$5 Anti-Debit Card Fee Rant and Giveaway

It is becoming more and more expensive to be poor in this country. It’s getting to the point where I can no longer afford it. Trust me, I do my best to join the top 1%, but it appears that those who have money like to keep their money and they also don’t mind seeing me swindled out of what little money I have. I’m so friggin’ sick of it I can hardly stand it.

Why the rant? I’m sure by now you’ve heard about Bank of America becoming the first bank to announce that they will be charging their customers nationwide a $5 fee for the supposed privilege of using their debit cards to shop. They are not charging everyone across the board for this, nope just the poor suckers that have basic checking accounts. The poor suckers that really can’t afford another fee. The poor suckers like me.

Son of a @#$! I’m so pissed I can hardly stand it. So what’s a Mami to do? I’ll tell you what this Mami is doing. First I sent them this tweet:

But that’s not enough. I will also be closing my checking account with them, Put Pie’s account with them, and I will no longer use the Bank of America credit card I have. I think they’ve profited enough from me at this point.

Still it doesn’t feel like enough. I’m upset and I want to channel my energy into something positive while still letting Bank of America know where I stand. SOooo…here’s what I’m going to do…

Instead of paying Bank of America $5 for using my debit card, I’m going to pay 5 of you $5!

That’s right, I’d rather give you my money than Bank of America my money. You could use the money to buy a coffee, a soda, or pay a ridiculous fee imposed on you by a corporation that feels that new regulations designed to protect small merchants are cutting into their profits so they need to start charging those that can afford it the least to make sure that the profits keep rollin’ on in.

Here’s how it will work. I will pay 5 of you $5 via PayPal (if you don’t have a PayPal account it’s easy to get one). Even if you can’t use the $5, please enter if you agree with me and the ridiculousness of this fee (you can donate the money to charity). Please help me show Bank of America and other banks that will be following their example that we are sick of being gouged.

To enter please follow the instructions in the widget and THANK YOU!

http://diet-coke-rocks.blogspot.com Chris H

WOW that just sucks! I hope you get lots of entries and give BOA a roasting! ONYA!
I am not entering as I am too far away… give my entry to the next person on the comment list!
Jeanie

I totally agree with you and so do lots of others who are also closing their accounts with Bank of America. I hope they get the %#&^* message.
http://www.puttingthefunindysfunctional.com Cyndy DysFUNctional Mom

I love it, girl! Fight the man!!!
Unknown Papi

My favorite post! That’s the lady I married!
Betsy at zen-mama.com

I, too, am just furious at banks. My “free” checking is now charging $9.99. And I switched to this bank because it’s local and not one of the big banks. So I switched to a free business account which has just charges me $2.95 for no reason at all! My husband always say, “If you don’t watch your money, someone else will.” So frustrating! I feel your pain!!
Myrah – Coupon Mamacita

I hate BANK OF AMERICA with passion! I banked with them for 25 LONG years. I had all my business, personal, CD, Money market accounts, line of credit, credit cards, YOU NAME IT and for being 2 days late on my business credit card, they went into my account and took out $900! The next day, I closed EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY ACCOUNTS! Went to a smaller bank, with personal service, been there 4 years!
Janice

I agree with you. Hubby and I already said if we banked with Bank of America we would close our account. Its just another ploy for them to get more money.
http://www.fromtracie.com From Tracie

I heard about this…..and it is absolutely ridiculous!! Even Amscot (which is only a half step away from a payday loan place!) only charges 75cents. If I was with BoA, I would definitely leave!
http://www.halfpastkissintime.com Mrs4444

Sadly, I will never be rid of BoA, as we already owe them our first grandchild. However, I cut up the card a long time ago and try to pay more than the minimum every month. I support you 100%–It’s way too easy to find a bank that doesn’t charge you like that. If I win, I’m donating the money back to you, so keep it!
http://www.classicnycstory.com Classic NYer

Oh, man, I’m so livid at that bull shit! I hope everyone who has a BOA account closes it. In fact, I was thinking of opening a BOA account so that I could close it in protest. Jackasses…

http://www.classicnycstory.com Classic NYer

It just occurred to me that I sound like I’m being satirical, but I’m really f-ing angry about that shit.

Anonymous

I stopped having anything to do with BofA long ago. Chase was the bank that put the screws to me and enlightened me to what we average citizens can expect from big banks. That is why I appreciate the little town bank here. I also stopped using credit cards a few years ago; I do have a debit card. I am so sorry you are feeling the corporate vise. I fear this is only the beginning of the banks that got bailed out to find ways for their greed to stifle the people with the least money.
http://twitter.com/JaiMami Jai Mami’s Time Out

I use BOA as well and I’m not happy about this either. It makes no sense that they’d do this! Merchants are already paying a fee for accepting credit cards and debit cards with a logo. So to me they are double dipping!
La Principessa Errante

Couldn’t agree with you more. The worst is the March on Wall Street all got thrown in jail here in San Francisco!
http://jeanhasbeenshopping.com Jean

Wow, this is an awesome give-away! Thank you for the opportunity to win $5.
shel

I can’t stand BOA…they hold my mortgage and I refuse to let them hold my money. This just confirms what I already know…BOA is greedy and feeding on the backs of the little guys. If I could, I’d move my mortgage. Did you know they refused to participate in the loan modification program the government was sponsoring?
Anonymous

I am going to avoid sharing the words that I said when my husband and I learned that our little military income would be assaulted even further by our bank — BofA which is now Bank of A$$hole$ around our place.
We aren’t able to close the account as we would like but we are going to turn in our check card and join a credit union. When our direct deposit comes in, we are going to pull the money out and put it in the CU.
I feel like screaming “Occupy Bank of America”!

Traci
http://www.ttelroc.blogspot.com Kristin_The_Goat

I heard that this was coming and it’s outrageous! I honestly didn’t believe that it was truly going to happen. We may actually become a cash society again!
Hilary

$5 .. how often? I was always under the impression that Americans don’t tend to use their debit cards quite the same way we Canadians do (for me, it’s like cash.. I use it for all but the smallest of purchases). I imagine that there’s a monthly charge to use it along with other services. I cant say I know the breakdown of my $12 charge each month. I’ll support your cause for sure, but no need to enter me in the giveaway part.
http://cjrthemommyblog.blogspot.com Cinella

it is totally crazy. We have been with bank of America for years… tnx for the $5!
Rachel

I agree with you 100%. I will no longer be using Bank of America for any banking services. They are greedy and I hope they lose a lot of business over this.
linda brooks

I think the fee is ridiculous.
http://tropicofmom.com Holly

Heh! You are so awesome.