Consumer complaint received 2026-03-26 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Repossession — Lender trying to repossess or disable the vehicle
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, WA XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Via : consumerfinance.gov/complaint RE : Complaint Against Wells Fargo Dealer Services Wrongful Repossession Based on Documented False Pretexts, Unlawful Deficiency Collection, and Fabricated or Misrepresented Call Record Account No. Ending : XXXX | WF Loan Account : XXXX | VIN : XXXX XXXX Case No. ( XXXX ) : XXXX XXXX | XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. ( XXXX ) : XXXX I. Summary I am filing this complaint against Wells Fargo Dealer Services ( WFDS ) for the wrongful repossession of my XXXX XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX, the collection of a {$5900.00} deficiency balance I did not legally owe, and Wells Fargo 's ongoing refusal to correct their records or refund the deficiency paid despite documentary evidence that directly refutes every stated justification for the repossession. I am seeking a full refund of the deficiency paid, correction of all adverse credit reporting, and a federal investigation into Wells Fargo 's conduct. XXXX. The Core Fraud : Wells Fargo Claimed No Insurance Existed While Listed as Lienholder on the Active Policy This is the central fact of this complaint : Wells Fargo Dealer Services stated in writing in correspondence to me ( XX/XX/XXXX ) and to the Washington State Attorney General ( XX/XX/XXXX ) that the vehicle was impounded because 'there was no insurance or contact information found in order to reach the registered owner. ' This statement is demonstrably false. I have in my possession a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX document ( Policy No. XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX ) which establishes all of the following : The XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, was actively insured under a Washington XXXX policy The policy effective date was XX/XX/XXXX XXXX days before the XX/XX/XXXX impound The document explicitly states : 'There was no lapse in coverage during this policy period ' Wells Fargo Dealer Services is listed by name as the Lienholder on this active policy Wells Fargo , as the named lienholder on an active Progressive policy, had a direct legal and financial relationship with that policy. They could have contacted XXXX at any time to verify coverage. Instead, they told me, the Attorney General, and their own investigation teams that no insurance existed a claim their own lienholder status on the policy makes implausible on its face. XXXX. Wells Fargo Had Owner Contact Information from Day One The Washington State Department of Licensing printed a Vehicle Impound Notice on XX/XX/XXXX the same day as the impound identifying me by name and address as the registered owner, and Wells Fargo by name as the legal owner. This notice was mailed to both parties within XXXX hours per Washington law. A Custody and Sale of Abandoned Vehicle Notice dated XX/XX/XXXX, again identified me by name and address, with Wells Fargo named as legal owner. Wells Fargo 's claim that no contact information was available to reach the registered owner was false when they made it. They had my name and address through official XXXX channels no later than XX/XX/XXXX. IV. I Was Present at the Impound Yard and Ready to Retrieve My Vehicle I personally visited XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, WA XXXX ) to retrieve my vehicle. I was unable to drive it away only because the front left tire had been destroyed by a law enforcement spike strip during the traffic stop on XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The tow yard refused to allow tire replacement on their premises. I lacked the immediate funds to pay for a mandatory off-site tow to a tire shop in addition to the impound fees. I left the yard intending to return with funds. The moment I stepped out of the yard, a Wells Fargo representative who was physically present audibly authorized pickup of my XXXX XXXX. My mother, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), had driven me to the yard that day and is a witness to these events. I had not abandoned the vehicle. I was present, I intended to retrieve it, and Wells Fargo seized it opportunistically at the exact moment I stepped away to arrange funds for repairs. V. Loan Payments Were Current As documented in my XXXX AGO complaint correspondence, my loan payments were current through the month of repossession ( XX/XX/XXXX ), paid from my First Tech Federal Business Account for XXXX XXXX. The last payment was made on XX/XX/XXXX. I was not in default on my loan. There was no payment-based justification for repossession. VI. The Deficiency Balance Was Not Legally Owed Because the repossession was wrongful premised on false insurance and owner-identification pretexts, conducted against an owner who was present and intending to retrieve the vehicle, and not triggered by a loan default the resulting deficiency of {$5900.00} was never legally collectible. I paid this balance under duress and without knowledge that the underlying repossession may have been unlawful. Additionally, under Washington State law ( RCW 62A.9A ), a secured creditor who fails to comply with the statutory requirements governing repossession and post-repossession procedures XXXX lose the right to collect any deficiency. The timeline of competing notices a DOL auction notice dated XX/XX/XXXX scheduling auction for XX/XX/XXXX, followed by Wells Fargo 's own UCC Article 9 Notice of Plan to Sell dated XX/XX/XXXX indicating private sale after XX/XX/XXXX warrants scrutiny as to whether the notice and sale process was commercially reasonable and legally compliant. XXXX. The Disputed XX/XX/XXXX Call Wells Fargo 's XX/XX/XXXX case closure letter introduced a new factual claim : that on XX/XX/XXXX, I told Wells Fargo I was 'not interested in retrieving the vehicle. ' I categorically deny this. I have never made such a statement. Wells Fargo now uses this alleged statement as the primary basis for closing my complaint. When I requested the call recording or transcript, I was told a court order is required. Wells Fargo can not simultaneously rely on a recording to deny my claim and refuse to produce it for review. I request that the CFPB compel production of this recording as part of its investigation. If the recording does not support Wells Fargo 's characterization or does not exist that constitutes a material misrepresentation to a consumer in a formal complaint proceeding. XXXX. History of Complaints This matter has been actively disputed since XXXX. I filed a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) in XX/XX/XXXX. Wells Fargo responded to that complaint on XX/XX/XXXX, repeating the false insurance claim. I filed a subsequent complaint with Wells Fargo in early XXXX, which was closed on XX/XX/XXXX with findings I dispute. I am now filing with the CFPB as the appropriate federal escalation. XXXX. XXXXpecific Requests Order Wells Fargo to refund the full deficiency balance of {$5900.00} paid on account XXXX, on grounds that the repossession was wrongful and the deficiency was unlawfully collected Compel production of the complete audio recording and/or transcript of the XX/XX/XXXX call Investigate the false insurance pretext given Wells Fargo 's own lienholder status on the active Progressive policy ( No. XXXX, effective XX/XX/XXXX ) Investigate whether the notice and sale process complied with XXXX XXXX 's commercially reasonable standard Order Wells Fargo to correct or delete all adverse credit reporting on this account with XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX Investigate whether Wells Fargo 's repeated false statements to me and to the WA Attorney General constitute unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices under 12 U.S.C. 5531 X. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Policy XXXX, effective XX/XX/XXXX explicitly states no lapse in coverage ; names Wells Fargo DLR SVCS as lienholder WA XXXX XXXX Impound Notice, printed XX/XX/XXXX names XXXX XXXX as registered owner, Wells Fargo as legal owner WA XXXX XXXX and Sale of Abandoned Vehicle Notice, XX/XX/XXXX names registered owner and Wells Fargo as legal owner Uniform Washington State Tow/Impound and Inventory Record, Case/Evidence No. XXXX documents vehicle, driver, and impound circumstances Wells Fargo Notice of Plan to Sell Property ( UCC Article 9 notice ), dated XX/XX/XXXX Wells Fargo deficiency calculation letter, dated XX/XX/XXXX deficiency of {$5900.00} Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX XXXX collection letter, XX/XX/XXXX Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX letter responding to WA AG complaint, XX/XX/XXXX Wells Fargo Dealer Services letter, XX/XX/XXXX repeats false insurance claim Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX letter, XX/XX/XXXX introduces disputed XX/XX/XXXX call claim Washington XXXX XXXX complaint No. XXXX documentation, filed XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( present at impound yard day of Wells Fargo pickup ) I am prepared to provide physical copies of all documents upon request. Respectfully submitted, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, WA XXXX

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