Consumer complaint received 2026-02-05 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Transaction was not authorized
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Bank Of America XXXX # XXXX In XXXX of 2025, I inquired about a possible loan with Explore Credit ( Explore XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I went to their website and followed their application process and I was to give them my banking information so that they could " use your banking information as just another tool to find out the best possible short-term loans we can provide to you. Your information is strictly confidential, and will never be used for anything beyond your route to approval ''. This was to be given and THEN they would give ( or not give ) a final authorization. ( It will not allow me to place attachment here ). 
When they came back with a {$1000.00} loan offer at 700 % interest, I didn't sign anything or even attempt to sign anything and backed out of the website. Who would pay 700 % interest? Not me. 
It was probably a month later, I received {$1000.00} in my account ( thought it might have come from my Wife 's employment ). The next day when it posted, it showed me where it came from : XXXX XXXX so I Googled their information and called them up. I believe it was XXXX that answered and told her I didn't apply for a loan. She stated " You don't want the loan? '' I told her no and she told be to get out of it, I needed to pay interest for the payoff. I told her I wasn't going to pay interest and to take the money back. 
On or around XX/XX/XXXX, I had seen that they took money out of my account for {$280.00} and I contacted Bank Of America Fraud Dept. and they looked at it and agreed that it was fraud and credited the {$280.00} back into my account. 
I gave the Representative, the amount ( {$280.00} ) & the name XXXX XXXX AND XXXX XXXX XXXX and he stated that they will be flagged so it " shouldn't '' happen again. 
Two weeks later, I decided to check again and sure enough, they took it out again, but this time they did via check draft. They actually had two drafts ( {$210.00} & {$71.00} ) that added up to the {$280.00} that B Of A had flagged. I once again called and spoke to XXXX and he kinda half laughed and said " yes, they try to do stuff like this so the bank won't notice ''. I thought, well, y'all had the business ' name XXXX XXXXt, thought at least it would be flagged because of that. He said it will be taken care of. 
I spoke to a Bank Of America representative XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) and she agreed with me and stated that their system doesn't recognize drafts, that is why those companies do that. 
As time went on with family medical issues and whatnot, I hadn't looked at the account until XXXX, XXXX and noticed the check drafts kept being taken out. I called the Fraud Dept again and they stated that it was still being investigated and seemed puzzled that there was no resolution yet and gave me this claim # : XXXX. 
On XXXX XXXX, 2025XX/XX/year>, Explore tried to take it out again, but were stopped. 
I thought I was finally satisfied that this part was finally over and waited for the investigation to be completed. 
On or about XXXX2025, I was issued a temporary credit of {$3400.00}, XXXX was placed in our account as the Representative I spoke to ( I believe it was XXXX again ... not 100 % sure ) stated that it had been a long time for the investigation and it appears to be fraud after a text I received from XXXX  stating that I didn't finalize with my signature. 
They always text me, no e-mail. 
On XXXX XXXX, 2025, I went into my account and I will be doggone if they didn't start taking it out again in XXXX. I called and spoke to XXXX and explained everything that was going on. She looked back through the notes and stated that she thought it also was fraud and created another claim for the XXXX through XXXX withdrawals ( XXXX ). 
Just before New Year 's Eve, B Of A took the money back out of our account citing that I didn't report the fraud within 60 days ( which I didn't know about that policy ), but I did, back in XXXX and is what everybody else is seeing. And I reached out again when they took it out with the two check drafts that happen to add up to {$280.00}. 
I have reached out to the Fraud Dept many times. Finally I was told I could FAX the " Back Office '' people, so I did. This time I received a response that my claim was denied because I gave them access to my account. I didn't give them access to be able to perform any transactions and that it was part of their application process to see what loans I qualify for ( as seen above ). First they said that it was because I didn't file withing 60 days ( which clearly I did ), so now they are saying this excuse and I can't even talk to them. 
I am honestly wondering if they truly understand what happened to me ( us ) and that we were misled purposely by XXXX. They have had numerous complaints about this very situation ( and I believe a class action lawsuit ) and have been negatively reported to the Better Business Bureau over 142 times. 
I am not sure what else you can do for me or who I can contact. This has created a HUGE financial burden on us. We had to pay our mortgage late for XXXX and my Wife had a medical procedure and another on the way. This has really put us in a bind. 
I have appealed this decision three times already, but Bank Of America will not help me. 
The ONLY reason I gave my banking information was to see what loan I qualified for. I did NOT give them authorization to deposit or remove money from my account. As stated, they have done this same scam to many others ( please see their reviews ). They switched to the check drafts to avoid detection. 
I have called the Fraud Dept SEVERAL ties and they agree with me, but the " back office '' ( as they call it ) won't allow our funds to be returned to our account.

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 monetary relief