Score One For the Little Guy

I've shared a few fun articles on previous blog posts, mostly of the weird news variety.  This morning, however, I came across a story from last June that, while it sorta fits the mold of weird news, it's much more of a payback story.  And a really awesome payback story at that.

First of all, here's the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/06/06/137002727/sweet-justice-a-florida-couple-forecloses-on-bank-of-america

The news doesn't cover stories like this one nearly as much as they should.  In an age where news only involves urban violence, politics, the economy, or the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's such a refresher to read about two people who beat a bank who was trying to screw them over.  On one hand, it's great that a judge declared the couple legally entitled to seizing any property, cash, and/or valuables at the local branch since Bank of America did not pay their court-ordered fees.  At the same time though, isn't it sad that such a measure was necessary for the bank to finally stand up and close the case? 

It's probably fair to say that Bank of America's actions, even when ordered by the court to pay the couple's legal fees, stuck to the standard business mantra: When it's their money, they want it now.  When it's your money, they'll take as much time as they possibly can to resolve the issue.  Still, I would have loved to see the look on the bank manager's face when the lawyer showed up with the proper legal document authorizing seizure of all bank property and money since Bank of America had defaulted on their payment (I'd also be willing to bet that he had no idea the case was ongoing, too).

What's a little disturbing about the story is something I had come across while reading more details about the case.  Apparently this wasn't the first time Bank of America had done this to a customer who had paid off a house foreclosure from them.  From what I could find, the circumstances around those other cases weren't taken to the extremes that this story went through, but the idea that such a case has happened multiple times to their customers is very unsettling.  Kinda makes me think twice about ever using them to finance a mortgage when I'm ready to buy a property.