How Do I Unfreeze My Bank of America Account?
This article talks about what you should do if your Bank of America account has been frozen and you can no longer access the money in it. It describes the two most common reasons for a bank account being frozen: suspicious transactions and a judgment that allows an unpaid creditor to take his or her payments directly from your account. It also talks about the options you have in each case.
If your Bank of America account was frozen, you may be panicking about it. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to resolve the situation, depending on the reason for the freezing. Below, find out what you can do to regain access to your money.
Contact Bank of America
The first step to getting your account unfrozen is to determine why your account was frozen, so you know what steps you need to take. It is almost always one of two reasons: suspected fraudulent activity and a court judgment that allows an unpaid creditor to seize the money you owe from your account. Contact Bank of America and ask a customer service representative about the reason why your account was frozen. You can contact Bank of America by phone, help desk, or chat.
Unfreezing an Account that Was Frozen because of Suspicious Activity
Your credit or debit card being stolen is a possible reason for your account being frozen, but the freezing could also be the result of a mistake by Bank of America. When a card is stolen, the thief usually uses it to make a large number of withdrawals or purchases in a short period, and often uses it in places that you do not usually visit. It is therefore possible that if you used your card a lot more than usual recently, or used it in another city or state, Bank of America thought your card was stolen and froze your account to protect you. Ask the bank which transactions caused the freezing. If you were responsible for the transactions, tell the bank and ask it to unfreeze your account. If your card was stolen, ask your bank what to do next to resolve the situation.
Unfreezing an Account that Was Frozen because of a Creditor Judgment
If your Bank of America account was frozen because of a court judgment, your situation is much more difficult to resolve. There are no easy solutions such as closing the account to get at the funds, because you are no longer in control of it at all.
Your best bet is most likely getting a debt collection defense attorney to vacate the judgment and get your account unfrozen. If the amount of money left in your account is less than the cost of the attorney, though, this would not be a worthwhile approach.
You can also try talking to the creditor who caused your account to be frozen. If you offer a large lump sum, or a good payment arrangement, the creditor might accept your offer and vacate the judgment.
You could file for bankruptcy, because bankruptcy proceedings automatically halt all debt collection actions. Bankruptcy might allow you to regain the funds in your account, eventually. However, this should only be a last resort because bankruptcy has serious repercussions that will affect you for many years. Talk to a financial advisor before going that route.
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