Paul Sakuma / AP A Wells Fargo bank branch in downtown San Francisco.

Wells Fargo is finally returning phone calls to the Philadelphia homeowner who began foreclosure proceeding against one of its branch offices—and the homeowner, Patrick Rodgers, feels very strongly that  yesterday's article on NetNet precipitated their telephone call.

Yesterday I wrote that John Stumpf, the CEO of Wells Fargo

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[WFC  Loading...      ()   ], owed Mr. Rodgers a telephone call—and an apology—for what appears to be a comedy of errors on the bank's behalf.

(I also wrote that Stumpf should send Patrick Rodgers a note thanking him for his business with Wells Fargo—and a set of steak knives—the way banks did in the seventies.)

Today Mr. Rodgers received his first telephone call from Wells Fargo—from a Senior Vice-President of Customer Relations—who reports directly to Mr. Stumpf.

(Curiously, my requests for comment on the story were never returned by Wells Fargo's media relations team. Maybe these guys just have something against free cutlery.)

Rodgers described his conversation with the senior VP as cordial, and focused on finding a resolution to their dispute. He added that he is cautiously optimistic.

He said of his situation, where an individual is dealing with a large company: "The moral of the story is don't back down. Do your research. Know your rights. And don't be intimidated."

Mr. Rodgers is hesitant about discussing the details of his ongoing legal matter with Wells Fargo—but he did tell me this: "I would certainly look more favorably on a settlement that included steak knives. And you can quote me on that."

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