topic Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users in Credit Cards

Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:35:36 GMT

I had two credit card accounts with BoA. One I've had about 3-4 years and the other about 2 years. On 4/4 I added 3 authorized users to one of my credit cards. On 4/7 I recieved a called from BoA fraud department asking me to verify that I had added the users. I gave them every piece of information that they asked for and the representative said that he would clear my account, and I could go back to using the account as normal.

On 4/22 I recieved two letters in the mail both stating that BoA had decided to close both of my credit card accounts due to:

"irregular authorized user activity on one or more of your accounts"

I immediately called and was told by 4 different reps (including a supervisor) that they had closed my accounts on 4/15. I was told that there is nothing that can be done, even though their given reason for closing one of my accounts was inaccurate( I had not added a single authorized user to this card). The representatives simple stated "we can close accounts when we like and list any reason we choose even if it is not valid". I even informed them that these were family members and that I had their ID and SSC documents that I could send in if need be so they would see that these are accurate authorized users, they declined.I informed the representative, that this mistreatment sounds ilegal and compliant with the FRCA laws. The representative told me that I had a great history with them (no late payments, low balances, etc.) & that I was welcomed to apply for another card but the cards closed would remain that way.

But why would I if this is how they treat customers after they have been great customers to them???

Has anyone else experienced this? If so was there anything that you were able to do or any agency that I can report this to? Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Bank of America closes bank account after adding authorized users

kdm31091 — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:51:27 GMT

Activities like adding an AU often trigger an account review and it just so happens they decided to close your account. While that is the reason they gave, it doesn't mean it's the only reason. It just happens that adding an AU triggered a review of your accounts and BoA saw something they did not like.

Unfortunately, there tends to be not much you can do. Creditors are indeed free to close accounts at any time for any (or no) reason. I'm not aware of BoA honoring requests to have these decisions reconsidered.

Re: Bank of America closes bank account after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:55:42 GMT

Thank you!

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

GApeachy — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:59:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

"irregular authorized user activity on one or more of your accounts"

So did you see or ask what the "irregular" activity by one of your AU's was?

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:00:58 GMT

Its unfortunate that BofA closed your accounts but I'm curious as to the reason why you'd add four AUs to an account.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

NRB525 — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:07:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Its unfortunate that BofA closed your accounts but I'm curious as to the reason why you'd add four AUs to an account.

Are we sure it was 4 AU added? I see a lot of 4's in the original post, but none aligned with an AU count.

Having said that, adding multiple AU in one go seems to me a bit risky. I don't have any AU, and before I did so with any bank, I'd add one individual to see how it is done, how it goes.

Thanks for the info OP, sorry this happened to you.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:08:02 GMT

Sorry for your closures.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:14:00 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Its unfortunate that BofA closed your accounts but I'm curious as to the reason why you'd add four AUs to an account.
Are we sure it was 4 AU added? I see a lot of 4's in the original post, but none aligned with an AU count.

Having said that, adding multiple AU in one go seems to me a bit risky. I don't have any AU, and before I did so with any bank, I'd add one individual to see how it is done, how it goes.

Thanks for the info OP, sorry this happened to you.

My bad; I misread the original post and thought it said 4 AUs. But I'm still wondering how many is "some" and the reason they were added, especially if the AUs are adults. Banks are in business to make money and they don't just close accounts randomly so its possible there's more to what was originally stated.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:34:20 GMT

Yes,

All they would say is that is all they can tell me. One rep did ask why I added people. I told her because it is allowed by BoA and if they did not want the customers adding auth users they should take the feature off the website.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:37:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes,
All they would say is that is all they can tell me. One rep did ask why I added people. I told her because it is allowed by BoA and if they did not want the customers adding auth users they should take the feature off the website.

IMO it's a little pointless to argue. They aren't necessarily against authorized users in general (it usually adds spend which they want). If the reason is real, they didn't want YOU adding THOSE users NOW, which of course you had know way of knowing....

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:42:34 GMT

Thank you,

It's no big deal, as I do have more accounts with other great lenders. I just hate to see my credit age take a potential hit.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

GApeachy — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:44:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
One rep did ask why I added people.

There ya go! My mil had a very hard time, a full 36hrs of calls, missed calls, and more calls to explain why she wanted her first born, her Executor of Estate, having AU privileges to their 26+ year old credit card with BoA. BoA is very strict. You adding "some people" ( on this post- not clarifying whether these are relatives and/or household peeps so guessing here) could have very well been that Thorn that set off the red flag(s).

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:46:40 GMT

Your credit age will not be affected... a closed account can appear on your credit report for up to 10 years before aging off. All it would show as that the accounts were "closed by grantor."

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Eagered2succeed — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:00:14 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
One rep did ask why I added people.
There ya go! My mil had a very hard time, a full 36hrs of calls, missed calls, and more calls to explain why she wanted her first born, her Executor of Estate, having AU privileges to their 26+ year old credit card with BoA. BoA is very strict. You adding "some people" ( on this post- not clarifying whether these are relatives and/or household peeps so guessing here) could have very well been that Thorn that set off the red flag(s).

The OP did state that they were relatives. It's unfortunate nevertheless. If the OP would've added them one by one then there probably wouldn't be a case for concern. Again not blaming the OP as they had no way of knowing this would happen. With climate where in FI's are getting skiddish with anything you do out of the norm that you're use to doing.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

AverageJoesCredit — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:14:09 GMT

The AU should hang out with the CA, both offered by banks but frowned upon their usage. Dont offer features if you dont wont people to use them.

Cue the rebuttal in 3,2,1......

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

GApeachy — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:21:39 GMT

@Eagered2succeed wrote:
@GApeachy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
One rep did ask why I added people.
There ya go! My mil had a very hard time, a full 36hrs of calls, missed calls, and more calls to explain why she wanted her first born, her Executor of Estate, having AU privileges to their 26+ year old credit card with BoA. BoA is very strict. You adding "some people" ( on this post- not clarifying whether these are relatives and/or household peeps so guessing here) could have very well been that Thorn that set off the red flag(s).
The OP did state that they were relatives.

Yeah, I see that...but whether they are or not also sharing the same address "household peeps" idk. BoA gave us a very hard time with the address part. They wouldn't send the card to our address and it was reported to all 3 bureaus that Dh's address had changed to his mother and fathers address. He now has a personal stmt on his reports because of this. It took us 3 months to get the bureaus to correct that cr@p courtesy of BoA and finally removed their address altogether. A total pita.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

imaximous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:24:44 GMT

Sorry about your accounts getting closed, OP.
I'm not sure that just by adding AUs, they'd close your accounts, but I suppose anything is possible given your situation.

I can tell you that I have 6 AUs on my BofA PR card and about to add one more. No issues so far *knock on wood*

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

kerplunk — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:31:41 GMT

As with any story that doesn't add up, I am sure there is some vital information missing here, but nevertheless, it's never fun to have an account unexpectedly closed.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 21:23:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I had two credit card accounts with BoA. One I've had about 3-4 years and the other about 2 years. On 4/4 I added some authorized users to one of my credit cards. On 4/7 I recieved a called from BoA fraud department asking me to verify that I had added the users. I gave them every piece of information that they asked for and the representative said that he would clear my account, and I could go back to using the account as normal.

On 4/22 I recieved two letters in the mail both stating that BoA had decided to close both of my credit card accounts due to:
"irregular authorized user activity on one or more of your accounts"
I immediately called and was told by 4 different reps (including a supervisor) that they had closed my accounts on 4/15. I was told that there is nothing that can be done, even though their given reason for closing one of my accounts was inaccurate( I had not added a single authorized user to this card). The representatives simple stated "we can close accounts when we like and list any reason we choose even if it is not valid". I even informed them that these were family members and that I had their ID and SSC documents that I could send in if need be so they would see that these are accurate authorized users, they declined.I informed the representative, that this mistreatment sounds ilegal and compliant with the FRCA laws. The representative told me that I had a great history with them (no late payments, low balances, etc.) & that I was welcomed to apply for another card but the cards closed would remain that way.

But why would I if this is how they treat customers after they have been great customers to them???

Has anyone else experienced this? If so was there anything that you were able to do or any agency that I can report this to? Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Wow they did similar to me and mentioned authorized user and irregular behavior or something like that.

I first thought that maybe they wanted to give me the boot for not being profitable but sounds like authorized user triggered something.

With mine I had one card with zero balance and added the wife as an authorized user.

Re: Bank of America closed my credit card accounts after adding authorized users

Eagered2succeed — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 21:37:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I had two credit card accounts with BoA. One I've had about 3-4 years and the other about 2 years. On 4/4 I added some authorized users to one of my credit cards. On 4/7 I recieved a called from BoA fraud department asking me to verify that I had added the users. I gave them every piece of information that they asked for and the representative said that he would clear my account, and I could go back to using the account as normal.

On 4/22 I recieved two letters in the mail both stating that BoA had decided to close both of my credit card accounts due to:
"irregular authorized user activity on one or more of your accounts"
I immediately called and was told by 4 different reps (including a supervisor) that they had closed my accounts on 4/15. I was told that there is nothing that can be done, even though their given reason for closing one of my accounts was inaccurate( I had not added a single authorized user to this card). The representatives simple stated "we can close accounts when we like and list any reason we choose even if it is not valid". I even informed them that these were family members and that I had their ID and SSC documents that I could send in if need be so they would see that these are accurate authorized users, they declined.I informed the representative, that this mistreatment sounds ilegal and compliant with the FRCA laws. The representative told me that I had a great history with them (no late payments, low balances, etc.) & that I was welcomed to apply for another card but the cards closed would remain that way.

But why would I if this is how they treat customers after they have been great customers to them???

Has anyone else experienced this? If so was there anything that you were able to do or any agency that I can report this to? Any responses would be greatly appreciated!
Wow they did similar to me and mentioned authorized user and irregular behavior or something like that.

I first thought that maybe they wanted to give me the boot for not being profitable but sounds like authorized user triggered something.

With mine I had one card with zero balance and added the wife as an authorized user.

It's kind of crazy how different each creditor treats customers. Amex will gladly and often encourages mutliple users(even one's underage). I'm constantly getting spammed about adding au's even though I already have 3 on multiple cards lol.