Early June
I received a letter from Wells Fargo stating that I was overdrawn $673.09 on my checking account. I wrote back immediately requesting more information. I could not possibly be overdrawn because I havent written any checks on this account for over a year. (I keep this checking account open to allow us a discount on Foreign Currency purchase)
I received a reply from Wells Fargo that said, We received your letter and will investigate. So, I waited.
The next letter, dated June 16, from Wells Fargo said, (quote) We received your letter regarding an overdraft for your checking account. Our records show your account became overdrawn March 20, with a $673.09 overdraft. Your checking account has been closed for overdraft. This information was reported to ChexSyxtems where it will remain in on file for 5 years. Your account was also referred to VanRu for collection. Please call them at 1-800-477-0777 for assistance.
Signed, Debbie Hein, Operations Manager for Customer Correspondence, Wells Fargo Bank. No number to call her back. Just a mailing address to Portland Oregon.
I checked my online statements to my regular checking account USBank. It showed canceled checks images for loan payment to Wells Fargo clear back to March 1. Other payments of on my loan were available but archived back to November but I would have to request them to be able to see the front and back of each months check to make sure they were to Wells Fargo. (only payment I make that is that exact amount-it must be them but I can't prove that until they are un-archived)
It is the weekend. No banks are open.
Monday morning I call the Wells Fargo bank in Pleasant Hill where I originally opened the checking account. Everyone is in meetings until 11AM. I call another Wells Fargo branch, Euclid office. Same thing, everyone is in meetings until 11AM. I get in my car and go to my regular bank - USBANK and request copies of my canceled checks for this loan payment to Wells Fargo back to November. They tell me it will be 1 or 2 days to get them out of archive.
I then go to the downtown branch of Wells Fargo branch at 666 Walnut in Des Moines in hopes to speak to anyone who is NOT in meetings.
I speak with loan officer, Karen Cason. I explain the situation. Show her my canceled checks back to March 1. Tell her I have images that show I have paid back to November but will not have them for a couple days. There is some mistake. I am not late on my loan payment. I do not understand why Wells Fargo took money out of my checking account to make a loan payment. Ms. Cason says her computer is almost dead and she is not pulling up anything that can be of help to me. I ask to speak to her Supervisor.
While we are waiting for her Supervisor. I give Ms. Cason my July payment for Wells Fargo loan that is in a stamped envelope ready to be mailed. I ask her to please post that to my loan payment, since I was there anyway. She said she would. It is for Julys payment but its only June 23 (I like to be early on my payments, not late)
Supervisor/Manager, Jennie Martin comes into Karen Cason office and tells me, Everything is OK, we are square She said, The payment you just gave us will be applied to Junes payment, so were ok for now.
I say wait - NO! We are not square! The payment I just gave you is for July, not June. I am not behind in my payments. Wells Fargo stole money out of my checking account to make a payment on this loan, without my permission and I am not delinquent.
Then Wells Fargo closed my checking account because that caused an overdraft.
Then Wells Fargo sent me a letter saying they have turned my name over to collection agency, whom by the way, have been calling me day and night wanting money for an overdraft that is not overdrawn.
Then Wells Fargo turned my name over to a credit agency with a bad mark against me which they say will remain there for 5 years.
NO, we are NOT SQUARE.
Ms. Martin said she would have to talk to *her* Supervisor, and get back with me. She took my cell phone number and a copy of all the canceled checks. I told her I could get copies of my archived checks from USBANK but it would be a couple of days. She said she would get back with me. I asked her to please stop the collection agency calls until we get this situation settled.
I never heard from Jennie Martin again. Ever.
I never heard from Karen Cason again. Ever.
But the collection agency keeps calling and calling. I tried to tell them that it is a mistake. I offered them Jennie Martin and Karen Casons name and phone number. They refused to take that information. They said they work for Wells Fargo and if what I was telling them was true, then Wells Fargo would have to be the one to call them.
I tried several times to call Karen Cason and Jennie Martin. I left messages on their voice mail to please call me right away and please stops the harassing collection agency calls.
I remember a person whom helped me with this original loan at Wells Fargo. Melanie Hurt who is now at the Ingersoll office of Wells Fargo in Des Moines. She has been promoted several times. Big glass office. But, I go there in hopes she remembers me. She does, sorta. She sits down and listens to my situation. Ms. Hurt said she was busy with appointments the rest of the day but would have her Assistant help me. I figured that was the last time Id hear from her. But, no. She personally called me back later that day. Told me she found that it WAS a mistake on Wells Fargo part and they would issue a refund the money of the money taken out of my checking account, and open a new checking account back up for me.
I received another letter from Wells Fargo on July 7, again from Debbie Hein who is in Wells Fargo Customer Correspondence office in Oregon. (Quote) We have received your further correspondence regarding your checking account. We confirm your account has been closed May 20 with a balance owing of $639.09. The information has been reported to ChexXyxtems where it will remain in their files for five years. You can pay your overdraft in cash or with a cashiers check at any convenient Wells Fargo banking locations or mail a cashiers check. Wells Fargo Recoveries. San Francisco, CA.
I went back to downtown Wells Fargo bank to speak to manager, Jennie Martin at 666 Walnut in Des Moines to find out about the checking account and the error. Ms Martin wrote down the dollar amount that would be refunded. I said, "Wait - That is not correct amount Wells Fargo took out for an overdraft fee and probably a late fee on my loan payment." (?) I also scolded her for not calling me back or following up with Karen Cason to call me back. I told her I was and still am very scared. Nobody was or is listening to me. Nobody has explained why this happened. I have letters that say my credit has been tarnished for 5 years. My checking account closed and turned over to a collection agency that has been calling me night and day. Wells Fargo has ignored my pleas to correct this matter. The collection agency is asking questions like, When do you think you can pay this? Do you still work at the same place? Is there another number we can contact you at? Calling me on my cell phone at the grocery store. Calling me 7 PM at night. Calling me before work. And, you and and Karen Cason are not returning my phone calls. I was about to go crazy!
Ms. Martin offered no apology or explaination, she only looked at her computer and assured me I would receive the proper amount back. I finally gave up and asked Ms. Martin for my file, which I gave her on June 23, that had my canceled checks and other proof that I was current in payments. She said she could not give it back to me at this time until she made copies of it. Besides, the file was on Karen Casons desk and Ms. Cason was with a customer. Ms Martin didnt want to interrupt her. She said she would have to mail it to me.
I still dont have that file. I dont have my money. I dont know if my name is tarnished on the credit reporting service. I dont know if the collection agency calls will return (they finally agreed to a 30 day stay to give me a chance to clear up this matter)
If this can happen to me, it can (and has no doubt has) happened to many elderly and less fortunate would do not have the tenacity and resources to fight Wells Fargo!
I will report back the out-come. *sigh*
Canders86
Mitchellville, Iowa
U.S.A.
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