Consumer complaint received 2022-03-14
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
Hello, I hired an attorney XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX who committed fraud. While I had problems with his services from the beginning, when XXXX refused to refund a {$5000.00} retainer I paid on the wrong BofA debit card, and then again refused to refund a second duplicate payment of {$5000.00} on my BofA Credit Card, I disputed both transactions at Bank of America who issued both cards. They were both XXXX through XXXX. 

This is regulation E fraud at its core. Regulation E is there to protect me so that if I use a debit card to transfer money without my permission -- - is fraud. The fact that BofA decided I owed the attorney money and the payment was valid makes this a case of fraud by both Bank of America and the Attorney XXXX XXXX for trumping up billing invoices and threatening to sue BofA.

The attorney apparently threatened to sue Bank of America so their Risk division refused to refund my money even after I disputed the transactions. 

I never recieved legal services and had not been billed when these mistake retainer payments were made and I fired him before I recieved my first bill.

This was NOT a billing dispute. BofA had no right to " pay bills for me '' after the att
orney submitted billinga in excess of $ XXXX. However, these were trumped up invoices and my own bank failed to protect me. I owed him nothing. I fired him before I received the first bill from this guy. 

I filed a complaint with the California Bar Association. Regulation E specifies that any use of a debit or credit card against my permission is FRAUD. 

I fired the attorney when he refused to refund the original retainer transaction because the attorney said he would take equity in my company instead. When he then " trumped up '' the bills and threatened BofA with litigation -- their risk department - who originally refunded me the credit card {$5000.00}- took the money back out of my account and gave it to the attorney. This is fraud. 

Now looking back at the books - I believe the bank actually paid the attorney {$15000.00} from my business checking account. This is REPREHENSIBLE. The bank refused to send me an audit of these transactions upon request and put me on hold for hours because they wanted me out of their hair. Same bank shenanigans asXX/XX/XXXX 

I want my money back. If they did take {$15000.00} I want it all back. If they got {$10000.00} I want it back. 

The Bank is Bank of America. The rep for my business checking account is XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX - XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

The attorney is XXXX XXXX - XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX. Arrest him if at all possible for stealing {$10000.00}. That's grand larceny. 
HOME ADDRESS : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 

OFFICE ADDRESS : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ; XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX Tel/Fax : ( XXXX ) XXXX Cell : ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX I filed a complain with the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX 

I was informed that Regulation E means that any financial instrument used to transfer money without my permission is fraud. The fact that BofA decided " I owed the attorney money and the payment was valid '' makes this a case of fraud by both Bank of America and the Attorney XXXX XXXX. 

BofA was originally responsible for messing up my credit inXX/XX/XXXX and CFPB was unable to help me- thus losing my life savings. This time I hope you can help me get my money back and punish these banks and attorneys who committed fraud. 

Thanks, 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