Orlando Local

A few weeks ago, I updated a post I made earlier in the year about Guitar Center prohibiting me from entering the store with my messenger bag.  Some unfortunate employee thought it would be a good idea to reply to my post with something offensive, and I shared those details on the post. That got the attention of management at Guitar Center and we started talking.

I’m very pleased to say that they not only were offended and apologetic over the comment, but also took the time to investigate their policy that started the whole thing for me. We’ve been talking for a few weeks now and (after a little phone tag), they shared some updates with me.

• The person who left the offensive comment was identified and they’ve dealt with it (this person was not from the Winter Park store).
• When I was told I couldn’t take my bag inside, that was store policy at the time.
• They’ve re-evaluated the store policy and trained staff with changes that are more respectful, while still protecting their interests.

The store obviously wants to protect its interests against theft, and I get that. In fact, I was fine with someone looking at my bag as I departed to make sure I had a receipt for things I purchased there, but that wasn’t an option at the time.  The issue with leaving my bag with someone at the front counter is problematic for both of us. I have the bag so I can keep my valuables with me.  I could’ve taken then back to my car and left them, where someone could do a smash & grab to take my stuff. It’s happened to people I know with everything from camera bags to gym bags. That’s why my stuff stays by my side.

Likewise, some person at a store doesn’t want to be responsible for my possessions.  For example, what happens if my property is damaged or stolen while in their care?  It’s just fuel for a big fight. The new policy gives customers a choice.  They can leave bags if they want, or they can take them in with the foreknowledge that they’ll be inspected upon departure. For me, this works great.  I protect what’s mine and they see that I’m not taking what’s theirs.  More importantly, you have a choice.

Management at Guitar Center was upset that one of their own would leave an offensive comment here, but they were equally concerned about potential customers feeling unwelcome because of an old policy. All of my communication with Guitar Center was friendly and respectful.  They listened to what I had to say, considered their own interests that they need to protect, and came up with a good solution. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome and I’ll feel comfortable going back there to stop.

Wells Fargo completed its takeover of Wachovia and immediately implemented some draconian changes. There was one particular change that convinced me that I could not remain a customers, despite having been with Wachovia (and First Union before it) for a couple of decades.

It’s pretty simple. If you use online bill paying with most banks, the funds are withdrawn from your account when the recipient receives the payment and makes the claim. Wells Fargo extracts the funds from your account on the date you make the payment, even though it may be up to five days until the recipient gets the money. If you want to pay your mortgage on the first of every month, you can expect Wells Fargo to take your money five days prior, even though it isn’t paying your mortgage company.

I can only think of one reason for doing so – they want to use your money to earn interest or for some other business to their advantage, and at your expense. Your money is not available to you or those you pay. It’s spends time in Wells Fargo’s account, working for them. In my opinion, this is a despicable and consumer-unfriendly practice.

However, it wasn’t a surprise. This practice was explained to me long before my account was converted from Wachovia to Wells Fargo. I thought it over and decided to make a switch to SunTrust.  Doing so takes a bit of time, though, and my first pay deposit required about ten days advance to switch.

After my switch to Wells Fargo, I went online and changed the payment date for my mortgage and other payments, and I confirmed the changes were accepted.  Instead of being due on the first, I changed them so I would submit the payment on the first of July – a Friday when my paycheck arrived. Imagine my surprise a few days before the first, when I was sending a large payment to a charge card company, to learn that Wells Fargo had changed my bills back to arrive on the first of the month and that the funds were already gone. That put me in a bind to make the charge card payment from existing funds when I planned my other bills for a check that had not yet arrived.

I called Wells Fargo to inquire about this, but it was no help.  The money was gone and they would do absolutely nothing to correct the problem, nor could they sufficiently explain why my changes for the bill dates were reverted.

Goodbye, Wells Fargo. I’m leaving you because of your shady business practices and lack of respect for my money.  There’s an old saying, “money goes where it’s treated well.” I know that Wells Fargo isn’t treating my money well, so anyplace else will be an improvement.