I deposited a check for {$7500.00} in my checking account at Wells Fargo Bank. The check bounced. Wells Fargo deducted {$15000.00} ( that is, the {$7500.00} check amount was never added to the balance ; when the check bounced, {$7500.00} was deducted from the account ) from the account and added about {$2300.00} from my Wells Fargo credit card to create a positive balance. The agent I spoke with on the phone had no idea how to handle the problem. I went to my local branch and spoke with the manager. At first he was n't interested in doing anything about the problem and called the XXXX {$7500.00} a " pledge. '' He was unable to explain what a pledge was. I was outraged. He finally adjusted the amount to show the proper checking account balance including repaying the credit card and assuring me I would not be charged an advance fee. 
This cost me 3 hours of my life and a great deal of aggravation. It is my feeling that if a bank can penalize a customer for a mistake, then a customer should be able to penalize the bank for a gross mistake ( which was apparently standard practice and not a mistake, a purposeful violation of a customer 's rights ). Should I take this to small claims and ask for punitive damages? What can you do? 
