Consumer complaint received 2025-01-27 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Didn't receive terms that were advertised
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
I have been waiting for a response to my CFPB Complaint ( No. XXXX ). I did not realize until I logged on to your Website today that you closed this complaint. 

On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I wrote ( in ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ) : " I would like to respond to the company, but I can not open the [ companys ] attachment. Please resend the attachment and give me time to respond. '' I never received your response and assumed that CFPB was simply backlogged with other cases. 

Now that I am able to see the companys response on your Website, I would ask you please to reopen this complaint because, though misconstrued by the bank, even the facts stated by the bank confirm the grounds for my complaint. 

In short, Wells Fargo mistakenly detected a problem in my address when I first tried to open an Everyday Checking Account on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. In fact, there was no security issue about my address which has remained the same throughout this episode. But because the bank found fault where there was none, the bank blocked my account, preventing me from using it until finally, on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, in a face-to-face conversation with a representative at the local branch, the bank removed the block and allowed me to make a new deposit. My initial deposit went missing while the account was blocked and ultimately had to be clawed back by XXXXXX/XX/XXXX, the source of these funds. 

Therefore, XXXX XXXX, XXXX was the first date that I had a usable account and was able to deposit funds that were not lost by the bank. The bank confirms that I then made two deposits totaling {$1000.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. Clearly, XX/XX/XXXX was within 90 days of XXXX XXXX : I thus qualified for the {$300.00} promotion which the bank offered for a new account funded by deposits totaling at least {$1000.00} within 90 days of opening the account. 

Incorrectly, the bank considers the account to have opened during the period when it unequivocally was blocked. My position is that by alleging a security problem when there was none, the bank manufactured a reason to deny me the promotion, while having interest-free use of my deposits during the interim. Feeling deceived, I finally closed the account, but the bank should honor its original offer. 

There should be no doubt about when the account was first opened. In reply to CFPB, the bank states : We received your first deposit of {$300.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I suspect that I am not the only Wells Fargo customer abused by its ruse to increase capital without having to comply with the promotional offer. To repeat, the bank appears not to have learned from its previous scandals. 

Please let me know via email if there is any way that I can assist, but I would ask you kindly not to send text messages to my phone, which is only for voice communication. Thank you for your attention and courtesy.

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