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Bank of America review: privacy assist scam 53

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4:44 pm EDT
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**don"t bank with bank of america!** I am writing this to inform everyone - don't bank with boa! I am on my elderly father's accounts and recently I was checking something in the account when I came across $12.99 debit that stated "privacy assist bank of america". I found this odd so I researched the past statements and found that it started in march 2009 at $12.99 every month. I know my dad didn't enroll in this, so I printed it out and gave it to him to go to the bank the next morning! He went there alright and was told by an employee " someone tampered with your account" yes, someone did tamper with the account - bank of america tampered with the account! Later my dad told me what happened and I have never seen him this mad. He stated that he was going to close his account (An account he had since 2 banks before boa took over). I went with him the next day to a different branch to close the accounts. That is when I learned that my dad was not refunded for the money they illegally took out of his account. I had to ask for the refund and even then the banker seemed like he didn't want to help. He told us "that's a different department" as if I care that it's a different dept! Longer story short - privacy assist didn't want to refund all of the money. They told my dad "we did a service so we can't refund all of it". Well, I got on the phone and asked for a supervisor, but they wouldn't talk to me. So I told them "that's fine, but here's what I want to know.. Why did you take the money that you had no authority to take? And what do you mean you won't give a full refund? What you did was illegal and I want the money back. " within minutes, they had agreed to give the full refund back. Do you think it ends there? Nope! The banker told me that they would give the full amount back but it takes 7 - 10 days to get the refund and the account has to be re-opened! I agreed to that only because I wanted that refund. But have they never heard of electronic deposits? So they can electronically take money without permission but they can't electronically deposit they money back that they should never have taken! Also, why does the account have to be open? Mail a check - you are a bank - mail a check!
I think that boa targets senior citizens by enrolling them fraudulantly in the privact assist. I think this because both my sister and I have checking accounts and neither one of us were "automatically enrolled" in privacy assist. Plus, I asked several times "how did this happen? How was my dad enrolled in this?" and every time I asked I was told a different answer. Some of the answers were "when your dad activated the debit card - that would activate it. " really - because if they had checked his record - he doesn't have a debit card and never had one!
Bank of america rips off their customers with the privacy assist! They didn't give the refund that they said they would and when I called today I was given the run around again ! I get more running done when dealing with them that I do on a treadmill! Ha ha~ but seriously - boa has no right to have taken that money, no right to have enrolled him in anything with his knowledge and approval, and most of all - they have no right to take 7 - 10 days to refund what they took electronically and then they didn't even refund the full amount!
Bottom line - don't bank with bank of america!

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53 comments
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Jack
, US
Apr 22, 2009 2:24 pm EDT

I discovered a charge for BAC PrivacySource on my Bank of America Visa card on 3-14-06. I called BoA Visa Customer Service and asked to dispute the charge and they refused to allow me to do so. They only want to connect you to BAC PrivacySource (which is a Bank of America product licensed to Trilegiant Corp.)

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Rachael Rivera
,
Jan 08, 2008 12:00 am EST

I sent a wire transfer from Bank OF America Research Parkway Branch, Orlando, Florida 32826 on 10/10/2007 to Trinidad, and to this date the recipient has not received it neither has their bank any information about the transfer, I faxed my wire transfer receipt to the bank & the recipient, & confirmed all the information I gave to Bank Of America was correct, but still they have not been able to transfer the money, & the money is not in my account - this is all my savings. I have been to the branch several times, I called their wire transfer department but they are pointing fingers at each other - the wire transfer department which I called on [protected] said I should speak with the branch I sent the transfer from, the manager Mr Evans & the assistant manager Ms Patel is saying it is in the hands of the wire transfer department. This is very very very bad business, my relatives needed this money for medical costs, I have to keep chasing these people, and all I get is bad customer service & serious runaround for my own money. This transfer should have only taken approximately 3 days, it is almost a month now & nothing!

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JC Magras
Lago Vista, US
Oct 22, 2014 10:53 pm EDT

Hello,
My father, two months ago almost, had his girlfriend, wire $8000 from a Bank of America branch near Palm Coast. The money has not arrived in his account at the destination: Credit Agricole of Guadelupe. Notice that this amount is just under the registration limit.
He has been told that it is Guadalupe after nearly 3 weeks.
Five messages have been sent to Bank of America. The manager who sent the wire supposedly has not returned the messages. My father is now in Florida and from what I
can tell the manager is unfindable. I suspect this is deliberate. I am JeanClaudeYvesBertinMagras on skype. Leave a message.

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AlexMichael skott
Ann Arbor, US
Mar 27, 2011 2:33 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bank of America sent me a Privacy Assist form to fill out and sign if I wanted the service. However I did not so I never sent in the form but Bank of America started to take out the fee for Privacy Assist on a monthly basis. When I called and asked them to stop they said no. I then said I wanted my account closed and they also refused to do. Feeling the only option left to me I drew down my account balance to 1.74 as to prevent them from draining more 12.99 monthly fee for the service. That did not stop the bank which just kept on pulling the fee out and charging an overdraft fee. I felt I could do nothing until a friend told me what I could do to stop the situation. I threatened to sue. I was given Privacy Assist phone number and the company said that they would refund the money but Bank of America claims that they never received the money. Now online I am finding many web sites that have people citing the very same issue. Bank of America and Privacy Assist are a scam by both companies and they are getting away with it. I have since opened an account with chase but chex systems has put me on a restriction list for five years so for the next five years I cannot write a check nor us my debit card for large transactions like paying rent and i have to pay five dollars for a money order at my own bank and pay a 15 dollar maintainence fee plus I cannot take advantage of direct deposit or multi card use to avoid monthly fee. My credit has been wrecked and I have filed a complaint with the attorney general in my state but they told me it is near impossible to fix credit once a bank destroys it.

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deep0069
, US
Nov 11, 2011 9:13 pm EST

This has happened to me too...they have two service Bank of America privacy Assist and Bank of America privacy source.I enrolled for one and got enrolled in both unknowingly.I called up during the trial period to cancel it but the number was for bank of America privacy source. I was convinced that it has been cancelled. After few months I checked my credit card statement and got to know the other one was still active. They were charging me for quite a few months. I called them up to know why its still active and they said you need to cancel both separately.They told me they are two different departments doing almost same services to which I was amazed.When both are for same purpose why they have altogether two different services? They both have a similar name so I was easily confused that they are separate and not notified that they are charging me.It was absurd when I asked them to email all terms and conditions and whatever communication I am having with them to which they said no we cant do that since they dont have rights to do an email.What a heck ? Such a big company only working on phone communication and nothing in written to the customers.I think that's there key point to just keep it verbal so people can be trapped easily for selling this useless service.

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i learned about my credit
310 grace ave, US
Nov 08, 2011 7:55 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

OMG i called this company after seeing a the charge on my bill, i checked and it had been happeining for a few months... i was so upset.. i found all these articles online about people who say they didnt say yes to the service...to make the story short.. i requested that they give me all my money or show me that i agree to it... obviously i didnt agree and i was really mad... well they played me the recording when i accepted the service.. now i wonder if this is what every one is so angry about... did we just agree and lost track? after cancelling i went to their website, and their service isnt really that bad.. im thinking about getting it again.. i just feel ashamed to call and subscribe after the way i treated their employees and manager for something i did get... any one can give me a good suggestion... i may cosider

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2bratty4u
Albuquerque, US
Oct 22, 2011 2:39 pm EDT

You all enroll in the service by agreeing to it. Whether you are elderly or whatever lame excuses you give, and bottom line is you don't pay attention to what you are enrolling in and ignore terms and conditions is when you get burned. And who is to say that children with elderly parents know everything their parents do 24-7 is accurate is total BS. Now another thing, identity theft if now currently the #1 white collar crime in America, it is not hard to steal an identity. I bet your @$$ that if you had the service and became a victim you would be thrilled with the insurance they offer to cover your @$$ in court! The representatives from Privacy Assist are great well-educated people. And with every company there is someone that may be rude but should not label the whole company, but from my experience with the company, I have improved my credit rating and have been assisted by the wonderful representatives to dispute inaccuracies on my report. The young lady took 40 minutes of her time to assist me in helping and making sure I was comfortable with what I was dealing with credit wise. Word to the wise, if you don't wanna be treated like an @$$, don't act like one! Treat people good, and they will try to help you. Just saying. and as for the time frame for money to be put in account, Privacy Assist is a merchant, not part of the bank, they don't have the same systems, as with any other merchant there is a waiting period to receive refunds, don't give the reps from PA a hard time for it, It is not their doing how you enrolled, it is not their decision for time frames, and it is not their fault they can't cancel certain accounts without proper documentation! Idiots

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Lucina Melendez
, PR
Oct 14, 2011 4:28 am EDT

Hi, , writing from Bayamon, PR. BofA is doing still but now in PR. In March, 2011 my husband rec. mail with privacy assist logo. He opens, reads and then give me to file his mail. But he put it somewhere else at the time. In June, 2011 he rec. mail again. This time I am curious. The letter stated that to be able to release his credit statement he had to call and verify info. I checked back AMEX billing and lo and behold he had been billed 12.99 since April, 2011 including June. I called and indicated that there had been some mistake that at no time my husband had approved this billing and therefore this service. Still waiting for refund. I should have asked for my credit reports and then cancelled. In July I answered a phone call from BoA offering the same service, you can image how I ranted and raved. She ind. she could not image how this happended. I told her that my husband had a hearing problem/did not speak english well. That whoever called took advantage of his situation. Will be on the lookout.

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Henry Krinkle 2
Fair Lawn, US
Jun 27, 2011 4:18 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

People in their early twenties are so much smarter than everyone else. Don't you agree? They are so much more experienced at life. We need to all learn from people in their early twenties.

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stfu guys
merrionette park, US
Jun 27, 2011 4:11 pm EDT

You guys are a bunch of idiots. Yes, you're decrepit, old ### parents are being *manipulated* into subscribing to credit monitoring services by the evil Bank of America. Well it sounds like that's exactly what all you cry babies need, since it takes MONTHS for you to even notice a $13 recurring charge to your bank accounts! It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard that you people actually think that such a huge corporation would be so petty as to fraudulently subscribe people to these services. Especially with such a plausible alternative as to all of your confusions: YOUR OLD GEEZERS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE AGREEING TO WHEN THEY'RE ON THE PHONE WITH THE BANK. Cut their damn phone lines, I'm sure this isn't the only complaint you've have written about your parents being *taken advantage of*. By the way, I've been offered this service a million times and have always had the ability to say "no thanks". But I finally subscribed this morning because it really is a valuable service for only $13 bucks a month. I'm only in my early 20s so I plan on maintaining my excellent credit. If you all want to let your credit go down the drain, or have your identity stolen, feel free. Welcome to America.

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Thomas kaldoon
Houston, US
Jun 27, 2011 1:06 am EDT

I am business man and I wired a large amount of money from Bank of A to kenya to buy two containers of Kenyan Tea, after two days this sh--t bank call me and says we need the licence of the company that you are buying the tea from. I thought that was crazy, and tried to persuade them this information they are requesting is irelevent to the wire. after they insisted they will not release my money with out the license, I, kindly requested the license from my supplier in Kenya, and they sent me their License. it has been two weeks since I forwarded the information they have requested. but still no wire and no money, I talk to my branch manager he says that there is nothing he can do because the wire department is refusing to release the money when I ask him why he says that they did not tell him.

Now I have no choice but to contact a lawyer, and evaluate my options

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catsooey
Northa, US
Jun 01, 2011 11:44 pm EDT

Yes, I sent two separate wire transfers to england and both had large amounts missing. I sent close to 1900 dollars and ended up with 1050 pounds. On top of that, I payed 70 american for the wiring fees. So I couldn't figure out what happened - went back once and a clerk checked it out - their math was right, but something was strange about the exchange rates. I kept getting such vastly different sums than the amount that ultimately got sent, and then I researched the exchange rates. The bank uses essentially it's own exchange rates that are much much higher than the official rates. I researched the daily rates on the the days of the transfers, both the lows, average and highs, taking into account the fluctuations. And the rates given to me by BofA were much much higher compared to the high number of that days exchange rate. I went back again and finally another clerk explained they give their own rate. I asked how the bank gets this number and she says she never gets a straight answer out of the Bank company offices. She said people come in constantly asking about the same problem - grossly inflated exchange rates and problems with money "disappearing". She said, which I think was a canned response, that the normal international rates are only for people exchanging large sums of money. So I asked if the bank's inflated rates get lower if you send more money - she said no. I also asked, since the rates are supposedly high for normal "small" wire amounts, if western union uses the same inflated rates and she said no. So I said that the rate I should get is whatever the standard public rate is at the time the wire goes out, not some number the bank makes up. I'm furious, I'm trying to finalize a payment to someone in england and every time I go back I pay more, and then money disappears, and then owe more money. This feels completely illegal - to answer people's question, yes, you're not alone, this is happening everywhere at this bank and I think a lawsuit is in order. email me at catsooey@yahoo.com if anyone has any advice or wants to talk further.

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Alexandara
Chantilly, US
May 09, 2011 5:50 pm EDT

I sent an international wire transfer from my Bank of America account and paid $45 fee. I sent it on line to Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Money got there on time but additional $36 was missing. So the total cost was $81, which is a lot to me. Called the BOA, nobody could help. They are blaming on the receiving bank. Call the receiving bank, which is HSBC, they are saying it’s bank of America’s issue and they don’t take the fees for incoming transfers. I spent hours on the phone trying to get to the end of this but without success. Did anybody had the same problem?

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Dan dd
1345 palm dr, US
Mar 09, 2011 3:06 pm EST

Bank of America is purposely delaying the wire transfer of funds into the account that you sent to...they keep the money as long as they can...with thousands of overseas transactions, you can imagine the amont of money they make off of your money? Corrupt to the core.

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Vivian Zhou
Santa Clara, US
Jan 23, 2011 7:40 am EST

Bank of [censor]! Haha, that's a really appropriate metaphor.
I have been struggled with Bank of [censor] for a week already, and without a right answer yet. I received a wire at Bank of [censor] from China, and of course, the other party had already paid the wire transfer fee. But amount I received is $20 less, and a day later, Bank of A. Charge another $12. But, last year when I received two wires at Bank of A., and they charged $20 for the first wire, but charged nothing for the second wire. I just cannot find any regularity for charging fees at receiving international funds.
I called Bank of A., but I spent about 2 hours dealing with the machine, and the representatives who are like machine. Those machine like people told different stories, and give no solution. They just know to say "it depends on which bank from which the money comes" or "the fee varies depends on different bank'. But my case is that the money all from the same bank, why Bank of A. charges defferently each time. Even I drove to Bank of A. and ask the representative in person, the person didn't know the answer and ask the second person to cope, and the second person still didn't know how to answer, and then gave me a number asking me to call by myself. She even dare to say, " we don't know either."
My God, this is Bank of [censor].

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Kanwal Singh
275 Generations court, US
Jan 04, 2011 3:24 pm EST

We in America have to live with these unscrupulous Corporations. Is the Congress - both Democrats and republicans looking. No -- I don, t think so. These politicians call other Governments corrupt - politicians here are the worst and majority of people ignorant of their schemes.

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Bolivar Burga
Richfield, US
Nov 30, 2010 4:31 pm EST

Money wire is a scam same history here with the bank name : richfield bloomington credit union from, MN

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cantexan
Nowhere, US
Nov 15, 2010 11:08 pm EST

Does anyone feel as I do that the Privacy assist product is advertised as your credit report and score, when in reality it is a watered down excerpt from your actual credit report? Compare your actual report to this product and you will be amazed.

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Kelly Korzen
Fredericksburg, US
Nov 09, 2010 10:53 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I've contacted an attorney. She said that we would need at least 5 victims of this scam who were willing to join as named plaintiffs to file a class action suit against BoA. Please respond if you have any interest in pursuing this. thanks.

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Grampaw
Los Angeles, US
Nov 04, 2010 3:21 pm EDT

Check this one out: i am a small design company located in LA. My client out of NYC wired me a deposit of $12, 000 for a Don Julio Tequila job. Bank of America will not release the money to my company because they want Don Julio's birthdate and citizenship info! He's a bottle of tequila! It's been 4 days and hours, upon hours on the phone trying to explain to them that the information they are requesting is absolutely irrelevent. They will not release the money, but instead keep requesting this same info from my clients bank... day, after day. All the while, my client's bank doesn't even have the money anymore! It has left their account already. Which means BOA has it and simply will not give me, my company, MY MONEY.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING! I am absolutely leaving this piece of [censored] bank as soon as this job is delivered.

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pinkcobra
West Hollywood, US
Oct 29, 2010 9:51 pm EDT

There is a big class action going on against BofA right now because of this product... Too many people all have the same problem! Info at http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101021006657/en/Glancy-Binkow-Goldberg-LLP-Announces-Class-Action

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Ivebeenmuggedtoo
Houston, US
Oct 06, 2010 2:59 pm EDT

With stories like this, this, and this, it's not hard to imagine why someone might need to kick their Bank of America problem all the way to the top of the dung heap . Here's some executive contact phone numbers:

Executive Customer Relations general line: [protected]

Nancy M. Condos
VP/ Customer Advocate
Executive Customer Relations
Office of the Chairman
nancy.m.condos@bankofamerica.com(email is bouncing)

Martha Dominguez, Executive Customer Relations Specialist: [protected]

Corporate Headquarters: [protected] / [protected]
Operator: [protected] (press 0 twice)

Corporate Headquarters (Bank of America):
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

You can always write the CEO:
Mr. Brian Monahan

100 N. Tryon Street.
Mail Code NC-[protected]
Charlotte, NC 28255

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Karl123
Houston, US
Sep 15, 2010 1:21 pm EDT

I posted here before a while ago...
This is what happen since...
I complaint in writing to BOA and a month or two later I received a letter, that my money has been refunded to my credit card. Obviously in the mean time I got myself another credit card. Yet another month later, BOA sent me a check for the money in question... I cached this one ASAP.
Why am I not using my BOA credit card any longer? ... mess me around like you did and it takes a lot more than simply refunding my money before you get me back as a customer.

My advice FIGHT any which way you can.

Karl

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justyouraveragejoe
new jersey, US
Sep 14, 2010 10:33 pm EDT

I was taken in by this same scam. A man called my home in July informing me that he was calling from FIA card services, I verified if this was a sales call and he lied that he was not selling and said that he was from the card services. He said in these days there are lot of identity thefts and seems that there was a hack into a batch of creditcard numbers at thier end. They were sending out the credit reports and i was to check if there were any misuse of my account. I confirmed if there is any charge for getting the credit report and he said that there was no charge and they sending it out to all people whose account maybe compromised. So they they had reason to believe my card account could have been misused and that they needed to send me the credit reports so I could make sure that my account was ok. He then proceed to tell my credit card number and he asked to confirm my social before he could proceed further. i confirmed my social. He then asked if he could record what we were saying and if i agreed to do this. I said yes. He then proceeded to very quickly read some terms and notices. I halted him saying he was too fast and i did not understand most of it. He lied that its part of his job to read out and make sure i heard it. He was pretty glib and kept on talking. I halted him again and he was pretty irritated and kept on talking.

I immediately went online and monitored my credit card account for a couple of weeks. No credit reports were mailed to me. Today Aug 14th i seen my credit card statement and there is a charge $12.99 a couple of days back by Privacy Assist.

I called Privacy Assist to check what was going on. The lady on customer assist was trying to convince me that it was a good deal to have protection. I said i m not interested. For the last so many years I have been regularly solicited to buy credit protection, and i never brought it. I then proceeded to tell the lady that i did verify if the guy who called was selling and how the guy lied. She then offered to lower the monthly charge if it was too high. It was like she did not understand that i did not want the service period. After much annoyance and petty talk she finally said that she will discontinue.

I asked for her to refund the money charged and she point blank refused, saying it is my fault that i accepted and BofAmerica customers wer given 30 days...it was like she never heard anything i told her about the guy lying and conning me. I finally told her i will lodge complaints. I told her in the first instance i got the card from Wachovia and not BofA. Secondly i never agreed to the service and finally i never got any credit report too. On and on it went, i was really getting angry. I told her to verify the call made by her rep and she had no right to call me a liar. After much trauma she finally agreed to refund the money.

I agree with earlier comments that 1. They are deliberately scaring someone with a lie so they can steal from the average man and this is so wrong. 2. Giving thier dishonest affiliates my credit card number and asking to verify last four digits social security number is also wrong. 3. The customer assist person tried her dammest to hook me to the service and refused to refund $12.99.

It is sad to hear that the USA employees at customer assist have to work in such pitiable circumstances. My heart goes out to them and urge them to leave as soon as they get better oppurtunities. It will not be easy in this economy. But harassing clients or being a fraud is not the better alternative.

For the most part the majority of customer assists call centers are outsourced and the people there are least concerned about service to Americans. I sometimes am inclined to beleive that they take deliberate pleasure in stickin it to Americans. I hope to be wrong in this, as the only ones to blame are other greedy Americans who outsource in the first place just to fatten thier bonuses.

BTW I agree that "tigereyze" has a vested interest in the company. He probably is employed by the company as PR and his job is to discrediting the folks who are complaining.

Do not trust such Corporates to be honest, or act responsibly, when it comes to this scam. They don't really care and just want your money.

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esta34950
, US
Aug 16, 2010 11:43 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

They did the same thing to my credit card. I also had to fuss at them to get the money back. You have to watch them every step of the way. They are theives.

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madinmaryland
Oakland, US
Jun 14, 2010 3:06 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I've had a similar experience with my own personal account. Someone should intervene and put a stop to this fraudulent practice. Under no circumstance should anyone deal with BOA!

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Chupacabra
Richmond, US
Apr 19, 2010 2:38 pm EDT

I have to say that some of the users commenting just appear to be flat out 'moles', most likely marketing reps or just employees of "Privacy Assist" or BoA. I agreed to have the packet sent because the original spiel was so long and she told me she was sending me the information in written form. I received it and realized she had signed me up so I called the very day I received the packet to cancel. I have now been charged one month for the service. I called BoA credit card dept and was told I would have to call the Privacy Assist dept to handle that. I was told by the PA rep that I had called on Feb 28th but the records indicated I called to say I wanted to keep the service which was a flat out LIE. I told him I wanted the service canceled immediately and the $12.99 charge removed from my account. He told me he couldn't remove the charge because it was for services I had received. I explained that if the charge was not removed from my account or if the service was not canceled and I received another charge, I would cancel the card itself. He said, basically, that that was another departments problem. I told him I'm sure that department would still be interested to know that the reason I cancelled my card was because Michael from Privacy Assist refused to honor the original terms of the agreement that the former rep also refused to honor. I should also state that Michael would read from the sales spiel script NON-STOP without answering direct questions or my request to speak with a supervisor. He was never rude out-right, he just didn't respond and kept reading the script. I have absolutely no confidence that the matter is resolved. I doubt the charge will be removed due to my interaction with this rep today nor will the service be canceled. I have, therefore, reported the entire incident to the Better Business Bureau and I highly recommend the other people having issues with Privacy Assist do the same. The more complaints they receive the more pressure will be put on BoA and Privacy Assist.

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snookers
, US
Apr 07, 2010 8:28 pm EDT

Wow, BOA is really wearing their customers down with this privacy cr*p. I got 5 calls in the past 2 days trying to trick me into saying "yes" to getting the free credit report while at the same time roping you in for a $12.99 a month service fee. I was not that civil anymore after the fifth call and screamed a very loud "NO" into the phone. They are getting more persistent than bill collectors.
Still when you get a call like that, you have to listen very carefully(lots of us do not do that). They will always start with free this and free that. Unless you say "yes" to the free credit report(which is just a complimentary free one month trial), you also said yes to the future, not free, monthly service charge. Canceling it after wards, will require some hoop jumping plus another lecture.
While telemarketing is not new, banks have an advantage. People do not realize they are buying something because they do not have to give their credit card number, bank has it already. Unfair playing field IMO.

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Airam
Pensacola, US
Apr 07, 2010 6:41 pm EDT

Really 12.99 a month compared to rape? What are you talking about? Not even a close comparison! Are we really trying to say that there was never any indication you had the service. I have the service and it does well. Of course I listened to the recording and what it said. Ask a BOA rep to explain the service then call the privacy assist repand ask them. You'll find that the BOA reps are not properly schooled as to what the privacy assist does for thier customers. Think about this... How many illegal aliens do we have in this country? Who's SS# do you think they are using? What happens to the open accounts they have like lights, water, rent, etc. when they get deported. It goes on the SS# associated with that account. Really, do we honestly think we are safe from it happening because we stay at home. Everything and i mean everything is accessible through the web whether we put it there or not. There is always going to be someone to hack it. I prefer to know when it happens instead of the ever-most popular phrase..."That wasn't me or That is not my account"... Do you honestly think a creditor believes that?

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satown1006
San Antonio, US
Apr 07, 2010 1:43 am EDT

i do not agree with the WAY in which lovelylady was offering her opinion, but she is correct in the content. the bottom line is that you need to know 100% of what you're doing. you can't just get mad later and say someone should have told you. it's unfortunate, but true :(

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Karl123
Houston, US
Mar 12, 2010 2:40 pm EST

lovelylady is very wrong.
You NEVER blame the victim. A girl walks a dark ally and someone rapes her... her fault?
She should not have walked there?
I do not think so.

By any definition:
Manipulating and making people do things they would not do if they understood the consequences is dishonest.
Possible it is the way this society works, but it should not... and then it does not very well at all.

Karl

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Sshan3961
Buffalo, US
Feb 25, 2010 9:08 pm EST

and lovelylady is clearly perfect when reading fine print! and she must not work hard for her money either...c'mon people stop being angry about people stealing your hard earned money! "[censored]" is the word for people that don't take allllll of these complaints seriously! something is not right with boa and thanks to these comments i will not be taking my business there! fyi citizensbank is no better! stay away from them also!

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lovelylady
, US
Feb 12, 2010 12:17 am EST

wow you guys are so lame. The people who work for privacy assist knows the steps of how you are enrolled and they have the authorizations shown how you enrolled. its not their fault ur [censored]es hit the same button over to agree for the service. Its not their fault you dont know how to say no. bottom line. if you agree to a service, thats your decision. This is why America is so messed up greedy ignorant people like yourselves. People are struggling to find jobs. They are just doing theirs. Just like you do yours. So if you dont want it dont authorize it they are partners with BOA they cant look into your bank account anyways. Learn all of thhe facts before you start talking trash... Thanksss.

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Phong Ho
Santa Ana, US
Jan 27, 2010 11:58 am EST

1.800.516.9561, they transfered me 3 times, through many departments just to cancel 1 service. SUCK !

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Phong Ho
Santa Ana, US
Jan 27, 2010 11:51 am EST

I totally agree with you, don't bank with them! They told me that I enrolled that service when I activated my credit card, thks so much lier and I lost my 12.99$ for nothing. When I call and cancel that service, they threat me like "you will become a victim, some household lost their 24, 000$ for the thelf cause they did not use this service! Are u sure don't need our support ?" OMG that's make me LOL look like they are clowns haha.
DON'T ...BANK OF AMERICA !

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Sback
San Diego, US
Jan 27, 2010 9:48 am EST

In agreement with snookers, I was contacted by Privacy Assistance as well with the same condition that I would be enrolled in the program at an additional 12.99 per month charge on top of my existing home loan payment and that to cancel I had to wait for the statement with the charge to arrive...telling the representative on the phone that I didn't want to enroll was not an option.

Consequently, I had to spend 25 min. of my day, with three transfers to the "correct department" to get the Privacy assist removed.

If you advertise a product I might be interested in, I will contact you. Do not enroll me in something and then make it my job to undo it.

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snookers
, US
Jan 19, 2010 5:56 pm EST

I just received a call from BOA about this totally unnecessary expensive service. Bottom line, if you agree to have the stuff sent to your home, you agree to the $12.99 monthly charge. Only if you remember to call them within 30 days to cancel, you will be stuck with it.
All within the legal limits by voice authorization. Just do not agree to have the crap sent to your home. Like I did. Or just hang up the phone when they start their spiel about private assistance on identity theft. If you really worry about identity theft, most home insurance policies will accommodate for a lot less than the greedy unscrupulous banks.
And yes, I am a senior citizen, but still with a very sound mind though and adequate comprehension of English.

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Airam
Pensacola, US
Nov 25, 2009 12:15 pm EST

Your claims are outrageous. Obviously you all should be more careful and pay attention to what you are doing. If you care so much then you would have noticed the charges earlier. It seems to me that you didn't pay attention to the fine print. Also banks have voice authorizations and confimations. I no doubt need to remind everyone it wouldn't be a problem if they would PAY ATTENTION.

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sd_hiking
, US
Nov 18, 2009 11:13 am EST

I have a same exprience with my father's credit card account. He had been ill and not used his credit card for a long time but $12.99 monthly fee was started for several month without his knowledge. Becausee he does not speak English well, I guess they might take advantage of it over phone. When my mother visited BofA couple month ago and asked about the charge, they told her that she needed to pay the amount without explaining what it is. After finding out the charge, we closed the account. Even closing the account was not easy. I was translating for my mom and told her what to say. The BofA customer service told me I could not told her what to say. Worst bank!

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ained58
East Falmouth, US
Oct 13, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

I recently lost my husband and had been less than attentive to our checking accnt. info as it arrived each month. My husband was ill and I was his caretaker and as long as the $$ in the accnt. proved ok. I was comfortable. I've had time to go over the accnts. online and realized that we had been charged $12.99 a month for 7 months and no one could explain at BofA. They referred me to Privacy Assist phone no. which I called and explained as best I could what I perceived to be $12.99 withdrawal for 7 months and I did not know how or why. The very kind woman explained it was to protect the SS of my late husband...still not a satisfactory answer. I asked to speak to her supervisor in hopes of having some explanation. No one would get on the phone with me. Instead, I was asked to FAX a death cert. to them. I replied this was not something I could/would do. I am presently on crutches, this would be a burden and I was not comfortable with this resolution. Since they withdrew the $$ why should I have to prove with a death cert. that he was gone. I was not happy and when the woman came back on she asked for his SS and DOB which I gave her and asked when I could see the refund. She stated they would refund 6 months fee and it would take several statements on my B of A accnt. for it to sho. I thanked her personally and stated this seemed fradulent to me and I was very unhappy with the bank.

If this is a preview of B of Am. new policies, I will be changing my bank. How dare they promote this type of scam.