I hate Bank of America

[Throckmorton]

I was about to buy a 42" Philips TV at Target, because it was a hot deal at $748.

Bank of America had other ideas. I tried to use my BoA credit card, but it was rejected! The cashier said it might be the daily limit. Fine, that's a reasonable assumptions. So instead I tried my BoA debit card. Same thing, rejected. WHAT? How am I supposed to stimulate the Taiwanese economy if they assume an $890 charge is unreasonable and suspicious?
Next I tried splitting it between the two cards. Even a $400 charge on the CC got rejected! 5 minutes later I got an automated call asking to "confirm" the charge. Uhhh... too late?

I really have a hard time wrapping my head around this. How does anyone buy $750 TVs with their Bank of America credit or debit cards? Is it just not possible?

There's nothing that makes sense about me not being able to access money in my own bank account. I just called and started explaining my problem. The reprentative transferred me to card services as soon as she heard me say "credit card", but the card service guy couldn't hear me talking, so he disconnected me!! Talk about insult to injury.

What's a good bank to switch to?

 

[her209]

Weird, I've used my BofA debit card to make an almost $800 purchase before with no problems. Bought a 42" Westinghouse from Costco for $699.99 + sales tax.

 

[Shadowknight]

I tried using my BoA for the first time since I got it last year a few days ago, and they put a lock on my card. I called in and got it taken off. While buying some DVDs at Circuit City yesterday, they put a lock on it AGAIN. I'm going to switch back to using my Amazon Visa; it doesn't cause me nearly as many problems. While I appreciate BoA at least TRYING to stop potential fraud, they're excessive about it.

 

[Throckmorton]

I don't understand why they think it's justifiable to just stop your purchases. Do they expect you to call them every time that happens and spend 15 minutes on hold, while in line at a store?

 

[Capt Caveman]

nvm

 

[yhelothar]

That's really odd. I've never had that issue with my bofa card.

 

[Farang]

Credit union ftw.. I use BECU and they rock, and aren't going broke

 

[Throckmorton]

So what bank is the best?

 

[DayLaPaul]

I bank with both USAA and Wamu. Both of them are pretty good for a free checking account.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
So what bank is the best?

ive come back to BofA twice now so *shrug*

my parents have used wachovia for 25 years or so, i used them for a while and switched, but i cant remember why. other than those two i used a local bank here and they sucked.

 

[her209]

I've been thinking about opening an account with WaMu myself.

 

[Brainonska511]

Never had any problems with my Citibank Visa/MC or my Amex with larger purchases.

 

[TallBill]

USAA is the best, but obviously not everyone qualifies.

 

[Tiamat]

I understand that for debit card, but seems weird to have that cap on credit card! BoA started pissing me off with terrible customer service, so I dropped them.

Unfortunately, I cannot help you with suggestions for new bank. I use USAA now thanks to my dad having served in the armed forces.

 

[Cobalt]

I almost got stuck in Indiana on my way back to Chicago at 4AM last month when they blocked my card because I tried using it out of state without telling them. That was fucking terrible, I mean its cool they tried to protect my money and all but I almost got royally fucked over and had to deal with the embarrassment of asking a stranger for cash because I didn't have any on me for gas.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: cobalt
I almost got stuck in Indiana on my way back to Chicago at 4AM last month when they blocked my card because I tried using it out of state without telling them. That was fucking terrible, I mean its cool they tried to protect my money and all but I almost got royally fucked over and had to deal with the embarrassment of asking a stranger for cash because I didn't have any on me for gas.

And then you would've been really angry at those bums who lie to you about being out of gas and needing money, because nobody falls for that and people would have told you to fuck off.

Weird they canceled it for being out of state.. I tell my bank when I'm going out of the country and they don't seem to care.

 

[jinduy]

wamu

 

[Throckmorton]

Sounds like there's a consensus that WAMU is good. What about Wells Fargo? I remember reading some good things about them on ATOT but that was years ago

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Sounds like there's a consensus that WAMU is good. What about Wells Fargo? I remember reading some good things about them on ATOT but that was years ago

WF bought out Wachovia right? I'm with Wachovia right now and they've been great to me for many years.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Farang
And then you would've been really angry at those bums who lie to you about being out of gas and needing money, because nobody falls for that and people would have told you to fuck off.

Usually bums are not wearing decent clothes and driving a car... He would have been a lot more believable then a guy with 6 hats on pushing a shopping cart.

 

[lizardboy]

ING Direct has been good to me.

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: cobalt
I almost got stuck in Indiana on my way back to Chicago at 4AM last month when they blocked my card because I tried using it out of state without telling them. That was fucking terrible, I mean its cool they tried to protect my money and all but I almost got royally fucked over and had to deal with the embarrassment of asking a stranger for cash because I didn't have any on me for gas.

And then you would've been really angry at those bums who lie to you about being out of gas and needing money, because nobody falls for that and people would have told you to fuck off.

Weird they canceled it for being out of state.. I tell my bank when I'm going out of the country and they don't seem to care.

Yeah it happened to the first two people. The last dude gave me the change in his car and asked if I was a bum (keep in mind I had nice clothes on and just walked from my car). Thank god my car sips gas and I was close enough to last on a gallon and a quarter to make it home. I called the bank the next morning and had to have the block removed for fraud protection. They said if I travel I have to notify them.

 

[nickbits]

That's why I always have 2 cards from different banks. If you don't normally spend that much you're going to get flagged. It has happend to me at least once with pretty much every bank I've used.

 

[KingGheedora]

You should call them and ask them about it. They will remove the lock for you, and also let you know why it was placed int the first place. It's annoying but they are only trying to protect your money.

I have BofA. I went to Vegas once and couldn't withdraw money. I called them and they let me know it was because my card was being used in an unusual place. One or two other times they have put locks but it doesn't happen. I think when stuff happens that doesn't fall into your pattern of activity they might put locks.

Either way I don't think they suck, just talk to them instead of posting here.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: cobalt
They said if I travel I have to notify them.

Wow, that's really shitty. I've been all over the damn place with my USAA card and made major purchases from different countries/states with no issues at all.