Avi Oslick is obviously a fan of the movie Network: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” Avi Oslick told NBC 10 in Philadelphia. Rather than going to his window and yelling, Avi has placed a huge banner on the side of his house telling the world how he feels about Bank of America.
After Bank of America made one too many errors on his account, costing him “thousands of dollars” Avi had finally had enough.
“I said, ‘Listen, you know, if you guys don’t work with me on this issue, you know, I’m just going to tell everyone how much I hate the bank,’” Oslick said.
So he did. He says Bank of America called the police, who showed up at his door and asked him to take the sign down. He said no. According to Avi’s website, the cop said, “Sounds good to me.” You can visit his site at www.ihateboa.com.
Man Displays Anger With Company On Side Of House, Internet [NBC10] (Thanks, Everyone!)
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Speaking of using names, reminds me of the story of the lady who protested an ATV store opening next to her, got it blocked, and as revenge the people opened a porn store instead because it was allowed and named it after the protester. It doesn’t seem like that should be able to fly legally…
As for ‘I hate BoA’ I’m not sure if they have any defense whatsoever since it’s just an opinion.
@Ausoleil:
Borrowing Ash’s statement…
If BoA put the “We hate Avi Oslick” banner up on their bank branch, would you defend their right to free speech, or urge him to sue?
Amazing!
sad thing is, it took the moron that long to figure out BOA is scumbags
@Ein2015:
Let the bank put the the “We hate Avi” sign. You’ll have every news organization within 1000 miles swarm on that branch and a huge black eye for BoA management to deal with.
@knyghtryda: Also, presumably Avi is reacting to being wronged by BoA, so insulting him won’t make BoA look too good.
That headline is screaming for a comma. Who is this “Many Man”?
Thank god Avi doesn’t have to deal with a homeowners association.
@SkokieGuy: “The crux of the matter is that there is immunity in calling in a suspected crime, so the bank is not liable.”
But was there even a suspected crime? It sounds like the police were pranked by BOA.
@InfiniTrent: If they had the balls to put up a “We hate Avi Oslick” sign, I’d drive up to Philadelphia and sign up for an account.
Basically, now that they’ve tried the intimidation ploy by calling the cops and it failed, they have no choice but to say they ‘respect his right to say it.’
if his financial acumen is akin to his website prowess i doubt boa is in the wrong.
Maybe everyone whom Target has screwed should make similar banners…
@InfiniTrent: But are companies entitled to freedom of speech in the same way that individual citizens are?
I don’t think Mr. Oslick will even have to sue. The media will be all over it and the neighborhood will probably go up in arms. The boa constrictors would have to leave, lest they risk harm to their employees and its property.
—
Thank You Avi for making such a bold statement for all to see. Look forward to seeing it next time I stop by Philly.
My question is… why did the police even go to ask him? I think they should’ve just… you know, ignored the request.
This would only be newsworthy if someone put up a banner that said, “I DON’T hate Bank of America” !
Sounds like BoA called one of these.
[farm4.static.flickr.com]
Wish I knew how to put photos in here…
I think I found the missing banner: [www.cafepress.com]
Whoops, wrong link.
The missing banner:
[www.cafepress.com]
He hates America?! Oh, wait, he hates BANK of America. He hates America and loves terrorists. (major sarcasm)
@IamNotToddDavis: Yeh, yeh, I can see this becoming a totally coordinated light-and-sound show, like that crazy Christmas display on the news a few years back.
I haven’t watched the video yet so I don’t know what the neighborhood’s like, but I was always under the impression that homeowners associations or zoning laws would prevent a resident from putting a sign like that up (or doing anything else that might potentially bring down a neighbor’s so-called property value).
@Bladefist:
@IrisMR:
The police came because they were dispatched. They can’t cherry-pick which calls they should and shouldn’t go on. They get dispatched, they responded, they determined that there was no further action was necessary after visiting the guy, and they left.
Don’t get mad at the police because they went to the guy’s house, get mad at BoA for calling them.
See, never take the initiative in this kind of hatred.
Um NO – The police and 911 SHOULD tell BOA-Asshole that that is not a valid request and they WILL NOT waste taxpayer money let alone VIOLATE HIS RIGHTS by dispatching that.
He should sue both the bank and the city for intimidating him when he was just exercising his freedom of fcuking speech.
Furthermore, I would demand the police arrest whoever requested the dispatch for stalking, as they obviously followed or went to his home to look at the sign, then tried to take retribution through the police INSTEAD OF JUST ASKING HIM WHAT THEY COULD DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT. DUH!
Furthermore, that person that called it in should be fired and then beaten with an anti-BOA picket sign. This is a fcuking free country, the bank’s control over non-customers or former customers ends at their fcuking front door. If they don’t want bad advertising THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE FCUKED HIM ON HIS ACCOUNT.
I am SO SICK of these FCUKING BANKS thinking they OWN consumers. FCUK that!
BRAVO to this guy for sticking it right in the bank’s face and everyone else’s. Frankly, I think we need anti-advertising in this country. Let’s start hearing former customers on radio, networks, cable, newspaper with equal time ads saying what happened to them. Consumerist should go to whole new levels.
FCUK the corporations owning the damn media – it should be OUR media.
@raisitup: Nice to know there are a-holes like you who attack other consumers with irrelevant criticism about nothing significant and COMPLETELY MISS THE BOAT. Why EXACTLY are you posting on here?
In case you missed it – THIS IS A PRO CONSUMER WEBSITE. THANK YOU.
@freejazz38: You know I find people like you really amazing. If he cuts them off right away and leaves, you will criticize him for not being fair and giving BOA a chance. If he takes too long, and gives them any benefit of the doubt, you call him a moron.
WELL, how the HELL would YOU have handled it, Mr. Perfect?
STOP ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKING OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS SITE.
@kallawm: Gee – why don’t you get on THAT website and ask HIM?
@chrisjames: And that’s because…
A. You hate other consumers who stick up for themselves because like they make you look bad because you’re a consumer slug…
B. You hate the First Amendment
C. You are a BOA Board Member or hired BOA contractor mindless security thug.
Which is it? I can’t tell…
HOW DARE this guy put a sign on his own building and state an opinion saving other people some trouble. Boy that’s just reprehensible…what exactly is it about that that bothers you so much? Hmmmm?
@IphtashuFitz: In case common sense didn’t occur to you, gee, how about the bank manager DOING HIS JOB and going over with hat in hand to ask how he has offended the guy and how he can MAKE IT RIGHT?
COMPANY OWNERS OR MANAGERS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT DOWN DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMERS AND SIC THE POLICE ON THEM. EVER.
Yeah, isn’t it funny a vp (correct) called him and said that everything could be fixed in a couple days–over 1/2 a year ago!?
Where can I get a copy of that sign?
OK, so BoA cleared a check he had put a stop payment on.
That’s bad, but the real cause of his loss was the contractor who didn’t do an adequate job. Has he even attmepted to collect it back from the contractor? Taking the contractor to small claims court would probably be more productive than hating on the bank.
Y’know, I completely agree with this guy on his opinion of BofA — they’re an outrageously shitty company, no two ways about it. I also absolutely support his right to air his feelings about the company, both in the form of the signs on his house and in the form of the website he started. But I have to say, that dude needs some Remedial English courses, stat: the text on his website looks like it was written by an 8th grader. I count no less than 17 grammar errors, punctuation errors, or ‘style’ errors, right there on his main page. Dang.
@Speak: Probably true in most places, but this is Fishtown. Not yet totally gentrified…..I love Philly (with qualifications, of course) but if you don’t have a neighborhood/district association (and most don’t) there’s very little in the way of beautification guidelines or rules. (Contrast this w Old City – housesitting friend of mine there got strict instructions from the owner on how frequently she had to polish the antique doorknob so that the neighbors wouldn’t complain).
If you can’t hang a banner on your house, what’s the point of owning it?
Avi is on Glenn Beck’s radio show nationwide right now and tape-delayed elsewhere.
Good thing Avi does not live in a private residential community.