Consumer complaint received 2017-03-14
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NY
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
My father passed away on XX/XX/2016 with 99 % of his assets in a trust. One of my brothers and I are the trustees for the trust as well as the executors of his estate. He had a checking account with Wells Fargo which was the only asset not in the trust with a balance of only {$500.00}. The estate is not in probate as he had everything in perfect order other than this one low balance checking account. I contacted the branch near me at XXXX, XXXX, NY XXXX and spoke with XXXX He instructed my brother and I to come to the branch with ID and the death certificate. We did that and more, we brought our ID, death certficates for both our Mom and Dad, the original Trust Agreement and the original Last Will and Testament for his estate. We then spoke with XXXX only to find out that she could not help regardless of what XXXX told us the prior day. Apparently, her legal dept. instructed her to have us complete an affidavit, which we were willing to do and have it notarized, and have it filed through a court in Florida. Again, having family in Florida, we said that we would research accommodating their request only to find out that it is {$340.00} to have this affidavit filed in a Florida circuit court plus attorney fee. Obviously, that is ridiculous to recuperate {$500.00}. In reviewing the affidavit by our attorney, the affidavit did not need to be filed with a court and we had everything the affidavit required to be executed the day we were at the branch. Now, it is not about the {$500.00} but a matter of principal considering the corporate behavior of Wells Fargo in past years. So, the next day I go back to XXXX XXXX and he continues to throw roads blocks our way and just making it difficult for us over {$500.00}. It is mind boggling at this point? I then ask for XXXX Manager and start speaking to XXXX XXXX continued with the same stall tactics, not returning my calls, speaking to me in an aggreesive manner, not responding to my emails, etc. I finally speak with him last week and he says there is nothing then can do until we get the court order. I ask for his Manager and I 'm given a XXXX XXXX as his Manager. Now, she is too good for him to give me her contact information, so he must give me her Administrative Assistants contact information. So that her Assistant can take care of setting up a time for me to speak with XXXX This really sent me for a loop, I do n't know who this lady is but she must be very, very important? Anyhow, I left a message for the Administrative Assistant, XXXX, and unfortunately still have not had the privilege to discuss our situation with XXXX I prefer not to post the death certificate and, Trust Agreement and Last Will and Testament online but have posted the affidavit for which we have every document to fully execute. Also, at your request, we can provide all the original documents listed above. I can not understand why Wells Fargo would give people so much aggravation over {$500.00} when they know darn well that the money is legally ours. I truly get the impression that if they stall long enough, people will just give up and go away. It is disgraceful that at our time of grief over our Dad 's loss they can be so disrespectful to our family.

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