How to Turn Off Zelle with Wells Fargo

Jessie Richardson Read more November 22, 2020

Zelle is a fast method of sending and receiving money. If your bank uses Zelle, then you can use the app. But if it doesn’t, it’s still possible to use this function via the Zelle banking app on your smartphone. However, the app might not serve you well anymore, or you’ve found another money transfer solution. If this is the case and you want to turn off Zelle, you’ve come to the right place. In the following section, we’ll detail how to delete the Zelle account easily.

Deleting the Zelle Account

If you’re a customer of Wells Fargo, deleting the Zelle account will take you through the bank’s website. Here’s what you need to do:

Head over to the Wells Fargo website.
In the right upper corner, you’ll see “Customer Service.” Tap on it.
Scroll down and look under “Customer Service support topics.” Click on “Mobile Features.”
Once you see the new page open up, look for the section “Still have questions?” on the right.
Here, click on the plus sign next to “Call Us” to contact customer service. The operator will then instruct you on how to delete the Zelle account.

Similarly, if you’re a customer of other banks, you can’t delete Zelle account via the Zelle app. Find your bank’s contact number, call them, and their operator will tell you next steps.

Reasons Users Want to Turn Off Zelle

There are various reasons one might decide to delete their Zelle account. For instance, you might have found another payment solution you like more. Other potential reasons are frauds and scams that some Zelle users have experienced. However, the problem with scams and frauds is that users often don’t even realize they’ve been tricked until it’s too late.

One of the most common frauds can occur when you buy things from other people online. This is a particular danger if the website you’re using isn’t quite reputable. You try to buy something and the seller says the only way to continue with the purchase is to pay them through Zelle. If you already use the app, this might take a couple of minutes. However, once the transaction is over, you wait for the products, but they never come. You realize you’ve been scammed.

Other users have reported receiving a phone call from a person claiming to work in the fraud department of their bank. When you hear such a notice, it’s reasonable to believe somebody has already scammed you and that your bank is, rightfully, alerting you. What’s even more troublesome is most of these scammers are professionals who are able to spoof (mimic) your bank’s phone number. The next thing you know, you’re giving them your username and the password which they claim to need to secure your Zelle account.

Unfortunately, these aren’t random cases. There have been more such scams recently, and there isn’t much an individual can do. Basically, Zelle doesn’t offer protection to their customers in case of a scam or fraud. They repeatedly state they’re a service that lets you conveniently make digital payments with people you know and trust.

Protecting Yourself from Scammers

Many of the stories from people who have been scammed before sound plausible. This makes many Zelle users frightened. Fortunately, there are steps you can follow to protect yourself from potential scammers. Here’s what you can do:

Don’t disclose your username and password to anyone over the phone. (Even if you recognize the caller ID.)
Sometimes, you’ll receive an anonymous text asking you to enter a verification code. Unless you’ve sent information to Zelle previously, you won’t receive such thing. This is a way for scammers to access the account, so don’t enter a code.
If you plan to use Zelle, set up an account alone. Or, ask your bank to do it for you. Don’t let other people create your account, as this can potentially lead to a scam.

Cancel the Wells Fargo Zelle Payment

If you’ve realized you’ve made a payment to the wrong person, don’t despair. There’s still a chance you can cancel the Wells Fargo Zelle payment. This is what you need to do:

Launch the Wells Fargo app on the phone.
Write the username and the password. Or provide the Touch ID.
Once that’s set, you’ll see the “Account Summary.”
Tap on “Send Money with Zelle” on the home screen.
You’ll see “Send” or “Request” money. However, to cancel the payment, find “Activity” below that. You’ll see the “Activity” board with your payments.
To cancel the payment, tap “Pending.”
Once you do that, you’ll see the receiver’s name and the amount you sent. Below that, you’ll see the “Cancel” button. Tap that to cancel the payment.

Note: Cancelling the payment is only possible if the other person hasn’t already received the money. If they don’t use the Zelle account, there may be a delay in receiving it. However, if they use Zelle, they’ll have the money in their account the moment you send it. Therefore, you won’t be able to cancel the payment.

Protect Your Transactions

Whether you simply don’t like Zelle anymore or you’ve changed to a different service, it’s possible to delete the account you used to make transactions. However, doing so will require help from your bank. Find their contact number and call them to help you with the further steps.

But if you decide to continue using Zelle, make sure to protect yourself against potential scammers. How about you? Why do you want to delete Zelle? Have you ever been scammed? Share your experience in the comments section below.