Nickel and dimed

Bank of America will receive $20bn (£13.4bn) in fresh US government aid and $118bn worth of guarantees against bad asset... That was a BBC headline regarding the US government's bailout of Bank of America. Keep this in mind.

This morning I checked my checking balance by phone. There seemed to be a small discrepancy with the balance in my head and the computer generated one. I then went online to the B of A site and discovered the reason for the difference. My monthly maintenance fee for the checking account is now $8.95 instead of $5.95 as it was last month. Three bucks is three bucks but, I'm annoyed nevertheless. Between the checking and savings accounts I pay $15.00 a month. In all fairness I should note that if I transfer $25.00 from checking to savings in any one month that month's checking maintenance fee is waived. I did not do that last month.

My first thought was, what is a monthly maintenance fee? I imagined tiny little navy uniformed dudes with push brooms sweeping the B of A website. I also imagined they were underpaid for their efforts. Before you tell me the obvious, I do know that the way around these fees is to simply put more money into the account and use it more. (Donations accepted, our operators are waiting). Once again, the man is trying to keep me down. Seriously, this is crap. The least amount of money you have the more fees you must pay to keep the accounts. SO, the very little guy pays fees so, the very rich guy does not- No, I'm not new. I do realize that it is simply how capitalism works and trust me I am a great supported of capitalism but, geez give me a break. Fifteen bucks to maintain two accounts that I use about a dozen times a month? I checked with other banks and the system is the same and ever changing. B of A waives all fees if you open an account on line. How's that for a day late and a dollar short?

BTW, a couple months ago when I needed a bailout they charged me $35.00. In the words of Hattie McDaniel, it just T'ain't fittin!