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We moved our family (Wife + 4 cats, and my business) to Vegas from Ohio the second week of September.

On September 16, 2008 around 2:00 p.m I went to Bank of America at 3580 S. Jones Blvd, Las Vegas Nevada to cash a check drawn on their account. I was forced to take the check to the issuing bank (BOA) due to the 10 day hold WaMu placed on all checks for new account holders. Our move to Las Vegas used most of the funds in our Cleveland bank and we needed the money for the additional minor expenses incurred during the move.

I presented the check to a Bank of America teller who told me she could cash the check, but I would be charged a $6.00 “Courtesy  Fee”. However, if I opened an account I would not be charged.

I asked to speak to the manager. The manager of the bank told me that since I am not a BOA customer they could cash the check as a courtesy to me as a non-customer, but they would charge $6.00 for this “service”.

Note that this was a BOA check written by a BOA customer.

I told her that I would be happy if she could waive the $6.00 fee, but she refused my request twice. I argued that the bank had an obligation to honor the check AT FACE VALUE with no added fees.

I was not going to pay the $6.00 (on an $80.00 check) and I was not going to open an account with a bank that just tried to force me to become a (reluctant) customer!

… It is not the money, but the principle that BOA is charging fees to non-customers to cash their checks and trying to blackmail you into opening an account that forced me into action! That and the fact that the past few years, I have seen the banks getting worse and worse with their fees/charges…

Instead of paying the $6.00 fee, I went out and started StopBOA.com to alert the public about Bank of America. I then thought that currently all banks are bad, and the only way to make a change is is to bring down the biggest one which is Bank of America.

That is when I decided to make StopBankAbuse a general information site about all major banks and a Protest/Boycott site focused on Bank of America to change their tactics, policies, and fees.

This site will now advise the public about general banking issues including the “Bank Bailout” and how politicians are helping (Or not helping) protect the public from abusive bank practices… We will also be a clearinghouse for information of how Bank of America does business while asking visitors and supporters to find a more consumer friendly bank (Try your Credit Union !) until BOA changes their unfair practices and policies.

We currently have our Bank of America Nationwide Petition online

The Demands of the Petition:

The Public demands an end to Excessive fees, Questionable accounting practices and abusive policies forced on us. These demands apply to ALL banks.

As a signer/supporter of the Bank of America petition, we DEMAND from Bank of America and ALL banks:

1. A FULL accounting of where and how our bailout money is being used.

For customers and the banking public, we demand a change in the way your bank conducts business.

2. Check reconciliation from lowest to highest dollar value to prevent excessive fees should customers make a mistake.

3. Reduced/Sliding NSF Fees - No more $35.00+ Fees for a .60 cent overdraft (example).

4. No unauthorized overdraft loans without customer consent. Clearly marked opt in/opt out. Don’t authorize a charge to my debit card without my consent if the balance can’t cover it.

5. No charges for non-customers to cash YOUR bank checks.

6. Reasonable fees on ATM fees and electronic transfers to cover overdrafts.

7. A stop to any “Hidden Fees” behind fine print

8. Whereas you consistently penalize customers for every small mistake with fees, you give nothing back to the customer when you make mistakes. Even if the customer must pay third parties because of your mistake. This is a practice that MUST STOP.

This boycott of BOA is the only way to start changing the banking industry and the million-dollar lobbyists paid to keep the high fees that banks now charge.

Please show your support by signing the petition, giving us feedback and news we can post and by joining the Bank of America Protest/Boycott !

Please pass along this information and feel free to link to our site wherever you can. This won't work without YOU...

Thank you,

Robert G. Seketa