Consumer complaint received 2022-03-20
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NY
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Card opened as result of identity theft or fraud

Complaint:
I would to report the unfair, harassing, and abusive action of Bank of America ( BOA ) credit card practice that harmed me in many ways. 
In XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed that my credit score dropped XXXX points in a matter of 2 months and realized I was a victim of identity theft. My identity ( SSN and Birthday ) was stolen. The thief/impersonator who stole my identity opened two credit cards from 2 different banks ; of course, the cards were never paid after maxing out the credit limit. Then I contacted credit Bureaus, and the banks issued credit cards to the theft. After investigation, all credit Bureaus and XXXX XXXX  removed all card transactions associated with fraudulent accounts and also removed all negative records from my reports from the card obligation as the cards were issued to a different name and mailed to a different address than my actual address, the impersonator used my SSN and Birthday to apply for the cards. 
However, dealing with BOA to get this resolved became mission impossible. Starting XX/XX/XXXX until XXXX, I have contacted BOA many times via calls to their fraud reporting line to report this matter and even asked BOA to set up case number XXXX to investigate this matter. However, Bank of America failed to investigate this matter properly. In addition, they refused to respond, accepted my information, and refused to provide me with any update. Instead of protecting consumer rights, BOA started harassing and bullying me as they searched and found my home address and started sending me harassing mailing and obtained a judgment against the name used to apply for the card, etc. I even went to the police and I was advised that I didn't have to worry about it as the card was issued to a different name. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was served a summon for a court judgment under the impersonate name, and I mailed and faxed to the law firm that BOA hires, noting them I was not the person. I have never received any responses either. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, four years past, BOA got a judgment against me in addition to the fake name used by the thief ( they sued the fake name associated with the card but linked my information ( they use A.K.A. on the court paper my real name and SSN ) on the decision then obtained also another judgment to garnish my wage. I never got a chance even go to court to present my situation. 

In summary, BOA is negligent and abusive towards a regular consumer like me in this matter ; not only they did not help me to resolve the identity theft issue, they even used their resources to abuse and bully a regular consumer like me, by getting a court judgment and wage garnishment judgment, they made my four years since XXXX to XXXX like living in XXXX and now I am forced to hire an attorney to assist me with this matter for the judgment and wage garnishment.

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