Consumer complaint received 2018-10-20
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: TX
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
ID # XXXX claim XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Thu, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX  ( 2 days ago ) to XXXX Wells Fargo CEO Dear Mr. XXXX : I want your help I spent the last 10 days speaking to numerous Wells Fargo employees explaining the situation pertaining to this wire transfer made from my Wells Fargo personal checking account 2 a another Wells Fargo business account from a client residing in Florida. I was lead to many different Wells Fargo departments and phone numbers and spent hours and hours on the phone trying to get to the right people. I'm a retired XXXX XXXX vet and I also used to run my own credit restoration business and I understand the protocols of disputing and also the laws pertaining to credit. But wire transfers are a little different but the thing that's upsetting to me is that the Wells Fargo institution before I was making this so-called purchase misinformed me back in XXXX as I specifically asked if I was being scammed by a merchant and made a wire transfer without receiving the merchandise in this case at XXXX would the bank be able to retrieve my money and the representative told me they would stand behind me not to worry about it. Little did I know I made the mistake of trusting someone that wasn't fully informed on protocol and procedure. This current claim which has been open about four times due to the Wells Fargo Associates missing either the dollar figure or initiating the claim incorrectly took this long to finally be presented properly as of yesterday. I literally have to beg for about a week so I could fax over additional information to support whoever 's actually going to work on this to show that the merchant with a Wells Fargo business account is continually scamming consumers with the same identical situation from others around the u.s.. my investigation also took me where I found out his brother with the same last name had his license revoked so is Sidekick is basically running the business the same way currently. Long story short I purchased a vehicle from XXXX XXXX paid that party through wire transfer online and also paid the deposit portion via XXXX. With the information I provide a XXXX they investigated and found many consumers having a problem therefore refunded my small deposit and also took actions to reprimand the client with a 21-day hold on any payments coming in which they are also eventually going to suspend his account on a permanent basis. As far as Wells Fargo I'm not so confident in the results although this is a new start as of yesterday looking at 4,000 online complaints against your bank and having to reiterate for hours exactly the story for the Wells Fargo so she needs to understand and also being swept away and encouraged to hire an attorney I don't feel this is the result I expected from my bank that's trying to establish a new culture. I am out {$3100.00} and signed no contract for the seller but he's allowed to have a business account and use Wells Fargo as one of his forms of scamming people out of their money. I spoke to an attorney yesterday and he told me to go after the bank and file a suit and also go back after the merchant. But I'm going to hold back that's why I'm writing you and give Wells Fargo the opportunity. I come from a long line of siblings that are Circuit Court judges and lawyers but I'm a very efficient business man myself. I never really ask them for their help. When I was a corporate employee for XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX I was the top dog in the United States with a poster in every store. XXXX XXXX XXXX  was promoting a secured MasterCard I ran that program and when I spoke to the president there mr. XXXX a while back he really wanted me to be a part of the banking Institution and come work for their company because I could do it 10 people can do at once. But those days are no longer I'm older I struggle and I need your help. If I was a Wells Fargo employee I know how I would handle this with the merchant and one phone call I could get him to return the money to the buyer easily. But since I am on the sideline I have to wait for people that are not with a gifted ability or have Innovation at problem solving that think outside of the norm or protocol I don't expect a favorable result. But being a former military person I'm going to do whatever it takes to get my money back but I would like your assistance and help so I don't have to further exhaust myself in this what seems never-ending process. You can check the materials and the reviews for other consumers that I have sent over to support the team that's working on this dispute. But you and I know when you want things really done you go to the top man and that's you. I would appreciate your involvement in the process to recover my money spent with a deceptive party that's using Wells Fargo to take payments from customer and sell them lemons. I expect since I'm a Wells Fargo customer and that the other party it is a Wells Fargo customer also someone to step in and say he doesn't have your item you mess represented your item to the consumer and you are to return his money or face sanctions from our bank I'm sure with his scamming and criminal background which I have already investigated myself. I would say he would come around and this would be resolved. Sometimes a different approach rather than lawyers Works quicker and effective but you need somebody Innovative that knows how to talk. If I was in your office using the phone and representing Wells Fargo rather than myself I could show you how it's done you'd hire me on the spot for a high position. But I'm not once again thank you for your time and would appreciate your effort in resolving I refund concerns with this issue. 

Sincerely XXXX XXXX _____________________________________________________________________

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 non-monetary relief