Consumer complaint received 2021-09-08
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CT
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account
Sub-issue: Transaction was not authorized

Complaint:
Good Afternoon, I am writing to file a complaint regarding a situation involving Bank of America that has significantly impacted my finances and my family. I have been making regular, automated payments to my two credit cards since XXXX. On the XXXX and the XXXX of each month, a set amount has been withdrawn from the same checking account. These withdrawals appear in check form on all of my bank statements as they have since XXXX. As of XXXX, XXXX, Bank of America has been kicking back these scheduled payments without my knowledge. When I finally figured out this was occurring, I called both XXXX  and XXXX who both said Bank of America is kicking these back for unknown reasons. When I approached Bank of America, they stated they do not take payments in ACH or check form. This is not true, as evidenced by my payment history of three years where this method was always accepted. I have made zero changes to my account and have only used this method for the entirety of my payment history. Because of these kick backs, it appears to the credit card companies that I have been missing payments, therefore my Husbands credit score dropped XXXX points! ( I pay his discover card with this joint checking account ). It has also significantly dropped my credit score as XXXX is under my name. I have worked for many years to build our scores to good and almost excellent standing and now both of our scores are fair-poor. 

This is in no error on our part. We have been making auto payments for three years and have always had sufficient funds. Because of this random claim made by Bank of America declaring they do not accept this payment form, our finances are ruined and we are no longer able to qualify for a mortgage, nor refinance our vehicles or renew a lease. I am a XXXX  and am currently in school to become a XXXX  XXXX, therefore I have many student loans and am concerned this will impact that as well. 

I reached out to Bank of America in person to request a simple letter stating the issue at hand so that I could present that to the credit bureau in hopes of restoring my earned credit score. They denied my request stating I am at fault for not knowing they dont accept check form, which is simply a false statement of which we have evidence to support. 

I would like for them to take accountability for this error. This would cost them nothing accept a moment to write a letter. I work very hard as a XXXX  and in school, I have XXXX babies and we simply can not afford to take the blame and the large financial hit due to the lack of accountability from a historically criminal bank. I truly hope this can be resolved in some possible way as this was and is completely out of our control. I have attached images of payments made in check form to Bank of America over the years. 

I look forward to the resolution of this situation and would appreciate it more than one could understand. 

Thank you. 

Kindly, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation