Bank of America

I closed my account with BOA 2 years ago and was reminded why when I stopped in this location recently.
I stopped in to cash one of those surprising refund checks issued by BOA following the class action settlement regarding its overdraft fees. Obviously, I was not expecting to have to pay another fee. However, the teller was unsure. He had to call his boss over for clarification. Mind you, the check was for thirty some dollars. The manager proceeded to answer a phone call without acknowledging us, while I waited… and waited. It was not until I visibly pulled up Unilocal that the teller decided to make an executive decision to cash the check.

You want to know why nobody gives a crap about the banks and their financial troubles? Because the banks don’t give a crap about me and my financial troubles.
One morning, I found myself in a particular crunch. I needed a money order. The time was 8:45 and I had a flight to catch. I used my ATM card to get me into the lobby area. Behind the glass doors, I can see the trolls roaming about the bank interior. I knock on the glass and explain to them that I need a money order and I’m on a bit of a time crunch, as I’m going to have to take two trains to get to Midway for a 10 a.m. flight.
The first lady tells me through the glass that I have to wait till 9 a.m. when the bank opens. I try to explain that I have a flight to catch and would truly appreciate if they would make an exception in this case. She says no. I guess bankers’ hours mean 9 – 5 and no exceptions.
So I wait. OK, to be more accurate, I was actually brooding and furious and trying to make her head blow up like in Scanners. That was when the woman I presumed to be her manager came to the door.
Finally, some service, I thought.
«Sir, you can’t just hang out here.»
«Um, I’m not having a party. I’m waiting until you open. You see, I I have a flight to catch and I really need a money order before I leave town and that woman told me …»
«Sir, you’re going to have to wait outside.»
«Wait, are you *bleeping* kidding me? I’m an account holder with your bank.»
«Please, sir.»
«So I keep my money with you folks and you treat me like a *bleeping* hobo. Seriously?!»
So I went outside.
Two minutes later a guy in a suit used his ATM card to open the outside doors and proceeded to wait in the lobby. Nice.
I hopped on the train, my middle finger high in the air.
Epilogue: Was this money order for some needy orphanage? Was it a crucial donation for sneakers for a cancer walk? No. In fact, the money order is for the Illinois State Tollway because my transponder didn’t work properly on my last trip back from Milwaukee. So they will forgive the fine, but I still need to pay the toll. But I can’t use cash, personal check or wooden nickels. No, they will only accept a money order. And thanks to the Bank of America branch at 963 W. Belmont Avenue, I missed the deadline for appeal.

I am a HUGE fan of Bank of America, but every time I go to this location I always seem to have a problem.
Last time I went, I wanted to close our my IRA (I was transferring it to another banking institution, not just making poor decisions!). I told Eddie that I needed it to be closed and I have a reoccurring transfer into the account so I need that stopped as well. He says SURE! and tells me its all done.
Well a few days later, the reoccurring transfer occurs into the account. I call Eddie and he says he has no idea. He tells me that he claims he stopped them. OBVIOUSLY NOT EDDIE. I give him time to solve the problem. Well its been two weeks, and the next reoccurring payment occurs. Now my IRA has an additional $ 100 in it and no one can explain why.
Now, one month later I am still dealing with this issue. I need to go back to BOA and have them write me another check so I can send it to my new IRA. Pain in my butt!
Honestly, I would go to any other BOA in the city before I went to this one. And the damn ATM’s always seem to be broken. GET IT TOGETHER!