Consumer complaint received 2024-12-19
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low — Overdrafts and overdraft fees
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY (CA)

XX/XX/year> XXXX XXXX, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Complaint Response XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX, MD XXXX Dear XXXX : I am writing to express my concern regarding Wells Fargos practices concerning overdraft fees. 

There is a systematic pattern of exploiting consumers through excessive and unjustified charges. 

On XX/XX/year> I was charged with a {$35.00} over draft fee for a late bank draft. The basic issue is that Wells Fargo has a practice of reordering debit and check transactions to increase the likelihood of overdraft fees, along with allowing pending debits to be used to overdraw an account so it triggers overdraft fees on an account. 

On XX/XX/year> I spoke with Wells Fargo Operator # XXXX named XXXX to request a courtesy reversal and he was not allowed to reverse any fees because he has no authority under Wells Fargo policy to do so. Wells Fargo does not give their service representatives nor managers the discretion to reverse fees. Furthermore, Wells Fargo only allows one courtesy refund per year. Also note, Wells Fargo also does not allow proper review of fees under their present policy. 

Unlike traditional banking practices, Wells Fargo has implemented a policy of structuring and routinely processing debit and check transactions that overdraw accounts and subsequently imposing a {$35.00} overdraft fee, even for minimal amounts. Furthermore Wells Fargo pushes processing and bank cut off posting time several hours into the next day so it possible to incur overdrafts on a debit that has not even posted or occurred that same day. 

Also, in my case an inter account transfer of {$37.00} from a Wells Fargo business checking account that was not posted until after the XX/XX/XXXX cutoff time resulting in an overdraft for Check # XXXX that same day. Ultimately its better to deposit cash directly into an account than it is to make an inter account transfer between accounts. There is a distinct pattern to these kind of inter account transfers from savings to checking etc. Cash gets posted immediately, bank interest account transfers get posted hours after cutoff times or past posting date. This practice appears to be deliberately designed to maximize revenue and to generate fees rather than to serve the best interests of customers. 

Furthermore, the banks refusal to allow customers to opt out of overdraft protection exacerbates overdrafts. This lack of consumer choice is particularly troubling given the potential financial hardship these fees can cause. 

The practice of reordering transactions to increase the likelihood of overdraft fees is dismaying but it is the above patterns of doing business that hurts consumers and creates mistrust of the banking system in general. This manipulation of account activity is unethical and demonstrates a disregard for customers financial well-being. 

I believe these actions constitute unfair and deceptive business practices. Wells Fargos policies are not only financially harmful to consumers but also erode trust in the banking industry. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX, CA XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX CC : FTC XXXX XXXX, CFPB XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX