UPDATE Nov 2:  After reaching out to many folks, I found one who knew how to escalate my situation... I’m working with an Associate in Phoenix who is making sure I am able to make updates in OLB.

My life just got even shittier.

Two weeks ago I attempted to set up a new transfer recipient (myself) in Poland. I was not allowed to set up the new recipient because the practice of entering your card number (Debit or Credit)  as identify check has been removed. Now SafePass is FORCED on the customer.

So I tried to add my Polish phone number. As if.  No International Numbers are allowed. No Bank of America customer can use an International Phone Number.

I spent a lot of time SPEAKING with (un)helpful associates only to be told there is NO OPTION OTHER THAN A SAFEPASS SMS to a US PHONE NUMBER.. 

SO, after much crying, enraged tweeting, and gnashing of teeth, I used an EXISTING transfer recipient (MYSELF in Italy).  So basically I had to go Bank of America > $fee > Italy > $fee > Poland.  But it got the job done.

So today, I wanted extend the Travel Notification on my card. But nooo… SafePass is required for this as well.

SO, I said, ok fine, fuck you very much, I’ll just send  more money to myself via Italy.

But NOOOOOOOOOOO, now SafePass is required to send money to myself in Italy as well. My existing transfer recipient which I only used 2 weeks ago without SafePass.

So here I am in Eastern Europe, needing a real winter coat and snow boots,  with no way to send my own fucking money to myself WITHOUT A US PHONE NUMBER.  (And let’s do a reality check — If I were to ask a friend to send me money, that friend would be placed on an AML watch list. So, there’s that.)

I spent a lot of time on the phone with those (un)helpful associates, but I also spent a lot of time working at Bank of America. I am SURE that the practicing of FORCING SAFEPASS on older customers is not working out. Has there been anything in the new?

Is it EVEN LEGAL to allow a customer ONLY ONE WAY, ONLY A US PHONE NUMBER to validate identity?  Does anyone know an attorney I can contact to ask?