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Had a serious run in with B of A when doing bookkeeping bank reconciliations for a well known So Cal company.

They were charging 2 times for a check that got damaged in the original go-thru. First time-—got an * next to the check number on the statement, saying the check was damaged in processing, but here is the charge-—check will follow when reconstructed......Month or 2 later-—here comes the damaged check—inside a glassine envelope-—and we are charged AGAIN-—same check number & same amount.

Every month, I would show my Controller the new checks that were double charged. More & more-—(Early days of computers)

WHEN the total exceeded $100,000 (early 70’s), he scheduled a meeting with bank officials & “the programmer genius”.

Went on for well over 2 hours. Rather contentious with them not impressed that I was handling 14 bank account reconciliations & I didn’t have an accounting degree——

2 payroll accounts with weekly checks==6000 a month & Accounts Payable account with also around 6000 checks a month. IN those days-—cancelled checks were sent to customer-—These came in large boxes & shoe boxes. :)

I didn’t have an Accounting degree, but I knew how to do Bank Recs.

Programmer kept saying a check number couldn’t go thru twice-—ONLY ONCE.

So I finally asked him:

IF I write a check & I do not have the funds to cover that check -—(deposits were always posted after checks & overdraft fees)-—The bank WILL bounce the check-—RIGHT??

IF the person I wrote the check to deposits the check a 2nd time & I do have money there, the check will process a 2nd time-—WITH THE SAME CHECK NUMBER-—RIGHT?????

After about 2 minutes of TOTAL silence from 2 bank managers & the programmer, My boss was told the $100,000 +++++ would be back in our account the next morning. The “programmer” wasn’t too delighted with me. MY CONTROLLER always believed in me.

BUT-—The bank manager demanded that I get a permanent write up in my personnel file “FOR BEING SO STUBBORN”.

THAT REALLY PISSED ME OFF-—NEVER have done business with B of A in any manner since.

Went out on my own doing books for small businesses in 1980. IF I interviewed with a potential client & they said they did all their business with B of A-—I DECLINED the client.

Used to get offers of Credit cards from them. Sent them back with NASTY comments....