Bank of America trademarks "a little knowledge…"

Bank of America has another happy escape ad out:

20071028BankofAmericaFeelSecure

If you use their services, you’re supposed to feel like your flying free in your parents’ arms on the beach.  Right.  I thought that was remarkable enough.  Then I clicked on it, and here’s what popped up:

20071028BankofAmericaBeachFamily

Do you notice how they have trademarked "A little knowledge is a powerful thing."  Why would they need to trademark that?  And then there’s the line "Manage your accounts and help prevent fees."  WHAT?  The best way to do this is to get another bank without a 22-page personal fee schedule.

I’m glad this popped up because I wanted to update you on my Bank of America accounts being closed.  Well, they seemed to have been properly closed, but Bank of America billed me for interest on their error!

My balance had a 0% transfer rate, and when their automatic payment systems failed they admitted that I shouldn’t be charged a late fee.  They removed the fee, but later charged me an "Annual Percentage Rate for this Billing Period" of, are you ready, "174.94%" on their error!  The bill amount?  $1.50.  I love finance, and don’t even want to know how they calculated that one.

I called up, and they actually had an automated system that can remove the interest fee for you.  The only problem is that the voice once again said that since I had been a good customer that they would remove the fee.  It was not my fault.  It was their systems’ error.  Dealing with this company is not a happy day at the beach with your parents launching you forward in their arms.

I wonder if this was in my 22-page personal fee schedule that they sent.  There is no security to be felt in dealing with this corporation.

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Posted on October 28, 2007
Filed Under Advertising, Beaches, Business and Commerce, Internet Advertising | 1 Comment

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One Response to “Bank of America trademarks "a little knowledge…"”

  1. Bank of America: Come back please ~ to the beach : Rapidsea on March 4th, 2010 9:12 pm

    [...] to win us back with more futile beach advertising, not unlike the ones we we talked about here and here.  Now there is this huge one popping up on The New York Times website (click to [...]

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