Bank of America credit card cancelled due to Patriot Act info request?

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trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
So today I get an email from Bank Of America saying my card was removed from Android Pay because it was no longer an active account. I don't use this card that often, just random charges to keep it active. Until a few months ago though it had a balance that I recently paid off.

So I call BofA and they say the account was cancelled the day before. The first customer agent says that her info says "customer called to voluntarily cancel account" which was a load of shit. So I asked to be transferred to someone else who can help. This new person says that Bank Of America apparently sent something to me in the mail 30ish days ago saying they needed more information from me due to some Patriot Act regulation or my account would be cancelled within 30 days. I don't remember getting anything like that, but Bank of America is constantly sending me all kinds of garbage about new account applications or balance transfers. If they did send something they sure as shit didn't make it obvious, and they apparently only sent one letter. No other notices at all. No emails, no alerts in the account center, no calls. Just one lousy letter?

The guy told me he could glady take the info they require and "a decision would be made shortly." Well to me that sounds like I'm reapplying, so I ask and yes it requires a new hard credit pull because it's considered an application. WTF!! I've had this card for about nine years, so it's not exactly brand new. And it had a pretty large credit limit, so it being cancelled out of the blue is going to mess up my credit a bit. It wasn't the greatest card (shitty rewards), so I'm not really inclined to do a hard pull to re-apply. Just annoys me this happened, and I can't find much info on it happening to other people. Anyone else experienced this?
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,557
8,835
126
I'd get a card from a business that isn't publicly traded, preferably a credit union. They aren't working for you. They're working for shareholders.
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
I'd get a card from a business that isn't publicly traded, preferably a credit union. They aren't working for you. They're working for shareholders.

I have other credit cards that I actually use that give much better rewards, so I'm not really concerned about the card itself. I'm just annoyed this happened with barely any notice and trying to see if it's happened to anyone else with this patriot act excuse.
 
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trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
He'll probably disregard mailings from the credit union as well. :D

I didn't disregard it, I don't remember getting it at all. I'm sure they sent it but between the 20 damn credit card offers and balance transfer offers they send a month with "important information" stamped on them I'm sure I missed it. American Express asked me once for info as well but it popped up repeatedly on my online account and was hard to miss. Obviously this wasn't. Not much of a loss because the rewards on that card sucked, just annoying it happened.
 
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ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
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Just tell them you are going to take your business to a competitor and leave it at that. BoA is trash anyway. They obviously aren't too concerned about keeping you as a customer. Go somewhere else.
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
I'm wondering if it was because of non-use but they are making excuses. The only thing I used that card recently for was for a zero interest balance transfer a couple of years ago. I recently paid that off, and less than a month and half later this happens. Aside from the transfer fee they weren't making much money off of me. I hadn't actually used the card for purchases in like four years. Oh well, crappy card anyway.
 

who?

Platinum Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,327
42
91
Whenever you get mail from a utility or a vendor such as this it's always a good idea to open it and look instead of assuming what it is.
 

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,520
5,712
136
Are you sure the email was from BofA? There are some rather well-done phishing emails these days...
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Yes it was from bofa. Also to reach customer service I called the number on the back of my credit card not anything from the email.
 

xgsound

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2002
1,374
8
81
With the stinky reputation they have they did you a favor. It actually sounds like their typical non-thinking move.


Jim
 

skimple

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2005
1,283
3
81
Technically, it is true that the Patriot act requires banks to obtain information from all lenders to include SSN, and some form of ID, that act is 14 years old.

I suspect they cancelled for lack of use or they felt you had too high a credit line.
 
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