Consumer complaint received 2021-02-14
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Complaint:
I opened an account around XX/XX/2021, at Wells Fargo, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, AR XXXX. About 2weeks later I'm getting calls accusing me of using a non-existent address. They ask for verification. I ask them if the mail from them, including the parcel containing my debit card, from them, would suffice, they say 'yes that's perfect '. So upon taking the mail into Wells Fargo the banker on site tells me that mail isn't good enough. If the address doesn't exist, how did I receive the debit card in the mail?! In addition, I brought mail from XXXX, pay stubs, & XXXX XXXX. They tell me it must b a utility bill. Well the utilities r in my BF 's name. I have >10 pieces of mail within the last 30 days, but nothing is good enough for them. They literally ask me to use a fictitious address so that their system will accept it & try to get forwarding thru USPS to my actual address over their computer glitch. I would have simply just told them to forget about it & close the account, but I have already registered that account with the IRS for my tax returns & other obligations. So now I have about 10 days remaining to either print some fake mail, or have something sent to a friend 's address under my name in order to keep this account open long enough that it doesn't delay my tax refund or default on my bills. They threaten that if, in 10 days, I can't fabricate a false address that their computer likes, they will close down my account. Again, had I not already filed my taxes, I would have just initiated as many bill pays as possible to friends ' accounts & overdrafted the account as much as I possibly could & tell them XXXX. But now u have direct deposits & direct debits set up. Wells Fargo 's negligence & horrible business practices could potentially not only delay my irs return, but will also cause payment defaults to multiple vendors & I will not pay returned item fees for bounced checks caused by WF, I'll just default & use new vendors & when they try to collect, I'll send them to WF. If my address was unacceptable, y wasn't I told right there when I opened the account, because they knew I'd leave and go to another bank. No they wait until you deposit more $ , set up DD, bill pay, etc, so that it becomes difficult to simply say XXXX XXXX and bank elsewhere. 

( THIS PARA IS A BIT OFF-SUBJECT ) Thus is an issue not only w/ Wells Fargo XXXX but many other companies as well. One may open an account with an unacceptable address or say, an expired ID & these institutions don't say anything upfront. They go right ahead & open the accounts & wait until you make a substantial deposit, then lock your account & say 'o well your id is expired, so your account is locked till u get a new one '. U knew my id was expired, or my address was unacceptable when u opened the account for me but chose not to say anything or take any action until there us money to b held hostage. Thus us seriously a huge issue. I'm sure that there r billions of dollars being held hostage by different financial institutions, especially online banks. It's a big scam that these companies or running. They r looking for any reason to lock ones account and hold people 's money.

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