Consumer complaint received 2017-03-16
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: MD
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: International money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
Here is a classic example of fraudulent Indian bank practices under the garb of technicalities and why millions of Indians do n't entrust their money with inconsistent working of banks. Customers do n't trust banks that they will get their money at the time of need with certainty ( demonetization is a unique situation ). Banks make common customer dance to the music of bank at the time of withdrawal of hard earned money. And that is why ; India is still mainly cash economy. Indian customers converted Billions of Rs. XXXX illegal notes by paying 30 % commission to banks. 
I initiated a remittance ( ID # XXXX ) of Rs. XXXX lakh on XXXX XXXX, 2017 ( XXXX ) thru XXXX of XXXX using e-transfer option from USA. XXXX promised that money will reach to my registered beneficiary ( XXXX ) in 4 working days ( not later than XXXX XXXX, 2017 ). Money was withdrawn from my registered and pre-verified Wells Fargo Bank in USA on XXXX XXXX, 2017 by electronic transfer, delayed due to XXXX inefficient style of working. It was a wedding gift to a friend and his 4 family members ; it has not reached to beneficiary till date ( XXXX weeks ). Beneficiary and his family had been very upset and angry after checking with their bank for 12 days since XXXX XXXX, 2017 that caused a divorce between me and my friend and his family. They got the impression that it was a cruel joke ( bhadda majak ) on their emotions and well-being and they stopped talking with me and responding to my e-mails. This way, XXXX forced me to change to another registered beneficiary ( XXXX ) on XXXX XXXX, 2017 and XXXX was informed by e-mail but they never acknowledged change. Now, it appears that my friendship with XXXX and his family will meet with same destiny. May be their way to arm-twist a customer to extort extra commission and hold customer money for the longest! How can anyone trust XXXX with their Power e-transfer option where they promise money will reach within 2 hours? I request you to acquire all records ( phone as well as e-mail ) from XXXX about this case. Their phone calls always displayed bogus number. This hacker 's technique is illegal in USA. My cell phone record will also show that XXXX called at their convenience but it was XXXX pm - XXXX am here ( NYT ). 
I have invested 7 weeks ( so far ) talking with XXXX customer service on XXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXX and that is the only way to contact XXXX and they do n't transfer your call to any senior and appropriate officer. It has been the most antagonizing, agonizing, torturous and frustrating time of my life. They promised hundreds of time on phone and e-mail that money will be transferred within next 24 hours. Now, realizing that lot of water has flowed under the bridge to justify their immoral act ( like unending dowry demands in dowry death case ), customer service has put forward new list of demands. Is there a DNA test to determine friendship? In Indian social system, everyone is XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX which is not heard in western world. My logical concern is why these cooked-up demands were not met before withdrawing $ from my Well Fargo account in XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX, {$3600.00} XXXX on XXXX XXXX, 2017? Recently, I asked them to mail me a letter on XXXX letter-head at my registered residential address which they blatantly refused outright on phone, rather than threatening, intimidating on phone or e-mail. 
Customer service agents XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX etc. ( may be pseudo names ) at XXXX, they sounded more like a bouncer ( unprofessional and rude ). I have yet to come across such jerks as customer service in USA in over 3 decades. Approach was that we have your money for XXXX weeks, what can you do, you have become hostage in their eyes? Impression I am getting is that I should forget money

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