Fill out this form to email this article to a friend

Your name		Your email
Recipient email	You may enter up to 20 multiple email addresses, separated by commas.
Your message
Validation Code	Hear validation code
	Enter validation code

We were unable to send your email.

Click here to try again.

Got a beef with your bank? Get in line

By Tom Zucco, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Story Tools E-mail this story Contact the editor Print this story Comment on this story Social Bookmarking Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Del.icio.us Newsvine

ADVERTISEMENT Loading Video...

As if banks aren't taking enough heat from multibillion-dollar losses in soured mortgage investments, a report this week by the Charlotte Observer showed that complaints filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates national banks, rose 40 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period a year ago.

The report also showed that complaints against Wachovia Corp., the largest bank in Florida, more than doubled, while complaints against another major Florida player, Bank of America, rose just 7 percent. However, the larger Bank of America accounted for 22 percent of all complaints, while Wachovia accounted for just 6 percent of all complaints.

OCC spokesman Kevin Mukri would neither confirm nor deny the figures Tuesday. He said OCC, which is part of the U.S. Treasury Department, gets about 75,000 calls a year, and that the number has been relatively consistent year to year.

Most of the complaints this year were about credit cards, mortgage and consumer loans, and checking accounts.

"What these figures represent are the people who took the time to call us to complain about a situation with their bank or had questions about their banking information," Mukri said.

Consumers with complaints or questions should first contact their bank. The OCC offers a toll-free customer assistance number (1-800-613-6743) and a Web site (www.helpwithmybank.gov) that helps people file complaints.