Wells is HQ'ed in Minneapolis. They were bought by Norwest, but the combined company kept the Wells branding.

The money sometimes gets "frozen" while being transferred through the system in the arctic State of MN.

Thanks Chris :-)

I recently had a similar/worst experience at Bank of America. They closed down my account because of a human mistake in verifying a check. It was rectified 3 months later, much to my angered frustration. I suggest you try Washington Mutual. They make funds in deposited checks available immediately based on your credit score. So far, all my checks, no matter how big, have cleared immediately after deposit. Basically, they take a calculated risk in clearing the check based on your credit history. I never thought that free banking can mean better service. Anyways, hope it helps.

I had a recent horrific experience with Wells Fargo Auto Finance when they took a payment out of my checking account for a car I no longer had. Once they acknowledged their mistake, they took their sweet time in refunding my money. After numerous, frustrating calls to their so-called customer service center in AZ, where I received a different version of what was happening every time I called, I resorted to calling a friend who works for Wells locally, and she came to my rescue. I will never again do business with that company.

Shelly, thanks for sharing your experience with Wells Fargo. You'd think they would at least leave a comment here.

As I've said before, we'll eventually get over our frustration with Wells Fargo but the search engines will dredge up our displeasure again and again.

Wells Fargo could leave a comment, provide their side of the story...

I am posting a complaint agianst a branch of Wells Fargo and it is the one in Torrance California on Crenshaw Blvd. in the Vons grocery store. I had a family emergency and needed money from my account and they would not release my money to me. The funds were available and for some reason that they gave that didn't make any sense at all. They tried to say that they had to hold it one more day. I went to another Wells Fargo Branch and they gave me my money no questions asked and I asked them is there a hold or anything they said no its available. I was mad as hell my family memeber needed a surgery I might have not been able to get it because they play games with people's money. Its not right and I am going to take further action.

Recently I made a deposit by an ATM in the amount of 1,187.00. They posted the deposited then they meaning Wells Fargo took out the money. I called the 1 800 number and they told me that because the check was written to me and my wifes name they could not deposit check via ATM. This is due to the account being in my name only however, my wife did endorce the check for me to deposit. They then told me that I could have went to the teller and cashed the check with no problem. All of this was done on Friday 10/26/2007. By Monday I find out that I am overdrawn 400 dollars because they did not honor check. I had to tranfer money from my wifes Wellsfargo account to cover overdraft fees which were out of this world. The bank in fact made a shit load of money from me and probably countless others in this world by this practice. Do you know that I have deposited large insurance dividen checks made out to me and my wife via ATM with no problem before. I really believe that this bank creates these practices to make more money they don't deserve. By the way they are going to return a copy of my state refund check and a reason they would not honor it by first class mail 7 to 10 days. What good is a copy of my check?

Thank you for your Wells Fargo stories. You would not believe how many I get by email... And STILL no word from Wells Fargo!!! Are they listening? Why don't they put their side of the story? Google will kick up my Wells Fargo rant again and again for people to find, and Wells Fargo doesn't care?! Wells Fargo has some blogs which are flagged: "Welcome to the conversation." There is a conversation over here and on other sites that Wells Fargo doesn't care to join. I recommend highly that people stay away from this bank.

I deposited an insurance check 2 days ago in the amount of $9,460. I was informed that because it was an insurance check, the funds would be held for 11 business days, that's literally 3 weeks! Bear in mind that this check is for a cash-value surrender on a life insurance policy, so in no form or fashion is it contingent on any further approval by this insurance company. After 3 calls to WF today, I have learned this. They will not release the normal amount of $5,000 and keep the hold on the rest above 5,000 because......"they aren't obligated to do that in this situation". That really made me flip my lid. I've been with the bank for over 5 years and have never so much as asked them to do anything besides renew an aging debit card.
Tomorrow I'm heading to the branch where the deposit was made and chewing some ass.

I think after this whole debacle is over I'll be banking elsewhere.

Has anyone noticed that just about everyone has mentioned the 10 BUSINESS day and that does not include the day it was deposited the funds, it is considered the next day. So lets say you deposit that check at 6:00 am, it is a good check oh lets jest say for the heck of it a refund from the IRS. Well now you could not be around to deposit the check with a teller because you are on the way to work and you cannot do it when you get back from work because it is now 7:00 p.m so you would have to wait until Saturday to deposit the funds. If you are with Wells Fargo trust me they will find a way to charge you a fee for you not depositing that check when you recieved. So you do the only option you have. You run it through ATM to deposit the funds. Wells Fargos policy is to hold that check for 10 days because it was deposited into an ATM, even if you went to the teller, they would hold it for 10 days they just tell you that they would have released the funds within the "normal" two to three days. They want you inside the bank to try and sell you more of the "banking services to make your life easier". The bottom line is Wells Fargo has a standing policy to hold at their discretion (anything over $500.00) for 10 days. Now if those funds are yours and you do not have access to them, ask yourself where are those funds at that very moment. We live in an instant access world now, the bank runs a check electronically to verify those funds are available, and if it comes from like the IRS or a mutual funds company a registered cashiers check any thing that we all know will be honored(I think Wells Fargo may not honor their checks this is why they do this you know the guilt complex issue) but they sit on it and while they sit on it the funds that are yours is gaining them interest. Now on just two posts I see over 10,000 dollars in funds that needed 10 business days, which in all reality is 16 to 17 regular days. They have found a way to rob us of our funds, I think this definately borders on embezzlement.

It is time we as Americans stand up and say HELL NO WE are not gonna take this anymore from the shady banking practices that the big commercial banks are pulling on us. It is our money we worked for it and the banks execs board of directors and stockholders need to find a way to actually earn the money for themselves instead of stealing it from those of us who actually work.

Its funny how you all talk about holds when the truth is that bank place holds in accounts due to OVERDRAFTS AND RETURNS. Why would I ever think such a relation will benefit my account??? so please get your heads out of the water and look at the real world!!!! and about ATM doing the same thing, well guess what! same thing applies to them, if your account has all of those OD and Returned items the ATM will HOLD IT, how would an ATM know if you're depositing Cash or a good check thats not ganna get return AGAIN ???? and why do we all insist in using our bank accounts when there is no money in it?? and after that we have the face to complain about fees!! LOL. I think we all need to go back to the times we did not have ATM cards and pre-printed checks, the times you'd only be able to deposit and withdrawal from the banks!!! ohh and one last thing>> Check out WaMu and B of A fees!!! they're going up after April 2008!!
Why dont we all think harder and balance our accounts, remember what we paid and its pending ( BALANCE OUR CHECK BOOKS ) that will stop fees and 99% of the problems u think u have with the bank... All I can say is that I've had Wells Fargo for the last 10 years and NEVER got a fee or miss any money, also had WaMu and B of A and I'm not ganna get into those guys!!!!!
I can say guys that Wells Fargo and Credit Unions are the best place to bank... I'm not ganna be here again so e-mail me if you have anything to say to what I'm posting. yoleguys@hotmail.com

Robert, congrats on having a good experience with Wells Fargo. People like you are hard to find.
But also, Wells Fargo is hard to find to tout its wonderful services. No hide or hair here from HQ. You'd think WF would care about this post, which continues to attract attention and comments many months after it was published. The comment section is open to Wells Fargo, yet they would rather ignore it. I think that says a lot.

I thought I would just add my 2 cents regarding the WF's outrageous policies regarding holds.

I deposited a bonus check for in excess of $5K from my employer via an ATM and received an email a day later saying that WF will hold $4900 for a week and the remainder for 2 weeks.

Facts:

1. I am WF customer of more than 30 years.
2. The deposited check is drawn on BofA
3. The same BofA account is used to make a direct payroll deposit into my WF account twice a month.
4. I have had balances in my checking acct in excess of $100K over the last few years.
5. I have never had a deposit not honored.
6. The BofA check will clear overnight, I am sure. So how can WF hold my money for up to 2 weeks?
7. Spoke to WF by phone, and got nothing but policy statements.

I will probably sever my long-standing relationship with WF over this outrageous behavior.

Wanted to put this on the record. Thank you.

Check out www.wellsfargoinjustice.com or email us at info@wellsfargoinjustice.com.