After all this time, I'm still convinced Bank of America sucks

When I moved back to Michigan, I opened up a new Bank of America checking account. I did it because my old account was with a bank that was bought out by another bank, and at least BofA was kind of local to my needs.

I guess some history should be included, because it's kind of important. Years ago, I had a roommate who used to be a middle manager at BofA in California. She once told me, when I was talking about why I liked my bank at the time (not BofA) that didn't charge me fees for my checking account, that the reason Bank of America SHOULD charge fees for its checking accounts AND savings accounts is that BofA is providing a "service", and thus, I should pay for that service. I said that if my money is in their bank, then they're getting free use of my money to invest, so the service is really from me. She said I just didn't understand banking. Thus, I realized that if that's how they teach their managers, I didn't want anything to do with BofA.

Then some months later, for reasons that still escape me, I actually had a BofA account, and one day when using the ATM, I made a deposit of my payroll check, which was actually an emergency check (the first one had been lost by my employer), so I was in dire need of this money. Well, the BofA ATM ate my deposit, and I mean ATE my deposit. I saw the machine literally rip my envelope to shreds as it pulled it into the machine. Never saw anything like it before. Then it proceeded to put itself out of order. It also did not credit my account.

Well, then BofA turned around and added a hefty fine to my account for a "false" deposit in which no deposit actually occurred. It didn't matter that they didn't credit a deposit in the first place. Now they were adding a finance charge on me for doing something "unauthorized". I tried talking to their people, and the clerk actually treated me like I was some sleazoid that had walked in off the street and asked for spare change.

I closed my account back then, and thought nothing of BofA again until just recently.

I had opened this account because a colleague who started at work with me said that she was offered $100 for opening a brand new checking account. So I went there and thought I'd do the same. It should have been a warning to me when they only offered me $50 (same branch she went to...bonus was for working at Spectrum Health, the place we BOTH work).

The only stipulation was that I had to have direct deposit started with my paycheck. So I did it, practically the next day. It took some time to initiate, but once it did, my direct deposits have gone directly into my BofA account.

Well, the $50 never showed up. So I went in a few weeks ago and inquired about this, and the clerk said she'd check on it, and someone told her on the phone they'd get right on it. Today, I received a letter in the mail stating that I took too long to initiate my direct deposit, so I did not qualify for the bonus. Keep in mind, I started it the next day (after receiving it). It took weeks to get started, which I can't even imagine how a time frame that doesn't fit that makes any sense.

So, they're pretty much telling me "screw you, duane" like they did so many years ago. Bank of America has not changed. A bit. They suck, and let's just say that I am very stupid for having given them yet another chance.

Won't happen again.

Stumble It!