John McDevitt, Afghanistan War Veteran, Says He'll Struggle To Pay For Daughter's Wedding Thanks To Bank Of America

One Afghanistan War veteran is claiming that he might have trouble paying for his daughter's wedding thanks to Bank of America -- and he's not taking it sitting down.

John McDevitt, an Army reservist who served for one year in Afghanistan is staging a protest outside of a local BofA branch in Utica, New York after he claims the bank refused to reimburse him for supposedly fraudulent charges he incurred while on two weeks leave in Athens, Greece, WKTV, a local NBC affiliate reports.

McDevitt says he was charged more than $25,000 by an Athens nightclub even though he claims he only bought a few drinks there, but BofA's investigation has conluded that he'll have to take the charges up with the Greek merchant if he hopes to recoup the lost funds, according to WKTV. The loss is that much more painful since McDevitt says he planned to use that money for his daughter's wedding.

McDevitt is just one of many veterans operating on a tight budget. More than one-third of military families struggle to pay monthly bills, while 27 percent face credit card debts over $10,000, according to a 2010 military survey. In addition, the unemployment rate for veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq averaged 12.1 percent in 2011 compared to 8.7 percent for the overall population.

McDevitt's story isn't just one of the financial woes facing military families, it also adds to a barrage of recent reports from consumers claiming they've been wronged by BofA. In at least one case, BofA allegedly hounded a consumer to pay off a debt she'd already settled, American Banker reports.

And in another example, a man who had already filed for bankruptcy protection was called by the bank 38 times, ultimately resulting in him being awarded $12,500 in emotional distress damages.

But how much longer the nation's second largest bank will wield so much power remains to be seen. A recent report from bank analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods contends that big banks once deemed too big to fail may soon be broken up by regulators. Currently, BofA has over $2 trillion in assets.

But it's not always fraud reimbursement that's getting big banks in trouble. Just look at these foreclosure fails:

Loading Slideshow

• Columbine Shooting Survivor Fighting Foreclosure With Occupy LA's Help

  Richard Castaldo survived the shooting at Columbine High School 13 years ago and now he is fighting to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/richard-castaldo-columbine-foreclosure-occupy-la_n_2198146.html?utm_hp_ref=business" target="_hplink">rescue his home from foreclosure</a>. The people of Occupy Los Angeles are helping Castaldo and others like him to save their homes.

• USDA Forecloses On 78-Year-Old Cancer Patient

  The USDA foreclosed on 78-year-old Texas resident Alicia Ramirez, reportedly <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/alicia-ramirez-cancer-eviction_n_1747933.html?utm_hp_ref=business" target="_hplink">after she was diagnosed with cancer.</a> While the USDA has thus far allowed Ramirez to remain in her home, a court order evicting the senior citizen could be issued at any time.

• Foreclosure Victims Lose Belongings After Free Yard Sale Goes Wrong

  The Vercher family of Woodstock, Georgia, offered to give away a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/vercher-family-woodstock-craigslist-foreclosed_n_2017738.html?1351188857" target="_hplink">number of household items in a Craigslist ad</a> after their house was foreclosed on. Instead, they ended up losing nearly all of their belongings when people began taking items from inside the house.

• Wells Fargo Offers Cancer Patient 'Assistance' Then Forecloses

  Terminal breast cancer patient Cindi Davis could no longer keep up with her mortgage payments due to the cost of her medical bills. Faced with media scrutiny, her lender <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/wells-fargo-forecloses-cancer-patient-cindi-davis_n_1883956.html?1347635836" target="_hplink">Wells Fargo told a local radio station it was seeking "assistance"</a> for Davis just weeks before setting the date to auction her home for December 19th, 2012.

• Coca-Cola Heirs Lose $37.5 Million To Foreclosure

  Descendants of Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler have been hit hard by the housing bust with their <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/candler-family-foreclosure-losses_n_1890911.html?1347906436" target="_hplink">real estate development company losing $37.5 million to foreclosure since the Great Recession began</a>. (Pictured: the former mansion of Coca-Cola heir Asa Griggs "Buddy" Candler, Jr.)

• Mom Evicted On Mother's Day

  After she and her husband were allegedly duped into a bad loan, California mom Sheri Prizant faced the possibility of being evicted from her home on Mother's Day, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/sheri-prizant-eviction-mothers-day_n_1507681.html?1336741860" target="_hplink">MSNBC</a> reports.

• CT Family Never Missed A Payment

  Shock Baitch and his wife Lisa of Connecticut <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/bank-of-america-foreclosure_n_802861.html" target="_hplink">were threatened with foreclosure by Bank of America</a> after never missing a payment. BofA mistakenly told credit agencies they were seeking a loan modification. "Now I am literally and financially paying for it," Baitch told <a href="http://ctwatchdog.com/finance/bank-of-americas-christmas-present-foreclose-even-though-not-a-payment-missed" target="_hplink">CTWatchdog.com</a>.

• Man Gets Free Home After Lender Shutdown

  Facing foreclosure, Perry Laspina of Jacksonville, Florida ended up with a home practically for free after his mortgage lender was shut down by parent company Wells Fargo, <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/04/14/foreclosure-foul-up-wins-man-a-free-home/" target="_hplink">AOL Real Estate reports</a>. Laspina got the home "because of the significant decreased value of the property," a bank spokesman said.

• BofA Forecloses On Building With Own Branch Office

  In Boynton Beach, Florida, Bank of America filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the owner of a building that houses one of its own branches, <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/05/27/foreclosure-roundup.html?page=all" target="_hplink">South Florida Business Journal reports</a>.

• Threatened Over $0.00 Unpaid Mortgage Payment

  A Massachusetts man was told he'd <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/08/massachusetts-homeowner-receives-foreclosure_n_872518.html" target="_hplink">face foreclosure unless he paid an outstanding mortgage payment worth $0.00</a>. "I'm going to write a check to them for zero dollars and have it clear? I couldn't help but laugh," he joked with local <a href="http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/i_team/I-Team:Man-gets-a-$0-foreclosure-notice" target="_hplink">News 22 WWLP</a>.

• Home Allegedly Ransacked By Mortgage Company

  Chris Boudreau of Brooksville, Florida <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/florida-home-ransacked_n_890656.html" target="_hplink">told local news that his house was ransacked by his mortgage company</a>, 21st Mortgage Corporation, who he says even shredded his wife's wedding dress. "When she saw what happened...she was crying her eyes out," <a href="http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/199268/8/Mans-home-trashed-by-mortgage-company" target="_hplink">he told WTSP 10 News</a>.

• Mortgage Payment Made Too Early

  A senior couple in Pasco County, Florida faced foreclosure not for missing payments, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/22/senior-florida-couple-faces-foreclosure-mortgage-early_n_933147.html" target="_hplink">but for making one too early</a>. According to a Bank of America representative, they made themselves ineligible for a mortgage modification under the Home Affordable Modification Program when they did not make their payment in the "month in which it [was] due."

• Foreclosure In 'World's Richest Apartment Building'

  Property developer Kent Swig and his soon-to-be ex-wife Elizabeth faced foreclosure from their apartment at 740 Park Avenue, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/26/foreclosure-hits-property-developer-billionaire-building_n_937676.html" target="_hplink">a New York City address often cited as "the world's richest apartment building."</a>

• Untransferred Title Leads To Unfair Foreclosure

  Brian and Khanklink Pyron of Houston, Texas were <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/brian-khanklink-pyron-foreclosure_n_1003339.html" target="_hplink">threatened with foreclosure despite keeping current on their payments due to an untransferred title</a>. "We did everything we were supposed to do," Brian Pyron told <a href="http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110926-family-hit-by-surprise-foreclosure?CMP=201110_emailshare" target="_hplink">MyFoxHouston</a>.

• Foreclosure On Hurricane-Destroyed Home

  Brad Gana, of Seabrook, Texas was threatened with foreclosure by Bank of America even though his <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/foreclosure-crisis-bank-of-america-hurricane-ike_n_1068080.html" target="_hplink">house had been completely destroyed years earlier in Hurricane Ike</a>. "Bank of America is ruthless in their incompetency," <a href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/Bank-Forecloses-On-Home-Destroyed-By-Ike/-/1735978/4718190/-/vpooliz/-/index.html" target="_hplink">he told Houston 2 News</a>.

• $1 Coding Error Leads To Foreclosure

  Utah's Shantell Curtis and her family were threatened with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/bofa-foreclosure-missing-1-already-sold-home_n_1074538.html" target="_hplink">foreclosure by Bank of America on a home they had already sold years prior</a>. On top of that, the whole episode concerned the matter of just a $1 coding error.

• Investigative Journalist Becomes Foreclosure Victim

  George Knapp, chief investigative reporter for Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS, found he was a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/foreclosure-crisis-investigative-reporter-george-knapp-victims_n_1119480.html?ref=business" target="_hplink">victim of the very brand of foreclosure fraud he was investigating</a> for a news report. Him being the reporter, the episode put him in a "very weird spot," <a href="http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/als-morning-meeting/153585/local-tv-station-tackles-mortgage-mess-as-investigative-reporter-discovers-hes-a-victim-too/" target="_hplink">he told the Poynter Insitute</a>.

• BofA Falsely Threatens Paralyzed Man With Foreclosure

  Robert Galanida, a 41-year-old man paralyzed from the shoulders down, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/bank-of-america-sends-false-statements-paralyzed-eviction_n_1202463.html" target="_hplink">battled Bank of America for nearly a decade</a> because it repeatedly sent him false statements threatening foreclosure.

• Tracy Morgan Refuses Mother Foreclosure Help

  In January 2012, actor Tracy Morgan reportedly refused to give his mother <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/tracy-morgan-foreclosure-mother_n_1244641.html" target="_hplink">$25,000 she needed to avoid foreclosure</a>, instead offering only $2,000.

• Bank Of America Plaza Foreclosure

  The Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta was sold at a foreclosure auction in February after its landlord, BentleyForbes, could no longer afford mortgage payments, <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-14/american-foreclosure-bottoms-at-atlanta-tower-auction-mortgages.html" target="_hplink">BusinessWeek reports</a>. BofA <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/bank-of-america-plaza-foreclosure_n_1197040.html" target="_hplink">was a tenant in the building at the time</a> but had no other connection besides sharing the tower's ironic name.

• JPMorgan Tries To Foreclose On Civil Rights Activist

  Even while it promoted a February 2012 campaign to "fulfill" the "vision" of Martin Luther King Jr., <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/07/helen-bailey-foreclosure_n_1260078.html?ref=foreclosure-crisis" target="_hplink">JPMorgan Chase threatened 78-year-old civil rights activist Helen Bailey with foreclosure</a>. The bank ultimately allowed Bailey to stay in her home indefinitely after Occupy Nashville helped bring national attention to the issue, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/14/425255/helen-bailey-foreclosure/" target="_hplink">Think Progress</a> reports.

• Foreclosure At Luxury Retirement Home

  Despite being billed as "cosmopolitan living for ages 60+," the luxury <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/02/fox-hill-foreclosure_n_1314970.html" target="_hplink">Fox Hill Senior Condominiums was threatened with foreclosure</a> in March after its lenders said they were backing out.

• Man Fined For Not Mowing His Old Lawn

  David Englett was charged with fines by the city of Arlington, Texas for not mowing the lawn of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/02/david-englett_n_1317276.html" target="_hplink">a house he had already lost to foreclosure years earlier</a>.

• 101-Year-Old Woman Evicted From Home

  Texana Hollis was evicted from her home due to foreclosure in September 2011, then <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/texana-hollis-evicted-detroit-woman_n_1222452.html?ref=foreclosure-crisis" target="_hplink">denied a subsequent promise that she could move back in</a> by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It wasn't until April 2012 that <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57409700/texana-hollis-evicted-at-101-allowed-back-home/" target="_hplink">she was finally granted permission to return to the home</a> she's lived in for 60 years.

• BofA Forecloses On Woman After Telling Her To Miss Payments

  According to Pamela Flores, an Atlanta homeowner, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/bank-america-foreclosure-miss-mortgage-payment_n_1414988.html" target="_hplink">Bank of America advised her to stop making payments</a> on her loan in order to negotiate a modification. After doing so, the bank foreclosed on her anyway, claiming she'd missed a trial payment

• Mother, Disabled Daughter Forced Out Of Home Even After BofA Modification

  Dirma Rodriguez and her disabled daughter<a href="https://editorial.huffingtonpost.com/entry/?blog_id=2&entry_id=1423883" target="_hplink"> were forced to flee their home in minutes</a> after Bank of America sold it to a flipper at a foreclosure auction, even though the bank had already modified her loan. But not all hope is lost; Rodriguez may get her home back after the Occupy Fights Foreclosure movement intervened.

Comments

[suebeedue]

09:33 PM on 04/11/2012

Bank of America is the epitome of stupidity, absolutely one of the worst banks in existence. What I went through in regards to my mortgage, (which was not my original bank-- they bought countrywide mortgages) was ridiculous. You call customer service and from that point onward the nightmare begins and never ends! Do not deal with Bank of America unless you like pain and misery!!.

[tmzrules]

10:25 AM on 04/07/2012

He should have paid cash

[Sheldon archer]

06:19 AM on 04/07/2012

Should move her to Indonesia. I did, from the UK in 2003. My wedding here cost me $700 which included the ceremony, food for 75 people, photography, traditional costume rental, wife's make up and wedding certificate plus paperwork.Would have cost me 20 grand in the UK.

[spinotter11]

03:27 PM on 04/20/2012

Yes, but how much did it cost to transport 75 people to and from Indonesia?

[Paul Sta]

12:39 PM on 04/05/2012

Govt is incapable of controlling banks behavior, its up to the citizens. MOVE YOUR MONEY!

[Kana Wenona]

08:08 AM on 04/05/2012

To think this all started with a very small Occupy Group from Utica New York trying to get the news out. Amazing how quickly this has spread.

[KPGUNN]

03:00 AM on 04/05/2012

I think he is using the fact that he can't pay for his wive's wedding to highlight the fact that BofA is not investigating obvious fraud. As a service member, you have an incredible amount of things to worry about that the average civilian will never have to. One of those things is fraud, and how easy of a target you are with more money typically saved and the amount of travel you do. Whenever we leave the US they urge us to not use our cards, and if we have to, to at least alert the bank as soon as possible of any fraudulent charges. But you don't always have internet connection and people can't call YOU on the phone, especially in Afghanistan. I know my bank will call or email me and my wife if a charge pops up in another country or even state. Part of what you pay for when using a bank is fraud protection. This sounds like a typical organized crime scam. This happens in the US too, people. BofA should NOT be holding this man responsible for obvious fraudulent charges, veteran or not.

[DScarlino]

03:04 AM on 04/05/2012

He reported the fraud within two weeks. Well within the allotted time to do so.

Props to the local Occupy group for getting this out in the open.

[OccupyUtica]

11:50 PM on 04/04/2012

UPDATE: Bank Of America has AGREED TO RETURN THE MONEY! We will see when it happens, stay tuned to JusticeforJohn.org for updates!

[ivotedabsentee]

07:55 AM on 04/05/2012

That is good news.

[willjo1]

05:14 PM on 04/04/2012

This may be the wrong place to post this, but I think this is an important message that everyone need to know if you care about those who served in the military and was willing to give their lives for the United States of America. It is a little known situation about how long the Veteran Department is taking to process a pension and disability claim. There are those who served honorable and deserves their pension and there are those who have real injuries from serving in the military but can’t receive their compensation benefits in a timely manner. I would love for those in the media to start a conversation about this situation because some of those Veterans who are waiting are not able to go to work do to their injuries; have no other means of an income and have a family to support.

[Sheldon archer]

06:13 AM on 04/07/2012

Yeah I have a friend who has been trying to get his money from the Veteran Department for about 15 years. They are hoping that he dies first I guess.

[willjo1]

11:47 AM on 04/07/2012

It is not within my comprehending of why anyone would have to wait 15 years or any longevity of time to receive what is lawful to him or her to obtain from the VA.

[Rissa64]

05:17 PM on 04/11/2012

The VA denies veterans their hard earned benefits more often than not. The veteran or a family member appeals and then is denied again. If you can't afford a lawyer, then you suck it up and drive on. If you have no family, to help you through then you're FUBAR'd.

[willjo1]

04:41 PM on 04/12/2012

My understanding of why so many Veterans are denied is because over the years there have being this enormous backlog of claims. That within its self is the number one reason for why so many Veterans claims are denied. On the other hand the top managers and politics are always responsible for why there is such a crazy huge back log. The problem with top management is when congress over the years has not provided VBA with enough founds; VBA top managers put together a plan and strategy that provide them with job security and cover.

It is hard to satisfy a claim when there is not enough founds but it is easier to deny a claim when there is not enough founds. To solve the problem with the Veterans claim process the public need to make sure congress is providing VBA with the founds they need and the public need to make sure VBA top managers are doing everything in the best interest of the Veterans and not the other way around. Also, a direct line to the ones who are handling the veteran claims and VBA need to get rid of that dame 1-800-827-1000 number.

[demilieu]

01:57 PM on 04/04/2012

First off, that hat doesn't work....

[cforz]

01:19 PM on 04/04/2012

If the merchant can produce evidence that this guy authorized the charge...then he's not going to have much of a chance...solider or not. In most cases, credit card companies are good at reimbursing the customer for fraudulent charges. I'm speculative of his claim. As an Iraqi vet myself, I'm embarrassed that this guy is exploiting his Veteran's status.

[coffeebeaner]

12:46 PM on 04/04/2012

It's a two drink minimum, and then u have to sign over your mortgage.

[Wayne Caswell]

09:04 AM on 04/04/2012

Was it the Greek merchant committing fraud or BofA? Who's responsibility is it to investigate a disputed charge? If BofA says it's the customer's responsibility, then that's good justification for credit unions and for protests against big banks and Wall Street. BofA = too big to exist.

[DScarlino]

03:06 AM on 04/05/2012

Agreed in full.

[WoolyBumblebee]

08:39 AM on 04/04/2012

Why is HE paying for his daughters wedding?? Is she and her husband-to-be not capable of paying for it themselves? If not, then don't get married. UGH! It's disgusting to ask your parents to pay for your wedding. Getting married means you are supposed to be an adult, so why not act like it and pay for it themselves.

[blndgenie]

12:37 PM on 04/04/2012

In the progressive world, EVERYONE except the 'rich' are 'victims'.

[spinotter11]

03:29 PM on 04/20/2012

Certainly people who can't pay for their own weddings are losers.

[baldguy]

01:08 PM on 04/04/2012

In many circles, it's the father of the bride that pays for the wedding. Get down off your high horse.

[mxfw9999]

02:12 PM on 04/04/2012

Not i my house gave them a 1000 dollars and said spend as you see fit but I would put 500 away for a house.

[WoolyBumblebee]

02:57 PM on 04/04/2012

That is an antiquated way of thinking. Try joining the current decade.

[henery]

08:20 AM on 04/04/2012

I am no fan of BoFA. On the other hand I am tired of hearing stories about how hard it is for our G.I's. This guy went to party, and party he did, now he wants his money back. My question is this, why do they have to mention the guy has served in a war zone, I don't ever see headlines saying----Janitor bilked for $25,000.00. Use the war thing is supposed to help the cause Huh?

[McKMN]

08:46 AM on 04/04/2012

How do you know this wasn't fraud? And if you'll check the other foreclosure fails in the article you'll see civilians too. Anyway, why tell us that you don't want to hear anymore G.I.'s whining? Avoid the middleman and announce at your local VFW.

[henery]

08:58 AM on 04/04/2012

I did that. I have been a member of the VFW since 1976. And all the members in my post think the same way.

[DScarlino]

03:14 AM on 04/05/2012

Also, BoA has decided to give him back the money.

[ivotedabsentee]

10:28 AM on 04/04/2012

Lots of unanswered questions, but the gist of the story is that he bought a few drinks and got billed for more than $25,000.

I suspect he was not aware of the large billing until he got his statement, assuming this was a credit card transaction.

It may be that he was using a debit card, and again perhaps not aware of the amount of the transaction amount until he reviewed his account statement.

On the other hand, he may be an absolute crook, did purchase more than $25K worth of whatever, and he agreed to the charges.

We really don't know the truth, do we?

[henery]

11:15 AM on 04/04/2012

"McDevitt is just one of many veterans operating on a tight budget. More than one-third of military families struggle to pay monthly bills"

I'm just saying it doesn't look like he is struggling all that much, if this was a debit card. And if it was a credit card, he must make a fair amount of money to have that much credit.

[BobRW]

07:15 AM on 04/04/2012

nothing new about that
if you're a U.S. born citizen you don't have a chance
I had checks stolen and forged....bank of america wouldn't even talk to me about them

[bzimmerman]

08:25 PM on 04/04/2012

Bank of America lost a deposit of mine, when I was in the Marines. When I presented the receipt (I went to a teller) the bank manager tried to tell me it was a forgery and there was no teller there with that employee number.
I threatened to take it up with my Commanding officer, and the manager said, " We only handle personal accounts because the FED says we have to."
I closed my account.