Comments on: Possible Fraudulent Switch to Bank of America’s Advantage Checking Account

By: Philip Taylor

Philip Taylor — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I just received an email from a reader on this issue. Can you help?

“I have been a customer of Bank of America since 2004. I have done all my banking on line and I’m not one to evaluate my statement every month (shame on me). As such, I didn’t realize that for 6 years, BOA has been charging me $25 every month for the “Advantage Account” and I have not qualified for it nor did I ever agree to switch to it at any time. I have since had it changed back to a “My Access Account” and BOA refunded me back a token amount of $100.

It’s my contention that BOA should be responsible for sending out a letter to their customers recommending to them that they should consider a different type of account due to not qualifying for the Advantage Account and they could avoid the additional charge. Surly if I deposited 1 million dollars into my account at BOA, they would be sure to approach me with additional products and services. The same should be true if you do not (or no longer for a stated period of time) qualify for this account.

I am contacting you see if you are aware of any class action lawsuits concerning this matter. Otherwise, I’m considering taking action on my own by finding an attorney that may be interested in taking this matter on.”

By: PT

PT — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Betsy. I’d try contacting BOA reps using http://twitter.com/BofA_help. They are fast to respond via twitter.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

And to add addtional info….I closed by BOA accounts and had a credit card with them that was in my company’s name. They switched my credit card into my personal name and now it shows up on my personal credit. They are so out of line! I payed it off and am done with BOA. If anybody knows how to get a class action law suit started, executed, and completed in our favor…I’m IN!

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Apparently, BOA is still conducting themselves this way. I found out that I have been charged $20 for the past 4 months. Bank would only refund two transactions. I will not leave them alone about it. I am so pissed. I don’t have time in my life to watch my own bank to make sure they’re not stealing from me! Just as an FYI, I have 4 accounts with them, a mortgage, two checking accounts, and a savings account. In addition, I both my husband and I have direct deposit for the last umpteen years!

Lori posted 2/15/2010

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

BOA offered several excuses when confronted about the switch from “free to fee” scam. Their #1 excuse: “You do have a fee based account, and always have.” False BOA
Their #2 excuse: “We sent you a letter.” Prove it BOA.
Their #3 excuse: “I don’t know what happened, I can only refund charges for 3 months.” Thanks a lot BOA.

I have closed my accounts and tell everybody I know about my personal experience with BOA. Thank you BOA for making my life more difficult, and for sending threatening debt collectors, and for ripping me off! Thank you very much.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I just found the $20 monthly advantage charge on my checking account. I looked back and it has been applied each of the last three months. I have had this account for years with no monthly fees. I have more money in BOA now than ever. I have never authorized any kind of account change.

By: PT Money

PT Money — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone, I’ve made some progress with this issue. I found a BOA representative on Twitter. His name is David and he’s at http://twitter.com/BofA_help

He’s having my issue researched. If you have a similar issue, I suggest you contact him on twitter.

By: Deborah Aldridge

Deborah Aldridge — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

BOA charged me an overdraft fee, which I admit was my fault, then didn’t post it for 3 days. When the posted overdraft fee caused ANOTHER overdraft, they charged me again! I called, they were unforgiving, and refused to remove the fees. I was forced to leave my money in their bank due to some work I was having done on my house. I am going to remove it very soon, and just deal in cash from now on. Every bank I’ve been with for the last 5 years has screwed me with unfair fees. It’s not enough that they got all our tax money, now they want our real money as well!

By: Alistair

Alistair — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This also happened to me. $15 / month maintenance fee started appearing out of the blue. I have been a basic, free checking customer for nearly four years, had never had a fee.

I called customer service and they said I now needed an automatic direct deposit to waive the fee. (There was no mention on the phone my account had been ‘upgraded’. Nor did I receive any postal or email about this.)

I set up the direct deposit, waited a month and still received another $15 fee!

I just now got off the phone with them… After several minutes of discussion, they admitted my account had been changed to an Advantage Account. They would only refund one months fee’s, even though I have five months worth on there. (Wish I had called sooner…)

Just show me where to sign up for the class action lawsuit! (They also opened a World Perks credit card without my permission last year, so am I really upset now)

I am closing my account as soon as I get a new one set up elsewhere. No more business for BOA from me.

By: PT

PT — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Betsy.