Consumer complaint received 2024-12-24 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Banking errors
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) to report what I believe are unethical and unauthorized practices by Bank of America regarding my personal checking account. 

On Tuesday, I discovered my account had a negative balance of - {$47.00}. This account is specifically used for transactions where I transfer funds into it beforehand, ensuring I only spend what is available. I do not maintain a standing balance in this account, nor do I have overdraft protection enabled. 

On Saturday, I noticed that Bank of America made an unexplained adjustment, depositing {$41.00} into the account. I subsequently transferred that amount to my shared account with my husband. Despite this, my account went negative again, without any transactions exceeding the amount I transferred. Additionally, I have observed what appears to be duplicate charges or adjustments to transactions where funds were already deducted at the time of purchase. 

I contacted Bank of America on Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX, to address this matter but was met with dismissive responses and an inaccurate accusation that I was spending beyond my means. This claim is entirely false, as I carefully manage this account and only spend funds that I transfer in advance. Furthermore, on XX/XX/XXXX, the transaction showing my transfer of {$41.00} into my shared account had already posted, further supporting my point. 

As a XXXX XXXX XXXX, I know firsthand that the holiday season can be a time of stress and sadness for many individuals. It is deeply troubling that Bank of Americas representatives displayed a lack of empathy and understanding, especially during a season that can already be emotionally and financially challenging. Such behavior reflects poorly on the company and underscores the urgent need for better training to ensure customer service agents are equipped to care for and support consumers rather than causing additional harm. 

This experience highlights the importance of treating customers with compassion and respect, as financial issues can significantly impact mental well-being. I hope Bank of America takes this opportunity to reevaluate their practices and prioritize the well-being of their customers. 

These unacceptable practices raise significant concerns about the bank 's ethical standards and compliance with consumer protection laws. If this behavior continues, I will be forced to begin taking screenshots and thoroughly documenting every transaction to track and prove discrepancies. I can also provide screenshots of the transfers from my shared account to my checking account for the amounts that say made my account go negative to prove I only put money in there at the time of the transaction and the money is taken out immediately after. 

I respectfully request that the CFPB investigate this matter to ensure accountability and compliance with consumer protection regulations. 

Thank you for your attention to this issue. Please let me know if further information is needed.

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