Bank of America vs. Staples

JoeKing

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,641
1
81
so I ordered a new computer chair from staples on Monday, and it got here today. I'm stoked and assemble the bad ass mofo. Sitting in my new plush leather computer chair, I decide to check my bank account to see how much money I dont have ;). And to my surprise I see I'm in the negative....."uhoh" says I as I look through my check book and online account to try to figure out why the hell Im in the red. Nothing added up, I shoul have had at least $70 in the account (hey Im a college guy what do you expect?) I quickly transfer funds from my saving to the checking to cover me and hopefully prevent a $20 fee.

Calling up BofA according to their records staples billed me twice on two seperate orders. Hmmm I begin to ponder as I then call up staples to ask wtf is going on. THe CSR then tells me they have no record of another transaction for $80.

Getting a little frustrated I call up BofA once again and ask if we could confernce call with Staples. So we ring up a Staples CSR and I let the bank do the talking. Oh man, that had to be one of the funniest conversations I have ever heard.....between two companies


BofA: There were two transactions that occurded on his account, one on the 18th and one for today

Staples: I'm sorry we have no record of a second transaction. We only see one transaction for $85 completed on the 18th

BofA: According to our records Staples has billed him twice

Staples: Our records do not show another transaction (she then begins to tally up the one billing that I was already aware of)

BofA: Yes, but we see that an additional transaction for $84 dollars done at 10am today

Staples: Our records do not show any such transaction (she then begins read the valid transaction out once more)

BofA: interupting yes we are aware of the $85 transaction, however our records show...

Staples: interupting Perhaps your records are incorrect?

BofA: Mam we are a banking insitutaion and according to our records you DID bill Mr.Me an additional $84 dollars. Perhaps it is your records that are wrong. (voice starts to raise)

Staples: I'm sorry, but we have absoluty no record of a second transaction and any buisniess doen through this company would show up in our database (voice gtes defensive
and a little angry)

BofA: Well our records clearly state a second transaction happening.

Me: Uhh so were is my $80?

Staples:......

BofA:......

Me: hello?


in the end I was able to get the funds returned to my account (BofA did this). But it was so funny listening to two CSR's semi-arguing with each other using CSR talk, and when they started "dissing" the others systems, I couldnt help but snicker.
 

Russ

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
21,093
3
0
If I had to guess, I'd be trusting BofA's records before Staples. I've been banking with BofA for 12 years, and they screw up about as often as a Republican wins in Hawaii.

Russ, NCNE
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
10,868
1
0
Staples probably authorized your card...then actually charged it.

Alot of hotels, car rental agencies, bars if you keep an open tab,
usually do that... I dont know why Staples would.

Your Current balance (balance after official postings by the bank)
and
Available Balance (Current balance plus or minus any pending transactions)

are two different things.

Wait a few business days and the second Staples charge will fall off.
 

JoeKing

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,641
1
81
deftron,
The problem is the two transactions were seperate (according to BofA) and for diffrent amounts. one for $85 and another for $83
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
10,868
1
0
The CSR conversation was pretty funny..
That happened to me with DMV and my insurance company...My insurance canceled my coverage because they said I didn't
have a Drivers' License (which I did). Then my Driver's License got suspended because I didnt have insurance.
I couldnt get either back untill I had the other...it requird a conference call betwen Progressive and DMV.

ME: My insurance was canceled staing that I did not have a drivers license. I did have a drivers license but
it was supended after you cancelled my insurance. I need my coverage back in order to re-instate my license.

Progressive: So you dont have a drivers license? Then you cant have insurance by us.

Me: You dont understand...I DID have a drivers license...You guys cancelled my insurance, then my drivers license got suspanded.

Progressivre: According to our records... your drivers license has been suspended.

ME: I know.. it was suspended because of you...ask DMV..I had a license!

<<<We make a conferance call to DMV>>>

DMV: How can I help you

Me: My drivers license has been suspended because I dont have insurance. My insurance was cancelled because supposedly I didnt have a drivers license.
My license should have been valid when my insurance was cancelled. My insurance should have never been cancelled and , therefore, my drivers license should never have been suspended. Can you check the date my insurance was cancelled and see if my license was valid.

DMV: (checks date) Yes, your licesnse was valid on that date. It was suspended a week later than that, because you didn't have insurance.

ME: Hey Progressive, see you canceled my insurance for no reason. My license was valid and suspended only AFTER you cancelled my coverage.

Progressive: SO his drivers license was valid on that date that we cancelled his insurance?

DMV: YES

ME: Well, can I have my insurance and license back ?

Progressive: I'l re-instate his policy if you re-instate his license

DMV: We can re-instate his license once you re-instate his policy

ME: How bout you guys do it at the same time ?

Progressive: Ok, I re-instated his policy

DMV: Ok, his license is re-instated.

ME: Ok, i now have a valid license and insurance?

Them..YES

ME Thanks . [[[[thinking: Man, why was this so hard?]]]]
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
0
0
deftron-

Wow, I think you got off easy on that one.... That sort of a Catch-22 should have taken at least 2 weeks to resolve.

Ryan
 

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
Insurance company are just plain evil. They are in the business of NOT distributing money. One time my homeowner's insurer simply closed up shop. My mortgage company became aware of the situation and generously instated a American Eagle (or some other gallant sounding named) Insurance policy. Only the premiums were like 5 times more than the original

Only no one ever told me anything, so I didn't find out until my gawd damned house payments shot up by like $75 a month to cover the shortfall in the excrow account. I was all, WTF? I got it straightened out, but not before paying like 9 months worth of outrageous insurance premiums.
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
3
0
haha that last one is funny. Wouldnt expect a problem involving the DMW like that to be resolved so quickly. :)
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
10,868
1
0


<< deftron-

Wow, I think you got off easy on that one.... That sort of a Catch-22 should have taken at least 2 weeks to resolve.

Ryan
>>




Well... that was just a very brief summary..

It really took about 4 calls to Progressive over a weeks time. They kept sayin they never received word back from DMV.



The conference call came as a last resort...and that lasted about half an hour.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,090
457
136
As much as I loathe BofA I'd trust them before ever trusting Staples. Unfortunately it usually takes 2-3 business days for charges to hard post, after the charges in question have hard posted it's easier to reconcile your bank account against your Staples order.
 

bonk102

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
5,473
2
0
wow, staples messing up with billing, never , i can't, i wont believe it, haah, that was funny though, wish i was there to hear it
 

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76


<< As much as I loathe BofA I'd trust them before ever trusting Staples. >>



What is wrong with BoA???
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,090
457
136


<<

<< As much as I loathe BofA I'd trust them before ever trusting Staples. >>



What is wrong with BoA???
>>



What's wrong with Dell?

:D
 

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76


<< What's wrong with Dell? >>



They stole my video card and gave me trouble when trying to return the laptop. And don't tell me BoA stole your video card. :D
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,090
457
136


<<

<< What's wrong with Dell? >>



They stole my video card and gave me trouble when trying to return the laptop. And don't tell me BoA stole your video card. :D
>>



They charged me fees when they shouln't have and well they just suck because I said so.

Anyone have accounts with Washington Mutual? I wonder how they are.