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Any Bank of America clients here? Beware - they don't care about identity theft!

C

cmccarten

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 29, 2006
79
1
Just thought I'd give a heads up.
For the last several months, I've been receiving monthly email updates from Bank of America for a client whose last name is only one letter different than mine (my email address is my name).
I've called them probably six times since October about this - trying to get them to contact the client or change the email address; anything to stop me from receving her bank statements! Every time, the manager or phone support person assures me (with a slight bit of panic, I must say, at realizing this huge breach of security!) that they will fix it right away.
Then the next month comes, and I receive the bank and credit card statements again!
Unbelievable!
(there is some bureaucratic/technical problem where they can't access the person's account because the statement I receive only provides their name and not the full bank/credit card numbers)

Seeing as I'm in Canada, I don't really know what reputation Bank of America has, but I'm just concerned and amazed that this kind of thing can happen - and continue to happen! I'm at a loss as to what to do!
 
You're not calling the branch are you? They won't do anything.

There's gotta be somebody in electronic banking (online banking) that should've taken care of it. I would esclate the problem to somebody higher up if you don't get anywhere with them.
 
cmccarten said:
Just thought I'd give a heads up.
For the last several months, I've been receiving monthly email updates from Bank of America for a client whose last name is only one letter different than mine (my email address is my name).
I've called them probably six times since October about this - trying to get them to contact the client or change the email address; anything to stop me from receving her bank statements! Every time, the manager or phone support person assures me (with a slight bit of panic, I must say, at realizing this huge breach of security!) that they will fix it right away.
Then the next month comes, and I receive the bank and credit card statements again!
Unbelievable!
(there is some bureaucratic/technical problem where they can't access the person's account because the statement I receive only provides their name and not the full bank/credit card numbers)

Seeing as I'm in Canada, I don't really know what reputation Bank of America has, but I'm just concerned and amazed that this kind of thing can happen - and continue to happen! I'm at a loss as to what to do!
Click to expand...

You actually are calling the worst people you could. Branch people are generally useless. Call and ask for their Risk or Fraud department. If you don't get anyone PM me, I'll be able to tell the right person.
 
go to a Porn store and buy rack up a small bill...around $50.00 bucks or so. Make sure though you have your prior phone calls documented.

lets see how fast things get fixed then
 
BigPrince said:
go to a Porn store and buy rack up a small bill...around $50.00 bucks or so. Make sure though you have your prior phone calls documented.

lets see how fast things get fixed then
Click to expand...

As amusing as that would be (and it so would be) that would still consititute fraud. Regardless of the fact that they sent him somebody elses account information. Playing with other peoples account is a no no. Fines + Jail Time = not good.
 
aww :(...I ripped my story from a guy who couldnt get the police to come to his house for a break in, so instead he reported a murder and they came right away.
 
BigPrince said:
aww :(...I ripped my story from a guy who couldnt get the police to come to his house for a break in, so instead he reported a murder and they came right away.
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No fracking way!!!! That's awesome!!! (In a sick sort of way)

That too is illegal. I'm sure that gentleman got arrested for giving false information to the police.
 
Actually my family has had quite the opposite experience. When my fathers card was stolen, they contacted us the moment the suspecious activity happened. The bought $100 worth at McDonalds :p

I have never had a problem with B of A, other than they take $1 when you transfer money from saving to checking online, but they have reason to.
 
cycocelica said:
Actually my family has had quite the opposite experience. When my fathers card was stolen, they contacted us the moment the suspecious activity happened. The bought $100 worth at McDonalds :p

I have never had a problem with B of A, other than they take $1 when you transfer money from saving to checking online, but they have reason to.
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Are you kidding me? They take $1 to transfer money between your own BoA accounts??!?!?! That's just fracking outrageous!!

What a bunch of greedy little twunts!
 
You actually are calling the worst people you could. Branch people are generally useless. Call and ask for their Risk or Fraud department. If you don't get anyone PM me, I'll be able to tell the right person.
Click to expand...
I haven't called the branch people. If you do have a specific person to get ahold of, please let me know.

I've called the electronic banking section (the 800 number listed on their website), who transfer me to the fraud department, who transfer me to the tech support, who transfer me back to electronic banking. It's hilarious...and frightening.
I have tried to escalate it and did speak to a manager-type once, but still nothing has changed.

Clearly this situation (customer input wrong email address twice) is not something that they have any contingency plan for...

The thing is, there is only so much time and effort I want to spend trying to fix a problem out of the goodness of my heart! I find it totally absurd to be on hold on the phone trying to let them know (again and again) that they're screwing up big time.
 
Try contacting the person whose information you have received. Do you think the email addresses are similar thus you are receiving? If you know her name then maybe you can work out her email address as well.

I don't understand how this has not been flagged by the branch. Sure, they may be staffed by less than stella employees, but surely after several calls over several months it would be noticed -- they do log help desk related calls I hope?

You are honest, imagine if the info got out to someone less than honest who tried to work the system to there advantage. But more importantly, I would be worried about my information getting out.

Thankfully I am not a BOA account holder what with living in Japan and all -- where data security seems to be far less strict anyways -- new laws last year tried to tighten things up but mistakes are being reported by private companies and government organisations regarding inproper release (accidental in most cases) of private data
 
The Don Ditty said:
Are you kidding me? They take $1 to transfer money between your own BoA accounts??!?!?! That's just fracking outrageous!!

What a bunch of greedy little twunts!
Click to expand...

Well only online. But its there to try and keep you from doing it, since they use your money. Plus its a savings account, you should be saving it and when you deposit money, you should put whatever amount in your checking. I don't have a problem with it, as I don't do it. But I can see how people could.
 
cmccarten said:
I haven't called the branch people. If you do have a specific person to get ahold of, please let me know.

I've called the electronic banking section (the 800 number listed on their website), who transfer me to the fraud department, who transfer me to the tech support, who transfer me back to electronic banking. It's hilarious...and frightening.
I have tried to escalate it and did speak to a manager-type once, but still nothing has changed.

Clearly this situation (customer input wrong email address twice) is not something that they have any contingency plan for...

The thing is, there is only so much time and effort I want to spend trying to fix a problem out of the goodness of my heart! I find it totally absurd to be on hold on the phone trying to let them know (again and again) that they're screwing up big time.
Click to expand...

That boggles my mind. I'm wondering why the real owner of the bank statements hasn't realized that he/she hasn't been receiving said emails.

cycocelica said:
Well only online. But its there to try and keep you from doing it, since they use your money. Plus its a savings account, you should be saving it and when you deposit money, you should put whatever amount in your checking. I don't have a problem with it, as I don't do it. But I can see how people could.
Click to expand...

Regardless of that fact, it's your money. You should be able to freely transfer your money back and forth as you please without being charged for it. That pisses me off so much. I thought the bank I used to work for was bad, but jeez BoA is making it look good.
 
cycocelica said:
Actually my family has had quite the opposite experience. When my fathers card was stolen, they contacted us the moment the suspecious activity happened. The bought $100 worth at McDonalds :p

I have never had a problem with B of A, other than they take $1 when you transfer money from saving to checking online, but they have reason to.
Click to expand...

Wow, Commerce bank is much better seriously.
 
Try contacting the person whose information you have received. Do you think the email addresses are similar thus you are receiving? If you know her name then maybe you can work out her email address as well.
Click to expand...
I've tried different variations of what would be the person's email address, but haven't received a response (I think it is kind of telling of the person's computer literacy level if they haven't realized this error yet anyways...so they may not even have a useful email address).

I don't understand how this has not been flagged by the branch. Sure, they may be staffed by less than stella employees, but surely after several calls over several months it would be noticed -- they do log help desk related calls I hope?
Click to expand...
Exactly my question. I am amazed that this can go on so long. Every time I've called, and am so emphatically assured that they'll look into it, I still get suprised when I receive the statement the following month.

You are honest, imagine if the info got out to someone less than honest who tried to work the system to there advantage. But more importantly, I would be worried about my information getting out.
Click to expand...
Exactly why I am posting this and why I wouldn't be a Bank of America customer knowing this.
(not to mention cycocelica indicating that they charge you money to transfer between your own accounts with in the same bank! Absurd and outrageous! I hate banks.)
 
Credit Unions are where it's at baby!!! Lower rates on loans, higher rates on CDs and savings. They don't nickel and dime you to death. And you can walk into any credit union in the US and make a deposit. I love it!
 
The Don Ditty said:
Are you kidding me? They take $1 to transfer money between your own BoA accounts??!?!?! That's just fracking outrageous!!

What a bunch of greedy little twunts!
Click to expand...

and there you have it why I like credit unions. They give better interested rates and fewer fees. At least BofA is not the worse. Well Fargo is pretty crappy. High fees and the worse interests rates in the industry.

Only reason I going to open a bank of America account this summer is I need a local bank to take care of my money while I get my internship (my credit union I currently banking is going to be over 300 miles away from me at best) but I will be closing out the accounts as soon as I get my full time job and know where I will be for the next long while and go to a credit union.

give you an idea on the intersted rates. I had $1000 in my saving at credit union and I had to report the intersted on Tax. at the same time I had over $3000 in my wellfargo's savings and I did not have to report it. I made 2-3 bucks on it compare to my credit union $27 bucks for the same time span and less money. Wells fargo intersted rate was oh about 0.03% and my credit unions
 
Rodimus Prime said:
and there you have it why I like credit unions. They give better interested rates and fewer fees. At least BofA is not the worse. Well Fargo is pretty crappy. High fees and the worse interests rates in the industry.

Only reason I going to open a bank of America account this summer is I need a local bank to take care of my money while I get my internship (my credit union I currently banking is going to be over 300 miles away from me at best) but I will be closing out the accounts as soon as I get my full time job and know where I will be for the next long while and go to a credit union.

give you an idea on the intersted rates. I had $1000 in my saving at credit union and I had to report the intersted on Tax. at the same time I had over $3000 in my wellfargo's savings and I did not have to report it. I made 2-3 bucks on it compare to my credit union $27 bucks for the same time span and less money. Wells fargo intersted rate was oh about 0.03% and my credit unions
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No arguments from me. See post #17 in this thread ;)
 
I'd always wanted to switch to a Credit Union, but WaMu is so good. No outrageous fees, and everyone is really really nice that I've ever had to deal with. If I ever have a negative experience at WaMu, I'll be switching to a Credit Union.
 
it5five said:
I'd always wanted to switch to a Credit Union, but WaMu is so good. No outrageous fees, and everyone is really really nice that I've ever had to deal with. If I ever have a negative experience at WaMu, I'll be switching to a Credit Union.
Click to expand...

In addition to my CU account, I also have WaMu. They are good. I haven't had problem with them at all.
 
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