Consumer complaint received 2026-01-29 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Fees or interest — Charged too much interest
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
From XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  through XX/XX/XXXX, I believe Wells Fargos payment allocation and/or account structure caused me to be charged purchase interest even when I made large payments, while my 0 % promotional balance transfer continued to be paid down. 

Background : On XX/XX/XXXX, I completed a balance transfer under a 0 % promotional offer for 12 months. I paid a {$500.00} balance transfer fee to obtain these terms. My understanding was that this would finance the transferred amount at 0 % for the promotional period. Being told to pay the balance in full would effectively negate the promotional terms I paid for. 

Key dates, amounts, and what happened : XXXX XXXX  : I made a payment of {$4600.00} ( minimum payment due for that statement cycle was {$140.00}, due XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ). My statements show my 0 % promotional balance decreased from {$10000.00} ( as of XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ) to {$8900.00} ( as of XX/XX/XXXXXXXX   ), a decrease of {$1500.00}, indicating that portion of payment was applied to the promotional balance. During the same cycle, Wells Fargo charged purchase interest of {$56.00} ( Purchases APR 23.49 % ) and calculated it using a Balance Subject to Interest Rate ( average daily balance ) of {$2800.00}. 

XXXX XXXX : I called Wells Fargo to complain about being charged purchase interest despite making large payments. Wells Fargo offered a {$50.00} courtesy credit, which I accepted. I asked to have this issue escalated because I didn't think Wells Fargo was applying payments properly. 

XXXX XXXX : Wells Fargo Executive Support called me regarding my complaint. During this call, I explained that I had made large payments well in excess of my former purchases and minimum payment and was charged interest, and that my promotional balance was being reduced while purchase interest continued to be charged. I asked for specific instructions on what I needed to do to avoid purchase interest charges without paying off the 0 % promotional balance transfer ( because paying the full balance would negate the promotional terms I paid a {$500.00} fee to obtain ). The executive support representative could not provide a clear method other than stating that the only way to avoid purchase interest was to pay the balance in full, including the promotional balance I paid a fee to access. The representative also told me that if the issue occurred again, I should call back and request another {$50.00} courtesy credit. 

XXXX XXXX  : I made a payment of {$7300.00} ( minimum payment due for that statement cycle was {$200.00}, due XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ). I specifically made this month 's payment well in advance of the due date. My statements show my 0 % promotional balance decreased from {$8900.00} ( as of XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ) to {$7200.00} ( as of XX/XX/XXXX ), a decrease of {$1700.00}, again indicating a large portion of the payment was applied to the promotional balance. During the same cycle, Wells Fargo charged purchase interest of {$74.00} ( Purchases APR 23.49 % ) and calculated it using a Balance Subject to Interest Rate of {$3700.00}. 

XXXX XXXX : I called to request the additional {$50.00} credit I was told to request if the issue happened again, but I was denied and told the courtesy credit is only available once per calendar year. I opened a new case with Wells Fargo on XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ( case number XXXX ). 

My dispute : I am disputing the way payments were applied and the resulting interest charges. I expected amounts paid above the minimum payment to be applied to the highest APR balances first, and I expected Wells Fargo to provide a clear method to avoid purchase interest while maintaining the 0 % promotional balance transfer terms. Instead, I continued to be charged purchase interest, and am offered no advise to avoid interest charges other than to pay the balance in full, negating the 0 % promotional terms I paid a {$500.00} fee to receive.

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