Theft from my account
Complaint
John Dawson
Country: United States
Bank of America is giving out the details (private account information) of its customers who are being harassed by Smart Start. I said "No" to their many telephone solicitations and told them not to call anymore. The gal said that I'd "still get more calls because it takes a while to get my request through the system" - what a load of $@#!. I told her asmuch (politely) and today, there's an unauthorized charge on my checking account (not my bank card). This is illegal and I would like to get names and contact info for anyone that would like to join me in moving forward with a claim and reporting.
Comments
You will also need to close your account to prevent additional future fraudulent charges.
In addition, separately notify your bank that you are requesting that they cease providing your information to all parties for marketing purposes, as allowed for in the GLB Act. (Remember all those "Privacy Statements" you got? That was due to GLB.)
Since these telemarketers apparently are getting customer account information directly from BofA, which they are then using to make fraudulent charges, also file complaints with FTC, your state AG, and OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency). You can find information on how to file OCC complaints on their site.
http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm
Send copies of your complaints along with your account dispute in a letter sent to BofA's executive offices. In your letter to them, demand that they cease providing your billing information to outside parties, as it is being used to make fraudulent charges.
Send all letters certified, return receipt requested.
A number of banks have provided customer information to outside telemarketers who then used it to place fraudulent charges. Some sold it to "membership club" telemarketers, and one, Wachovia, even allowed telemarketers to continue making fraudulent charges to their customers' accounts after bank officers became aware of the resulting high rate of customer fraud disputes.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/06/business/06wachovia.php
Do these sound familiar?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/070/RipOff0070404.htm