Consumer complaint received 2018-03-15
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: GA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Other problem

Complaint:
Around XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, due to some unexpected medical bills in diagnosing my daughter for a XXXX condition, I got behind in paying my bills. After successfully making arrangements for the medical related bills, I tried to do the same with Bank of America. 
Ironically, in part of an article originally published by XXXX, ( http : XXXX ) it states : Bank of America was among the eight large U.S. banks ( nine if you count XXXX XXXX , now part of BoA ) to receive the Treasury Department 's initial round of capital investments in the fall of XX/XX/XXXX -- money described by Treasury officials not as a bailout, but rather as funds to help bolster " healthy '' banks in tough times. 

This large cooperation received funds to help them in tough times, however, I as a previously healthy consumer is not afforded the same assistance to pay off my account in tough times. 
I tried on numerous occasions to work out a payment arrangement with Bank of America, prior to my account being charged off, knowing how important it is to keep a good credit rating. I wrote to their corporate office and was contacted by XXXX XXXX at XXXX ext XXXX. She verified that their records showed that I opened the account in XX/XX/XXXX and had an excellent payment record for the approximately 10 years I had the account. On XX/XX/XXXX I spoke with XXXX XXXX, at XXXX XXXX who spoke of a financial assessment. I cant remember how that conversation went, and my notes dont state so I wont try to make up a conversation, but obviously it did not lead to a resolution because on XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX XXXX I spoke with XXXX   ( XXXX? ) XXXX. She stated they could do a financial assessment and I could be put on a payment plan with a lower interest rate for 60 months, but I have to have proof of income. I told her that I was not currently employed. I called again to make another attempt on XX/XX/XXXX at about XXXX XXXX and spoke with XXXX XXXX who informed me that in approximately 4 months my account would be charged off as a bad debt, but again, I could not make arrangements if I cant show income. I had been unemployed fro most of the time I had this account and had no problem paying it. I probably had a better payment history than those who had a job. 
After the charge off, I received a letter from a Firm by the name of XXXX XXXX XXXX. Im sure that the probability is high that my account may have been purchased for pennies on the dollar, so while BOA would not allow me to make a payment plan for the amount owed, they may have sold it to a firm asking for payment in the amount of {$4300.00}, although my last balance was in the high 3 thousands, not over 4 thousands. When I received that request for payment, I researched to see who they were and found information on a Civil Action case complaint filed XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX ) against them from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . 
So, not only has the account probably been sold for pennies on the dollar, it was to a company that I have no way to prove is handling this process correctly. I have seen on the internet where these companies make an agreement, start collecting funds, then go on to sue, still yet in the future and will not communicate with the consumer. No where in my cardholder agreement does it state, unless I'm overlooking something ' that I have to be employed to make payment arrangements. 
To summarize : I, a loyal good paying consumer of almost 10 years tried, in good faith, to make payment arrangements with BOA so my account would not be charged off due to the fact that I got behind during a tough time. 

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