Consumer complaint received 2024-11-13 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Money was taken from your account on the wrong day or for the wrong amount
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: AR

Complaint narrative:
This is the initial dispute I submitted to the Attorney Generals Office in XXXX XXXX, Arkansas. 
On XX/XX/year>, AGENT/Politician XXXX XXXX transferred me {$8500.00}. Because I inquired about a program called the XXXX XXXX. A program to help people financially with paying bills and you would not have to pay it back. I had spoken with a family member who was the one who forwarded XXXX XXXX contact information. The entire conversation between myself and XXXX XXXX is on XXXX XXXX. From XX/XX/year>, through XX/XX/year>, I communicated with XXXX XXXX through XXXX. When I first received the funds in my bank account. XXXX XXXX stated I needed to go to the bank and withdraw {$8000.00}. So, I can go and purchase 14 XXXX gift cards in {$500.00} denominations from XXXX or XXXX. I was reluctant to do what he said. Because I thought I would be able to use the money for my own purposes and benefit. He kept on about it, but the bank would not let me withdraw the large sum of money. XXXX told me to go to an ATM to withdraw the money but still I would not withdraw the large sum of money. I withdrew {$20.00} and took a snapshot of the money along with the bank receipt so he could see the balance in my bank account. I also took a snapshot of the account through online banking too. XXXX was very persistent and kept going on and on about me purchasing those gift cards. I was extremely vulnerable and went ahead and purchased one {$500.00} XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX. I was only allowed to purchase one gift card because the merchant said only one gift card could be purchased per customer per day. Because there have been some fraud scams surrounding the gift cards. At this point, XXXX is still saying I needed to get the remaining gift cards. I refused and told him I did not want to keep the remaining money and that I wanted to return it back to him. I asked if I could have his mailing address to refund the money back in the form of a cashiers check. He refused to provide that information. Later, XXXX suggested that I transfer the money back using XXXX. He provided the email addresses of the recipients who the remaining {$8000.00} was supposed to be returned too. In good faith, I transferred the money from my bank account to the two recipients XXXX had provided to me. Meanwhile, the bank is saying the funds received were fraudulent. XXXX stated his organization is real and legitimate. The bank initially debited my bank account for the entire amount of {$8500.00}. Leaving a substantial overdrawn balance in the account. Needless to say. I had payroll deposits going into the account and my social security check for XXXX went into the overdrawn account. I tried to divert the social security check, and have it mailed but the Social Security office still deposited the funds into the overdrawn bank account. The bank account belongs to me and my son. On XX/XX/year>, I opened a new checking and savings bank account. The old bank account was debited on XX/XX/year>. The last payroll deposit came through on XX/XX/year>. I had written a check on XX/XX/year>, to pay my Entergy bill. The check amount was {$110.00}. When the bank debited the account on XX/XX/year>. It left the account overdrawn substantially. I XXXX  back {$1000.00} on XX/XX/year>XXXX  ; {$3500.00} on XX/XX/year> ; and {$3500.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. I think the bank is negligent and I want them to recover my social security check and pay for my Entergy expense. The bank is saying there isnt anything they can do regarding the check I wrote. Because the account is overdrawn. My bank account was not overdrawn when I wrote the check to Entergy because I had recurring deposits. The bank stated I should contact Social Security to recover my social security check and social security is saying I should contact the bank. It is the banks fault because I had already returned XXXX XXXX money to the recipients he provided. The bank came after the fact and debited the account. Besides I also asked the bank about helping me with the XXXX transfers. The bank stated I had to do the transfers myself. I told them I needed help in returning the money back. I am a very conscientious person when it comes to my banking. I never overdraw my bank account because the bank charges {$35.00} per day overdrawn fees. The bank stated they would try and recover the funds, but they are unable to approve the claim I had made. I have two letters from the bank regarding my claim. The bank mentioned they are unable to approve the claim because theyre stating I received benefits of funds. It could take an additional 45 days for them to resolve this. Ive had a lot of sleepless nights and a heavy head worrying about this. On top of the other things in my life that bring on stress. Therefore, I am seeking ongoing counseling to deal with these issues when bad things keep happening to me. I think I am an easy XXXX  because I bank with the Bank of America and know people in high places. Not to mention I have a XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and a XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Because something similar happened to me several years ago. I just celebrated my XXXX birthday and couldnt celebrate like I wanted to because of this banking dilemma. Can you refer me to someone who can help? Do you have any questions? Thanks for reading. You may call me with questions on my home phone ( XXXX ) XXXX or cellular phone ( XXXX ) XXXX or send me an email at XXXX. 

This dispute has been ongoing with the Bank of America since I first submitted this complaint to the Arkansas Attorney Generals Office in XXXX XXXX, Arkansas. The bank has since charged off the account. It was their bank employee that overdrew the account. I should not be responsible for repaying funds that I never used. I have a right to return funds I do not want to use. I want the bank to stop taking money from my savings account whenever I try to save money. I now keep a minimal amount in savings. The bank has ruined my credit because I cant open another account with a credit union unless I receive a letter from the Bank of America that says Im in a good standing of the debt they say I owe has been cleared. As of today, I have not received any such notice. Instead, I keep receiving notices that say your account is overdrawn. The bank is expecting me to pay for their employees negligence. It was their error, and they should have corrected their books instead of saying I overdrew my account and charging it off. I want this resolved before the statute of limitations runs out. Please help to get this resolved.

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