Friday, February 14, 2014

Bank of America collection calls netting people $40

If you got collection calls on your cell phone from Bank of America in the last few years, you could be in line for $40.

The Charlotte bank agreed to a $32 million settlement in September, resolving several class action lawsuits alleging Bank of America illegally used robocall systems to contact credit card and mortgage customers on their cell phones. A judge approved the deal in December. Bank of Amerca denies it did anything wrong but says it decided to settle to avoid costly litigation.

Attorneys in the Bank of America case are now looking for people to sign up to be part of the settlement. The deadline to file a claim is next month. People will get between $20 and $40, depending on how many file claims.

It's the latest in a wave of legal actions related to Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The law restricts businesses from using automatic dialers to call cell phones unless they have specific permission to do so. Companies from Sallie Mae to Papa John's have all settled claims in the last few years.

Last week, a Davidson man sued Wells Fargo claiming the bank repeatedly called his cell phone in error despite being asked to stop.

Consumer advocates are happy about the rise in litigation, saying the law is meant not just to keep people from losing cell minutes, but also to keep from repeated daily interruptions, the Wall Street Journal reported. Companies, though, say that auto-dialers are the only efficient way to reach people and point out that a lot of people only have cell phones these days.

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7 comments:

Shamash said...

Eventually the big companies will lobby to change that law.

You know they will.

Garth Vader said...

Bank Of America: There's NO law we WON'T break!

Knows said...

DO NOT SETTLE! The fine for breaking this law is $500 per call. They are once again trying to steal your money!

Anonymous said...

B of A seems to continually be in the News, for their unlimited illegal actions. Yet, the Government & it's entities keep allowing B of A to settle suits "piecemeal" instead of taking massive, drastic actions against the company. B of A HAS proven that it disregards all laws & standards of decency, by it's every action. yet, the Government still continues to team up with it, award it with contracts, etc. & refuses to properly punish the company. More proof that Big Corp./Big Finance is truly running & controlling America.

Anonymous said...

Gang up on the banks.....to get some of that rich folk money!


First, the banks had to settle billion dollar lawsuits for NOT LENDING to low wage earners with high risk (i.e. most of whom are minorities). Next, the banks lend to them, and then the market collapses, and then the banks must settle BILLION dollar lawsuits for LENDING money to bad risks (i.e most of whom are minorities), and selling the loans to Fannie and Freddie. NOW, the banks are being sued AGAIN for BILLIONS for discrimination because they will NOT lend money to low wage earners with risk (i.e. most of whom are minorities). Dog chasing tail.

Anonymous said...

Coincidence the other headlines are: BofA cuts mortgage jobs, some in Charlotte and BofA lays off more workers in technology, operations

It has to balance out somehow.....


Anonymous said...

Curious how much the plantiff's attorney's will net in this deal.....Victims receive $20-40 and attorney's will probably reap millions. Seems like attorney's use The Victim's for personal gain.....