Consumer complaint received 2022-05-28
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: GA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Problem using a debit or ATM card

Complaint:
I opened a checking account at Wells Fargo Bank in XXXX XXXX Georgia. This was a non-resident account as I am a South XXXX attorney living outside of the United States. They were well aware that I would be in and out of the United States. I used the physical address of XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Georgia XXXX. 

I did not request checks. I was issued a debit card that arrived at the address about 7 days later. Thus the transactions on my account should have only been on the debit card. I left the United States and returned to XXXX. I used the card in XXXX, where I am working. My XX/XX/XXXX banking statement reflected a balance of {$34000.00}. I was out of the country and not able to check my balance or receive statement, but noticed on XX/XX/XXXX, that XXXX checks in the amounts of {$8900.00} written on XX/XX/XXXX, and another for {$4400.00} on XX/XX/XXXX had been posted to my account. I immediately called the bank and reported the unauthorized use of my account. The checks in question had my account number but not my name. The maker of the checks was a XXXX XXXX, with an address in Indiana. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Indiana, XXXX. Clearly, this was not me, not my signature and I do not know who XXXX XXXX is. The bank did not perform its statutory duty to ensure that any transaction, such as a check should had been thoroughly vetted. I have an XXXX name, and clearly XXXX XXXX is a XXXX  name. It is clear that internal controls at the bank are weak and violated simple due diligence. 

I called the bank on XX/XX/XXXX to report the check transactions and demanded immediate refund. Much to my dismay, the bank wrote a letter informing me that since the transactions were more than 30 days old, they could not refund the money. Going by their own policy, the transaction of XX/XX/XXXX, while I am not even accepting their policy, was the only one that had passed the 30 days deadline. The check in the amount of {$4400.00} was posted to my account on XX/XX/XXXX and reflected in the XX/XX/XXXX Statement. I called the bank on the XXXX of XXXX. Therefore, I did that in a timely manner. But I can not even accept the bank 's explanation on the transaction of XX/XX/XXXX as been out of the reporting period. This was fraud and complete carelessness on their part for allowing two checks to be posted to my account that I did not write and I am not the person named on the check. 

The story gets weirder. On XX/XX/XXXX, the bank closed my account and opened a new one. I protested and demanded a full refund but they refused. Unfortunately for them, on XX/XX/XXXX, another check from the same XXXX XXXX posted to the old account in the amount of {$9600.00} was deducted from the new account. How that happened is beyond explanation. I went into the branch office to transfer monies out of my account in XXXX, but my account had been reduced by that amount. How can my account be closed and a new one opened and yet they paid that amount? They have subsequently refunded the {$9600.00} dollars after a terrifying experience of cries to their office and great mental suffering. I suffer daily for the negligence of Wells Fargo. 

I therefore an appealing to these authorities to request that a full refund in the amount of {$13000.00}. 

I have tried to be civil but no customer of a bank should be made to eat that magnitude of money due to the negligence of a bank. I am keeping my legal options open if the amount in question is not refunded.

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