I am tempted to say ‘only in America’ but I think that would be somewhat unfair in this case, but if I say ‘typical of America” I doubt anyone can really argue?

I have a checking and savings account with the BoA. I have had them for years, although I don’t use them much as I don’t reside or work in the US. The ‘deal’ was that checking was free so long as I deposited $25 in the savings account each month. This could be a transfer from my checking account, so long as it was a monthly direct debt. I could even go on line the next day and transfer it straight back to the checking account and my banking would still be free (go figure that logic!).

Anyway a couple of months ago I noticed a $5.95 monthly charge on my checking account which I have only just got round to looking at. Appears that my account type no longer exists so they switched me to the one that incurs the monthly fee, even though they have told me that there is a account that is exactly the same as the one that I had initially i.e. free if pay $25 into savings account etc, in all but name. Basically they have changed the name of the account as far as I can tell. So rather than swap me over to what I was already on (and happy with) they switched me to the one that earns them money.

Anyway I have communicated via email and they are really sorry but they can’t make the switch for me, but if I go on line I can use my existing account details to open up a new free account, transfer the balance out of my existing checking account and close it down. They can’t do that but I can, well actually I can’t!!! I specifically asked them if I needed a social security number as I don’t have one and they told me that I didn’t as I already had an account. So I tried – only to be told by the Live Chat person that I did have to have a social security number!!!!!!!!!!

So now they want me to call them. They repeatedly tell me that I am a valued customer and they are sorry for the inconvenience in their emails, but they can’t actually give me the right advice, and they can’t pick up the phone to sort out the problem that they created.

So this afternoon I will call them – what do you think the outcome will be?

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