This Jerk From Bank of America Calls My Dying Mom

CancerGenius · Regular Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 14

I'm so mad I can barely write this. I'm actually shaking with fury.

An hour ago, this idiot jerk from Bank of America called me about my dying mom who was late paying $1,028 on her credit card.

I told him kindly that she always paid her bill on time for the past 50 years and was never late. I told him she was dying of 4th stage cancer and could barely talk.

What does this freakin' jerk do? He asks me to put her on the line.

I then witnessed something for the first time in my life that made me so angry I almost wanted to go to the gun store, buy a gun, and kill that idiot dead on the spot.

He began 'assaulting' my mom with the most vile words, saying if she didn't pay her balance (only 30 days late), he would close her account effective today. She had to physically go to a B of A TODAY and make payment.

She said, "I can't, I have cancer."

It was the most pathetic thing I have ever witnessed.

PLEASE tell me why I shouldn't put a bullet into this man's brain?

I'm not going to, but tell me why anyway?

Am I wrong to feel this way?

Help me.

mybabiesbaby · Regular Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 31

I understand your anger towards the man but only because I understand what you are going through in regards to dealing with your mom's illness...You expect everyone to understand and be sympathetic but unfortunately we do not live in that kind of society...there are many good and understanding people but there are just as many who aren't.

It is not wrong to feel angry when people do not use common sense in these kinds of situations but let us evaluate the entire scenario...The guy who called is probably a new employee and is probably young. He is basically a robot for the company and is doing only what they tell him to do. Next time, to save yourself some grief behind dealing with someone who does not have a clue, ask to speak to a supervisor or a manager. Explain the situation to them and ask that their employees stop calling in reference to getting a payment. Tell them that at this time your mom is unable to tend to her personal business due to an illness. Find out if your mom took out the security insurance on her credit cards...Basically what this does is pay on your mom's credit cards if she is unable to pay due to an illness or loss of income. Each card would have it's own insurance policy though. It is a feature that is offered now.

Next time take a few deep breaths and don't kill anyone... Smile

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Mom has HEP C, Cirrhosis and HCC
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Richard Day Gore

I absolutely feel for you and your mom. I went through cancer without insurance, and my recovery was utterly defined by financial impossibility. I even had one collection jerk say, "Well, they're going to want the money before you die." It is terrible but the world does not slow down for us, and we have to struggle to keep up.
You're in my prayers,
Richard Day Gore
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Richard Day Gore

winterswolf · New User Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 7 Location: USA

mybabiesbaby has some good advice. I've had a similar problem with a company that received late payments from me because my insurance doesn't pay for everything so I have a lot more bills to cover, but no more money than before.

At one point I logged 21 nasty calls in one day (the day after a chemo treatment no less, and I was deathly sick) from this jerk who apparently works collection from his home. I got his number from my caller ID and traced him online to his home, then called the number and told him I knew where he lived and if I received one more call from him he would be receiving a home visit from his local police department. He seemed shocked I could trace him and worried that I might follow through on calling the police. I also called the company and reported him. No more calls since this happened back in June.

Don't hesitate to call Bank of America and ask to speak to a supervisor or manager and report this employee.
_________________
Initially diagnosed Stage IIIb cervical cancer 6/06.
First remission: 11/06
Cancer returned: 5/07
Second Remission: 12/07

Cancers faced/fought so far: Endometrial, uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, abdominal lymph nodes, abdomen, liver.

lunula · New User Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

Absolutely call BofA and register a complaint about this insensitive "Customer Care" representative.

On the one hand, I'm sure collections employees have heard every excuse in the book and are trained to ignore sad stories -- that said, the fact that your mother has been faithful on payments for 50 years should've been a clue to this jerk that something was going on.

I'm so sorry that your mother is so ill and I totally understand your anger. People forget that we're all human beings who will struggle with mortality at one point or another and being kind to one another no matter what is paramount.

brainman

I do not know much about the BofA collections process... whether they do their own collections or hire a company to do it for them. This difference is quite significant. If the collections calls are really coming from the BofA, there is not much you can do but call their customer support department to issue a complaint. However, if the collection calls come from "third party collections agencies" there are laws that control what they can and cannot do. The primary regulations are found in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. For example, a collections agency cannot call before 8am or after 9pm (local time of the customer), informing the customer about the purpose of the call, not using abusive language, etc.

Some major banks opt to use the FDCPA in their own collection practices even though they do not have a legal obligation to do so. It is just good customer service. However, I am not sure if BofA is one of those.
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Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
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My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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pitterpatterpat · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

All of the above is very sound advise. The only other thing I would add is: Should you follow through with some of these advises & still getting calls, don't have your mother talk to them.

Darwin · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:07 am Post subject: I agree

Contact the bank and report him. I and my ex husband who has colon cancer where getting abusive emails from one of his sisters saying she hoped I also got cancer,,, nice lady eh! She sent them from her workplace which is a ban in Australia. I contacted them, forwarded some of the emails and laid a complaint. The emails stopped and I had a letter from the bank apologising and saying that she had been counselled. Main thing was it stopped.
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Had 2 years of continuous chemo, folfox then folfirri. On MAX chemo now. Has had radiation to pelvic area and radiosctive SIRT spheres injected directly into the metastic liver tumours.

simplyklb

For future reference, if anyone ever gets calls like that. Simply call the company and ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. There was no sense in that call from the person at BofA. Totally unacceptable.

Kristi

sdreyer · New User Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 2

Also maybe have your mother sign a financial power of attorney to someone she trusts so that her bills can be taken care of.. I am my mom's financial POA and it gives me access to her bank accounts and rights to pay her bills and question her accounts. This also saves her from dealing with people like your "friendly" caller from BOA. I had my mom sign both a financial POA and a Medical POA ....just in case it is ever neeeded.. my mom just got out of the hospital after 2 long hard weeks so I am playing catch up with her bills and bank account.

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