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Wells Fargo Customers Have the Option of Mediation to Resolve Disputes

Wednesday, September, 21, 2016


Customers alleging they were “ripped off” by Wells Fargo have the option of participating in mediation to resolve their dispute. Just recently, the bank agreed to pay $185 million to settle government allegations concerning its overbearing sales practices.

Additionally, there are more than two million accounts Wells Fargo employees might have opened for customers without their knowledge or permission. Potentially, there are as many as 565,000 credit card accounts and a million and a half checking and savings accounts opened since 2011. This was allegedly done to hit sales targets and investigators say employees were likely encouraged to use underhanded tactics to meet their goals.

Current and former bank customers, about 100,000 of them, have already received refunds on average of $25. This was money due to them because they had accounts opened in their names and were then hit with fees and other expenses.

The bank has been given 90 days to show federal regulators its plan to compensate all customers affected, but there is already speculation not everyone will be compensated properly. Customers who believe they are not compensated enough will have the opportunity to participate in mediation, paid for by Wells Fargo but handled by a third-party mediation firm. This mediation process will provide an opportunity for customers to be compensated for harm above and beyond any fees or penalties they were charged. For example, if a customer’s credit score was damaged because an unwanted account was opened, mediation will help achieve a satisfactory resolution for that customer.