
Dear Bank of America:
I have been a long-time customer of yours and have been extremely loyal. Honestly though, I’m not sure why. You’ve actually never given me any good reason. In fact, you’ve given me nothing but reasons to leave you and switch banks. What’s my most recent cause for concern? Your waste.
As I mentioned above, I’ve been a Bank of America customer for a long time…more than 10 years, in fact. I recently referred a friend who had just moved to New York to open a Bank of America account and we would both get a little bonus. Sounds great, right? (As a side note, we’re not talking about a great deal of money. We’re literally talking about a $25 bonus for me and a $35 bonus for her.) Anyway, my issue is not with the minuscule amount of money being offered, it’s still a nice gesture. My issue is with how the actual process is carried out.
Imagine how one would think this would work. Ask yourself, have I ever gotten a referral bonus from other banks and how did they do it? You see, I have. I’ve received bonus from both Chase and ING Direct. The methods they use are similar and actually make sense. Those companies actually just simply deposit your bonus into your account electronically. The funds simply appear one day and they send you an email to let you know. Makes pretty good sense, right? I mean…you’re my bank. You have my account number. It’s easy enough to do an electronic transfer of funds.
Apparently, that’s too complicated for you though, Bank of America. Apparently, you’re not familiar with an electronic transfer. Apparently, you think that a better way is to mail me a paper check with a letter. And, for me to then have to go to a banking center and deposit said check. Now, I’m going to be honest, I just don’t get it.
Is it really that hard to electronically deposit funds from your bank account to mine, Bank of America corporation? I mean, you certainly are able to do that with millions of transactions on a daily basis. I just logged online and transferred funds from my checking to my savings. Oh, look…back to my checking. I can even transfer funds to other Bank of America customers! In fact, my friend just transferred me some money.
So, it’s not like your unfamiliar with the concept. And, you can’t possibly think that it’s easier to mail a paper check. Who would it be easier for? It’s not easier for me…I now have to go to the bank! It’s certainly not more cost-effective. With an electronic transfer, you have fairly minimal costs. Here, you had to pay for the check being printed, the envelope, the postage and not to mention all the back-end expenses of tracking it. It’s certainly not more friendly for the environment…in fact, if you’re doing this for all of your customers, how many trees do you think you’ve wasted on this initiative?
Honestly, Bank of America, are you that stupid? I know people talk about big dumb corporations but this may take the proverbial cake. I mean, is this what you’re wasting the bailout money on?
And, if you’re this incompetent with something nice you’re trying to do for customers, I can only imagine how ridiculously incompetent your organization must be on the important stuff. Do you still send each other snail mail and faxes? I don’t know if this will do the trick and make me switch banks (why I take your abuse, I don’t know) but HOLY MOLY…you have got to be kidding me.
A paper check? Really, Bank of America? Really?!! Maybe it’s time you thought about upgrading the process…I mean, it is 2009.
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