I need to write a warning to those people banking with Wells Fargo.
I joined the bank about 2 years ago, and have never really had any problems with it. However, I took a trip to South America for a month and that all changed.
I had gone into the branch and told them personally that I would be in Peru and Bolivia, with a rough estimation with the dates I would be there. They gave me the clear, and I went on my trip.
The night before I would catch my plane back to the States however, the bank shut off my card. No message on my phone, no warning. I called them within 24 hours of the card being turned off, and this is how the conversation went:
Me: This is a serious problem. I don’t think you really understand. I will be missing two international flights if we can’t get this figured out. I won’t have money for a taxi, to pay my hostel, for international flight taxes and even to pay for this phone call.
Them: We’re very sorry there’s little we can do.
Me: Is there little you can do, or nothing you can do? Accuracy is incredibly important right now.
Them: We cannot unlock your card, since it has already been locked due to our people observing suspicious activity.
Me: But I have the card, it’s been less that 24 hours, and I’m telling you everything is okay…
It went like that for 45 minutes, and they “never could unlock the card.” Somehow, my husband’s cracked bank card (which had not worked the entire trip,) miraculously pulled out enough to squeak us to the airport, just to be shut off after that one transaction.
So back in the Houston airport, I called them once again.
Me: We could have been stranded in Bolivia, our safety was in jeopardy. I am back in the states, and still have no access to my money in my account based on your actions. There must be some option you have.
Them: Well Miss, you could go to a Wells Fargo Branch in Houston, and they could order a card for you which will be there in 6-7 business days.
Me: Have you ever been to an airport? They don’t let you out. I need you to rush a card to me so I can get to my account.
Them: I could get it to you in 4 days, but I first need the last 2 transaction dates and the exact amount.
Me: I’m at an airport, I can’t get that information to you…
And on and on and on. The story ends with me getting a new card 5 days after I got home, and after talking to the branch manager in Salt Lake, finding out that if the first lady I had talked to in Bolivia had given me the fraud-phone number, everything would have been taken care of and I would have had access to my accounts again.
Moral of this story? When you bank with Wells Fargo, leave them home when you travel.
Filed under: News, Trip Reports |