Being one month behing in payments is tough enough. I was more than thankful when a Wells Fargo collections employee suggested I send them a postdated check. She told me that this would keep the company from calling me and keep me in good standing with them. I was assured the check would not be deposited, but still included a note with the check to please not deposit it until the agreed date. It seemed like everyone would win.
After I told my wife how nice it is not to hear the phone ringing off the hook from Wells Fargo collections, she asked what I did. Then she freaked. She had been duped into this bad business practice by them before we were married. Again, I called my local branch office that there was a check on the way and was again assured that the check would be set aside when it came in and not deposited.
Three days before the check was SUPPOSED to be cashed, I notice a negative balance in my checking account. After calling my bank, I learned that it was of course the one from Wells Fargo. My bank rep also informed me that its illegal to write post-dated checks if you don't have the funds to cover them.
Here is where my opinion of this company truly eroded. Why would they encourage me to break the law? Do they benefit when my check is returned? Do they enjoy cashing a post-dated check when I specifically informed them it would hurt me financially?
After a phone call to my local branch, I was referred to a Las Vegas office that cashed my check. They told me all they did was cash checks, it was my branch that screwed up. I called back the branch. After informing the rep about my situation and letting her know that I feel Wells Fargo should re-imburse me for my banks returned check fees and/or overdraft protection fees because they broke our verbal contract she said she'd have to speak with a manager, and that since I'm not my wife, I'm not able to speak finances with the company. Three times in the past year we have faxed, written and called to let them know that I'm her husband and I handle the finances for our household. How do they keep losing THIS info?
Well the manager has yet to call me, every time I call the rep she is either in a meeting, out at the moment or hasn't had a chance to speak with her manager about this matter.
To sum up all the trouble Wells Fargo has cost me, about $100 in bank fees, $200 in returned checks.
Using Wells Fargo for ANY of your monetary needs is DANGEROUS. From what I've noticed there is a slew of complaints about questionable business practices and lots of reports of rude collections employees. Be forewarned.
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