I have had B of A credit cards for many years. For most of that time, I used them sparsely, but in the recent economic downturn I needed to use them to bridge a gap in income between projects. So I ran up over $140,000 in credit bills across five banks, about 20% of that with B of A. Through all of that, I was never late with a payment, even as interest rates were equivalent to loan sharking in such a downturned economy, and I fought hard to keep my credit rating from falling off too far even as my debt increased, resolving to pay off these accounts as soon as I was able.
That time came late last month, as new income allowed me to pay off almost all of my credit card debt at all five banks. But today I get an automated call from Bank of America asking me to hold for an associate. After a ten minute wait, I speak with a guy from the B of A credit department who informs me that my accounts are "up for review". He knows that I recently paid off the balances on my B of A credit cards and wants to get updated information. I tell him how my financial situation had improved to the point where I could repay all of my unsecured debt. After more hold time, he comes back to tell me that my B of A credit card accounts have been closed "because of the high balances on my credit card accounts as reported on their most recent report".
I explained how their information was dated, and that if they just held off for another couple of weeks, they would see that my high debt had been resolved. "Sorry, your accounts are up for review today." Surely you can make an exception under the circumstances I just explained? "Sorry, your accounts are up for review today." Can I please speak with a supervisor to ask for an exception to be made to your policy? "Please hold, I'll try to locate a supervisor." ...holding, then... "Sorry, there are no supervisors available. We can have one call you within a couple of business days." OK, then, and I assume you will delay your decision until then? "Sorry, your accounts are up for review today, and in fact, we've already closed them. "
Well, if there were no exceptions, why the hell did they call me in the first place? What would the "right" answers have been to keep those accounts open? What did they want to hear, that I would soon be paying them 23% interest again so they could turn around and pay .05% on someone's savings accounts?
So now my oldest credit card is closed with no recourse, based on old credit bureau information which they KNOW is outdated because their OWN friken credit card debt was not represented accurately in it, and they don't even give me the courtesy of speaking with a supervisor about it before they do it. You know, the more I fume about it, the more I realize it was probably a blessing in disguise. It is not the first time I have been treated like cattle by this bank, but I'm happy to say that I can see to it that it's the last. If they are going to close my credit card accounts without recourse just for paying them off, I will close my checking and savings accounts as well, and I'll advise my family and friends to do the same. And I have some fairly wealthy family and friends.
Nice going, B of A. You've turned another loyal customer into a vindictive enemy. Just what you needed as you encounter throngs of protesters outside your offices. Go ahead and shoot yourself in the other foot. I'm so over you.
they don't give a fuck about you, all they care about is money and profits.... money and profits that they can gamble away on the stock market and nice merchandise.
These guys are the biggest crooks the world has to offer. They want you to always be down and out, under their control. Then the minute you start getting back up on your feet, they throw you back on the ground and start kicking you.
These guys have our tax dollars that bailed them out and they still treat us like dirt. I say the hell to them all!