On August 1 after making a deposit at an ATM and receiving a receipt, I noticed my account balance didn't jive with what I thought it should be. It was late, I had just finished a fifteen hour work day plus the hour commute home, so I thought maybe I deposited it in a different account and I was wrong about the balance.
The next morning I tried to get online to check balances and couldn't. I drove to work with a sickening feeling in my stomach wondering what was happening. I went to the ATM close to work and checked balances. Ouch! Four of my accounts have been compromised and the money stolen, roughly $144,000.00.
How could this happen? As a victim of identity theft, several years ago, when some crook broke into the U.S. Mail truck as it sat parked while the carrier made his rounds, I have installed additional layers of security on all my financial dealings.in B of A's case, I am required to give a second passcode, in addition to the standard one every depositor has, in order to make changes to my accounts. This second passcode has not been written down by me. It is in my head and the bank's records.
It must have been an inside job. Someone with access to my personal information gave it to an accomplice who then stole the money.
Trying to get my own money back from B of A has been a nightmare.
I spoke with Richard Esqueda, Unit 1580, in the customer service department who was sympathetic with my situation, but was powerless to restore the money back into my account. He gave me the number of the bank's fraud department, where I got the run around for a day.
Finally, I spoke to Evett Minasian (213-345-3252) in the fraud department who had an answer. She said, (paraphrasing) "It sure appears our system failed and someone has stolen your money. Unfortunately, I can't help you. Your claim will be assigned to a corporate investigator who will contact you in a couple of days." At this point, I have continued to say to all the B of A people, "Hey, mistakes happen just reimburse the funds to me."
Enter Laura White, VP Senior Investigator, (925-677-4136).
She informs me that, yes, you have been a victim of a crime. (Wow, she is smart. I guess that's why she is a vice president)
After thanking her for telling me things I already know, and everyone else at the bank knows, I ask her when I should expect my money back. "Well, Michael. We need to do some more investigating.in the mean time, I am faxing some pictures of the person who committed the crime to a branch near you. Would you mind looking at them and see if you recognize her?" No problem I tell her. She also states their will be a release I need to sign to start the ball rolling towards getting my OWN money back. I ask her to fax me the release so I can go over it. She states that she can not and that I must go to the bank to read it and sign it. Three weeks have now passed since I made my claim.
I meet with Veronica Santanna at the Playa Vista branch. I look at the pictures she has and do not recognize the person in them. I ask to see the release. She hands it to me. As I begin to read this I'm thinking is Laura White nuts. There is no way I am signing this. It states the bank was not negligent. I release them of all known and UNKNOWN claims and actions regarding this issue. Release them of unknown claims. Are they crazy or think I'm stupid? Also part of the release is I will not go public with any of this. Apparently, the bank doesn't think the public should know how unprotected their money really is.
Status report going into week six since my original claim-
I am still out some $144,000.00
Laura White will not process my claim to return MY OWN MONEY to me until I sign her silly release and now an additional piece of paperwork in the mix, an affidavit.
Jean Miller (702-207-8448) Laura's supervisor will not intercede and right the wrongs.
Summary-
I opened my first account with B of A in 1975. I think 33 years with the same bank would qualify me as a loyal customer. And this is how I am rewarded?
Folks, do yourself a favor, learn from my experience with this bank. Take your business elsewhere, to safer institutions.
Does anybody have the number to 60 Minutes or Dateline?:-)
Michael
Orange, California
U.S.A.
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