Consumer complaint received 2024-09-01 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — Government benefit card
Issue: Trouble using the card — Trouble getting information about the card
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
On or about XX/XX/year> I received by mail a check for {$1500.00}. This check was paid as compensation for harm caused by the improper handling of my debit card issued by Bank of America for the purpose of paying to me the funds I was determined to be eligible by XXXX during the pandemic. 

Included with the check was information that if I believed I suffered financial harm in excess of the {$1500.00} I could apply for further compensation to an independent administrator who was appointed to ensure that Bank of America complied with the settlement order which found that Bank of America had to pay to consumers such as myself fair compensation from a large amount of money earmarked for that purpose. 

I immediately provided documentary proof of severe financial harm caused by the Bank 's unfair application of an automated system which contributed to the Bank 's freezing my account without cause and denying to me the XXXX benefits paid to me by the state of California. Although I managed to finally get through to XXXX and be cleared of any wrongdoing or fraud of any kind, I was forced to receive a check by mail in order to receive my XXXX pandemic benefits. 

Bank of America never gave me access to the money they wrongfully kept out of my initial pandemic benefits which was @ {$6000.00}. Further, Bank of America refused to reimburse me for the unauthorized use of my debit card including clearly incorrect debits and repetitive charges from the money I desperately needed to live during the pandemic. 

I was not given another debit card or access to my money wrongfully denied to me by the Bank in spite of having proven my identity and eligibility to XXXX and being in good standing for the rest of my claim. However, within the same week of receiving the {$1500.00} check I was sent another debit card along with several letters from the Bank informing me that I was being paid {$4700.00} for claims decided on my behalf. When I called Bank of America to inquire about the money they said was mine I was told it had been put on a debit card which I have never received because I was never given another debit card and had my XXXX benefits mailed to my home throughout the remainder of my pandemic claim. 

I provided ample proof { also included with this complaint } of severe financial harm suffered during the timeframe specified by the Bank and determined to be a period of time during which I was denied access to my XXXX funds and my entire account wrongfully frozen. 

I was told by the Independent Administrator that they needed further proof of how I suffered financial harm because of the Bank wrongfully denying to me the money the State of California determined I was eligible to and which I desperately needed to survive during the pandemic. I obtained detailed account statements of the XXXX XXXX  I continue to have to use to access my earnings almost on a daily basis because I statrted my job without the benefit of any money for gas or food and being way behind in paying my housing expenses because of the Bank improperly freezing and denying to me my XXXX funds. 

I also provided proof that I was forced to apply for Renter 's Assistance from XXXX XXXX because I was being evicted because I could not pay my past due or current rent or utiliies because Bank of America never gave me access to the money they kept when they wrongfully froze my entire XXXX account and kept my benefits. 

I also provided proof of being unable to pay my car insurance with XXXX due to the Bank 's freezing my account and keeping my XXXX benefits. I suffered a car accident which totalled my XXXX XXXX. I suffered a total loss and have still been unable to replace my vehicle. 

I continue to take the bus to work because I can not get ahead. I am so far behind in debt with payday loans and use up my earnings almost immediately just to be able to continue to keep my job. I live day to day and hand to mouth because Bank of America wrongfully kept my pandemic benefits and still to this day refuses to make available the money their own letters state I was to be paid for claims determined to be paid on my behalf although the money they claim to have paid to me was never made available to me because I never had another debit card after they froze my account and until XX/XX/year> when I received the {$1500.00} check claimed to be compensation for all the harm and suffering caused and still being caused by the Bank 's refusal to stand by their own rules as to reimbursing consumers for unauthorized debits on my XXXX account. 

Finally, I was abruptly told I did not provide any proof I suffered financial harm in excess of the {$150.00} check already paid in XX/XX/year> and that this was a finalmdecision to which I have no recourse. 

I believe the Independent Administrator mishandled the money ordered to be paid to consumers by the settlement order and that I am entitled to further compensation according to my proof.

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