Posted by BMO SUCKS
Undoubtedly the most frustrating, uncaring financial institution I've ever dealt with.
I'm on a fixed income and needed to make an online grocery purchase (I have a disability, live in rural Ontario, cannot drive because of my disability, receive cancer treatments 3 times a week in London and rely on online retailers to deliver my basic necessities) I made the purchase and paid using my debit card, completely forgetting that I had been gifted a sizeable gift card that would have covered my $500+ monthly food purchase. I immediately recognized my mistake and cancelled the entire transaction with the intention of rebuying it using my gift card because I only had $515 in my account to last the month - I decided to add a few items and needed an extra $20 that I would use my debit card for. My transaction was declined - BMO had 'held' the money from my first cancelled transaction and it emptied my account. The $500 in my account was to cover those expenses for my kids and transportation for the rest of the month and now I was broke - my money was being held by BMO for a cancelled purchase. I was told the funds would NOT be available for one week. I called the bank and explained my error and asked if they would release my funds - there was no reason to hold my cash for a cancelled transaction. I gave the rep the transaction ID to prove the purchase was cancelled and was told tough crap. I have no other income, no family to borrow money from and now I had no cash whatsoever for the next week to cover my expenses. If a transaction is cancelled, why are you still holding my money hostage? "That's policy" I was told. But I cancelled the purchase - there is no reason to not release my funds. I'm broke and BMO could care less. I feel like I've been robbed and the bank doesn't care - "there's nothing we can do" I was told. BS. The machines run your institution? I made an error and proved the initial transaction was cancelled but uncaring aholes are uncaring aholes. It will be a pleasure to close my account once they return my money. People are not important to BMO and to say there's nothing they can do is just a lie. Thanks for stealing my money. I cannot afford the thrice weekly trip to the cancer clinic and frankly, I hate BMO; they are Uncaring, money grubbing pricks who don't deserve my patronage and have screwed me over a purchase that was cancelled. I'm livid, scared and broke because I didn't buy anything. Is this punishment BMO? You are the most frustrating, uncaring financial institution ever and again, I hate you.