Rutledge announces start of Wells Fargo consumer redress review program

Rutledge announces start of Wells Fargo consumer redress review program

Attorney General: ‘ This program is a significant step for Wells Fargo toward fix-ing the harm it caused to Arkansans’

Amanda.Priest@arkansasag.gov

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced that Wells Fargo has begun a consumer redress review program to allow consumers, who have not yet been made whole through other remediation programs already in place, to have their inquiry or complaint reviewed by a Wells Fargo escalation team for possible relief.

“The redress review program was a key component of my settlement with Wells Fargo due to betrayal of consumer trust,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This program is a significant step for Wells Fargo toward fixing the harm it caused to Arkansans by ensuring that eligible consumers receive the restitution due to them under the settlement. Requiring Wells Fargo to implement this program is another example of how I will hold any business accountable that unlawfully takes advantage of Arkansans.”

The December settlement between Wells Fargo and attorneys general of all 50 states and the District of Columbia resolves claims the bank violated state consumer protection laws by opening millions of unauthorized accounts and enrolling customers into online banking services without their knowledge or consent, improperly referring customers for enrollment in third-party renters and life insurance policies, improperly charging auto loan customers for force-placed and unnecessary collateral protection insurance, failing to ensure that customers received refunds of unearned premiums on certain optional auto finance products, and incorrectly charging customers for mortgage rate lock extension fees.

As part of the program, Wells Fargo will maintain a website for at least one year that contains information regarding consumers’ eligibility for redress and to help answer consumer questions. Wells Fargo’s website describes the issues covered by the settlement agreement and provides phone numbers consumers may use to request review. In addition, Wells Fargo will provide periodic reports to the states about ongoing remediation efforts.

Wells Fargo’s consumer redress review website may be accessed at Wellsfargo.com/commitment/ Redress. Consumers with questions or concerns may call the following Wells Fargo phone numbers for assistance:

• Unauthorized Accounts/Improper Retail Sales Practices: 1-844-9312273

• Improper Renters and Life Insurance Referrals: 1-855853-9638

• Force-Placed Collateral Protection Auto Insurance: 1-888-228-9735

• Guaranteed Asset/Auto Protection Refunds: 1-844860-6962

• Mortgage Interest Rate Lock Extension Fees: 1866-385-5008 Participating in the program with Arkansas include Attorneys General from: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on Nov, 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative. She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves as Chairwoman of the National Association of Attorneys General Southern Region and re-established and co-chairs the National Association of Attorneys General Committee on Agriculture. As the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, she remains active on the Executive Board.

From Amanda Priest