After being in business for the last 30 years, we are used to getting an occasional bad check. Under normal circumstance we receive a NSF check back within the standard time of 7 to 10 days. This then gives us time to pursue the individual who wrote us the bad check, either through collection from the sheriffs office, lien or other legal remedies.
We have had a business checking account with Wells Fargo bank for several years & have never had any problems, until recently.
A couple of years ago, I had to pursue collection measures against an individual who owed us $3200.00 I filed a mechanics lein & also had a court ordered judgement against this individual to pay us this amount.
To my surprise, he finally showed up on August 17 to write me a check for the total amount of $3200.00. Delighted as I was, I immediately endorsed the check & went to Wells Fargo Bank to deposit it. 10 minutes later, I was calling the same Wells Fargo Bank, to let them know that the new teller had made an error on the deposit & listed it as a deposit for $320.00, therefore missing a 0. They assured me that everything would be taken care of, & within the next couple of days. 20 days later, & after a few other phone calls from me, Wells Fargo finally credited our account for the additonal $2800.00 dollars.
Then 85 days later, on November 30, I noticed on my bank statement that they had taken out $2800.00 without any noted explanation. I then called the customer service phone number & talked with a representative who could not figure it out. She then turned it over to investigations. One-1/2 weeks later I contacted this office again. I spoke to another service representative, who told me that the original $3200.00 check had bounced.
After talking with this representative, I was switched to a supervisor, who basically said that this is my problem to collect on this check.
I was amazed to hear this. One single check payable on a local, same small town bank, it took a total of 105 days for a turn-around? (20 days to deposit into our account, then 85 days later to come back to us.) Obviously, I am upset, because I feel that had this check been deposited in a normal timely manner, it would have cleared this individuals bank. Had the teller not made the error, I would not have to file this report.
What I still cannot figure out—is why $3200.00 remained in our account for a total of 85 days, & then $2800.00 of this check was bounced back. I have written the Wells Fargo executive office regarding this, but as of to-date have not heard anything back.
Due to this very unreasonable delay in notification, (note: we never received the bounced check back to us), we cannot take this check to the sheriffs office for collection, nor can I go back to court in order to obtain another judgement against this individual.
Thank You
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