Ugh! - Wells Fargo

**StaceyS** · 01-06-2009, 09:28 AM

So, I'm checking my account online this morning (as I always do) and I find out Wells Fargo has decided to sign me up for their Bill Pay service for $6.95 per month. I use a free bill pay service, why would I pay for it from Wells Fargo? I think this is the last straw for me. I need to go to a different bank. It's going to be a hassel because my rent and auto insurance comes out automatically, but this is crazy. I don't understand how they can do this without me signing up??

**writtenonmybody** · 01-06-2009, 09:37 AM

That's not good. Did you sign up free when you opened the account? They messed up a couple accounts for us. Our children's accounts when we opened them. When they set them up they listed them as regular savings accounts when I told them they are minors. My teenage son was sent a debit card which I didn't want them to do and then him and my daughter started getting a monthly fee on the account in the beginning. I was pissed. I went in there had them close and fix the accounts. Thankfully it was an easy fix but then went on to tell me "This is a good time for your teenager to find out about money and how it all works" blah blah blah. A long lecture about how a debit card would be good for him and so on, including what happens when an account is overdrawn would be good for him. I pretty much told them it's none of their business how my son is learning about money and SAVINGS and they just need to do what I request or I'll be taking our money elsewhere. At that time we had a pretty large amount in our accounts and the banker stopped talking to me.

**StaceyS** · 01-06-2009, 10:24 AM

I've had the account for over 3 years. I used to use the bill pay until I found a free one, but cancelled that over a year ago.
About the kids' accounts, both of my boyfriends kids have gotten debit cards and excessive fees related. Apparently WF will charge an over draft and charge you an additional $5/day you're over drawn and then try to put the charge through again 4 days later causing another OD charge. DBF's son was charged over $100 before he found out. Poor kid works part-time at Mc D's, so that was probably at least a whole paycheck.

**JerryG** · 01-06-2009, 05:35 PM

DBF has had nothing but problems from Wells Fargo for YEARS! I've begged him to change. Their excessive fees are ludicrious.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-06-2009, 06:37 PM

We've been with Wells Fargo with both the previous Best Buy account and now with MDG. I don't necessarily want to do business with them ever again, so after MDG we're through. Luckily, Best Buy is now financed through HSBC. They were pretty good, however, at refunding a payment on a closed account.

We pay 28.9% on our store CC that was with MDG financed through Wells Fargo.

**frugalfriend** · 01-06-2009, 07:54 PM

I have bill pay with Wells Fargo and it is free. I don't understand why they are charging you and if you didn't sign up, how you got it?? I hope you have called them to find out what's up.

**StaceyS** · 01-06-2009, 08:45 PM

I've emailed. When I found it, it was 5 am, so I sent an email. I really don't understand how they can just take my money without me signing up for something. It doesn't make sense.
Sometimes my account is less than $3 because I (used to) live check by check. I'm trying to get out of that habit, but not to fund Wells Fargo!!

**Karla** · 01-07-2009, 02:25 AM

We closed out our accounts with them years ago...I'd rather not do any business with this bank personally.

**Denvergirlie** · 01-07-2009, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by StaceyS

Apparently WF will charge an over draft and charge you an additional $5/day you're over drawn and then try to put the charge through again 4 days later causing another OD charge. DBF's son was charged over $100 before he found out. Poor kid works part-time at Mc D's, so that was probably at least a whole paycheck.

WF aside all banks do this and quite frankly I'm surpirsed he was only charged $5 a day in overdraft fees. This unfortunately is a hard lesson he just learned.

Now back to the main topic, was the bill pay perhaps disclosed in your monthly statement in those new packets of fine print they send out from time to time? I hope the OP can get this fixed, but if they did notify you and you failed to read the material they sent you it's really not their fault. Sneaky, absolutely, but illegal, possibily no.

**UUMomof3** · 01-07-2009, 10:18 AM

Probably not specifically illegal, but WF is genius about skirting that line. You have to read every word of every piece of paper they send you, every box you click by if you use their online stuff.

**StaceyS** · 01-14-2009, 04:06 PM

I finally got a reply to my email asking why they did this...
Here's what they said:

"I have cancelled your Wells Fargo Bill Pay service and reversed your recent Bill Pay service fee of $6.95.

If the fee and the reversal are initiated within the same statement cycle, these items will not be reflected online or on your next statement as they simply offset each other. You can verify this by confirming the removal of the previously assessed fee.

Thank you for banking with Wells Fargo."

No word what so ever as to WHY they felt they could do this. Anyway, I now have a new checking account at a very friendly bank, that gave me free checking and a free box of checks.

Good riddance Wells Fargo.

**WV_mom_of2** · 01-16-2009, 12:25 PM

We have our mortgage with WF and I hate them! They do everything within their power to sucker you. I can't wait until we get it paid off and can be done with them forever!