Ah, innovation! Bank of America was just awarded a patent for a process that lets it make sure any teller at any branch will know not to give you a refund on a disputed overdraft fee. According to Techdirt, the idea is to prevent “refund shopping,” where a customer might visit multiple branches hoping to find a sympathetic ear.

Now, when a refund offer is “rejected” (their word in the patent description, though I imagine this applies to offers that are not extended to begin with, too), an amount of $0.00 is entered into the system as a processed refund for the customer. Then when he drives to another branch, the teller can instantly see that the discussion is over before it begins.

“BofA Patents A Way Of Denying Overdraft Fee Refunds” [Techdirt]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.