Consumer complaint received 2022-09-02
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Company closed your account

Complaint:
I had a checking account with Wells Fargo back in XXXX up until I believe it was XXXX. I deposited a check that was given to me from a person I know. That check was given to him from his lawyers estate account. It was for {$5000.00}. I already had a account with my money in it too. I deposited the check through the atm at night. I didn't take any money out at all. I also deposited {$100.00} cash throught the atm. Like I said I never took a dime out that night. The next day I went to get food for my kids and swiped the card it said declined. I called the bank and they told me my account had been shut down for fraud. I said what fraud. They told me for the {$5000.00} check that had been deposited the night before. The check was not in my name but my friends name. He had signed the check for me to deposit it. The money was to go to someone else and I was the only person that could get it to him. I told the bank that I needed that check back. They told me that it was being held and it was being investigated. I told them well I want my money that I also already had in the account and the cash I had deposited that night. They told me that I had to talk to the fraud department. I called the fraud department and got the run around there too. I told him I needed my money back from my account and the check. They said the only way I could get the check back is if the person whos check it was written out to came in with a license to get it. That person had left town and was going to be gone a while and I was to handle things for that person and thats why I was given the check. They said that they couldnt give it to me. I talked to the lawyer who gave that person the check because it was from the lawyers account. They wouldn't give it back to the lawyer either even thought it was his check. The lawyer even told them that I was supposed to have the check and confirmed everything. I asked the guy on the phone with the fraud department that I needed all the rest of money that was in my bank account prior to that check and also the cash I had deposited that night. They kept telling me that they had to wait for the investigation to finish and they were holding all my money. Im a XXXX mother with XXXX boys and they took all my money shut my account and wouldn't give me nothing of mine claiming I did fraud when I didn't. I called the manager at the Well Fargo and told her I wanted the money that was already in there and they put me and my kids without any money. She told me that she would send me the final statement with a check for my funds. I got the letter about a week later with just a closing statement and no check. I kept calling and would get the run around. I spoke to the manager again. She lied and said she never said she was sending me a check and kept telling me there is nothing she can do I have to call the fraud dept. I called them again and once again they refused to give me my money. I got so fed up and stressed out about it I finally had to just let it go and let them steal my money. This all happened in XXXX or XXXX. Then out of no where I get a letter from Wells Fargo in XXXX stating that they messed up and shut my account down for fraud when it wasn't and they made a mistake. They gave me a {$150.00} they said for my funds that were in there and a some to make up for their mess up. Seriously!!! I had more than that in my account and they want to give me less and what like {$50.00} for their mess up. Actually they gave me nothing for their mess up and didn't even give me back all the money I had in my account before they wrongfully closed my account without notice or anything. If I owed them money best believe I would have to pay interest on all that money for as long as it took for me to pay them back. They already put me through a lot of stress and problems by leaving me and my kids without any money and closing my account for no reason. Then they basically slap me in the face with this letter admitting they messed up 7 years later and on top of it not even give me all my money back and say they gave some to make up for their total XXXX up that really left me and my kids in a bad spot!! I would like to sue them. They stole my money and apologized later and gave me back just a little of it. I never deposited the check in hopes of sueing them. I figured if I deposited the check it might be agreeing with the amount they gave me and I might not be able to make them be held accountable for this crime. I still have the letter and the check they sent me. I would like to know what I can do to get all my money plus interest for the XXXX they put me and my kids through for no reason. Its crazy that a bank can just steal anyones money like that and they get away with it. I want something done about it. Im sure it has happened to a lot more people than me and someone needs to speak up about these companies getting away with stealing peoples hard earn money and leaving them without any.

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 monetary relief