Consumer complaint received 2025-07-03 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers — Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a misleading credit card promotion I encountered on XXXX website, which led me to apply for the Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX XXXX under false pretenses. 

On XX/XX/2025, while booking flights on XXXX, I saw a promotion at the bottom of the checkout page. It clearly stated that upon approval for the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I would receive a {$200.00} statement credit and an additional {$150.00} in XXXX. It also stated my credit wouldnt be impacted to check for approval. 

As someone who uses XXXX regularly for travel, this offer seemed highly appealing. I proceeded to submit my application through the promotion link. Almost immediately, I received a notification from another credit card company that my credit had been pulled, indicating an inquiry on my credit, even though the offer suggested it would not impact my credit. 

From that moment, I began to see red flags. However, I had already been approved for the card. The {$200.00} statement credit and {$150.00} in XXXX were the sole reasons I chose to apply. 

After approval, I received no clear terms or conditions explaining the promotion. I never got any email outlining how to qualify for these rewards. 

I called Wells Fargo immediately after and i was transferred across three different departments before an agent finally told me that since I applied through XXXX, I needed to contact XXXX for answers. 

On Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX, as opening the Wells Fargo App to make a payment, there's a chart indicating I'm XXXX $ away from the required amount needed for the XXXX $ XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX. I tried contacting XXXX immediately. They offered no clear number or department for resolving this issue. I simply wanted an answer to the promotion. 

The XXXX agent, XXXX, appeared completely unfamiliar with the promotion. I asked to speak to a supervisor. Instead, she transferred me directly back to Wells Fargo. 

The Wells Fargo agent I spoke to next told me I was only eligible for a {$150.00} statement credit and {$150.00} in XXXX, which did not match the promotion displayed on XXXX  site when I applied. I explained that this was not what had been advertised. 

After spending over an hour and a half being transferred and getting conflicting information, I finally spoke with a supervisor who told me there was no {$200.00} statement credit promotion at all, that it was an old offer from XXXX. After all the back and forth I decided to have him open a report for this complaint. 

This experience has been incredibly frustrating and feels like a clear bait-and-switch tactic. XXXX misleading and advertising an outdated promotion with no clear disclaimers about its validity. Wells Fargo approved me under that false promise, running an inquiry on my credit, and is now denying the offer entirely.

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