Consumer complaint received 2025-01-06 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — Government benefit card
Issue: Problem getting a card or closing an account — Trouble closing card
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
This involves Bank Of AMERICA EDD benefit debit card and unemployment benefit money that Bank Of AMERICA deliberately withheld so I was not able to access all of it. I was unable to continue working ( in exchange for some room and board ) and living with the 2 elderly women that I had been caring for due to fear of getting them COVID sick. I had to use the card for living expenses during the pandemic unemployment. Luckily I was able to use my benefit money from XX/XX/XXXX through XXXX and then, but suddenly I was told I had no money and they froze my account without explanation. I had done the id.me requirements and my unemployment forms were submittedthey showed the were depositing my funds but Bank of America would not release them to me. I suffered real hardship then/no job, no place to live -just terribly sick and hungry. I have been going back-and-forth with Bank Of AMERICA since XXXX XXXX I went to the bank several times and called every number I could find. I contacted the unemployment office. Nobody seemed to know anything or do anything. I was just told my funds were frozen. Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX, I received the attached letter from them with an enclosed check for {$2800.00} which consists entirely of interest and an apology for we determined there may have been a delay in issuing a check you requested related to your prepaid debit card account. I was homeless.. may have been a delay I tried to withdraw my unemployment funds and close the account but they refused. This involved nearly {$20000.00}!! and left me homeless! So, account still open, funds frozen, I asked for bank statements which as you can see ( attached ) shows a balance in my account of {$17000.00} ( frozen funds ). So I figured my money would be available now since they paid me interest and admitted they were the ones holding back my money. But NO! So I called the numbers in the letter for help and requested a check closing out that card now including the money they credited to my account ( as stated in attached letter dated XX/XX/XXXX ). Every one in that system I talked to told me the card was blocked, account closed and so no money!! What is going on with them! I called other number also and was told they would look into it but the account had been clearly closed. The debit card reflects the same number as on the letters. But it doesnt work. 
Approximately 2 weeks later, I received an email notice ( dated XXXX ) stating my profile information had been updated from my state agency! Who? What! I can not even see what whoever/whatever got the changed to know if I should contact them. NO I did not change a things and again when I contacted the, I got no answers. Is there no end to this!!! I contacted them via email to their customer service and they did an auto email response on XX/XX/XXXX ( attached ) with my bank statements attached but I still could not access my account as they stated. I feel I have been unfairly treated with no way to represent myself. I have suffered enough-one of the women is now deceasedI have no explanations, no recourseI am elderly and XXXX partially disabled-deaf and difficulty walking. I believe they have been targeting the elderly and helpless with this unemployment/Bank of XXXX XXXX XXXX PLEASE HELP ME GET MY {$17000.00} BACK! It is owed to me. 
Thank you, XXXX XXXX Attachments : Letter XX/XX/XXXX Bank statements- XXXX ( XXXX pages ) Email XX/XX/XXXX Email XX/XX/XXXX XXXX

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