Consumer complaint received 2016-01-15
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: (CD) Certificate of deposit
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
Five years ago I went to Wells Fargo to get a CD for {$5000.00} for five years for 1/2 % interest. Last week was the five-year maturity date, I went to the bank to cash it out and was told that Wells Fargo gave me the wrong product five years ago. I did n't know this at the time, that the product I was given was not the product I asked for. The manager explained that usually when people come in and ask for a CD, it 's because their accountant told them to get a retirement account. Wells Fargo thought that 's what I was asking for. Five years ago, the Wells Fargo banker was n't listening to me and gave me the wrong product? I do n't have enough knowledge to know it was the wrong product. I ask for a {$5000.00} cd at 1/2 % interest for five years and Wells Fargo gives me the paperwork to sign, which I do, not understanding the difference between what I asked for and a retirement CD. 

This morning a manager from Wells Fargo Branch in XXXX XXXX, CA on XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX. ( where this deal originated ) to let me know that because I signed their paperwork, there is nothing they can do to remedy this situation. So Wells Fargo got my {$5000.00} for five years and I 'm told that not only will I not get the $ XXXX interest I thought I earned, but I will be penalized for taking the money out " early '' when I turn XXXX years old in XXXX ( have to wait until XXXX or I 'll be penalized even more! ) I will get less than my initial {$5000.00}, because 11 % will be deducted to pay state and federal taxes or fees or whatever you want to call my hard earned money that I get to give away. Wells Fargo benefits from keeping my money for five years without having to pay me anything and the government gets their fees, and I get to pay both of them for my trouble. 

These too big to fail banks are getting away with too much, they need to be broken up. Why is it that they can launder drug money ( Wells Fargo bought Wachovia ), crash the economy in 2008 by selling loans to people who could n't repay them, take billions in taxpayer money to recoup their losses, pay lobbyists to weaken the new legislation trying to rein them in, and steal money from people like me who have no leverage make them to do what is right and correct their mistakes - with no negative consequences for the banks? 

I used to work as a XXXX. When my clients were about to sign disclosures and contracts, I sat down with them and reviewed each paragraph to make sure they understood what they were signing, I had a fiduciary responsibility to do so and I took that responsibility very seriously. Wells Fargo should have taken the time to review with me what I was signing to make sure I was getting what I asked for. I hope you can help me. Thank you. PS : I 'm voting for XXXX XXXX because he 'll work to break up these banks, they are doing so much harm to all us and our economy.

Company public response: Company chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation