Consumer complaint received 2023-08-06
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
Dear CFPB, This complaint is in reply to Wells Fargos Final Response letter to me dated XX/XX/2023, which derives from my CFPB complaint XXXX. 

In the letter, Wells Fargo stated the following ( the text is quoted verbatim ; my reply continues following the line of asterisks below ) : What you need to know : On XX/XX/2023, a business decision was made to close your Initiate Business Checking account ending in XXXX, a notification letter was mailed to the address on file to advise you of our decision and that the above business checking account was expected to close by XX/XX/2023, however, the account closure was extended and was expected to close XX/XX/2023, as we were awaiting additional information from the involved parties. We have enclosed is a copy of the letter for your review. 

Also, on XX/XX/2023, a business decision was made to close your Wells Fargo Complete Advantage Checking account ending in XXXX and your Wells Fargo Goal Savings account ending in XXXX and was expected to close by XX/XX/2023. The account closure was extended and expected to close XX/XX/2023. We have enclosed is a copy of the letter for your review. 

On XX/XX/2023, while speaking with our Fraud Loss Prevention Center it was confirmed the account ending in XXXX was debited {$9700.00} due to the {$20000.00} wire being recalled. It was further explained that if a letter from XXXX XXXX stating that the wire recall would be cancelled and that the funds were supposed to be received by you then the relationship could be retained. 

We have confirmed that as of XX/XX/2023, the accounts ending XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX, have all been closed and any remaining balances will be sent to you in the form of a cashiers check to your address we have on file. 

We understand you are anticipating a more specific reason for our decision ; however, the attached Deposit Account Agreement explains the bank reserves the right to close your accounts at any time. We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused ; however, our decision to close your account is final. If you have further questions about the closures, please contact our Fraud Loss Prevention Center at XXXX. 

How to contact us : We appreciate your time and effort you took to contact us. If you have questions, please contact us at XXXX. Were ready to help you Monday through Friday from XXXX XXXX to XXXXXXXX XXXX  Central Time. We accept telecommunications relay service calls. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Enclosure cc : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau I will address bullet point ( 3 ) On XX/XX/2023, while speaking with our Fraud Loss Prevention Center it was confirmed the account ending in XXXX was debited {$9700.00} due to the {$20000.00} wire being recalled. It was further explained that if a letter from XXXX XXXX stating that the wire recall would be cancelled and that the funds were supposed to be received by you then the relationship could be retained. in this complaint. 

Here, in its essentials, is the chain of events which led to XXXX XXXX wrongful, groundless, unjustified, and outright illegal actions against me ( please see my CFPB complaint XXXX for a full chronology and description ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX, a Texas-based charitable organization, on XX/XX/2023, from its XXXX bank account wired {$20000.00} to my Wells Fargo Complete Advantage checking account ending in XXXX. 

The following day, from the above-mentioned checking account, I wired the {$20000.00} to an attorney, XXXX XXXX XXXX Managing Partner at XXXX XXXX XXXX, in XXXX XXXX XXXX California. This attorney, as mentioned in my original CFPB complaint XXXX, is tasked with putting together the various contracts and agreements pertaining to a small-budget film of which I am the Executive Producer. The {$20000.00} is his retainer for services rendered. 

On XXXX, 2023, I received notice from Wells Fargo that my account ending in XXXX was now frozen and would be closed. At this point, I was unable to make payments with or withdraw the {$9700.00} in the account. 

Per bullet point ( 3 ) of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to me, they have simply taken the money from me to partially compensate it for the loss of {$20000.00} owing to some alleged issue or problem with the XXXX bank account from which the wire originated, supposedly leading to XXXX  purported recall of the wire. 

Of critical importance here, it should be noted that, to date, Wells Fargo has made no attempt whatsoever to retrieve the {$20000.00} from the ultimate recipient of the money, attorney XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX XXXX, nor, indeed has XXXX Bank. So then, XXXX XXXX is being allowed, by both banks, to simply keep the full {$20000.00}, while Wells Fargo sees fit to literally steal my {$9700.00} in order to ( ludicrously ) partially make up for its losses as a result of the supposed complications and difficulties affecting the institution transmitting the wire. 

It is, of course, utterly self-evident that, in this instance, Wells Fargo has absolutely no legal or moral right to my money, and should not, can not, and must not be permitted to keep it. Under the circumstances, Wells Fargo debiting my account in the amount of {$9700.00} is nothing short of abject theft. That is to say, from a common-sense perspective, both logical and ethical, Wells Fargos actions against me amount to pure thievery. 

I, thus, hereby demand that Wells Fargo bank return my {$9700.00} forthwith. I am fully prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary against Wells Fargo bank to secure the return of my {$9700.00}. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation