I made a deposit to my Wells Fargo account and found that my balance was negative. When I went online to investigate I found that I had made a $42.00 error by withdrawing cash from my account rather than my wifes (joint accounts) and by forgetting to subtract an automatic payment. This was my error, indeed. However, because of the customer conscious way that Wells Fargo recognizes debits (they subtract the largest first), I wound up with 7 overdraft fees of $33 each for a total of $231 charged to me in overdraft fees on $42 worth of overdraft. We had plenty of money in the other account to cover the amount overdrafted, so it was not like we were "borrowing" the money from Wells Fargo.
I called the Wells Fargo Cusomer Care Center (not aptly named), and was told that the only way that they would be able to assist me is in the case of a bank error. At this point each rep that I spoke with, including the 'supervisor', reviewed their policy with me as if I were an imbecile. I admitted to them that I had made an error, but that I had already made deposits well in excess of the amount overdrafted and charged to fees. All that I asked is that the penalties be made resonable: average transaction in overdraft $6.50,7 overdrafted transactions, $33 per overdraft for a total of $231 in fees. I asked that they charge me for only 1 overdraft fee on the basis that had they deducted the $111 transaction at the pharmacy I would have incurred only 1 overdraft fee of $33. I was again told that this was my fault and that they could not help me.
I find it disheartening that adults are treated as children by other adults that would appreciate true service when they have a customer based issue. I also find it sad to think that our paltry mortgage, savings, line of credit, and checking mean nothing to such a large corporation.
Please consider this experience before you decide to do business with Wells Fargo Bank.
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