Consumer complaint received 2025-08-06 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card — Delay in processing application
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXX To Whom It May Concern : Bank of America Legal Department XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NC XXXX RE : Final Pre-Litigation Demand FCRA Violations, Unlawful Credit Inquiry, Discriminatory Treatment, and Intentional Negligence in Account Application Process Dear Legal Counsel, I am writing to you in my final attempt to resolve this matter without initiating formal litigation. My name is [ Your Full Name ], and I recently submitted an application for a personal account with Bank of America ( BOA ). The treatment I received was egregious, discriminatory, and a direct violation of multiple federal laws, including but not limited to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ), and Regulation B. 
You have not only damaged my credit but have subjected me to humiliating, burdensome, and duplicative verification requests, conducted a hard credit inquiry without my knowledge or consent, and stereotyped and discriminated against me in a manner that will not go unchallenged. 

Let me lay out the precise timeline and violations : DETAILED TIMELINE OF EVENTS XX/XX/XXXX : I mailed in all required verification documents ( XXXX form, my SSN card, ID, and a recent pay stub ) via certified mail. BOA received the documents on XX/XX/XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX : I called every single day to check my application status. I was repeatedly told to wait or that the fraud department needed to verify my identityeven after full documentation had been submitted. 

XX/XX/XXXX : After weeks of delay, I was finally told that the Fraud Department now needed to verify my identity again. I complied with the identity verification process over the phone. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I was forced to repeat the identity verification process twice moreonce again via phone, and then again in person at the branch, where I was handed the phone by the banker and re-verified for a third time in 48 hours. 

XX/XX/XXXX : I discovered my application had been denied and, upon checking my XXXX credit report, found a new hard inquiry dated XX/XX/XXXX, which I did NOT consent to or authorize. 

LEGAL VIOLATIONS FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) Unauthorized Credit Inquiry You performed a hard credit pull without my knowledge or written consent in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( f ). This constitutes willful noncompliance under FCRA 616, entitling me to actual damages, statutory damages up to {$1000.00}, and punitive damages.

ECOA Discrimination 15 U.S.C. 1691 Requiring excessive identity documentation despite already having verified information creates a disparate impactparticularly against individuals of color, immigrants, or those with non-traditional employment documentation. Your conduct shows a clear pattern of discriminatory profiling, violating the ECOA and Regulation B.

Negligent and Willful Noncompliance The extended delay between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX was intentional stalling and institutional negligence. I was given a deadline of XX/XX/XXXX to provide documents ( which I submitted nearly three weeks in advance ), yet I was dragged through an exhausting, multi-layered, and duplicative processclearly suggesting discriminatory bias and willful obstruction. 

RELEVANT CASE LAW XXXX XXXX Bank of America, N.A., XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) BOA was held liable for unauthorized hard credit pulls, resulting in a {$22000.00} settlement. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) The Supreme Court confirmed that inaccurate credit reporting and improper access to consumer reports constitutes a concrete harm, entitling victims to both statutory and punitive damages. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ) A federal court found that repeated identity verification requests after receipt of proper documentation constituted unlawful discrimination and allowed the plaintiff to pursue compensatory damages. 

DEMAND FOR RELIEF Based on the above, I am formally demanding compensation in the amount of {$25000.00}, representing : Emotional distress from repeated denial of access to banking ; Credit damage from unauthorized hard inquiry ; Time, cost, and energy spent complying with excessive and discriminatory verification demands ; Clear violation of federal law and consumer rights. 
I am currently in litigation preparation, and my counsel is prepared to initiate suit in federal court. However, in the interest of avoiding prolonged legal action, I am open to resolving this matter amicably through settlement. 

DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM Attached to this letter and submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) are : Certified mail receipt showing timely document submission ; Copy of SSA-89 and other documents submitted ; Screenshot of hard inquiry dated XX/XX/XXXX ; Timeline of events ; Copy of this demand letter. 

DEADLINE TO RESPOND If I do not receive a formal response or offer of resolution within 10 business days, I will escalate this matter through all available legal and regulatory channels including : Filing formal complaints with the CFPB, FTC, and state banking regulators ; Initiating a civil lawsuit under FCRA and ECOA violations ; Pursuing punitive damages and injunctive relief for broader policy violations. 
Let this serve as your final notice before I proceed further. I will not be intimidated, gaslit, or dismissed. You picked the wrong person to play with

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