Consumer complaint received 2020-08-26
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
Before making my complaint ; I apologize for any grammar or writing errors, as the only language I speak is XXXX. I am a lawyer in XXXX ( where I was born and currently reside ) since XXXX ; and throughout my career I have practiced my profession in the private sector ; that is, I have never had any relationship with the Governments of XXXX ; be these, constitutional, unconstitutional, dictatorships, democratic, de facto or fictitious. Since the early XXXX ; I started saving part of my income in hard currency ( US dollars ) ; and for this reason, I opened an Account ( in the State of Florida ) in the XXXX XXXX XXXX, which later became the XXXX ; the latter financial institution, which was forcibly acquired by Wells Fargo given the XXXX Financial Crisis. I currently have a XXXX Account at Wells Fargo identified with Number ******* XXXX. It is the case that in XX/XX/XXXX ; Wells Fargo deprived me of the use of the XXXX XXXX, alleging Inconsistencies in its Use ; which seemed strange to me ; well, I was NEVER WARNED OF ANY ANOMALY IN THE USE OF THIS APPLICATION ; and also, I have always used the Application to transfer money to people I trust ; making special mention of the circumstance, that this Application can be used even to pay in Small Businesses ( this is verified with the Annexes XXXX and XXXX that I attach to this complaint ). But the fact is ( the alleged " inconsistencies of use '' were a misused euphemism ), that Wells Fargo actually eliminated the possibility of using the Application, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT AN ADDRESS IN XXXX APPEARS IN MY XXXX  ACCOUNT, such as and as published by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( it is a NOTORIOUS FACT, KNOWN BY THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY OF FLORIDA and outlined in the PRESS RELEASE attached to this complaint, identified as XXXX XXXX XXXX ) ; resulting STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALL CITIZENS WITH AN ADDRESS IN XXXX AND WHO ARE CUSTOMERS OF WELLS FARGO, TO HAVE INCURRED IN " INCONSISTENCIES '' WHEN USING THE XXXX APPLICATION ; and the real reason is : THE SANCTIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS IMPOSED SINCE THE END OF XXXX TO THE REGIME OF XXXX AND TO THE NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS LINKED TO IT. The foregoing, I was able to corroborate by telephone with a Bank Official, who expressly told me that " I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE TERMINATION OF THE XXXX XXXX REGIME TO RECOVER THE NORMAL USE OF MY CHECKING ACCOUNT. '' The above, in addition to being absurd, is illegal since IF I CAN NOT USE THE XXXX XXXX IN WELLS FARGO, I CAN NOT TRANSFER MONEY OR TO THIRD PARTIES IN OTHER UNITED STATES BANKS, OR TO THIRD PARTIES THAT HAVE ACCOUNTS IN THE WELLS FARGO ; that is, A FINANCIAL ENTITY SANCTIONED A CUSTOMER FOR HIS NATIONALITY AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE, BLOCKING THE USE OF HIS MONEY ; and the most serious, IN THE FULL PANDEMIC ( time in which most governments subsidize their citizens ; a financial institution capriciously deprives foreign citizens of the money they have saved with their effort and work ). Wells Fargo is required to comply with applicable laws, BUT MAY NOT MAKE A CAPRICH INTERPRETATION ( PENALTIES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE INTERPRETATIONS OR ACCOMMODATIONS ) ; NOR MAY IT BE ESTABLISHED IN A PUNISHMENT OR ISSUER OF NON-EXISTING RULES. Even WELLS FARGO WAS OMITTED Updated XXXX XXXX Warns Against Continued Corrupt Venezuelan Attempts to Steal, Hide, or Launder Money, DATED XX/XX/XXXX ; WHICH EXPRESSLY WARNS THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS : However, financial institutions should be aware that normal business and other transactions involving Venezuelan nationals and businesses do not necessarily represent the same risk as transactions and relationships identified as being connected to the former Venezuelan regime ... It is noteworthy that such a practice ; in addition to being discriminatory, it violates universal Human Rights such as the Right to Property ( it is my money, which comes from my effort ), the Right not to be Discriminated against for reasons of Nationality or Race, and the Right to Health ( recently I was deprived of buying Health Insurance, given the " partial blocking '' of my Checking Account ). For all the above, I request that WELLS FARGO ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE USING THE XXXX XXXX  ; and thus, I RESTORE THE RIGHT THAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THIRD PARTIES IN OTHER BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THIRD PARTIES THAT HAVE ACCOUNTS AT THE WELLS FARGO. Finally, I emphasize that I am going before your competent authority, given the impossibility that I have of being able to remedy this reckless, absurd and unjust abuse in a pragmatic way ; that is, opening an Account in another Bank in the United States ; for the simple reason, that given the seriousness of the current situation caused by the Coronavirus ( whose existence Wells Fargo seems to be unaware of, when it comes to its clients residing in the " Third World '' ) ; I can not travel from XXXX ( where I live and am currently ) abroad ( due to the ban on air flights due to COVID19 ) ; and it is impossible for a Venezuelan citizen to open accounts in US Banks via Online ( FATCA regulations ). I thank you, in advance, for your prompt attention to this letter, given the obvious damage caused by maintaining this unfair situation. I can be contacted at this email : 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