Consumer complaint received 2025-06-21 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Account opened without my consent or knowledge
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Wells Fargo is in violation of the active CFPB consent order. 

In accordance with the order Wells Fargo is required to engage in transparent, lawful, and good-faith remediation of customer harm. Wells Fargo actions appear to be : ( 1 ) Obstructive ( denying a new mediation based on false grounds ), ( 2 ) Retaliatory ( hostility upon challenge ), and ( 3 ) Misleading ( falsely characterizing what the mediation resolved ).

I am asking the CFPB to intervene.

I am filing this complaint against Wells Fargo for continuing to misrepresent and deny resolution of unauthorized account openings in my name, separate from a prior mediation regarding a third-party identity protection product ( XXXX ). During the Wells Fargo mediation process in XXXX, I learned for the first time that Wells Fargo employees had opened multiple deposit accounts ( ending in XXXX, XXXX, and an overdraft protection account ) in my name without my authorization. This violation was never resolved during mediation related solely to the unauthorized XXXX ID protection product. 

Despite this, Wells Fargo is now falsely claiming these issues were resolved through that prior mediation, based solely on a post-mediation summary that I never reviewed, agreed to, or signed. The mediators notes do not mention any formal resolution of the unauthorized accounts and explicitly state I retained the right to file a CFPB complaint or pursue other remedies ( which includes a JAMS mediation related solely to the multiple unauthorized deposit accounts ). 

When I attempted to initiate a new mediation to resolve the unauthorized accounts through multiple faxed and XXXX mediation forms for the unauthorized accounts ( XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX ), Wells Fargo wrongfully rejected all my requests as duplicates. When I pointed out I had documentation these accounts were not resolved through mediation, Wells Fargo became hostile and implied I had recorded mediation they claimed was not allowed. This behavior appears retaliatory and designed to intimidate me from pursuing rightful remedies. 

Additionally, Wells Fargo filed an Identity Theft claim on my behalf in XXXX regarding the accounts in question. That claim was later denied, yet Wells Fargo still contacted Early Warning Services to remove those accounts from my file demonstrating they were disputed and problematic. These contradictory actions further prove that accounts were never properly resolved or authorized ( Wells Fargo provided me with an unsigned application ). This confirms harm or misreporting occurred. 

Wells Fargo is using its voluntary mediation program to block any further redress, despite acknowledging my right to pursue legal or regulatory action. Their behavior appears designed to exhaust the consumer rather than resolve ongoing violations. The CFPB should investigate whether Wells Fargo is : * Improperly refusing mediation for new violations; * Misclassifying multiple issues as resolved through a single, unrelated mediation; * Exploiting the cost of arbitration or court as a deterrent to accountability. 

XXXX XXXX misrepresentation of what was mediated, their refusal to allow remediation, and their retaliation when I challenged this are deceptive and abusive. Under the Dodd-Frank Act ( 12 U.S.C. 5531 ), this conduct constitutes Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ). 

I am seeking intervention from the CFPB to require Wells Fargo to : Acknowledge that the unauthorized account openings were not included in the XXXX mediation ; Allow separate and good-faith remediation of the unauthorized accounts ; Cease making false representations about what was resolved in mediation.

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