A Wells Fargo customer in California just filed a proposed class action lawsuit, accusing the bank of draining customers’ accounts in a blatant violation of consumer protection laws.
The plaintiff, piano teacher Helen Palma, alleges that Wells Fargo unlawfully withdrew money from her bank account after she fell behind on credit card payments, ClassAction.org reports.
According to the filing, the bank won a judgment against Palma over outstanding credit card debt.
But the lawsuit alleges that Wells Fargo then abruptly emptied Palma’s checking and savings accounts without obtaining the required bank charge — allegedly in violation of state laws that require banks to give their customers timely notice, providing an opportunity to pursue a claim waiver and leave a minimum balance. of $1,900 on customers’ accounts.
“In blatant disregard of these rules, Wells Fargo skipped the legal process for a bank levy, which would have prevented the company from getting money out of the bank. [the plaintiff’s] accounts, and instead unlawfully helped herself to her money and left [sic] her with only $102.74 to her name.”
Palma’s class action seeks to protect all California residents who may have had their money illegally withdrawn by Wells Fargo over the past four years.
To date, Wells Fargo has not returned the money to Palma and never proved that it had authority to seize it, the lawsuit said.
Specifically, the lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo of violating the Truth in Lending Act, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and the California Unfair Competition Law.
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