Consumer complaint received 2025-11-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
What happened is that an account identified as XXXX ( Wells Fargo ) is reporting on my credit file as a collection/charge-off with a past-due balance of {$860.00}, even though I never opened any account with Wells Fargo, never signed any XXXX XXXX them, and never authorized them to furnish any account under my information. This tradeline is being reported as a derogatory, closed, charged-off account, and it is showing a negative payment history and delinquency information that I did not create, authorize, or participate in. Because this account does not belong to me, the reporting is inaccurate, incomplete, and unverifiable. 

I first became aware of this account while reviewing my credit report. The XXXX tradeline showed a past-due balance of {$860.00}, reported as a derogatory charge-off, and included delinquency markers such as late payments and a charged-off status. The account allegedly closed on XX/XX/year>, according to the report, yet I have never had any financial relationship with Wells Fargo during that time periodor at any time. I have never opened a credit card, line of credit, loan, or any other consumer credit product with XXXX I have never signed a contract, submitted an application, or engaged in any transaction that would justify a Wells Fargo tradeline appearing on my credit file. 

Because I do NOT own this account and did not authorize its reporting, I promptly disputed the tradeline with all three credit reporting agencies, as required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). During my dispute, I explained that the account was not mine, the {$860.00} balance was not mine, and I never received any documentation from Wells Fargo that would support or validate the existence of the account. Under FCRA 611 ( a ), the credit bureaus are obligated to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation into disputed items. Despite my detailed dispute, the credit bureaus responded with a generic statement claiming the account had been verified as accurate. 

However, no real verification ever occurred. 

A proper verification under federal law requires Wells Fargo to provide supporting documentation such as : A signed application bearing my signature The original contract for credit services Records of identity verification used at account opening Copies of monthly statements A complete payment history Transaction records Documentation showing how the {$860.00} delinquency developed Any written correspondence allegedly mailed to me The internal account history logs Customer service notes Evidence showing the accounts opening date, usage, and closure Copies of any credit-limit agreements or disclosures Evidence of any collection activity None of these items were provided to me at any time. 

The credit bureaus failed to supply a Method of Verification XXXX XXXX XXXX as required under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ). This law states that when a consumer disputes an account and requests a MOV, the bureau must disclose the exact procedure used to verify the accountincluding what documents were reviewed, who verified the information, and how identity was confirmed. The bureaus have not produced any procedural details, documents, or evidence, which strongly suggests that no meaningful investigation was conducted. 

Instead, it appears the credit bureaus used the e-Oscar automated system, which simply forwards the dispute as a numerical code to the furnisher and receives a yes/no response. This system does not satisfy the legal standard of a reasonable reinvestigation when the account is alleged to be fraudulent or not belonging to the consumer. 

Furthermore, the reporting of the XXXX account shows several inconsistencies that reinforce that the account is not mine. The account history includes late payments and a charge-off date that do not match my financial history, my credit behavior, or any account I have ever owned. The amounts, dates, and payment pattern do not align in any way with my known accounts. 

Additionally, the presence of a Wells Fargo account on my report is impossible because I have never opened or maintained a financial product with Wells Fargo. If such an account existed, I would have received : Account opening disclosures Monthly statements Emails, letters, or alerts about payments Late notices Charge-off notices Collection calls ( which I never received ) Form 1099-C ( if applicable ) Any form of communication I have received none of the above. 

That further proves the tradeline is not legitimate. 

Because this is an alleged charge-off account with a past-due balance of {$860.00}, the negative reporting has significantly harmed my credit score, my creditworthiness, and my ability to obtain fair financial opportunities. Charge-off accounts are some of the most damaging items that can appear on a credit file, and having XXXX falsely attributed to me is extremely harmful. 

This inaccurate tradeline affects multiple aspects of my financial life : It reduces my credit score It makes lenders view me as financially irresponsible It results in higher interest rates on loans It changes the underwriting outcomes for credit applications It can impact employment decisions where credit checks are used It can negatively affect rental applications It may influence insurance rates Having an inaccurate, legally unsupported charge-off of {$860.00} linked to my name creates an unfair and harmful impression of my credit behavior. 

Because I never owned the XXXX account, Wells Fargo must be required to produce original documentation proving ownership. If they can not, FCRA requires that the account be deleted. 

Wells Fargo, as a furnisher of credit information, must comply with FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ), which states : A furnisher shall not furnish information that it knows or has reasonable cause to believe is inaccurate.

When I disputed the account, Wells Fargo was required under FCRA 623 ( b ) to conduct a full, complete, good-faith investigation. This investigation requires : Reviewing all relevant information Comparing account data with identity verification records Checking signatures and documents Determining whether fraud or a mixed file occurred Reviewing disputes thoroughly Correcting or deleting inaccurate information It does not simply require clicking a button to verify the disputed account. 

Additionally, Wells Fargo was required to mark the account as disputed by consumer under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ), yet this may not have been done properly or consistently. Failure to mark an account as disputed is misleading to lenders and violates federal law. 

Wells Fargo also has obligations under the federal XXXX XXXX reporting standards. If they fail to include accurate : date of first delinquency charge-off date balance history status codes compliance condition codes then the tradeline must be updated or removed. 

When I examined the reporting of the XXXX account, I found errors and incomplete data fields, further proving that the account is not mine and was not verified properly. 

When an account is falsely reported, several possibilities must be investigated : Identity theft someone may have opened an account using my information Mixed file my credit file may contain someone else 's data Clerical error inaccurate loan data was attributed to my profile System merging error Wells Fargo may have misassigned the tradeline Incomplete data reporting leading to erroneous credit file linking At no point did Wells Fargo investigate these possibilities or provide documentation ruling them out. 

Instead, the account remained and continued reporting as though it were valid. 

Because this is an alleged Wells Fargo charge-off, several documents should exist if the account were real : Full transactional payment ledger Charge-off accounting schedules Internal servicing notes Collections activity log Communications register Copies of mailed notices Risk scoring and underwriting notes Application records stored in Wells Fargos system None of this has been presented in response to my disputes. 

The account allegedly closed on XX/XX/year>, meaning Wells Fargo has had ample time to produce documentation. Their failure to do so is a strong indication that the account can not be validated. 

Also, Wells Fargo never attempted to collect the alleged {$860.00} balance from me : No calls No letters No emails No collection notices No attempts at repayment arrangements No offers to settle No 1099-C issuance If the debt were real, Wells Fargo would have attempted to contact me or collect it before charging it off. 

Because none of these steps occurred, the account is clearly invalid. 

The harm caused by the false reporting continues to affect : my access to credit my credit score my financial opportunities my reputation as a responsible consumer All of these damages are occurring because Wells Fargo is reporting an account that does not belong to me and has not been verified in accordance with federal law. 

To summarize what happened : A Wells Fargo account is reporting on my credit file that I do NOT own. 

The reported past-due balance is {$860.00}. 

The account is described as a charge-off with delinquency history. 

I never opened, signed for, or authorized this account. 

I disputed the account with all credit bureaus. 

Wells Fargo did not provide documentation. 

The credit bureaus failed to provide a Method of Verification. 

The verification process was incomplete and likely automated. 

No signed contract exists. 

No payment history exists. 

No account opening documents exist. 

No evidence connecting me to this account exists. 

The account has harmed my credit score and financial standing. 

The reporting violates multiple FCRA provisions. 

The account is inaccurate and must be removed. 

Because I do not own the XXXX account, and because no proof of ownership has ever been provided, I am requesting CFPB assistance to ensure that the account is removed entirely from all credit reports.

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