you place an initial 90-day fraud alert or an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must either contact you or use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name.  However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you.

A credit freeze, on the other hand, will prevent potential creditors and other third parties from accessing your credit report at all, unless you lift the freeze or already have a relationship with the company.  Some consumers use credit freezes because they feel they give more protection.  As with credit freezes, fraud alerts are mainly effective against new credit accounts being opened in your name, but will likely not stop thieves from using your existing accounts, or opening new accounts such as new telephone or wireless accounts, where credit is often not checked.  Also, only people who’ve had their ID stolen – or who suspect it may have been stolen, may place fraud alerts.  In some states, anyone can place a credit freeze.

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What is an Identity Theft Report?

An Identity Theft Report is a police report with more than the usual amount of detail. The Identity Theft Report includes enough detail about the crime for the credit reporting companies and the businesses involved to verify that you are a victim—and to know which accounts and inaccurate information came from identity theft. Normal police reports often don’t have many details about the accounts that were opened or misused by identity thieves.

The printed copy of your ID Theft Complaint Form can provide additional details for the police report. The police are not legally required to use the FTC’s ID Theft Complaint Form as part of their report. Your police department may have another way to incorporate the details of your crime. In these cases, the police report by itself may serve as an Identity Theft Report.
When you file your Identity Theft Report, the credit reporting companies will permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report. Filing an Identity Theft Report with the credit reporting companies or with the companies where the thief used your information should ensure that these debts do not reappear on your credit report. An Identity Theft Report can prevent a company from continuing to try to collect debts that result from identity theft, or sell those debts to others for collection. It also allows you to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report. The credit reporting companies may decline your Identity Theft Report if it does not contain enough detail for them to verify that you are a victim of identity theft. In that case, the credit reporting companies have certain timeframes for responding to your Identity Theft Report with requests for additional information.

Creating and using an Identity Theft Report may require two steps:

Step One begins with filing your report with a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency. These agencies may include your local police department, your State Attorney General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the FTC, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Some state laws require local police departments to take reports, but there is no law requiring federal agencies to take a report.

In your report, you should give as much information as you can about the crime, including anything you know about the dates of the identity theft, the fraudulent accounts opened and the alleged identity thief. It may help you give the necessary level of detail if you file an online complaint with the FTC, and then ask your local police department to incorporate a copy of the printed ID Theft Complaint into its police report.

Step Two begins when you send the businesses involved and the credit reporting companies a copy of your Identity Theft Report, which you should do by certified mail, return receipt requested. The companies may ask you to give them more information or documentation to help them verify your identity theft. They have to make their request within 15 days of receiving your Identity Theft Report. The credit reporting company or business then has 15 more days to work with you to make sure your Identity Theft Report contains everything they need. They are also entitled to five days to review any information you give them. For example, if you give them information 11 days after they request it, they have until day 16 to make a final decision.

How do I get an Identity Theft Report?
The officer taking your police report can attach or incorporate your ID Theft Complaint into their police report to add more detail. Ask the officer to give you a copy of the official police report that incorporates or attaches your ID Theft Complaint. In some places the officer will not be able to give you a copy of the official police report, but should be able to sign a copy of your ID Theft Complaint and write the police report number in the “Law Enforcement Report” section. Be sure to keep a copy of the police report number
The police are not legally required to use the FTC’s ID Theft Complaint Form as part of their report. Your police department may have another way to include all the details of your identity theft information in their police report. In these cases, the police report by itself may serve as an Identity Theft Report.

Because the detailed Identity Theft Report is required for you to get many important protections, you may wish to use the Law Enforcement Cover Letter to explain to the police department how important it is for you to get a police report – as well as the legal protections that a detailed Identity Theft Report gives you.

How do I submit my Identity Theft Report to the credit reporting companies, or to businesses where the thief used my information?
When you send a copy of your Identity Theft Report to the fraud departments of the three major credit reporting companies, include a copy of the credit reporting company cover letter, along with copies of your supporting documentation. Send your information by certified mail with return receipt requested. The mailing addresses for sending Identity Theft Reports to the three major credit reporting companies are on the cover letter.
When writing to the fraud departments of each of the companies where the identity thief has committed fraud using your personal information, include copies of the Identity Theft Report, your supporting documentation, and the appropriate cover letter: for fraud on your existing accounts, or for fraud on new accounts. Always send this information by certified mail, with a return receipt requested.

The credit reporting companies have certain timeframes for responding to your Identity Theft Report with requests for additional information.

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What do I do if the police only take reports about identity theft over the Internet or telephone?

The FTC ID Theft Complaint has a special section for police reports that are not filed face-to-face, to help you use it to supplement an automated police report. If you file a police report online or over the phone, complete the “Automated Report Information” block of the ID Theft Complaint. Attach a copy of any filing confirmation received from the police.
If you have a choice, however, you should file your police report in person and not use an automated report.  It is more difficult for the consumer reporting company and information provider to verify the information in an automated report, and they will likely require additional information and/or documentation.

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What do I do if the local police won’t take a report?

There are efforts at the federal, state and local level to ensure that local law enforcement agencies understand identity theft, its impact on victims, and the importance of taking a police report. However, we still hear that some departments are not taking reports. The following tips may help you to get a report if you’re having difficulties:

* Provide the officer with a copy of the Law Enforcement Cover Letter that explains why the police report and the Identity Theft Report are so important to both victims and industry.
* Furnish as much documentation as you can to prove your case. Debt collection letters, credit reports, a copy of your printed ID Theft Complaint, and other evidence of fraudulent activity can help demonstrate the legitimacy of your case.  Provide the police a copy of “Remedying the Effects of Identity Theft,” which shows that police reports are necessary to secure your rights.
* Be persistent if local authorities tell you that they can’t take a report. Stress the importance of a police report; many creditors require one to resolve your dispute. Remind them that consumer reporting companies will automatically block the fraudulent accounts and bad debts from appearing on your credit report, but only if you can give them a copy of the police report. In addition, a police report may be needed to obtain the fraudulent application and other records the company has.
* If you’re told that identity theft is not a crime under your state law, ask to file a Miscellaneous Incident Report instead.
* If you can’t get the local police to take a report, try your county police. If that doesn’t work, try your state police.

Some states require the police to take reports for identity theft. Check with the office of your State Attorney General, which can be found at www.naag.org, to find out if your state has this law.

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How do I prove that I’m an identity theft victim?

Applications or other transaction records related to the theft of your identity may help you prove that you are a victim. For example, you may be able to show that the signature on an application is not yours. These documents also may contain information about the identity thief that is valuable to law enforcement.  By law, companies must give you a copy of the application or other business transaction records relating to your identity theft if you submit your request in writing, accompanied by a police report.  Read more about getting information from businesses, and use this model letter to request this information.

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Should I apply for a new Social Security number?

Under certain circumstances, the Social Security Administration may issue you a new Social Security number - at your request - if, after trying to resolve the problems brought on by identity theft, you continue to experience problems. Consider this option carefully. A new Social Security number may not resolve your identity theft problems, and may actually create new problems. For example, a new Social Security number does not necessarily ensure a new credit record because credit bureaus may combine the credit records from your old Social Security number with those from your new Social Security number. Even when the old credit information is not associated with your new Social Security number, the absence of any credit history under your new Social Security number may make it more difficult for you to get credit. And finally, there’s no guarantee that a new Social Security number wouldn’t also be misused by an identity thief.

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The answer: You recently visited FreeCreditReport.com to view your credit report. You are now stuck in a credit monitoring service, like millions of people before you.

Scenario 2: You have tried canceling the TripleAdvantage service but the charges continue to show up.

If you fall into either of these scenarios, this article is for you!

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Don’t become FreeCreditReport.com’s next victim!

Learn how to cancel CIC TripleAdvantage for good. Get every penny back that they took from you. Help bring FreeCreditReport.com to justice.

A Wal-Mart worker died early Friday after an “out-of-control” mob of frenzied shoppers smashed through the Long Island store’s front doors and trampled him, police said.

The Black Friday stampede plunged the Valley Stream outlet into chaos, knocking several employees to the ground and sending others scurrying atop vending machines to avoid the horde.

When the madness ended, 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour was dead and four shoppers, including a woman eight months pregnant, were injured.

While nothing can match the horror of workers getting killed by stupid mobs and shootings in the middle of a Toys R Us, we keep receiving horror tales about other Black Fridays gone wrong. The biggest one is about how CompUSA/Tigerdirect online “sale”—the one with the Sony Vaio TT with a $5,000 discount was apparently a total disaster, according to readers. Update: A guy from the CompUSA “sale” wrote to us. Readers keep posting their stories about other places in the comments.

CompUSA and Tigerdirect

Please let it be known that everything about tigerdirect.com/compusa.com ’s “big” sale was a bust.

First it was not an online sale but a tele-marathon instead. Prices were valid only through phone lines which for half the night were actually dead. When the lines were working i was either on hold for a minimum of 20 min then hung up on or on the one occasion i got through was told that the product i requested was not on sale and then got hung up on. The crew for the live web cast lost video throughout the night.

Browsers were crashing, phones were crashing, all organization was lost. It was just a very unsatisfying experience for having spent 12+ hours tuned in to their product placement and free advertisement and still leaving empty handed. Now i realize everyone cries when they do not get their tickle me elmo but this seemed different.

I felt as though I was lied to. Quantities were not limited but scarce. They were based off donated products a fact that was no where to be seen in the advertisement. I don’t know. It is late, i am tired, and i somehow feel robbed even though i had no chance to spend money. I wrote you so this message did not get lost in the comments. I am a long time tigerdirect promoter but i am reconsidering my loyalty. So please just let me known. That this was a FAIL!

well i know people that went to the compusa.com web site and watched their live stream /pink Friday sale ALL day, essentially they would show an item on sale and give you an 888-444-9×00 number to call to try to order it.

i guess it worked ok until the last few hours when all their computers and cameras went out—they switched to a asus netbook to broadcast the last few items, including the coveted sony vaio TT laptop that lists t $6000, being sold for $999.

yes I tried desperately to call in for that, as did nearly the 5000 people watching…the last few hours had not only the problems with the webcast, but also audio sync, and then problems with the sale 888
phone lines, making it impossible to get through…..we need the net to complain to make compusa do the sale again or just sell more of the sony vaio tt.

The Compusa/Tigerdirect Pink Friday sales where a joke and I question whether or not anyone received any of the high demand products other than staff members and there friends.There where a few products which I had planned on buying mainly: i7 920 processors,x58 mobo’s,Nec projectors,Xbox360….. I had 3 phones auto-dialing the numbers.Since they were basically changing the phone# in sequence ie: 1-888-444-9300,1-888-444-9500,1-888-444-9800 repeat. I had the phones set to start dialing b4 they were put on the screen,as they put the number on the screen,and just after the number was put up. and would receive the “Item is already sold out”,”Please hold” message or would just plain get hung up on.
All in all it was ONE BIG SCAM!

A CompUSA guy wrote a reply to this story. He had this to say:

I also looked all over PinkFriday.org and I now have to agree with some of the customers who are complaining. I don’t believe that the deals and the ways in which they were delivered were explained. They did not say that the deals were only available through the phone and they did not explain that they only had a few units of each item. Perhaps they could have said, “Telethon style giveaways of extremely limited quantities.”

This is a small issue but it seems to have riled up a few people.

My final thought is this: Despite all the frustration and the technical difficulties, despite the fact that the explanation of the event was vague, despite the customer complaints, there were a lot of happy people and there was a ton of money donated to Susan G Komen.

Circuit City

I went to Circuit City to get a videocamera. They didn’t have the $200 JVC one that I really wanted. They didn’t have the $450 HD Samsung (marked down from $850) in stock. And, when I spotted a good $650 HD Sony videocamera, they wouldn’t do a $50 price match to CompUSA.

That’s right - Circuit City was unwilling to do an 8% price match for a customer in store ready to buy. In fact, I didn’t even get a counteroffer. At least a “I can’t do $610 but how about $630?” Is it any wonder they’re going out of business.

“Engine cleaning every two years, 30,000 miles is required for the vehicle,” the technician says.

But NBC Los Angeles has heard from customers across the country, who say their engines broke down after having an engine flush.

At the Jiffy Lube we went to on Pico, the technician says the engine flush will prolong the life of the engine on our Honda Accord test car.

An engine flush is where they pour a chemical solvent into your engine, supposedly to flush out old sludge.

When our undercover person asks, “is that something that Honda recommends?” Than technician says, “It requires it every two years, every 30,000 miles.”

That’s not true. Our car’s maintenance schedule says nothing about an engine flush.

“After engine flushes, there’s a pretty high incidence of some damage to the interior of the engine,” Chris Martin of Honda tells NBC Los Angeles.

That’s why Honda issued a memo to mechanics advising them not to perform engine flushes. Other major car-makers, including Ford, General Motors, and Nissan have all issued similar advisories against the service.

Why? Over time, gummy deposits can build up inside your engine. The chemicals used for engine flush, are supposed to break up those deposits. But car-makers say, pieces of that broken up sediment can clog up other parts of the engine and ruin it.

The car ran perfectly before I took it in that day,” says Pat Marriott. He took his Nissan Sentra to a Jiffy Lube in Kansas City. “They sold me, really sold me hard on an engine flush,” Marriott tells NBC Los Angeles.

He says three days later, on the highway his car broke down and he had to replace his engine for $5000.

That’s because Nissan and other car-makers say damage resulting from engine flushes won’t be covered by your warranty.

At other Jiffy Lube’s, like one on Overland in West Los Angeles, they offered us other services like a fuel injection cleaning. That’s where they put a chemical cleaner into your fuel injectors.

When the NBC Los Angeles undercover person asked the technician, “does Honda recommend that?” He said, “It’s every 15,000 miles or every year, recommended.”

That’s also not true. Honda and other big car-makers say fuel injection cleaning is an improper repair procedure.

“Using the cleaner, using a fuel injection cleaning system can cause harm to other injectors,” Martin tells NBC Los Angeles.

Jiffy Lube isn’t the only major chain recommending services car-makers say could be harmful. It happened to us at EZ Lube.

When our undercover person asked a technician at one of their locations in Silverlake, “Does Honda recommend an engine flush?” He replied, “They recommend… everything I’m telling you. We go by whatever the manufacturer recommends.”

Our undercover person asks him for proof, since EZ Lube’s computer lists all manufacturer recommendations, but there’s no engine flush listed. The undercover employee asks him, “How come they’re not on the computer?” The technician replied, “I don’t know.”

Across town at an EZ Lube near Santa Monica, technicians push a $99 transmission service using a high tech flushing machine.

Our undercover employee asks the technician, “does Honda recommend that it be done with a machine like that?” The technician responds, “Correct. That’s the only way you can do it.”

But Honda’s memo to mechanics clearly says “do not use transmission flushing machines” because of the risks to the car.

All told four out of five Jiffy Lube’s, and five out of five EZ Lube’s pushed services car-makers don’t recommend, but technicians told us the opposite.

We went back to the manager at that Silverlake EZ Lube.

“You said Honda recommends an engine flush. That’s not true. Why did you say that?” NBC Los Angeles Investigative Reporter Joel Grover asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

As for those technicians at Jiffy Lube who didn’t tell us the truth, they wouldn’t talk to us on camera and neither would their bosses.

Executives at Jiffy Lube and EZ Lube declined our offer to watch our undercover tape, and do interviews.

But in separate statements, both companies said it was unacceptable for their employees to misrepresent certain services as manufacturer recommendations, when they’re not.

EZ Lube says some of the employees we caught doing this will be terminated.

Jiffy Lube says they’re taking steps to minimize the chance of it occurring again and they want to hear from any unhappy customers.

Jiffy Lube can be reached by phone at 800-344-6933.

EZ Lube can be reached by phone at 800-559-5823 or email info@ezlube.com.

The county attorney quoted in the Kentucky Leader-Herald article points out that common decency should always trump any store policy, misinterpreted or not. In fact, it’s the law!

First Assistant Fayette County Attorney Brian Mattone told the Herald-Leader Thursday that under the duty-to-report statute, everyone has the duty to report dependency, neglect and abuse of a child if they have knowledge of it. Mattone said prosecutors thought that Miller, through witnesses, had knowledge of possible abuse or neglect. Moreover, there is language in the statute that says “nothing should relieve their obligation to report,” Mattone said.

The article also quotes another shopper who says she received a similar response from a different Bed, Bath & Beyond last summer when she saw a dog locked inside a car. Here’s hoping that the company’s “we’re ashamed this happened” response is authentic, and that their employees learn that it’s okay to offer help sometimes.

A federal jury has ordered Target Corp. to pay a Greer woman $3.1 million after the jury found that the company distributed information that wrongly accused her of trying to pass a counterfeit bill while shopping.

The jury ruled in favor of Rita Cantrell following a three-day civil trial in U.S. District court in Greenville, according to a judgment filed Thursday.

In 2006, Cantrell brought a civil defamation lawsuit against Target alleging libel and negligence.

The suit alleged that a Target loss-prevention employee was responsible for an email distributed to dozens of other businesses and law enforcement agencies that warned them to be on the lookout for her after she tried to buy items from two Target stores with a legitimate $100 bill, according to a complaint filed in Greenville federal court.

In its answer to the complaint, Target denied wrongdoing and said that the email communication was “made in good faith.”

The email led the U.S. Secret Service to question Cantrell while she was at work at a Belk’s department store in Greenville, where she was employed in the store’s loss-prevention department, the complaint alleged.

Agents reviewed the bill — which was an older, 1974 series $100 bill — and determined she had done nothing wrong, according to the complaint.

The jury awarded Cantrell $100,000 in actual damages and penalized Target with $3 million in punitive damages, according to the judgment.

The lead attorney for Target, Knox Haynsworth, referred questions about the judgment to Target’s corporate office Thursday. The office couldn’t be reached to comment.

In its answer, Target says that its employee sent the email only to a loss-prevention employee at another department store and who also served as theft task force’s communication liaison.

In February 2006, Cantrell was a customer at Target’s locations on Woodruff Road and Wade Hampton Boulevard and was questioned at each location by employees when she tried to pay for merchandise with a $100 bill, which was rejected because it was a 1974 series bill, the complaint alleges.

A loss-prevention employee for Target composed an email that was distributed to a group known as the Carolina Organized Retail Theft Task Force, according to the complaint.

The employee’s email — the contents of which included images of Cantrell shopping and allegations that she had tried to pass a counterfeit bill and had shoplifted — was sent to 31 members of the group, according to the complaint. Members included local, state and federal law enforcement offices, malls, department stores, home-improvement stores and grocery stores, the complaint alleged.

The Secret Service went to Cantrell’s work and subjected her to a “custodial interrogation,” but after looking at the $100, determined the bill was genuine and cleared her of any criminal activity, the complaint alleged.

Following the interview, Cantrell was provided a copy of the email, according to the complaint.

“Every aspect of Rita’s life was harmed by Target,” said Bozzie Boggs, a Greenville attorney who helped represent Cantrell during the trial.

I want funds redeposited back to my account so that my car note payment and other bills come back. I was never notified about Bank of America making this transaction

Alma of Venice CA (04/14/08)
I recieve SSI (direct deposit) and they are giving me different reasons why my money is gone. Im too broke to hire an ATTY. and they are trying to convince me that the treasury department sent me a bounced check back in january …HMMMMM! PLEASE HELP ME!

IM BROKE AND THEY STILL WANT TO CHARGE ME!

Monica of Lynwood WA (04/10/08)
My balance was low in my checking account so I transferred money from my savings to my checking to over my debts. The next money I saw my account OD. They transfer I did the night before (I did online at 10pm) did not post. When I called customer service about it, they would not help me. They only told me my account was on hold until 2pm and I would not be able to use my account until then. EVEN THOUGHT I HAVE MONEY IN MY ACCOUNT AND TRANSFERRED THE MONEY FROM THE DAY BEFORE. I also got charged $35 per item that cleared.

Thanks a lot for taking my money Bank of America!

Josh of Dallas OR (04/10/08)
A few years back I had opened an account with B of A. I also took out an auto loan with them. After a nasty divorce I went into ruin and my vehicle was repod and my accounts closed. I had UNKNOWINGLY overdrawn my account by $ .84 cents. They then out my information into a system that resulted in me not being able to open a bank account anywhere. I had no choice but to return to bank of america to open another account. At that time i was in the process of paying off all of my debts and had already payed off a $4,000 dollar credit card bill through them. The last thing i had was the remainder of the repo, after contacting them to set up some kind of payment plan, they were VERY eager not to help and it almost seemed like they were enjoying being diffuclt.

After some harsh words from their end i decided to try another day and work with another rep. They had other plans…. I had multiple savings accounts with them. I had one set up for the lawyer bills i have in my custody case that is still going on. To make a long story short, they zeroed out that account to put toward the repo account. I am now left with almost nothing and lawyer fees that i am unable to pay. I pray that I do not lose custody of my son over this.

Alissa of New Haven CT (04/10/08)
I recently saw a $25 dollar charge on my regular checking account that I have had for 3 years. I never had this charge before. It stated Advantage Monthly Maintenance Fee. I looked it up and it is associated with the Advantage Checking account, which I do not have nor did I sign up for. I called BOA and inquired about it, they said I must carry a balance of $25,000 to avoid the fee. What? I don’t have that kind of money!!

Apparently they decided to enroll me in the Advantage account without my permission. I was told I was enrolled because I carry high balances and I have a mortgage I have never owned a home! When I tried to cancel the rep told me that I could no longer receive free checks. Oh, like free checks is worth the $25 per month you are going to charge me? Thats $300 a year! Glad they were able to refund and disenroll me. Still, this is illegal!

Madlyn of Duluth GA (04/09/08)
I’ve had my payroll check from Verizon Business deposited into my checking account with BOA for 3+ years now. I made an adjustment in my auto deposit, which resulted in me getting a live check, rather than having it deposited. When I took the check to the bank, they held the check for a week, causing several of my auto ACH’s to be charged a 35.00 NSF for each. When I contacted them about this, they suggested I get overdraft protection.

They were holding my paycheck hostage, and charging me 35.00 a pop for the pleasure of doing so!

My complaint is the lack of customer service, for a loyal customer, of over 10 years. Their pre-packaged auto responses are insulting and their lack of individual consideration based on a case by case basis, is ridiculous!

Mike of Fort Lauderdale, FL (04/07/08)
Bank of america charged me the amount of $35.00 eight different times in a two week period for being overdrawn. They did not care that it was the same company(l.a fitness) over and over trying trying to do a direct withdrawl.I called a few supervisors and they almost sounded excited to not help me out.

Melody of Carriere MS (04/07/08)
I wrote a B/A check to pay a pool installer. the work was really bad and the job was not completed. I telephoned Bank of America to stop payment of the check and was advised on several days the check had been stopped and I did not have to worry. Well guess what the check was paid.

I had to pay the $2000.00 plus interest to save my credit. I did close the account.

Candy of Placerville CA (04/01/08)
I have unauthorized withdrawals from my checking account of $25.90 from AOL and Bank of America refuses to get involved because I did not report it within 60 days. These charges caused my account to become overdrawn and they are charging me $200 in overdraft fees. In addition, I asked they close my account and that I would make monthly payments to them to clear up the debt and they responded we cannot close the account until the debt is paid. This means they will continue to pay AOL (who is not authorized to withdraw funds from my account) and charge me the overdraft fee. Furthermore, they will continue to charge me the $5.00 service fee each month. I explained to them I have not worked in over a year and the best I can do is make a small monthly payment to satisfy the charges and they will not accept that. So my account remains open and charges keep building because they refuse to close it. What type of business are they running?

Their refusal to close my account is costing me overdraft charges on unauthorized transactions and they continue to charge me $5 a month for a service fee when I have not used the account in over 3 months.

Lawrence of Kansas City, MO (03/27/08)
B of A held deposited funds for six weeks, well after the sending bank cleared the check, before allowing funds to be available in a small business checking account. Thereby, B of A could claim overdraft fees on funds they extended to pay claimed overdrafts; such credit extended without my written permission.

When notified no permission was granted, the bank should have closed the account but instead continued the overdrafting. All this occurred while there were sufficient funds in a linked savings account to prevent overdrafts.

The bank claimed no access to said funds when this was pointed out, claimed they had no signature from me. Then they started withdrawing funds to pay the bounced checks.

Six weeks later, the last deposit made and cleared from the sending bank has not been made available to my account.

I do not believe this to be harmless error.

Christian of West Hollywood, CA (03/27/08)
I unfortunately was involved in an internet scam that was quite elaborate. I received a check that was deposited in a newly opened account separate from my regular account. A couple days after the check was deposited, the full amount of the check was available to be withdrawn, which to most people means a check has cleared.

I didn’t have my new card so I had to transfer funds to another account. Bank of America decided the check was phony, pulled it and canceled the account. Then they recouped the money they released from my account I transferred to. I lost $2200 on the counterfeit check.

They basically said I should read their fine print and that they can do nothing for me.

Jeannie of Sutter CA (03/22/08)
Last week, I went to Bank of America to ask for a reversal of a $12 fee. After I was refused, I withdrew $370,000 from the account. Later, it dawned on me that the Branch Manager (Yuba City,CA) allowed me to make the withdraw without showing a single piece of ID! She didn’t even ask for my social security number. All I showed her was a PHOTOCOPY of a single page of a recent bank statement. Any number of people could have had easy access to that (from my home office or garbage can).

I still hold a large account at Bank of America and am looking for reassurance that my funds are safe. If I had been anyone else other than myself last week, only part ($200,000) of those funds would have been insured. That Bank Manager put $170,000 of my funds at risk! I tried going online and calling several phone numbers to try and find out where to write a Letter of Concern to Bank of America and got nowhere. What to do?

Jose of Sunrise FL (03/18/08)
I was charged three overdraft fees for the amount of $35 each time for overdrawing my account. I made the deposit before and was charged the amounts, so my account was showing as positive. I did a transfer of one dollar to another account. Now the bank said they will charge me again 35 dollars for overdraft fee because the transfer was cleared later than the time I did the transfer. And after charging me with three overdraft fees my account was negative, and was what caused the one dollar charge to make another transaction over the limit. What looks like to be caused by the bank. A month ago I was charged an annual fee of 29 dollar that cause my account to be over the limit. The bank charged me again a 39 dollars over limit fee that was caused by them.

I have no money to eat. My budget is small and all these charges will make my life harder. It may seem small money for others, but I believe I should earn my money honestly to live. I believe such a behavior from the part of a financial institution is not fair. The charge could be avoided. First if I could have the option not to allow transactions to go through If I had no funds in my account. Second, If the over limit fee would be charged right after I was overdrawn. Now I have no money to pay for gas and no money for food because I am charged three times, not one time the overdraft fee. This would be much more fair if reduced to one fee.

Thomas of Sunnyvale CA (03/14/08)
After waiting for a period of time, Tej Randhawa of Bank Of America in Sunnyvale has wasted my time to deposit a client’s check that they stated will only take a few minutes. After waiting, Tej has decided to tell me I can cash my check elsewhere as I told him I will wait patiently as I stood in line for a period of time to get my check cashed. I need to move forward with the project; my client has signed a budget for products which now has been delayed. After speaking with my client, they were upset and I had explained to him that I cannot accept any more checks from Bank of America as they were charging $5 per check which delays every project that is assigned by my client.

As stated by the client, they are very upset and had to be apologetic for Bank of America’s actions, represented by Tej Randhawa of Bank of America. During the waiting period, the check was not verified in any way as Tej just sat there looking at me and not taking action. Definitely would overview his skills as a bank associate.

This has damaged the clients reputation due to their BofA banking affiliation. The job cannot be complete since payment was not collected or verified to cash a budgeted project.

Labarron of Jacksonville FL (03/14/08)
If you want to dispute a charge to any of your accounts that a company has made without your authorization, BofA will allow you to file a dispute. However, when I call to dispute a charge BofA made to my personal checking account, I was told there was no way to dispute the charge, let alone file a complaint. This is illegal.

Violation of Due Process.

Patricia of Brooklyn NY (03/11/08)
My complaint is on on Bank of Smerica, p.o. Box 25118, Tampa, Florida 33622. The issue is their check depositing practice. I have been a customer since 1999. Because I have had issues with Bank of America before, I stopped depositing my work check electronically to them. Last week I deposited a check from my credit union account, and on Monday I checked the status, and it was placed on hold; but when I called my credit union, which is in California, the check was cleared! I called because the money was to move into an apartment, and I was supposed to give the money to my new landlord and had a deadline to leave my present apartment.

I spoke to a rep and supervisor, and neither seem to have a solution for me but to wait until Friday! I offered to have the credit union to fax proof it was with drawn, and the rep couldn’t even figure out who to direct the credit union rep to, to send the fax to show it was taken out. The credit union couldn’t understand the hold nor the rep and supervisor’s lack of knowledge on how to help me. I would like Bank of America to tell me why would they put a hold on my check? I’ve never had a returned check with the company!

I have to move my things to storage for 2 days! And my 4-year-old and I have to go to a hotel.

Trina of Culver City, Ca CA (03/08/08)
This incident was happening around 1997. I would always deposit my husband’s paycheck every Friday (a FedEx company check) into the Westchester Branch’s ATM Machine, even though our Branch was in Culver City. Every month they seemed to lose 1 of his paychecks and not post it until about 1 month later. Oh, I would call the bank as soon as I made the deposit to check and see if they got it. They would say it’s in a misc. bank account because we did not know what account# to post it to.

I told them the acct.# is on the back of the check–how can you not know? Then they started charging us NSF’s, overdrafts, etc., and never credited our acct. Finally I left for WELLS FARGO BANK.

Melissa of Jefferson City MO (03/08/08)
I put in a PayPal transfer to my checking account on March 4, 2008. PayPal put the status as Completed at 20:29:01 PST. I wrote a check to my child’s school with PayPal showing that the trasfer was completed. Bank of America (BoA) didn’t put a hit back to PayPal until March 7, 2008 so the check that I had written to my child’s school put my account into overdraft. As of 1:35AM on March 7, 2008, the check withdrawl was still pending so I thought I was alright and that the transfer would go through BEFORE the check was deducted from my account.

BoA applied a $35 overdraft fee to my account AFTER they processed the deposit. Even though deposits are supposed to be processed BEFORE withdrawls, they still processed the check on March 7, 2008 BEFORE the deposit. Not only was the customer service people rude but one customer service representative stated to me that the overdraft fee WAS refundable and that it WAS banking error, but then when I called back asking why the overdraft fee had not been refunded yet, they informed me that it was not refundable and they were going to keep the $35 overdraft fee.

Barbara of Tujunga CA (03/05/08)
My husband and I transferred $1000 from our Bank of America in Sunland, California. The date was Nov 15, 2007. We transferred it to our account in Costa Rica, at Coopemex, San Jose, Costa Rica. Our account was billed for the $1000 and also a wire transfer fee of $45 approximately. The money was taken from our account, and it never arrived to our Costa Rica account. We discovered this when we went to Costa Rica for a vacation, and the money was not there. Additionally, when we tried to phone B of A from Costa Rica, even though we phoned toll free numbers, we were billed for the calls totaling about $50. We have attempted for weeks and weeks to resolve this, and we are getting no help from B of A. Our money was stolen.

We are being denied the funds and any interest it might have accrued. Plus we are being billed for the phone calls to try to resolve it. This is theft.

Sue of Nye County NV (02/29/08)
I deposited my husband’s check into my account at a local ATM. It is a small town, everyone knows everyone; the bank mailed it back to me stating he was not on my account, which caused 4 items to bounce, charging me $140.00. I called their customer service line. The rep there told me that the check was on hold until midnight, and that the funds would be released. But this didn’t happen.

Bank of America refused to credit me the overdraft fees, even after they admitted they were wrong.

Judy of San Francisco CA (02/29/08)
I opened a Prima Account through a branch and specifically told the staff that I have mortgage with BA, so any fees associated with Prima account would be waived. This is my 2nd Prima account, so I knew how the process would be. Unbeknown to me how incompetent the staff would be, she opened my account without notating the waived charges. Therefore, from 9/2007 to 3/2008, my account has been charged $20 monthly service charges. I called in March 2008 as soon as I saw these charges on my statement. I went to the branch and called the 800 #; the only thing they were able to do was to credit me for 3 months. I would have to be responsible for the other lost fees because I wasn’t checking my statement. I am still very fired up regarding this issue, as it was a staff problem by BA; and they should be liable for this and give me back my money!

I suffer monetary damages by these service charges, lost time and effort in attempts to try to resolve issue, but efforts were worthless.

Armando of Murrieta CA (02/25/08)
The bank cashed a stale-dated check almost 10 months old that I had credited back into my account. I did this after waiting 6 months for it to clear. When I paid my mortgage that month, my check bounced for insufficient funds, and they charged me a $35.00 fee. They claimed the check is good up to 7 years if presented. I used to work in banking, and I know it does not cost them $35.00 in expenses to handle an overdrawn account.

I had to scramble to cover the difference in the account as well as fees and to make sure no other checks hit the bank before the fees were covered, or they would return them and charge me an additional $35.00 each.

Kathie of Greenfield MA (02/25/08)
Today I received an email from Bank of America saying they put my balance to below zero and are going to take my direct deposit check on Friday. I simply deposited a check I received from the State Treasurer’s office, and they made it available. Then 5 days later they said they returned it to the Treasury. I need help a.s.a.p.

So far they are charging me $95 for overdraft charges. I also have direct deposit going to this account which they say they will take. I also have direct payments coming out of this account. This has caused me to be sick all weekend with this unending mess up. Please help.

Rob of Towaco, NJ (02/22/08)
There is no way I signed up for Credit Protection Plus. After digging further, Bank of America uses a third party company called CIC which administers the plan. I was charged two big fees before realizing they fraudulantly enrolled me in the plan and the last charge pushed me over my credit limit which alerted the credit bureaus that I am over the limit.

I’m currently fighting with Bank of America to get back the fees charged and get them to straighten out the over the limit notification to the credit bureaus.

Autumn of Homosassa FL (02/19/08)
I was signed up for an Insurance Plan to which I never agreed; when I tried to cancel, they said it was taken care of. I was busy moving to a new area, and I wasn’t aware the entire time that the Fee for the plan I never wanted was causing me to become overdrawn. Their own overdraft fees were further causing me to become overdrawn even more so; they kept multiplying until it got to $711+.

I lost money out of my account. I lost months’ worth of Fees for a plan I never ordered. It ruined my credit.

Chrystal of San Francisco CA (02/16/08)
On 01/16/08 a $3,100.00 check from a State Farm Insurance settlement was deposited on a regular BofA ATM machine. A week later I called BofA customer service 800 number to ask about it, only to find out that the check was never cashed because it was issued under my name as well as my boyfriend’s name. I asked the banker to send me the original check to my current address.

It has been more than ONE MONTH after I initially tried to deposit the check. Bank of America loses my check. I ask BofA to send me a copy of the check, and I receive something totally worthless. I was then misled to believe that I could deposit an invalid document, then I am told to wait one more week after a month of waiting for the check. I WAS COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR RESPONSES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I am now behind on my credit card payments, utility bills, student loan bill and medical insurance bill. My bills are pilling up, and my credit card may file a claim against my credit report. If I don’t get this check cashed soon, my situation will worsen, and my credit will be severely affected. I need serious help to sue BofA of moral and financial damages that this has caused me.

Henri of Chevilly Larue OTHER (02/13/08)
I asked 15 days ago by letter for the transfer of my money in my French bank because I am now living in Paris. I sent also a copy of my passport and a piece of my blue card. Nothing has been done, and I have no way to communicate. The only phone number I have is an answering machine. Thank you to tell me how I can speed up the process and be sure it will be done.

The consequence is I am now without money to create the new business I have to create.

Marvin of Fairview NC (02/13/08)
I was admitted to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Asheville North Carolina on July 9, 2007. I was discharged on July 19, 2007 after receiving 3 units of blood, 1000 milligrams of iron and platelets. I was given a diagnosis by the cancer doctor at the VA hospital August 13, 2007. I was told that I had had acute myeloid leukemia for at least a year and had approximately one year to live. I was hospitalized again on October 27, 2007 at Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher North Carolina. There, I received both blood and iron and was discharged November 5, 2007. I have credit cards with Bank of America, Household Bank, Providian (Washington Mutual) and Chase Bank. Although I had Credit Card Protection with all of them, ONLY CHASE BANK immediately deferred my payments with zero interest from the time I let them know I had cancer. I called Chase Bank; they gave me time to send proof of my condition, it was that simple!

Bank of America has referred my account to a collection agency! I have had a 60% military related disability for several years; however, since the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, I am now 100% disabled. My medical and personal expenses have risen significantly, and I haven’t been able to be as independent as I was previous to my first hospitalization in July of last year. I’ve been treated by a doctor who wrote a letter for me stating I was 100% disabled, which I sent to all the credit card companies/Credit Protection Agencies along with a pathology report. Since becoming 100% disabled as of July 9, 2007, I haven’t used any of my credit cards, while continuing to make all my payments (with the exception of Chase Bank) through November 2007. During this time I was repeatedly faxing and mailing reports, and calling to inform the credit card companies and their Credit Card Protection Agencies of my condition.

Every day I’m STILL RECEIVING calls from representatives of the credit card companies. Sick people do not need people calling them from 8:00 am till after 8:00 pm, and even on weekends. My doctor says this continued pressure by the credit card companies is to stressful for me and is not good for my condition. Two years ago I sold my home. The people who bought my home defaulted on the first mortgage, and I lost over fifty thousand dollars because I had agreed to hold a second mortgage for them. Losing all that money did not create as much stress for me as the credit card companies/Credit Protection Agencies are generating for me at this time in my life! Thank you.

Ann of Belleville IL (02/11/08)
I am convinced that Bank of America is profiting from charging bogus overdraft fees. When making cash deposits prior to the cut-off time, I’ve been told it would post the same day only to find out they post the following day, which has resulted in overdraft charges. Also I paid $28 to do a stop payment on a transaction only to find out after they sent the transaction through and that it takes 3 days to stop the payment. There was nothing in writing stating this and the customer service rep who helped me never mentioned it when I paid the $28, which was deducted from my account immediately. Then when I called customer service, they told me there was nothing they could do; but, valued me as a customer.

I have lost over $200 to the bank of america in overdraft fees alone because of misleading information from the bank. I’m a single mother with two children and I can’t afford to give away that much money, especially when I feel I’m following the necessary procedures to keep my account in good standing.

Prezidentace of Sunrise FL (02/11/08)
I opened a checking account online with a savings account. Months later BOA converted because of to many withdrawals. I understand the change to a checking due to the issue. However, they convienently forgot to switch the automatic savings plan off since it was no longer going into a interest bearing savings. This has caused many headaches for me.

First, I had enough money to cover a payment for a purchase I made with this feature they forgot to take off with the switch they charged my account a NSF fee and trans fee of $10. I went back through my records and BOA did this to me on multiple occasions. They said it was my fault because I didn’t notify them and would not refund any of the money. The estimated total last year had to be over $100 in the $10 fees and almost another $100 in NSF fees. When I complained they said it was my fault. I asked if they converted the account why didn’t they take that feature away since it was not a savings? They replied it is my responsibility to tell them. I find that somewhat amusing seeing they made the changes to the account and never told me I could have the keep the change savings on a checking account. I know you might think why did I not notice this sooner and it is simple, $10 leaving my account at a time I just didn’t notice, but a deeper look into my account upon the year review I find out. I was also told if I replenish my account the same day prior to 2pm I would not be hit with NSF fees. Each time I have done this they have denied my request. I currently have 1 investment account with BOA, 3 Checking. Out of all the banks I have banked with Bank Of America has the best service to your face but lacks delivery

Because of this I am now short my car payment and is adding much undo stress.

Gilma of Chatsworth CA (02/11/08)
Bank of America wiped out my checking account, without my authorization. My daughter, not on this account, was a counterfeit victim, she cashed money and the bank used my funds to cover their loss. However, she is not on this account, I did not have anything to do with it. I’m 83 years old.

$2900 taken from my account.

Robert of Alhambra CA (02/07/08)
I made a deposit of 731 dollars into my account which has now disappeared. I contacted the branch and they have no clue what happened to the deposit and they weren’t going to take further action until I showed them a deposit slip. Luckily for me, I save these slips just in case. Now, they have made an investigation even though they can clearly see the deposit isn’t showing and I have proof of this deposit. I am waiting for a check to go in for my rent and I am totally worried because they are taking 24-42 hours for the investigation. How can this have happened?

I still need my $731 to be posted into my account otherwise I might get a 3 day notice and a bounced check on my car payment.

Angie of Orlando FL (02/05/08)
I signed up for a checking account on Nov 30, 2007. A bank representative offered me a credit card with BOA which I took. At NO TIME did I agree to Credit Protection Plus which was somehow added on without my permission. I was billed approx $90 per month. I have been out of town for 2 months and paying my bills online therefore did not notice the charge for over 60 days until I saw the actual statements. Neither Credit Protection or Bank of America will refund the money that was stolen from my account without my authorization.

I have spent time and money - cell phone bills, time from work, etc trying to resolve this issue. I even contact corporate headquarters of Bank of America. BOA says there is nothing they can do. I cannot believe this company has been allowed to steal from me and no one will do anything about it!!

Terrri of Roy WA (02/03/08)
We closed all our accounts with Bank of America in Oct. and Nov. of 2007. This includes all checking, savings and visa accounts. On Friday, Feb.1, we received a letter from Keith Palmer stating that he had in fact closed one of our accounts due to a history of delinquency with our creditors. Not only have we had to literally fight to close our accounts with Bank of America, but now we are receiving mail that in fact slanders our name and credit rating. The letter gives no dates or proof. This sort of treatment has been going on for some time, and we are feeling not only slandered but feel they are in fact harassing us and our good name. We have the closing receipts showing the dates all accounts were closed. The letter received from Keith Palmer is dated for Jan. 24, 2008–clearly after the date that all accounts were in fact closed by us.

This constant treatment is causing great stress and despair. We are feeling threatened by this constant harrassment and the possibility that they could damage out credit. We don’t understand how can this sort of treatment go on in this country?

Cesar of Norcross GA (02/01/08)
Ihave noticed that Bank of America charged me $350 in overdraft fees because they charged out first from the big amount and them the small amounts, to make you fall in overdraft fees–even though you have spent small amount in the morning and the big amount after 4 pm. For Bank of America, it is when you withdraw money from your account after hours (4 pm), they won’t count it for next day transaction; but if is a deposit after hours, they will credit it on the next day transaction. That is how my account falls on overdraft.

These frequent overdrafts are causing economic problems. I thought Bank of America will base it on the interest of their loans–no, from billions of dollars they charge their loyal customers.

Dhana of Fairfax VA (01/28/08)
I opened a online CD after seeing an ad in Bank of America website for APY 4.85. However after signing up, the bank gave a rate of apy 4.75%. My complaint is about the time taken to reach a customer via telephone and their ability to resolve the problem. On the first attempt I spent nearly 50 minutes and gave up. Because they transfer from one dept to another and so on. And at one point, the system disconnected. BofA ask so many questions in the name of verifying my identity and finally that guy doesn’t resolve, again goes to another dept. I did a simple math for the interest amount that I will lose on a .1% which is about $8 for 4 month. So I decided to give up instead of wasting my time. On a different note, I want to notify them about the maturity date and it is so far taken 20 minutes to reach them, so has to disconnect. Poor Service. I will not choose BofA in the future and eventually I will close all my business with them. Another funny thing they provide in the cd receipt of associate phone number as 800-432 1100 which takes to a bad entertainment line.

Marilyn of Delta OTHER (01/27/08)
I went to Bank of America to cash a cashiers check I received for $4,000. I asked the teller if there is some way to verify the funds, or verify the check. The teller said this is a cashiers check, it is guaranteed funds–meaning there is no way it won’t go through. I depended on the teller’s promise to me that there is no way there will be a problem with the check. I wrote a check back to the sender of the $4,000 for $2,400, and found out that the check was later canceled as fraud. (I later find out this is a huge scam.)

I never received my $4,000, and the Bank of America teller TOLD ME it was guaranteed. I want them to be held responsible for this, as I was suspicious: but when they assured me everything was fine, now I lost $2,400.

Pat of Henderson NV (01/27/08)
On Jan. 16 I unintentionally overdrew my account by .93 cents. The next day I deposited $140.00; however, the damage was done. I have received four $35 charges totaling $140. I am presently overdrawn by $53.34 and have no way of catching up. I was told to take a register because I don’t know how to count.

Instead of having money in the bank I am charged $140–at a time when I am just returning to work after being laid off for 2 months. I do know how to count, and charging 140 dollars for a 93-cent mistake is criminal.

Sheila of Lanham, MD (01/24/08)
My personal checking account was debited $5600 without any notification because they stated that my husband owed a balance of B of A credit card. I asked what that had to do with my personal funds and was told his social security number was traced and his name was added to my account.

I pulled the signature card because I did not personally added him to my acct. The rep stated that it looked like my handwriting when it was clearly obvious it was not. How can someone come inside a branch and add a name without the account owner present?

I asked them to return my funds because firstly, i did not add him to my account and secondly my name was not on his credit card application as joint. This happen 12/31/07, and they keep giving me all these crazy reasons as to why they feel this was appropriate.

Mary of Fresno, CA (01/24/08)
My husband and I have our business account with Bank of America. On Jan 15, 2008 a $867.24 check was debited twice from our account. I called the bank and the customer service rep said she filed a dispute and the money would be credited to my account in two business days.

I called again on the 18tf and the rep said it would be credited on the 19th. I was told on the 19th that the first rep was incorrect and that it takes 2 to 5 business days. I told them that I wanted to know the exact date that the money would be credited. She said it would be no later than the 24th of January.

I am very confused about this situation. Once the bank made the error on the 15th, it should have been immediately credited.

Judith of Spring Hill FL (01/22/08)
I went to Bank of America to cash my paycheck (as I do every two weeks). They handed me a counterfeit $100.00 bill, and of course I did not realize it until I tried to use it to pay a bill. The person I gave the money to, retained the bill. I went back to Bank of America after realizing what happened and their answer: Sometimes that happens!

WHAT? Do they not have a way to check their bills? This is ludicrous! This may not be a lot of money to them, but I am a retiree on Social Security and certainly cannot afford to lose a penny, let alone $100.00. They acted as though, “so sad, too bad”. I just simply want people to know that their common practice is not to check their bills!

Mike of Stockbridge GA (01/22/08)
A few months ago I noticed that Bank of America’s billing system was putting the due date on the weekend. However, their online payment system will not allow you to use a weekend date. I called after the January payment was credited to my account on the 14th to ask that the late fee be removed. I was told “No, we are not going to do that.” After an exchange with a rude customer service rep, I asked to speak to a supervisor. The rep told me “It will not do any good; she is not going to remove it either.” At that point I informed her that I wanted to report her bad attitude; I’m still waiting for their call.

My problem is the due date always seems to move to a weekend date, and I should not have to pay the bill early. If their billing system will use a weekend date, their payment system should also use it. I beleive that it is just a way to get an additional $39.00 out of their customers. Luckily I have been able to surf almost the entire balance to other accounts to get BOA out of my life forever. They are legally allowed to steal from their customers in the form of fees.

Douglas of Wake Forest NC (01/22/08)
Bank of America just loves to complicate things. Their online bill-pay service is intentionally misleading and deceptive. I paid someone $150 with this service. It was set to be delivered on a specific date. On that day the website said it was sent, and the funds were withdrawn from my checking account–except they weren’t. I noticed the balance had not adjusted. I called the 800# to ask about it, and they said they do not withdraw funds for at least 24 hours. But that’s not what bill-pay said; bill-pay said the withdrawal was made the day the payment was delivered, nothing about a delay. If I had not caught that I would have spent money that was already spent.

There can be no reasonable explanation for this other than BOA hopes to trip you up and nail you with overdraft fees. It’s the same reason online banking is as ridiculously complex as it is–with pending charges and delayed deposits; nothing is in real time. The balances you see are never the actual balances. It’s like everything they do is oriented toward pumping more outrageous penalty fees out of you. What ever happened to honorable business practices? BOA is more like a slipshod bazaar.

Devi of Baltimore MD (01/17/08)
I did a wire transfer using Bank of America in Baltimore, MD to my own account in India using SWIFT codes. I was told that India is a slow to pay country and it takes about 3 weeks and no investigations would be done till then. It has been 2 and a half months and it hasn’t gone through. My bank in India has not received any information regarding this from Bank of America and Bank of America is not willing to help. Every time I contact them, they tell me that they are sending e-mails to the bank in India to find the status and that the money is in India and nothing can be done about it and it is possible that I might lose my money. I have no clue as to how to go about it. Please help!

I had sent all the money from my first pay-check to my parents for Diwali. It is a huge amount for me coming from a lower middle class Indian family. It is emotionally traumatizing to see the callous attitude of the Bank of America Customer service and investigations department. I don’t know what to do.

Roynita of Washington DC (01/16/08)
Last 3/2006, called into BOA to check my account balance, and found that I have been charged $300 for a safe deposit box! I have called their customer service operator and have been told that I am listed as an owner of the box. I have tried to explain to the person/s who I spoke with that I was not the owner, but rather, the signee to have access to the box in the event of an emergency! I was told that I would need to speak to the branch location to have my matter resolved.

On numerous occasions I have tried to speak with both the bank manager and general manager for that location; to this date have had no response. This bank is located in Hyattsville, MD on Annapolis Road. I am so-o-o fustrated with BOA and the lack of support they give to their customers. So much lost time has been spent, and the issue has not been resolved. I continue to get the run around. I will be closing my accounts with the bank and going with another bank.

Gary of Camarillo CA (01/16/08)
Bank of America denied payment on Jan. 4, 2008 of a credit line check issued Dec. 28, 2007 in the amount of $7000 to solve a business collection account. The bank later claimed that they had unilaterally closed this account without notice to me on Jan 4, 2008. A letter dated Jan 4 was received in the first class mail on Jan 15 stating that the account was closed. Their explanation was that one payment on this account was late, but no notice of the payment being past due was ever issued until after this account had already been close.

This has severely damaged the business recovery plan that sought to solve a corporate collection account balance.

Derick of Austell, GA (01/12/08)
Bank Of America has charged me a fee of $100 because they received a court order to garnish my checking account. They said it was non refundable. If any one is going through some financial difficulty wouldn’t your bank be the first place you would go to for help? I lost my job 9 months back and things became tight. Some of my creditors were put on the back burner because keeping my house was my main focus. I’m now just starting a new job. I feel that the fee my own bank charged me is very unethical or should I say down right wrong.

Edward of Fullerton CA (01/12/08)
All of my bills are due on the 8th, since I prepare bills the end of the month. I was with MBNA, and when Bank of America bought MBNA, I arranged for a payment due date of the eighth of the month. It has been about a year since B of A has the account. Preparing bills the end of Dec, I noticed the bill was due on the first of Jan!There is no way the mail would get the payment to B of A in time to avoid a late fee! I called on the telephone and made the minimum payment, $15, (sent in by mail half of the outstanding balance that day also), and was told there was a $15 fee for a telephone payment. I complained about the date change without notification, and was told essentially that the old due date will be re-instated, but I have to pay the telephone transfer fee–and be thankful I did not have to pay a late fee of $35! Boy, that is scraping the bottom to make a (dishonest) buck. I will not be using this card in the future. I expected better from B of A. Be on guard!!

Loss of $15 that is due to Bank of America’s shifting my payment due date with notification. Not a lot of money, but a lot of nerve.

Rhonda of Florissant MO (01/09/08)
My son has a campus checking account in my name and his. He made a debit card transaction on 11/29/07 that didn’t show up in his account until 1/7/08. We thought it had cleared back in November. It did not show up as pending on my online banking; it just cleared overnight. Due to BOA’s policy of processing the largest debits first, down to the smallest, this transaction, which should have caused, at most, one overdraft fee ended up causing five, totaling $175. BOA, after I pitched a fit, credited back $86 of the $175, and then I was later able to get another $35 taken off. This is the second time in a week that I have checked the account before the cutoff time each night for transfers, thought the account was in good shape, only to wake up the next morning to a handful of overdraft charges. Some of these charges come from ATM withdrawals, where they could have simply refused the withdrawal if there were insufficient funds. I have researched banking law, and everything they did was legal. My complaint is that it should not be legal. I don’t feel good about entrusting my money to an entity that is using every legal means they can devise to get it away from me. I’m ready to put it under the mattress.

I lost $229 in overdraft fees that were beyond my control because the bank failed to disclose information about how debits are processed and loaned me money to cover overdrafts without my consent, at, I might add, a rate that is far beyond usurious. I would like to see a class action suit against any bank that uses high to low debit processing as not acting in good faith and protecting the assets of their customers.

Katherine of Providence RI (01/09/08)
On January 7th, I checked my bank balance online which gave me a positive number. On the 8th, I made a deposit for over $200. Later the same day I checked my balance online and found that I was charged three overdraft fees even though on the 7th at night, I had a positive balance. The total amount of the debits were less than thirty dollars. The charges were more than three times the amount that I had charged. I made these charges because my bank balance was positive and more than the amount that I had charged. One lady told me that as long as I deposit money, there wouldn’t be any charges while another representative told me that the bank will go back and clear debits or charges on the day that the card was used, not the day that the transactions cleared. Regardless, I’m out $105. On top of it all, I went to use my husband’s ATM card which was not a Bank of America card. I waited for the card to be returned and it was not. I then went to the teller and told her immediately. She said they do not return ATM cards from other banks. My husband then had to cancel his card and order another one. He got charged three dollars for the transaction plus a loss of the card.

I was charged $105. This charge will cause other debits to be charged against my account. This isn’t the first time. Each time I talk with a representative, they give a different story. I was also charged nearly $200 because of a bank mistake. I was returned the money however it was given to me against my account-the bank will return some items but it’s marked on my account that I made the flub not the bank. I have lost nearly $500 total from these sorts of issues.

Rachael of Orlando FL (01/08/08)
I sent a wire transfer of $4,500.00 from Bank OF America Orlando, Florida on 10/10/2007 to Trinidad, and to this date the recipient has not received it and neither has their bank any information about the transfer. I faxed my wire transfer receipt to the bank and the recipient and confirmed all the information I gave to Bank Of America was correct, but still they have not been able to transfer the money, and the money is not in my account. This is all my savings. I have been to the branch several times, I called their wire transfer department but they are pointing fingers at each other - the wire transfer department which I called on 1-800-729-9473 said I should speak with the branch I sent the transfer from, the manager Mr Evans & the assistant manager Ms Patel is saying it is in the hands of the wire transfer department. This is very bad business, my relatives needed this money for medical costs, I have to keep chasing these people, and all I get is bad customer service and serious runaround for my own money. This transfer should have only taken approximately 3 days, it is almost a month now and nothing, can’t I get some justice here?

My relatives have still not received the money to pay their medical bills and I have no information as to where my money is.

Mary of Los Angeles CA (01/06/08)
My husband and I are traveling. We are approx 100 miles away from home. i called B of A to request an increase of the amount of money that i am allowed to withdraw from any ATM (i have done this many times in the past without problem). When I made the request via telephone with an actual person I was immediately placed on hold and subsequently disconnected. I then called back and was told that my B of A bank card hes been cancelled and there is nothing that can be done to reinstate the card and furthermore there is no possible way that I can get access to any of my money in the bank. I have called 8 or 10 different individuals at B of A including their emergency services unit and every one of them are refusing to help me get access to any of my money.

HERE IT IS, SUNDAY MORNING, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME! There must be something we can do about this. This is entirely unfair. WE ARE STRANDED BECAUSE B of A MADE A SIMPLE MISTAKE. Not only are we stranded, but I also have automated withdrawals scheduled to be taken out of my B of A account from a number of different institutions and they are going to be cancelled or declined as well and I did NOT give B of A authorization to cancel my card or to do anything else with my account other than to increase my ATM withdrawal amount. I want someone at B of A, (someone who actually cares about their customers), to investigate this negligent incident and I also want an apology in writing. Otherwise, I will go to B of A and take out every dime of my money and put it into a financial institution that actually has consideration for their customers. By the way, iI have been a B of A customer since 1993.

Randy of Dallas TX (01/05/08)
I was charged 8 overdraft fees in one day! The policy states 5 days (so I have heard). I asked the customer service rep about the policy and he said it was 5 so he refunded me the 3 that weren’t supposed to be charged. This is computerized, right? That seems like a scam to me that if a person doesn’t know the policy then they just pay it.

John of Bakersfield CA (05/23/08)
I have a checking and savings account that delays the amount available for use by as many as 4 and 5 days. Most all of these incidents occure with direct deposits. Even the Amount Availabble information box in the left screen indicates the full amount, an amount the would make charging a $35 dollar overdraft fee impossible. They also indicated that they post the largest transactions for debit first making, in our case, 7 different $35 dollar overdraft amount. Please remember, there was plenty of money to cover all transactions in all boxes, even the amount available.

Over $500 dollars in bushwacked overdraft when plenty of our money was in their bank and all indicators of theirs said so also.

John of Bakersfield, CA (05/23/08)
I have a checking and savings account that delays the amount available for use by as many as 4 and 5 days. Most all of these incidents occure with direct deposits. Even the Amount Availabble information box in the left screen indicates the full amount, an amount the would make charging a $35 dollar overdraft fee impossible.

They also indicated that they post the largest transactions for debit first making, in our case, 7 different $35 dollar overdraft amount. Please remember, there was plenty of money to cover all transactions in all boxes, even the amount available.

Over $500 dollars in bushwacked overdraft when plenty of our money was in their bank and all indicators of theirs said so also.

Paul of Egg Harbor Twp NJ (05/23/08)
On January 18th 2008 my bankruptcy was discharged. I was then told on the phone by two senior customer service reps that I did not have to pay my loan, so I asked them to send me letters stating that. I received one letter March 12th 2008 and another March 31st 2008. The Chapter 07 bankruptcy was filed on 10/05/07, discharged on 01/18/08 and closed on 01/23/08.

I just received a letter on May 8th 2008 notifying me that Im four months and a total of $5,813.00 behind. Bank of America is now stating I need to pay to avoid repossession of my house. Im told by a representative of Bank of America that their standard answer to everyone is You do not have to repay the loan.

Bank of America told me It was include in my bankruptcy and I didnt have to repay the loan. They also failed to mention that they would repossess my house four months ago . Bank of America gave me the wrong information and should be responsible to fix the problem they caused. I dont know what to do at this point and Im afraid Im going to lose my house. Please help.

I might lose my house

Jose of Upland CA (05/21/08)
Harassing, rude phone calls from Bank of America representative authorized by the bank to solicit credit moitoring services.

emotionally distressing

Tyson of Burbank CA (05/19/08)
They cashed one large check so they could charge me a separate over draft fee for several very small checks. The total amount for $50 in checks was $300 in overdraft fees. That’s six times the amount of the original checks! Now they are threatening me with a collection agency!

I had to withdraw what money I had left and now stand to have my credit damaged by this bank. This should be criminal.

Frank of Van Nuys CA (05/16/08)
On 05-09-08 I orderd a stop payment on a check that I wrote completely wrong due to being in a rush that day. A few days after the transaction, the individual that i wrote the check to changed the terms of the service That I did not agree to and I decided to cancel the check. I dont understand how this individual managed to cash a check that had two different amounts on the check($100 in text and $168 in digit box)and still managed to cash the check for another amount($160)that was not written no where on the check.

When I saw the check clear I immediatly called customer service and explained my situation on 05-12-08. They heard me out and stated in a recorded call and that they understood my situation and said they would reimburse me for full amount in 24 hours. 05-15-2008. they did not reimburse for anything so i made another call to customer service this time they bombarded me with legal bank jargon and telling me to put myself in there position and to except a $60.00 reimbursment.

After a 30 min discussion about how I messed up in writting the check and how when processing my stop payment I should of stated the legal amount which is the amount you wright in text (silly me, I thought everything you wrote on a check was LEGAL). This still does not explain the negligence of BANK OF AMERICA cashing a check for amounts not written on check. What to stop them from confusing two zeros from three zeroes and blaming customers for there mistakes. On top of this whole mess The supervisor(daisy Employee#1580)decides to starts making snide remarks and when I asked to speak to manager she transfers me to some random employee’s mail box. Any information to help me resolve this matter will help. Thank you.

I have not been able to pay important bills due to there mishandling of this matter.

Debra of Kissimmee FL (05/14/08)
Their rules constantly change to benefit their pockets and there is no consistency from one rep to another. In the past year, they have managed to rob me of over $900 of my hard earned money. I only know this figure because it was thrown in my face today by a so-called customer service manager that Im doing a poor job of managing my finances. Never mind the fact that I’m a single mom and a business owner trying to keep my head above water in the mortgage industry. I have been monitoring my account on-line constantly to prevent this from happening, and no one could offer me an explanation, all I know is that in 5 minutes I racked up $210 in overdraft fees for $30 worth of transactions.

When I questioned why they process transactions from biggest to smallest instead of in the order they are presented, I was told that this was intended to benefit the consumer so the most important items are paid. OK, so if I have a $100 light bill and I go on a shopping spree for $110, how is it more important to pay the shopping spree first? They have no method as to how long credit transactions and debits show as pending before that money is out back into your balance. All they can tell you is to write down every time you use your card, and do not rely on the online banking as a ledger. I may be wrong, but I thought debit cards were created as a convenience to the consumer, and on-line accounts were an added convenience. If I have to write down each time I use my debit card, wouldn’t it be easier to write checks and have carbon copes so I can transfer it to a ledger when I have time?

Their customer service reps are rude and have no clue what they are talking about. They just love to point out that it’s your fault and they stick together like glue no matter how wrong they are. Bank of America is definitely an institution with no heart. If anyone knows of a class action lawsuit against them, I would love to voice my opinions.

Elaine of Huntington NY (05/13/08)
I live on my disability income of $884.00 per month. The amount is directly deposited into my Bank of America account the third of each month. I have written, emailed and called the bank to tell them to cease and desist their over-draft protection several times. It has not stopped. I spoke to a supervisor today, May 12, 2008, and asked for it to stop. He told me it would. I have been told this before.

I have paid out $1716.00 in overdraft fees to Bank of America over the past year as a result of their protection. These fees have come directly out of my only source of income, my SSD check. Each month I start out in a deficit as a result of these $35.00 fees. They have charged me 5 times for one check! They will not credit my account for any of the overdraft fees even though I’ve told them to stop in writing. At this point I can’t close my account because of being overdrawn. Do I have any recourse?

James of Waverly TN (05/12/08)
Bank of America indadvertantly charged 4 overdrafts on our small business acount that had $598.27 on balance. No one at the bank could explain why. When asked to correct the problem and reimburse our account,it took 2 days to get a response. since it was not fixed immediatly, more overdrafts occured due to the first four reducing our balance by $140.00.

they fixed 6 of the overdrafts, leaving 7 more that they would not fix. The bank resident said thats all they could do and never gave an explanation as to why this happened in the first place. They,did not know why this occured, but thats all their gonna do. The bank president was not willing to find and fix or explain the problem. We have done business with this bank for years and now we can’t een get an explanation as to why these accounting problems are happening.

Besides losing money to this fradulent way ofdoing business, it has caused distress to my wife since it directly effects her small business account. Being treated rudely has its own effects resulting in more distress.

Merlin of Dade City FL (05/12/08)
This e-mail was sent from: accounts@bankofamerica.com Dear Bank of America customer, This e-mail was sent to you because we have detected an error in your billing information on file with Online Banking during our regular schedule account maintenance and verification. This might be due to either following reasons: A recent change in your personal information (i.e. change of address). Submitting invalid information during the initial sign up process. An inability to accurately verify your selected option of payment due an internal error with our processors. Click the link below and confirm your Online Banking account information, otherwise your online access will become restricted.

No damage,just wanted you to see what is floating around in peoples e mail,received 12 may 2008

Art of Bonney Lake WA (05/10/08)
After promising me three times that I had overdraft protection on my checking account, with my American Express card, I was charged $35.00 per item, that cost $2.00 to $3.00, instead of having the promised protection kick in $25.00, which would have resulted in only one $10.00 bank charge.

On top of that, I was charged another $115.00 with no reason. I lost that money, and decided to close my account and cut my losses quietly. Today I received a letter informing me that I owed $140.00 for over a month on this closed account. I was told at the Bonney Lake Branch that there would be no charges to me and the account was shown to be zeroed out. I was told I would get a receipt but then later told I didn’t need one. Will this account closure stick?? More to follow. I’m skeptical.

Over 100.00 in overdraft charges.

Necie of Charlotte NC (05/09/08)
the customer service at Bank of America is horrible. I called over a week ago to have one of my debit cards deactivated because my ex-boyfriend had access to it. I spent 15 mins on the phone with the rep who told me he had deactivated the card and that I could cut it up. Needless to say a week later my ex went to an ATM and toom money from my account. Of course when I called Bank of America’s customer service they didnt have a record of me asking to have my card deactivated.

Luckiely it only resulted in my losing $62 dollars. however, it should have never happen if they would have done as I asked them.

K. of Los Angeles CA (05/07/08)
Bank of America– Predatory Banking! I have been a loyal BofA customer for more than 2 decades-it must be $ millions in transactions. All my personal finances and my families business transactions. My entire customer worth came down to a dispute with a net value of $140 dollars in unfair overage fees. At the time of my initial request, I called and spoke to several representatives who assured me that a savings account was closed and that the money had been transfered to my checking account.

I also requested that this little scam keep the change be closed on my account. (in effect, this actually was the reason that they were not able to close the savings account…or so they claim) Neither of these two things happen and I was subsequently charged 5 overdraft fees of $35 each–independent of the fact that this would be more than covered with the savings amounts that should have remained in my checking account.

I will close my account today and go with WaMu or Wells Fargo, who don’t have these charges. I simply cannot BELIEVE this crap and will take all my business elsewhere. I am willing to serve as a spokesperson against BofA as they (in the name of profit) have so eagerly/readily dismissed by business.

Consequences to me– multiple $35 charges, stress, overage fees, wasted business hours, and overall lack of respect for a long-term client.

Karen of Tewksbury MA (05/06/08)
This bank in the last two days has charged me over $320.00 in overdraft fees, the did refund me the $125.00, why would they continously approve purchases when you didn’t have enough money in your account. This bank is allowed to have this practice. I have had a pending deposit, conveniently that isn’t posted as pending but the ovedraft fees are. Then I have a transfer from my checking into my savings because there wasn’t any money left, they transferred the amount anyway and then charged me a fee.

My checkbook is now out $175.00, this is extortion.

Stephen of Dumont NJ (05/03/08)
my son was charged $750.00 for four happy meals about 10.00 dollers by the bank of america in over draft fees on his debit card.how can i teach my son about banking with these rules.The bank made us pay and said they would ruin his credit.

Debra of Reno NV (05/03/08)
My husband and I have 4 accounts with Bank of America…1 business checking, 1 joint personal checking, 1 savings, and 1 mortgage. Our business has been struggling, and we were 3 months behind on our business credit card payment. We received one call in March from a Bank of America employee regarding the delinquent account. We told BofA that we were working on bringing the account current. We then received a letter on April 22nd stating that we had until April 29th to bring the account current. We were diligently working on that, and my husband happened to check the business account online on the morning of April 23rd to find a zero balance. I checked our joint account, and also found a zero balance.

We went to our local branch and spoke with the branch manager, who made some calls and found out that BofA had exercised their ‘right of offset’ and emptied both accounts without notice to apply to the business credit card. The total in both accounts was more than $2100.00. The Branch Manager, Leah Goss, really went to bat for us…we were in the bank for about 3 hours, and she agreed that it wasn’t right for us to receive a letter giving us until April 29th to bring the account current, and for the bank to empty both accounts on April 23rd without even giving us a chance.

While in her office, we spoke to a representative, April Salazar, from the Bank of America Customer Assistance division, the division responsible for emptying our accounts. This person was extremely rude to us on the telephone, and said there had been numerous attempts to contact us, with no response. That is absolutely not true. We received one call, and spoke to a bank representative and explained our situation.

Yesterday, April 30th, we received a letter dated April 24, 2008 from BofA informing us that they had emptied both accounts, and that the funds would not be available as of the date of the letter, April 24th. They actually emptied the accounts on April 23rd. We certainly don’t dispute the fact they we owe them money, and we have been working very hard to get our business back on track and get the bills up to date. At this point, we are short $2100 that was to have been used to help pay those bills, along with other living expenses. My issue here is the fact that Bank of America says one thing to us in writing, that we had until April 29th to resolve our problem, then they turn around and clean out our bank accounts 6 days prior to the deadline they gave us without any notice at all. Is this legal?

We are wiped out financially. No money in the bank, no money to pay our monthly bills. Our trust in the banking system has been completely shattered and we don’t know where to turn.

Gerry of Bolivia NC (05/02/08)
Yesterday I had 4 transacations in my checking account’s pending column. 2 debits totalling -25.00 and 2 deposits totalling +30.00. i also had a balance of +24.00 from the previous day. I incurred and overdraft fee (-35.00) in the pending transctions. There is nothing wrong with my math. BOA has designed their software to this. They counted the debits first which left me with a -1.00, which never showed in the posted transactions - because it was not an actual figure - just a technical one that lasted the duration of a nano-second: the gap between posting my debits and then posting my deposits. The computer kicked in an overdraft fee, between posting debits and deposits, and then took my 30.00 deposit and applied it to the fee leaving my account a couple dollars in the negative. (amts have been rounded off to the nearest dollar)

I had transfered the -30 into my account to get gas to go to the university, where i was planning to work on a final project. I could not make it there, and did not dare buy my kids anything for supper, for fear of incurring a string of overdrafts. They ate peanut butter sandwhiches. BOA has more of my hard earned money. I plan on cutting my losses (this has happened a few times before) and leave banking accounts altogether - the conveniece is not worth the hassle. I will just work out of a cash jar, in the house, like folks use to use.

P of Mystic CT (05/02/08)
I have been a BofA customer for ten years and have never had a problem. Imagine my surprise when my check card got denied last week. I went straight to the ATM to make sure that funds were transfered from my savings to my checking. Problem solved. That night I received a notice in the mail for an insufficient fund charge.I expected that. Unfortuntely, I also received FIFTEEN more thirty five dollar fees in the next two days! They didn’t bother to decline my card until I was SEVEN HUNDRED dollars in the hole.

This, of course, was just a huge snowball effect. I never knew that I was overdrawn so they just started withdrawing hundreds of dollars out of my account. I feel like I have been robbed and there is nothing I can do about it. I have spent hours pleading my case but have gotten NOWHERE. I don’t mind paying the first couple of charges because they were my fault. But after that…They owed it to me to let me know there was a problem…At least decline my card so I could have straightened this out immediately. Please warn Debit card holders of this.

As for me….I’M NOT DONE FIGHTING!

K. of Bellflower CA (05/01/08)
My incident has happen three times where I have used my card or wrote out checks and had to make a deposit and made that deposit, but Bank of America moved all my transactions around.

I rececently made a deposit and knew that I had two checks that would be coming in after my deposit. Bank America credited the deposit and I got on line the next day and printed down the deposit and any previous transactions and everything was find. The following day(2 days after my depost) i get online to see what have came in and Bank America has moved my deposit around to show that in came in after my debits which of course made my account overdrawn, I called them and again they told me that they did not move anything around that it was the way they came in, and when I told them that I had copies of each and every transaction dating back three days, they told me that they move thing around because this is how the customers want it.

They want all there debits from the highest amount to the lowest amount. I said that you show debits in order of high/low does not explain why you moved my depost to be credited after my debits came in and you charged me. I’ve had it with them, I did not want to change banks because I have been with them for some time, but they have done this more than once.  In my circle of friends they say they would not deal with BofA is they tried to pay them.

Rita of Los Angeles CA (04/29/08)
I checked on my BOFA checking account and noticed that my overdraft protection had been applied to +96.00. I called to ask why and I was told that pending charges and deposits no longer apply to the balance, and I had over drafted my account. NOT according to my statement. Then I was scolded by the customer service rep about not paying attention to my balance. I’ve been with BOFA for ten years, and I’ve always used the online service and cash machines with success in determining my balance.

Apparently, there’s some new rule (which I still have yet to receive a notification of) that their assessment of you balance doesn’t really matter if there are pending charges. Needless to say, I did find a sympathetic ear to transfer the $100 back onto my BOFA credit card, but I have to now call the credit card company to credit me for the $10.00 overdraft protection fee. Some racket, huh. No overdraft = $100 on my credit card, + a $10.00 fee.

I live paycheck to paycheck and I used to count on BOFA to give me proper balance information. Now I have to make sure that there’s a few hundred dollars cushion (according to the rep I spoke to), so I don’t overdraft. $10.00 fee

Ron of Dunedin FL (04/28/08)
From: Bank of America

Sara of Midlothian VA (04/28/08)
I am currently going through a divorce, which is expensive. Since I am also a college student and mother I don’t have a lot of money so my father very generously offered to transfer money into my account so that I could afford a lawyer. We both have Bank of America accounts and decided to go to the branch closest to my house to do the transfer in person. We assumed this would be easier and decrease the chance of there being any problems. When we transferred the money we were very specific about what money went into which account. The woman even repeated the info back to us to make sure it was correct. We were told the money was deposited and was available for immediate use since we had done all this in person (online takes longer to post). We then went to the lawyer’s office and paid by check.

I thought everything was taken care of until a week later when my lawyer’s office called me and told me that the check had bounced! BofA never emailed me or called me about this matter even though it was thousands of dollars and I am signed up for alerts when I have under $200 dollars in my account and when I overdraw. I found out at the very last minute, after I had taken off a day of work the next day to see the lawyer and talk about very critical child custody issues, that my appointment would now be cancelled, my lawyer was not reserved for me, and there wouldn’t be enough time to reschedule as she had another client pay after my check had bounced.

I called BofA and asked what had happened. Apparently the woman at the bank had transferred money into a different account despite us being very clear with her and her repeating the info out loud to us. I was also charged fees, one for bouncing a check and another for overdrawing my account. I made sure that all fees would be refunded and the money would be put into the correct account, although this was over the phone so I still had to wait 2 days before it showed up on my account. The I had to wait for BofA to email or mail me a letter of apology explaining the situation so that I could show my lawyer that I was not at fault (they refused to accept payment from me since I had already bounced a check). BofA took their sweet time with the letter of apology, which caused me to completely lose any chance of getting a lawyer at the firm in time for the court date. BofA messed a lot of things up and in the end there’s nothing I can do.

I lost a day of work (that I had taken off to meet with a lawyer) due to the check bouncing and my finding out less than 24 hours before the appt. My mother also lost a day of work because she was going to watch my daughter while I went to the appt so that I would save money on dayca