Consumer complaint received 2015-11-05
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: VA
Product: Credit card
Issue: Closing/Cancelling account

Complaint:
I am writing this letter to dispute a record of a missed payment against my credit record caused by unclear and questionable practices of Bank of America. I was a bank of America customer for over XXXX years beginning in XXXX XXXX and never missed a payment or had an overdraft. Bank of America has now entered a late payment of {$66.00} against my credit record due to a charge they authorized to a credit card that was closed. 
I began closing my Bank of America accounts in XXXX of XXXX. The last remaining account was our XXXX Rewards Card. It was my belief we had made the final payments on the card in XXXX of XXXX. Bank of America owed us approximately {$56.00} on the card as a result of a refund issued to the card from a vendor. The money owed to us was deposited into our other bank. Somehow, the card, which we had been assured by Bank of America was closed, was in fact still active. 
On XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank of America authorized a {$79.00} charge to my XXXX from an automatic renewal from XXXX. The XXXX credit card was supposed to be closed, but this was not even the current card number of the account. The card number had been changed more than a year ago at the recommendation of Bank of America for account security. The current card was no longer valid either, as of XXXX XXXX according to the dates on the card. 
I received a notice in the mail on XXXX XXXX, XXXX that my payment was past due and my balance was {$66.00}. This is because Bank of America, apparently still owed me {$13.00} when I had over-payed on the balance back in XXXX. They subtracted the {$13.00} from the unauthorized XXXX XXXX XXXX charge of {$79.00}. This left a balance of {$66.00} on my " closed '' account. 
I also received a separate notice from Bank of America on the same day ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) that my account was closed and my balance was XXXX! 
I spoke to a very condescending Bank of America representative who offered to put me through a lengthy, charge dispute process, contingent upon my having written to the vendor to inform them I would not authorize the charge. I feared this dispute process was futile as it was explained to me. This is because it required me to have foreseen the future in XXXX XXXX that Bank of America would authorize a charge in XXXX XXXX against a closed account. The Bank of America rep was unable to explain the policies on how the bank decides when an automatic payment would or would not be authorized against a card that was " closed ''. 
I did not want to risk the possibility of another surprise on my " closed '' account so I decided to pay the balance. Bank of America told me they would not close the account, despite the fact I was able to pay the balance, because of daily interest accrual that might occur before the end of the month. 
I was forced to escalate the complaint twice to reach a supervisor who would calculate any possible remaining, daily accrual for the month and allowed me to over-pay on the " balance ''. I was then referred back to their credit dispute department. It has now been many phone calls and XXXX formal attempts to get Bank of America to withdraw the past due record on my credit record caused by their decision to authorize charges to an account which they had verified in writing, was closed. Bank of America has refused in writing the past due record. 
As of XXXX XXXX I am still getting emails from Bank of America on account XXXX informing me I have a bill of {$0.00}. My employer has informed me they are aware of the late payment which could affect my employment. I ca n't find the late payment on my credit reports. I want back of America to correct the late payment record against my credit report, wherever they have hidden it, and guarantee this account is finally and truly closed.

Company public response: Company chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation