Consumer complaint received 2018-09-04
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: DC
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Problem with customer service

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke to a teller at Wells Fargo branch number XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( banker XXXX : XXXX, XXXX : XXXX ), about how I could obtain a line of credit. I needed one because I am new to the country and have no credit history here. It is really important for me to build a credit score. I have an XXXX XXXX   which means it is not easy for me to get a credit card. The teller told me that since I didn't have a green card, he couldn't give me a credit card, but that Wells Fargo has a " secure credit card '' and I could make a deposit. If I paid my bills on time and didn't spend too much, they could approve me for a line of credit in either 6 months or a year. So I deposited {$1000.00} ( he suggested {$500.00} ). After 6 months I returned and asked him how the application was going. He told me that it could take a year, so I should wait. Six months after that time, I  returned and asked about my application again ( it was XX/XX/XXXX ). He said that Wells Fargo only approves applications in XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and that I would either get my approval very soon, or in XX/XX/XXXX. I went to the bank around a month later to withdraw some cash and an employee at the branch told me that I would never get approval for the secure credit card because of my visa status. So I called Wells Fargo and talked to an employee about my case and they confirmed that I would never get a credit card. I told that person on the phone that XXXX had lied to me more than once about this issue and even convinced me to deposit {$1000.00} in order to get a line of credit. On the phone they had me complete a complaint form. I was forwarded to a different employee on the phone who told me I would receive a phone call about my case after 1 business day. When I got the call, the person on the line apologized for the misinformation and told me that I could never have a line of credit. So then, I went to the bank ( around a week later ) to speak to XXXX. He wasn't in that day, so I spoke to a different employee who agreed that I would never get a credit card with Wells Fargo and that if I close my account, my credit history will be negatively impacted. When I asked to downgrade my limit, he said the lowest amount would be {$300.00} ( less than a third of my investment ). 

I applied for that for that card in XX/XX/XXXX at the encouragement of a Wells Fargo employee. I waited 19 months to get an approval based on misinformation by that same employee. In that time I could have invested that same money on my XXXX XXXX  card where I get points, credit history, and miles. Wells Fargo has wasted my money, my time, and my consumer loyalty. An apology and my {$1000.00} doesn't compensate for this year of wasted time and money. The problem is 1. I  was lied to by XXXX in order to get me to buy a secure credit card. 2. I went several times to inquire about my application and he continued to lie to me. 3. He was using my immigration status against me. 4. When I realized what he was doing and asked to close my account, I was told that I shouldn't because it would lower my credit score. 5. As a law-abiding resident and businessman, that kind of abuse of power is disgusting and disgraceful.

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