Wells Fargo Bank, REDMOND BRANCH

Disabled person made fun of by bank teller....12-21-12
Overall Rating
Interest Rate and Cost
Office Environment & Staff
Waiting Time
Other Services
by buza, Dec. 27, 2012

I went in to make a deposit on December 21st, 2012th 4:43PM.  I went to the open teller who was at the seated wheelchair window.  She was a lovely young gal. Yuliya.  I sat down and immediately told her I had a voice disability and told her I hope she can understand me when I speak.  Suddenly the male teller (Alex?) who was assisting a blond headed woman in her late 50's spoke to me over the divider wall.  He interrupted me as I was directly speaking with MY teller.  He said "My Precious" directly to me and laughed.  I looked up at him and said "excuse me?" .  He then followed with more laughter and said, "you know, Lord of the Rings".  He was making fun of my voice, Robert. Yes...I do sound like Gollum.  It was very embarrassing and extremely cruel.  I immediately told him (with utmost kindness and respect to keep from embarrassing him) that I had a voice disorder called Spasmodic Dysphonia and it was very difficult for me to talk.  I also told him that it was not polite for him to make fun of me.  He told me his name and said he was sorry and that I completely miss-understood.  What was there to misunderstand? I sat back down to finish my interrupted private bank transaction with my teller and began to cry.  The manager was walking around and heard the incident, but never came over to address the situation.  Once my transaction was complete, I stood back up and reached out to touch the guys arm in kindness and in a way to console him and to ask him to think twice before he makes fun of someone.  I also asked him to try going a day with a funny voice like mine and attempt to order a coffee at Starbucks, go to the store, a drive through and to his bank and see how difficult it is.  I told him that he need to have compassion for those with a disability.  I then left.  I was embarrassed, hurt and extremely sad that he chose to not only interrupt my banking transaction to be mean and cruel, but he also had the audacity to say I misunderstood.  YES...I do sound very much like Gollum from Lord of the Rings.  I do NOT need a perfect stranger in a professional banking setting to interrupt a private and personal transaction to make fun of me.  
 
I am certain every beat of the incident was video tapped.  His speaking to me, my tears and my reaching out to him in kindness to direct him to think twice before speaking.  I have told several people about what happened that day.  Most are telling me to sue.  Get him fired.  Make a big "to do". The more I think about it, the more angry I become.   But what I would rather see is the staff to be trained on ALL disabilities.  Not just deaf, blind or a physical, but a speech impairment is just as traumatic to live with.  I have been wanting to make a documentary of a day in my life with Spasmodic Dysphonia.  It is very difficult to do the most simple day to day tasks that we all take for granted.  I am laughed a lot by adults.  In fact, that morning, the gal at the Starbucks in Ellensberg, WA imitated my voice as she repeated my order back to me.  It was hurtful, but not nearly as brazen as the guy at the bank who was deliberately interrupting me to make fun of me. I sometimes make fun of myself.  But I never welcome this from a stranger.  Poor POOR customer service.  RUDE.  This is not my regular branch BTW...My branch is WONDERFUL...WALLINGFORD!!!  They rock!  

* this reviewer has be with this bank for 6 months - 1 year
* this reviewer had 1 - 2 banks before.
* this review was made on Wells Fargo Bank, Redmond Branch at Redmond, WA
5 of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes, No   Report Abuse

0 comment. Add a comment