Anyone know of a trick to get overdraft item fees refunded by Bank of America?

Question

I had someone write me a $1,800 check the bounced and subsequently caused over $400 in returned item fees. The bank will not normally refund these fees. Is there any sort of trick or tip on how to convince them to get this money back as it was not my fault. I bank with Bank of America and want to know if there is any way to talk them into returning that money.

Answer 1

You need to go after the person who wrote you the check. Bank of America is not going to credit that money back to you.

Answer 2

Yes, the bank can refund you those fees. If the bank did not place a hold on the check then they are more likely to refund you. Talk to the branch manager. IF that doesn't help call customer service. If they won't help you, then call "customer solutions" its a department above customer service. They cannot refuse to give you customer's solution phone number. Its the customers right to call customers solution for any problem that cannot be solved at customers service level. Explain to them what happened. Make it clear to them that you spent the money because it was available. Its the banks fault for making the fund available when They had not collected the fund from the issuer bank. It they can't help. Close your accounts and open one with US bank. I love them.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, it was entirely your own fault for apparently spending some of the $1800 before the check had cleared. That was no different than spending your paycheck before you had received it, so I'm afraid there is no "trick"! Sorry.

One option you should probably pursue is "overdraft protection", which is basically a line of credit that kicks in if you overdraw your account. The credit line provides a short-term loan to cover your poor math, and while it does charge you interest, it shouldn't charge you any fees. Ask your bank.

Good luck!

Answer 4

If you call and speak to a customer service representative and remain polite, they may still refuse to do the reversal. The trick is not stopping at the first level. Ask that person to escalate the call to a manager or supervisor. Inevitably, that person says, “I can transfer you, but they will tell you the same thing.” Resist the temptation to retort, and tell them you understand that but you would like to try.

Once the manager is on the phone, explain the details again and ask them to help you as the fees will likely lead to additional NSF transactions if not refunded immediately. If you fail at this level, ask them to escalate the call. Continue to escalate until you reach Mr. or Mrs. Bank of America.

Legally speaking, the person that wrote you the $1800 check bears responsibility for the face value of the check, any expenses you incurred, and in some jurisdictions, additional penalties. If that person drags their feet for more than seven days, contact your local District Attorney’s office and ask for the Bad Check Division. They should explain the procedures you need to follow to have the check writer contacted by their office and if necessary, they may obtain a warrant for his arrest. Writing bad checks is a crime and most judges heap all kinds of additional fees on top of what the NSF writes owes you.

In the future, cash checks written from an individual at THEIR bank. Do not deposit personal checks into your own account. Except for US Postal Money Orders, do not accept money orders. Cash all US Postal Money Orders at the Post Office. Do not accept Wal-Mart money orders, as Wal-Mart cannot cash them unless made out to the person that purchased it. (What a dumb policy!) Do not accept cashier’s checks from out-of-town banks. Cash in-town cashier’s checks at the bank that issued it.

If all else fails in collecting the money, call Judge Judy or The People’s Court and embarrass the writer on national TV. :)

Good luck!

Will D
Enterprise AL
http://www.notagz.com

Answer 5

I've managed to get several overdraft fees removed from my checking account just by complaining over and over again, but you have to have some sort of plausible explanation, a rational argument, even if it has some small holes in it or is based on a personal problem, and you have to keep trying, asking to speak to a supervisor or manager, keep trying and trying. Also different ways, by online contact forms, phone, even the TTY number for deaf people if you can find a program online to use that service.
The goal is to make contact with the one person who doesn't care, is too busy to argue, or feels sorry for you.

But there does come a time to finally give up.

Answer 6

Call the number on the back of your check card. I bank with BofA too and I call them and they will usually reverse the overdraft fees but they can't put the $1,800 dollars in until that someone who gave you the check makes it good. Communication is key! You can also ask BofA what they recommend for you to do to get the money from the "someone" who wrote it.

Answer 7

Go back to the person who wrote the check to you and collect your money. As for the bank talk to a bank manager to see what can be done.

Answer 8

Good luck. I pulled all my accounts from them, because they'll never give anyone a break. I had one late credit card payment (2 days late) and they jacked my interest rate.

Answer 9

They are asshats and not likely to refund you. I know, I have them, too. Go after the jackoff whose check bounced.

Answer 10

you can write them emails...they usually refute any refund unless they did something wrong and charged you by mistake.