The story started with me trying to get gas to go on a gold prospecting trip with my cousin. Some of my credit cards broke in my wallet earlier in the week(they don’t make them the way they use to) and another one expired. I was left to use my Bank of America credit card since it was the only option (Diane is in GA visiting family and has all her cards with her). So here I am at the gas station and the card isn’t authorizing. I go inside and the card is denied. So I call the number on the back of the card and I get a nice voice telling me the account has been closed with no option to speak to a person. So I drive home and get another number to call. Still no luck the guy can’t even hear me talking. Then I get on bank of america’s chat with maxwell. Here is the conversation I had with him. I know it is long but definitely think it will be worth the time to read.
Maxwell: Welcome to Credit Card Chat Service! My name is Maxwell. I am here to assist you with your personal Credit card Accounts. May I know your complete name as it appears on the Credit Card or statement?
You: unbelievable
You: Don Page
You: waited on the phone for 5 minutes and the person couldn’t even hear me talking
Maxwell: Hello! Don
You: maxwell you got to help me out
Maxwell: I do apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
Maxwell: Sure.
You: I cannot use my credit card
You: stopped to get gas and no zip codes worked and tried inside and the card was denied
You: what is going on here!?
You: It is the 90s all over again nothing works
You: nightmare got to start carrying cash again
Maxwell: I understand that you wish to know why your card got declined
Maxwell: I do apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
You: credit cards breaking left and right in my wallet they don’t make them the way they use to
Maxwell: Thank you for bringing this to our attention and allowing me to take care of this for you.
Maxwell: I would be more than happy to take a look at that for you.
You: please do I am trying to get to my cousins for a gold prospecting trip but I’m here at home on the computer trying to get this worked out
Maxwell: I will surely check that for you.
You: what do you need from my end
Maxwell: Thank you for your patience, I will be right with you.
Maxwell: May I please have the last four digits of your card?
You: digits removed
Maxwell: Thank you.
Maxwell: For verification purposes, could you please provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number and date of birth?
You: data removed
Maxwell: Perfect! I appreciate you answering the verification questions!
You: come on maxwell you got to help me out here. why is my card not working and how can I get it working asap
Maxwell: Sure.
Maxwell: Let me get you the complete information.
Maxwell: I have reviewed your account and I have checked and would like to inform you that your account ending in – data removed is in blocked status. It means that the card is closed. The card was closed by the bank.
Maxwell: Your card was closed on 03/21/2012
You: you got to be kidding me!
You: impossible
Maxwell: In order to use the card again, you will need to place a request for the re-opening of your account.
You: a payment was made on 4/28/2012
You: 19.62
You: how in the world can they close my account and I still make a payment
You: something isn’t right here…first they close my checking, then my savings, then my credit card!
You: and they wonder why they aren’t my primary choice when it comes to banking
Maxwell: I certainly understand your point of view
You: maxwell how in the world can I get this account opened again. I live 5 hours from the nearest branch!
You: we got to get this opened online
You: it is the only card in my wallet that is not broken
Maxwell: You need not to go anywhere to place a request to re-open the account
Maxwell: Yes, I am able to submit the request to re-open your Credit Card account for which I need some additional information.
Maxwell: Is that okay with you?
You: you bet its ok with me! wasn’t ok with me to close the account but nobody asked me then
You: what is in the past is in the past now
You: lets get this account opened so I can make my trip this weekend
Maxwell: Sure.
Maxwell: Do you authorize card services to review your credit and employment histories and other information in order to process your request, service your account and manage your relationship with us?
You: is card services a third party company here?
Maxwell: No, it is Bank Of America
You: well you bet I authorize them
Maxwell: Thank you.
Maxwell: We can look into having your account re-opened. Please keep in mind, Federal law requires that we collect income information to determine your ability to pay. I just need to ask you a few questions?
You: ask away
Maxwell: Thank you.
Maxwell: May I have, your mailing address, income please, your occupation, Current employer’s name, your designation and the length of the service please?
You: data removed
You: my income is ..data removed. I am a full time student and graduate in December. Work with the school as a student developer- Brigham Young University – I have employment with them until the end of the year.
You: I’m only able to work 20 hours a week at the moment
Maxwell: Thank you.
You: got to pay the bills and support the family
You: you know how it is maxwell you got kids?
Maxwell: I certainly understand that
Maxwell: No, I am not married yet. But, I love kids!
You: they cost a fortune
You: which is why I’m in school man
You: hopefully this weekend my cousin and I can find some gold
You: hoping you can get me going with the only credit card left in my wallet
You: my wife’s bank is closed
You: she’s out in GA visiting family
Maxwell: Yes, I am helping you in placing the request to re-open the account
You: how long does it take after the request to re-open the account?
Maxwell: I would like to inform you that once the request will be submitted, you will be notified about the decision within 5 to 7 business days
Maxwell: I have checked and would like to inform you that we have a different address on the account
You: of course you do we moved last week before this semester started
You: old address was data removed
You: just down the block
Maxwell: Yes, we have data removed
Maxwell: Do you wish me to update data removed?
You: yes please update but maxwell
You: 5 days!
You: you got to be kidding me
You: I’ll be dead by then
You: you got to help me out….5 days!
You: my other credit cards that broke will be in the mail by then
You: call the man in charge up and let him now I need this account activated now
You: you can’t tell me that its normal for a bank to close a guys credit card account with no reason or notification even after he continues to make payments on it and expect the guy to wait 5 days for it to be reopened!
You: you got to be KIDDING ME!
You: UNBELIEVABLE
Maxwell: I certainly understand the urgency of the card
You: well then you understand 5 days won’t get me gas in my car
You: I got 4 broken credit cards and one that is useless
You: and just why exactly does it take 5 days!?
Maxwell: This is the standard timeframe for the account to be reviewed by our Credit department
You: your telling me it takes someone 5 days to look at an account
Maxwell: Once the account is reviewed for re-opening request, then within 5 to 7 business days , they send you the letter with the decision
You: look its not like I’m opening a credit card account for the first time
You: getting a NEW credit card account takes a total of 30 seconds to run a credit score and bam your in
You: but reopening an account takes 14,400 times that amount of time
You: think about that for a second something isn’t right here
Maxwell: Yes, I do understand that but while re-opening the account, your Credit check is also done which required sometime for the account to be re-opened
You: you know what
You: forget about it
You: Its obvious I can’t get anywhere with this bank
You: I’m DONE
Maxwell: No, it is not like that
You: It is exactly like that
Maxwell: I am trying my best to assist you in the best possible manner
You: but maxwell let me put it this way
You: you go to a restaraunt and they serve you trash. They treat you like a king but serve you trash. The customer service isn’t the issue here. You are assisting me, but the product is trash
You: 5 days is unacceptable
You: closing accounts with NO notice is unacceptable
You: so you just don’t go back to the restaurant
Maxwell: I certainly understand your point if view
You: The services a bank provides is suppose to serve and make your life easier
Maxwell: I apologize for the typing error.
Maxwell: of*
You: did BOA make my life any easier?
You: I would have been better to keep cash in my wallet
Maxwell: I wish I could help you further regarding to expedite the request for account re-open
You: unless you expedite the request for today then you can’t help me
Maxwell: If I could have been able to do it, I would have certainly done it for you
You: Maxwell cancel the request I don’t want my credit score to be pulled AGAIN!
You: I am officially done with BOA
You: has nothing to do with America
Maxwell: I have not placed any request so far
You: I guess this would be the time for me to request to close my accounts but thank you BOA, you made that easier by already closing them all without my request.
Ha!
I just cancelled with bank of America because after 10 years of no fee checking they started to charge me a fee. Took it right out of my account with no notice. I called them they said they just decided to change and if I wanted to do direct deposits and add more cash and and and………. I said f u and closed it! Lol
Oh and you go Don!