Was It My Smut, Or My Complaint To The Comptroller Of The Currency?
First, Bank of America fired me as a customer after I complained a little too bitterly that they failed in their fiduciary duty to me when their TELLERS, on SEVEN separate occasions, gave out a total of $12,000 of my money to women who presented a fake driver's license in my name. (No bankcard, no signature verification, no PIN required -- just the little old fake DL that you could go get in half an hour down at L.A.'s MacArthur Park for $150.)
Now, it appears they've also blocked their employees' access to my website. Apparently, I'm a smut peddler. (Amazing, isn't it, how I manage to get my "smut" into a few rather conservative papers across the country, yet it's too dirrrrrty for Bank of America.)
Or...hmmm...could it actually be the complaint I posted? The one to the FBI, the Comptroller of the Currency, the House Finance Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, and California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office, detailing my experience with what they call their "multiple layers of security," and what I found in my subsequent investigation? Here's an e-mail I got today:
Amy -- Don't know if you realized this, but your web site has been declared off limits on all Bank of America computers. I tried to access your blog over the bank's network today, and got this error message (duplicated verbatim):"Access denied to http://www.advicegoddess.com/ ...I find this highly amusing, that one of the business behemoths of this country is afraid to expose its associates and customers to your blog and its views. We both, of course, know why this has been done.
The URL you entered is categorized as Erotica and Sex and has been blocked to maintain the business interests of the bank, ensure regulatory compliance and/or protect the safety and security of associates and customers.
Exceptions will only be granted for URLs in limited categories and require Band I executive approval. If you need access to this web site for business purposes, click here to request an exception."
The pen is indeed apparently mightier than the sword. Congratulations for causing this giant bank to turn to jelly before the power of your pen.
If you forward or reprint this, please make no identifying reference to me, as it would certainly cost me my job, and probably blacklist me for good, as we live in a place where BofA is a dominant presence.
I thoroughly enjoy your blog, and am in general agreement with you on many topics, most notably the foolishness and corruption of religious belief, and in particular the radical Muslim threat. I admire your bravery in keeping the drumbeat on this topic going, when apparently so many others refuse to engage the issue forthrightly for one reason or another.
Best regards, Anonymous
I have maintained this drumbeat because I think customers and potential customers have a right to know the reality of BofA's "multiple layers of security." Had I known that they would, seven times, give my money out, totally off-pattern for me (thousands of dollars, from teller windows instead of the ATM, in place I have never been when I almost always withdrew the same amount from the same two or three branches) to thieves with the most easily faked piece of ID...I never would've banked there.
And to all you B of A enablers lofty enough to have "Band I executive approval," a question or two: How do you sleep nights? Why fire me and ban my site from employee eyes? Cheaper than fixing the problems?
Amy. Good woman... Handsome blogger... Stalwart citizen, frugal spender, honest player...
Let go.
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at September 30, 2008 12:41 AM
What?
You have "Band I" approval, Crid?
Radwaste at September 30, 2008 2:24 AM
? Wassat?
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at September 30, 2008 3:02 AM
Why's everyone up tonight? Anyone else want some cough syrup with a brandy chaser?
Eric at September 30, 2008 3:36 AM
I'll let go when I expose them.
After I posted this, I reported them to yet another agency. Eventually, one of our "watchdogs" will care. Of course, it can't help that our entire financial system is falling apart. Who cares about the average consumer?
Amy Alkon at September 30, 2008 5:05 AM
For the time being, Amy, you're tilting at windmills.
BoA is one of the few organizations that is sufficiently capitalized right now. And they are needed more than you are for the capital markets.
Which means that they can do whatever they like to their consumers for the foreseeable future.
I strongly suspect that they will be called upon to buy more distressed assets.
Ironic that the bank that gives so little a shit about whether or not their customers get personally destroyed will be called upon to pull some part of the financial markets out of the fire.
brian at September 30, 2008 5:21 AM
Bank of America is like the nightmare that will never end. Long after I have fired them as my banker, now they have their mits on my only big savings account again with the acquisition of Merril Lynch. I just can't seem to win. At least now I know what to expect, and I can just get the vaseline and bend over.
How BoA can accuse this blog for smut is beyond me. They are the ones that are bending their customers over and ramming them in the ass in broad daylight.
Sterling at September 30, 2008 6:22 AM
To be fair, your blog sometimes does have sexual content. And a lot of these programs that schools and companies use cast a pretty wide net. It's total BS, of course. But they're probably using software that picks up on some key words in your site, and bans it accordingly. Having said that, they also have an incentive NOT to unblock your website, which is, of course, their personal vendetta.
I wonder how much of a pain in the ass it would be to change banks. I'm considering it at this point, but I know there are people who I pay directly out of the account, or who do direct deposit into my account, and changing all of that would be a hassle. But I wonder if it would be an afternoon of hassle, or several days of hassle. Anyone have any experience?
NicoleK at September 30, 2008 7:36 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/09/30/was_it_the_smut.html#comment-1594164">comment from NicoleKI changed, and it actually wasn't hard. The guy at the new bank did all the moving of the IRAs, etc., and all I had to do was come sign the papers. He moved them so there would be no loss of interest -- bank to bank, no withdrawal, just a bank transfer. I closed my accounts and got a cashier's check and brought it over. It's good to start the account a little ahead of time. I think there's usually a period of time -- maybe it was a week or two? -- before a check that wasn't from a major institution would clear quickly. It maybe took a few days to clear. Can't recall. Been quite the few months around here.
Amy Alkon at September 30, 2008 7:41 AM
I've never dealt with BoA, and after reading about Amy's experiences with them, never will. On the other hand, BF's daughter hasn't had any problem with them, but when I had her read Amy's columns about her ordeal, she was appalled. But like you, NicoleK, she's also wondering how much of a pain in the ass it would be to change banks.
Flynne at September 30, 2008 8:37 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/09/30/was_it_the_smut.html#comment-1594172">comment from FlynneIf you want to know what a real pain in the ass is, get your identity stolen.
I believe it's possible thieves have learned what I did the hard way: that anybody with a fake ID and your account number can clean you out.
Advice for everyone, but especially people continuing to keep their money at BofA: Freeze your credit bureau accounts. It's the only reason, in the wake of this, my life as I know it isn't over. I'm still up nights sometimes, wondering if somebody’s rented an apartment in my name or has been arrested with that fake driver’s license with my real name and DL number on it. Mari Frank, an expert in these matters, advises her clients do a criminal background check on themselves once a year. I’ll send my bill to that horrid “customer service” lady, Nereida Claudius, who took her sweet time responding to my questions like about whether the thieves had managed to imitate my signature, suggesting an even more horrible breach.
P.S. Because I had the credit freeze (aka a security freeze), the thieves were not able to open the instant credit accounts they tried to at Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, etc. Info on security freezes here:
http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html
Amy Alkon at September 30, 2008 8:46 AM
I actually HAVE had problems with them... stupid stuff, that was partially my fault.
I signed up with Baybank, which became BankBoston, which became Fleet, which became Bank of America. I think those are all the names.
Anyhow, I had a debit card. I had a debit card on purpose because I am a bit spacy, and wanted to make sure I didn't over spend. I have no credit card. I used the debit as a personal block on myself... if there wasn't enough money in the account, the card wouldn't make the transaction. So, say I was down to $200, and I wanted to buy something for $250... it would say "transaction denied". So I was operating like that. (I kept my savings seperate, transferring them immediately, so everything left in my checking was what I could spend in a given month, bills were paid early, so what was there at the end of the month could be freely spent)
Without informing me, they gave me a credit line of $4000 beyond my checking account. That meant, I could overdraw up to $4000 BUT they charged me every time I used it.
So one month, I knew I was down to my last hundred or so, so I kept making little purchases. I mean LITTLE ones... $2 here, $10 there... I spent a total of maybe $40 bucks more than my balance. But because it was lots of little transactions, they slapped over $400 worth of fees on top of it.
I was so pissed off, because the card had always stopped me before if I didn't have the money, and all of a sudden they changed the rules on me. They acted like they were doing me a huge favor, too, by extending me this credit. (It was because my mother had an account at the bank with more money in it, which meant I got a good rating by association or whatever).
That's what pissed me off the most. There was some other incident this summer where they overdrew from my account, $1200 (they paid someone twice, it was their error, not mine) and a few things like that.
My mother also ran into similar problems with them charging her account twice to pay someone, or not cashing checks, or things like that. She's pretty ripshit.
They also won't let my tenant do automatic monthly direct deposits into my account. She can do the deposits, but not automatically, or she can automatically send a check, but no automatic direct deposit. That is a bit of a pain in the ass.
I just don't know who to change -to-. If I do it, I need to research the other banks first. I'm kinda thinking, though, at this point in the economy, aren't banks desperate for people who will put money -in-? Maybe I can get a good deal.
NicoleK at September 30, 2008 8:57 AM
I don't know where in the country you are, NicoleK, but I've been with People's Bank (now People's United Bank) since 1989. They've been excellent about everything. I've got a debit card, my savings is linked to my checking account, I can transfer back and forth, their online banking service is one of the best, and in all this time, I've only had to deal with one problem, and it was my fault, because I went to pay one bill, but posted it to a different account (the one was right below the other in my online merchants' list), but the bank was really good about calling the one merchant and telling them what happened and securing my payment from them to go to the other merchant. That's really the only snafu I've had with them and it was corrected in a matter of hours. I've been very lucky with them. (Knocking wood here)
Flynne at September 30, 2008 9:44 AM
Now I can read porn at work. Thanks Amy!
Roger at September 30, 2008 9:45 AM
"I just don't know who to change -to-."
A small bank or credit union. Preferably one that only exists in your town.
It's a good philosophy in general: where possible, support the little businesses. Buy your bread at a bakery. Buy your meat at a butcher (if any still exist in your area). Avoid Starbucks and go to a local coffee shop.
It takes more effort on your part, and one can't avoid the big boys altogether. But every little bit pays off when you see the difference in customer service.
bradley13 at September 30, 2008 9:45 AM
Amy,
BofA probably did not block you explicitly. I run the proxy infrastructure for a different large bank and we subscribe to a daily database of "categorized" websites.
You can check your status on SmartFilter at:
http://www.trustedsource.org/en/feedback/url?action=checksingle
Currently your site is listed under the "Sexual Materials" category.
Paul Mossip at September 30, 2008 11:03 AM
Ive been fairly critical of Amy's crusade against BofA in the past, but its important to note that there are two different potential claims here.
First is Amy's claim that BofA is responsible for her lost time and emotional distress arising from their mishandling of her identifying information. For the record, this is the claim I believe to be weak because Amy's claimed damages appear to be vague and remote.
However, I think Amy is dead-on when she bangs on BofA for their marketing of "multiple layers of security," when in fact their security appears quite weak. This is exactly the kind of fraud on the marketplace that are the stuff of FTC investigations and class actions. Whether BofA's ads constitute fraud or mere puffery remains to be seen. Someone would have to put the issue to a trier of fact, which is what Amy is attempting to do in the most cost-efficient manner. For that, I applaud her efforts.
snakeman99 at September 30, 2008 12:01 PM
Credit unions are the way to go!
Brenna at October 1, 2008 1:32 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/09/30/was_it_the_smut.html#comment-1594323">comment from BrennaMy neighbor, in the wake of my B of A experience, is leaving B of A to join one. I could join SAG/AFTRA's (I'm in AFTRA for TV and radio work), but proximity is important to me, so I went with a wonderful small community bank. Just hoping they won't be swallowed by B of A!
Amy Alkon at October 1, 2008 1:45 AM
B of A bites beyond words. Try sending them an EECB.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/email-Ken-lewis/email-addresses-for-17-bank-of-america-executives-330160.php
http://consumerist.com/consumer/complaint-letters/how-to-launch-an-executive-email-carpet-bomb-259713.php
Can't hurt & may well help.
a_m_m_b at October 1, 2008 7:31 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/09/30/was_it_the_smut.html#comment-1594623">comment from a_m_m_bThanks, appreciate that, but way aheada ya. Not only did I copy Ken Lewis numerous times on e-mail, I faxed him my blog item (before I got his e-mail address off Consumerist) speculating as to whether your money is safer in a mason jar on your backyard than in their bank.
These people know what I have to say -- and they know that their computers aren't connected: one of their reps told me it on the phone line as if the information was nothing. They talk to the press about their "multiple levels of security" and then exhibit nothing of the sort. I guess they lucked out in a way, having the country be in near financial collapse, because nobody seems to care about the little consumer who's prime pickings for identity thieves. Sooner or later, somebody will care and go after these people -- and by that I mean those at Bank of America who turn their customers into prime targets for identity theft through their laxness.
And let me say that I'm a libertarian: Had they been open about the level of "verification" I experienced being their "security," I would have run out of their bank screaming with my money. Instead, they brag about how secure they are. Disgusting. Every customer who banks with them should be apprised of the reality of their "security" so they can decide whether it's worth it to them to risk staying with the bank.
Amy Alkon at October 1, 2008 11:24 PM
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