Consumer complaint received 2025-06-10 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern at Wells Fargo, I am writing to formally file a complaint and demand immediate restitution regarding Wells Fargos gross mishandling of a {$9500.00} cashiers check made payable to XXXX, XXXX XXXX. Due to repeated failures on your part, I was rendered literally homelessforced to sleep outside on the sidewalk in the same clothes for dayswhile my funds were locked in a system failure that no one at your institution could explain or resolve. What happened to me was preventable, inexcusable, and deeply damaging to my life, my business, and my dignity. 
On XX/XX/year>, I deposited a properly endorsed cashiers check into my Wells Fargo account. Despite this being one of the most secure financial instruments available, the deposit was inexplicably rejected. No one could tell me why. There was no internal note, no official explanation, and no one available to help. The department that made the decision simply went home for the weekend, leaving me with no access to my money and no recourse. That decision destroyed my weekand derailed my life. 
The legal copy of the cashiers check was mailed back to me without tracking, certification, or any proof of delivery. This reckless and unprofessional action placed me at risk of theft or fraud. A check of that magnitude should have been protected and tracked. It wasnt. 
This created a XXXX delay in access to my own money. And this wasnt discretionary spending. This was a cash-for-keys payoutmoney I had negotiated to secure new housing after being forced to relocate my business and residence. I had already signed paperwork and held the keys. Because I couldnt access the money, I lost the apartment. It was given to the next person in line. I now have to start the entire search over from scratch with less money, more expenses, and no place to go. 
Throughout this nightmare, I spoke to over two dozen Wells Fargo employees. Not one of them offered me an ounce of help. I was literally sleeping on a food-stained sidewalk and all I got were robotic responses like we understand how frustrating this must be. No you dont. No one who actually understood what was happening to me would have treated me this way. 
The only ray of lightthe only person who made a differencewas your employee named XXXX. She actually listened. She treated me like a human being. She gave me accurate, helpful, actionable information when no one else could. She was compassionate, clear, responsive, and made me feel like someone finally gave a XXXX. She was instrumental in helping resolve this. If Wells Fargo has even one employee to be proud of, its her. Everyone else failed to show the slightest concern for what I was going through, but XXXX showed real humanity. She restored a piece of my dignity when everything else was falling apart. 
Meanwhile, my apartment is gone. I cant show my face at U-Haul after what happened. I was forced to return the truck without fuel, because I had no money. My hotel reservations were canceled, and I was hit with cancellation fees. My public storage units first payment bounced and I was nearly locked out. My digital wallet was flagged for fraud, locked down, and is still unusable to this day. I couldnt pay the movers, who walked off the job. I had to leave behind valuable personal items because I had no way to move them. I went days without proper food or shelter. My name and reputation were damaged. All because of XXXX XXXX complete lack of competence and care. 
And when I finally received the returned check on XX/XX/XXXX, I spent over three hours in a branch managers office attempting to cash it. After all that time, I was told I couldnt cash the checkI had to redeposit it and wait again. Eight days. Thats how long Wells Fargo held onto my money while I had nothing.

One banker had the nerve to tell me, When you make a deposit, you relinquish your rights. That is offensive and unacceptable. At every point in this experience, I was treated like a criminal or a problem. Never like a customer, and certainly not like a human being in crisis. 
And dont try to deflect this onto the issuer of the check. Your people repeatedly told me to go back to the issuer and request a new check. That was legally unnecessary and practically impossible. The check was made out to XXXX, XXXX XXXX. That comma is understood legally and in banking terms as or, not and. My single endorsement was valid. Your institution chose to misapply policy, caused me financial and personal harm, and never took responsibility. 
I challenge you to listen to every one of the recorded calls on this matter. Hear the tone of voice I was met with, the indifference, the contradictions, the lack of answers, and the complete absence of urgency. I was placed on hold for XXXX minutes at a time. No XXXX was available. Every time I asked for help, I was dismissed or redirected. Except for XXXX, no one showed one ounce of care. 
As a direct result of your banks negligence : * I lost access to {$9500.00} for 8 days * I lost my new apartment * I became homeless and was forced to sleep on the sidewalk * I couldnt refuel or pay for my XXXX XXXX * I was humiliated and cant go back to XXXX XXXX I lost hotel reservations and paid cancellation fees * A public storage payment bounced and nearly locked me out * My digital wallet is still unusable * I was unable to pay the movers and had to abandon valuable items * I went without food or shelter * I was treated with condescension and robotic indifference * I suffered emotional distress, reputational harm, and severe anxiety * I was mocked with lines like We know how you feel, while I was literally surviving on {$4.00} * My first week at a new public storage facility was already compromised by your institution 's failure This isnt just about a deposit error. This is about the complete breakdown of a banks responsibility to protect, support, and respect its customersespecially in a crisis. This is about being dismissed, discarded, and disregarded by every layer of your organization while I begged for help and lived on XXXX XXXX. 
I demand : 1. A formal, written apology from Wells Fargo 2. Financial restitution of no less than {$5000.00} to cover housing losses, cancellation fees, reputational harm, and emotional distress and I reserve the right to pursue additional damages if this is not resolved promptly. 
If I do not receive a satisfactory response within XXXX hours, I will escalate this matter immediately to : * The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) * The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ( OCC ) * XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX And any and all relevant news media outlets and social media platforms I will tell my story publicly and in full detail. I will name names, share timelines, and expose every failure. This was not just poor service. This was a personal and financial disaster that Wells Fargo directly caused. 
Your systems failed. Your staff failed. Only one personMontreasadid their job. And I will not stop until this is addressed properly, compensated fully, and acknowledged clearly. 
Sincerely, XXXX 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 monetary relief