Wells Fargo to Recognize LGBT Businesses

I may have to re-think closing my Wells Fargo Account.

A month or so ago, I received a call from Wells Fargo collection services. I’ve had a Wells Fargo account for years. I actually had an account with First Security Bank when I was in college. Later, First Security was bought by Wells Fargo. I kept the account all these years.

So, I’m in a management meeting at work, and I get this call from a rude collector (I think maybe all collectors are rude. They have that “I know you are trying to hack into our bank and take all our money and pull a fast one” attitude before you can even get a word out).

As it turns out, he was calling me because I had a 30-day past due amount of $29.00 on my account. My reply was, “You called me out of a management meeting for $29.00?” He said, “Yes, and we want to know when it’s going to be paid.” I don’t run past due amounts. I talked to Kent, who pays the bills, and he had us as being current. I had words with the bank. It wasn’t the stupid $29.00 I was bothered by. To me, that’s nothing. What bothered me was the absolute lack of consideration they had for me, having been a customer since 1976. All they had to do was to look at my payment record. Just amazing.

I was so pissed that I told them I would be closing my account. I’m cooled off now. I suppose since they are supportive of my community, I will overlook their lack of judgment on this.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC - News), announced that Howard Buford, founder and president of multicultural advertising agency Prime Access, Inc., was honored as the first recipient of the NGLCC/Wells Fargo Excellence in Small Business Award. The award was presented Saturday, May 14th at the Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon during the 2005 NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference in San Francisco. [...]

“Small business is big business at Wells Fargo, and we believe in the strength, diversity, and potential of the fast-growing LGBT segment,” said Michelle Scales, Director of Diverse Growth Segments for Wells Fargo. “Our ongoing alliance with the NGLCC, and our recognition of business owners like Howard Buford, reaffirm our commitment to support and partner with LGBT business owners, and help them succeed financially, in business and personally.”

The LGBT community will account for over $600 billion in consumer spending power this year alone. The NGLCC estimates the number of LGBT-owned small businesses nationwide to be approximately to one million strong. (source)

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December 5, 2005 - Way to Go Wells Fargo