Consumer complaint received 2023-06-02
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: MD
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On or about XXXX XXXX XXXX Plaintiff ( Hereafter XXXX XXXX  XXXX involuntarily and erroneously received two deposits into her checking account in the aggregate amount of XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$3000.00} ). 
I immediately contacted XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), the individual whose account the funds originated from. 
XXXX XXXX indicated to the me that he was on the phone with a representative of Wells Fargo discussing the erroneous deposits that did not belong to XXXX XXXX. 
On the direction of the representative on the phone, XXXX XXXX requested that I return the erroneous deposits through the XXXX XXXX, the method in which the deposits were received. 
I proceeded to enter XXXX XXXX phone number into the app to return the funds. Since he is my " X '', he was no longer saved in my account history. He relayed his phone number to me and I typed it into the app, I even read it back to make sure I had the correct number typed into the app. 
I transferred XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$1000.00} ) to XXXX XXXX via the XXXX app. 
The App would only permit me to transfer a maximum of XXXX XXXX Dollars. 
XXXX XXXX, upon advice from the " bank representative, '' asked me to send the remaining funds through another cash app. 
Concerned about fraud and deception, I declined and indicated I would reach out to Wells Fargo directly to resolve the remaining erroneous deposited amount. 
Upon contacting Wells Fargo, and for security reasons, Wells Fargo recommended that I close the account and open a new checking account with a new account number. 
I complied and closed the existing account and transferred the remaining funds to a new account within the same bank. 
I expected that the bank would correct the erroneous deposit by withdrawing and returning to XXXX XXXX the remaining XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$2000.00} ). 
On XXXX XXXX XXXX The Bank removed XXXX XXXX Dollars from my account in an attempt to correct the erroneous deposits made on XX/XX/. 
I immediately contacted the Bank regarding the incorrect amount removed from the account, which should have been XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$2000.00} ). 
The bank opened an internal claim to investigate the matter. 
The Bank determined that the XXXX XXXX Dollars was already approved and processed and could not be returned. 
Furthermore, the bank advised that it had notified the receiving financial institution and submitted a request to the receiving financial institution to have the funds returned, '' however, both XXXX XXXX and I use Wells Fargo. Since Wells Fargo is the sending and receiving institution for both XXXX XXXX and myself, the bank sent itself a notice to return the money. 
A series of communications ensued between me and the Banks customer service representatives on this matter attempting to explain the amount deducted on XX/XX/XXXX was for the incorrect amount. 
The Banks customer service representatives and internal investigative agents are unable to comprehend that the XXXX XXXX Dollar original erroneous deposit should have been offset by the XXXX XXXX ( {$1000.00} ) payment I made on XX/XX/. 
The Bank suggested I ask XXXX XXXX to file a claim that he never received the XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$1000.00} ) I sent back to him through XXXX at his request. XXXX XXXX told me that he went into Wells Fargo and they told him he is not the one that needs to file the claim. 
The Bank is either unwilling or unable to distinguish that XXXX XXXX Dollars was already returned directly to XXXX XXXX. 
The Bank improperly removed XXXX XXXX Dollars ( {$1000.00} ) from my checking account and has not corrected the error. 
Since then, I have hired an attorney and we have a court date in small claims court on XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX at the XXXX XXXX of Maryland for XXXX XXXX XXXX My attorney 's information is XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX, MD XXXX, XXXX, XXXX. I have attached a copy of the statement of facts.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation