Consumer complaint received 2020-01-17
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: VA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Other transaction problem

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2020at approximately XXXX XX/XX/XXXX I entered Bank of America branch located on XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXXXX/XX/XXXX XXXX, VA XXXX. The purpose was to cash a payroll check from my place of work which is an XX/XX/XXXX in Washington DC. Bank of America has the account with the XX/XX/XXXX ( country ) so the check is their 's. I do not personally bank there. The check was for {$3800.00} ( I am off the exact amount by a few cents or dollars and the XXXX is closed while I write this so I am unable to obtain the precise amount ) I am an American citizen born in XXXX XXXX, MO, and I have been cashing my payroll checks, from time to time, issued always from BoA, for approximately 6 years : 4 years when I worked for the same country while at their XX/XX/XXXX in XXXX, 2 years since I've been at the DC XXXX. BoA has been behaving quite disagreeable with me for the last two years while here in XX/XX/DMV. They always ask me in some variation to open an account with them, and I always decline. 

Today, I declined but also added that while all the national banks of the US were " bad '', BoA is on of the worst offenders so no, I do not wish to bank with them. After several minutes of waiting, the teller brought the assistant manager over and stated to me they could not cash their own check because they could not " verify it ''. Yes, they told me their own check, issued from an XX/XX/XXXX, was not verifiable. 

Agitated, I left and went to their branch on XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, VA XXXX. During the cashing process I gave them my XXXX  State ID and they asked for a second form. I responded that for many years I had used my US Passport and they always lectured me that I needed a state ID. Now I give them a state ID and they want a second form?! When did this become policy? The teller dropped the issue with no explanation. She put my cash through the automatic counting machine. When the machine finished she asked rudely " can you see the screen 's final tally? ". The machine was behind her chair and the screen is small. I replied to her " I can not read that without my glasses so no, I can not see that ''. She ignored my response and dropped the cash in front of me. I asked for a receipt and she stated " we do not give receipts for cashing checks ''. It was roughly XXXX and I wanted to go back to the XXXX XXXX branch and speak to them before it closed and the weekend put distance to all of this. I left quickly without counting. 

I then immediately returned to the XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX, VA XXXX and spoke with their branch manager. I explained what had happened and the arbitrary nature of this was serious and " not a joke ''. She asked me to wait so she could see into what took place. After about 45 seconds - obviously she did not look into this on behalf of my complaint, but on verifying my actions so as to censure me more - she returned and stated that the XXXX XXXX branch " violated procedure '' ; they are not allowed to cash my their/my check and the implication being I have alerted them to not cashing their/my check anywhere, anymore. She also stated that I ( like every customer of a national bank ) am not allowed to know their policies nor why. 

I replied I thought she would use my complaint as an opportunity to penalize me further and that I would be contacting the XXXX  Attorney General 's office. I explained to her that this constant secrecy on their part, with the unsaid implication of " trade secrets '' or " national security '', was obscene and that I represent millions of people who are powerless against them, daily. She smirked and we parted. 

I checked the Attorney General of XXXX  's website and learned they have no jurisdiction over banks and other financial institutions. In effect, I and every average American are living under the United Banks of America, and are at their mercy, moods and declarations at a brick and mortar level daily, regardless of what laws are established at the national level. By definition, national laws can not deal with daily interactions and none of us citizens will ever have the resources to combat nor defend ourselves against their colossal dominance. 

1. I want this looked into on my and every american 's behalf - though not cashing their own check is outrageous, please do not narrow the lens of your activity to me and their/my check being cashed, but the arbitrary nature of their actions at the teller level and the punitive nature it results to average people. 

2. When I produce a US passport, why are they asking me for state ID when they are exempt from states and commonwealth 's attorneys general jurisdiction ( maybe California and Texas etc are different due to their size? )?

3. If I can not cash their check at their bank, how am I supposed to have any have currency? Though I have a bank account, what if I do not? Am I supposed to use draconian Checks Cashed as my banking system?

4. Lastly, my final dollar amount was short by {$200.00} when I counted at home. I realize proving this is hopeless, but I do not even have a receipt. I should be issued a receipt from a bank when I request one, no matter the transaction.

I thank you in advance for looking into this matter and am looking forward to hearing from you

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