Boo-fucking-hoo. I don't have this issue at all because I keep my money under the bedroom mattress.

You can change your browser identification in Firefox. That should do the trick.

This is as stupid as the sites that tell you to use IE, a browser known to be full of security holes, on Windows, an OS with the same problem. I don't patronize businesses that won't let me use Firefox on my Mac. Now, this isn't a Mac-user smug post, it's a "why are they demanding the most insecure OS/browser combo on the planet?" post.

Oh, and I'm hard of hearing. Telling me I have to use a phone is a good way to get a "I am cancelling my service" email from me.

Hmmm...sounds like he should spoof the User Agent using Firefox and User agent switcher: [addons.mozilla.org]

@Jaysyn: ... until you hit an ActiveX applet anyway ...

I'm a Mac/Firefox user and I have no problems with the Wells Fargo website...very odd!

I do not use netscape and i have never had a problem with the wells fargo website.

Considering how much banking is done online, it sounds like a good time to switch banks. Even though HSBC had, at the time, a 5.05% interest rate on its savings account, there was a stretch of time that they kept changing security on the website. I was VERY close to just pull my money out and give it to ING which had the same rate. Luckily it settled down and I only recently switch to Etrade because of the dropping interest rates.

Speak with your money.

@Buran:

Not my fault you don't have that extension installed.

I just got a coworker to quit using Netscape last year. I couldn't believe anyone was still on it!

Switch banks, WF stinks anyway.

Yeah, um... I use WF Online with Firefox. Have so for the past oh 5 years at least.

*Scratches head* What was so highly secure and mighty in Netscape that they would FORCE you to use it? Heck, they should point it out so the programmers can put it in Firefox, presto!

I have used Safari many times to get to the WF online banking site with no problems. But many sites are only designed for Internet Explorer, so as a Mac user it can be very annoying.

I had the same problem when I had a Wells Fargo Financial account I opened to buy my wife's wedding ring. I solved it by writing checks and mailing them in. I figured that was the best choice since their website is clearly not going to be up to the latest security standards. (After all, even IE 6 is an outdated, nearly-defunct browser.)

@warf0x0r: Wells Fargo Financial is different organization than Wells Fargo online. I think they only handle Lines of Credit.

@beautifulbaby: Wells Fargo Financial's website is separate/different than the Wells Fargo banking website.

2 months ago, I received a mysterious "fraud protection" charge for $129.99 on my Wells Fargo CC. When I called to inquire about it, I spoke to 4 different reps, none of whom were competant (I was disconnected once, rerouted to main menu once, xfer'd to a full voicemail box once).

Finally, I discovered that the charge was from a Wells Fargo affiliated company, so they would neither reject the charge nor would they intervene on my behalf. After many phone calls, I wrangled a rebate. Obviously, I cancelled my account as soon as the rebate posted.

This company is antiquated and poorly functional, and I'm not surprised to hear the OP's difficulties with a basic element of online service.

@hideouslywrinkled: Correctomundo.

I don't trust any of these financial institutions since the Panic Of 1873.

I had this exact problem this morning. I freaking hate Wells Fargo--they're the damndest company to try to pay, EVAR. I'm still waiting on this month's statement, and I don't want to run Netscape (and when I tried, it gave me the same BS error).

ARGH!

They wrote a browser identification script many moons ago, forced it in place, and then didn't keep the person who wrote it.

The problem isn't the message, it's that they are gate keeping the site from your using it if you don't have the "right" browser in the first place.

I skimmed through the post, but does it say if Wells Fargo support Mosaic on System 8?
/nerd

Like others, I use Firefox on a Mac and have no trouble using Wells Fargo online banking (the headline of the post is misleading, since that's not the site that's a problem). It's clear that WF does have someone on the payroll who can design a no-Netscape-required web site. So the question is why the WF Financial subdomain hasn't been upgraded to at least the standards of the regular WF banking site.

Even though Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Financial are different, you would still think that two segments of the same company could allow users the same website accessing capabilities.

i use safari 3.0.4 + mac os x 10.5 and have no problems using wellsfargo's site.

I had to use netscape to get my internet to work the first time i used it. it was fricking ridiculious.
first i tried using maxthon, then IE, and neither worked so i thought i was screwed. then i was going threw all my programs and saw netscape and was like shit i remember this from when i had windows 95 and i actually used netscape for some reason, but yeah as soon as i opened netscape it worked so that is gay that i needed to set it up threw netscape

I had a customer service agent try to tell me I had to use either IE or Netscape and that Firefox and Safari are not supported for Mac users. When I pointed out that IE 5.0 for Mac was the last version for the Mac and had been discontinued YEARS ago, she said, "Lots of our Mac users use it". I told her to consider that "lots of their Mac users" are on an unsecure browser and that Netscape had also discontinued development. I have her name down, and just haven't written the letter to their tech support folks yet. Basically, Firefox was showing duplicate payments on all bill payments on their site. I confirmed it worked fine by logging onto my husband's computer and using IETab to display the website. Unfortunately, IETab doesn't work for Mac. it's dang useful.

I remember Netscape Navigator Gold Beta from back when I was in high school. I used to love that browser.

@Jaysyn: Same in Opera. You can mask as IE or Firefox.

I use Firefox exclusively and when I opened up an auto loan with Wells Fargo I had to go through the same thing. Now I have to open up IE once a month to pay my truck payment. Damned annoying.

@Jaysyn: Not my fault I run a Mac. Hello?

netscape??? for real?

Wow... I haven't touched Netscape since 4.7... I'd all but forgotten about that browser.

I'm not going to try registering, but the page in question [epay.wellsfargo.com] loads fine when I change the user agent to a supported browser in Safari. So as others mentioned it's just a dirty old browser check script. (Also the page lies: MSIE 7 is supported.)

@samurailynn: Wouldn't that be nice if the left hand talked to the right?

Sure is nice of them to lock down every page on the website, including "Contact Us".

Apple told me that Safari on Windows wasn't a supported browser.
Beat that!
[gallery.snark.net]

Moron, I use firefox and have wellsfargo and have 0 problems. This thread is stupid.

In Safari, go to Debug > User Agent > Netscape 7.2. Firefox has a similar option in the menu as well. I've done this before with no trouble at all on these crappily coded websites.

@watchout5: yes, but we're talking about Wells Fargo Financial, not Wells Fargo. Subtle, but important distinction to note before calling someone a moron.

@beautifulbaby: Same here.

I'm on a Mac and use Safari, and I haven't had any problems logging into my Wells Fargo account. Hmm...

How can I get Firefox to pretend it's another browser? What option is it under? thanks

i use firefox & have never had any problems...

@elisa:

See comment #4. Use the Agent Switcher add on.

Wow, Wells Fargo must really have a backwards online banking system and I thought Commerce's was relatively unprofessional!

God, I remember Netscape since the 3.0 days. It's quite ironic though... I was trying to pull my dad away from Internet Explorer to Netscape then and now I'm trying to pull my dad away from Internet Explorer (again) to Firefox.

To reiterate what everyone else has said:

Wells Fargo Financial and Wells Fargo are two different entities.

And yes, Wells Fargo Financial sucks. They basically cater to people with no-to-low credit, and somehow that excuses the absolutely broken interface it uses. The most obnoxious part about it: you have to log into two separate sites to view your statement and pay your statement.

My fiancee and I used to have one of their cards; eventually someone from WFF called us to ask us why we stopped using it. After giving him a laundry list of complaints, I think he was a bit put out. He thanked me for my 'constructive criticism', and quickly hung up.

Firefox doesn't meet their security standards but Internet Exploder 5 does?!?!?! WTFO?!

@matto: That's PeopleSoft, a program most commonly used to generate errors. My favorite is "Error: Success".

(Once in a while it succeeds in managing things like customer service records and HR databases.)

@CyberSkull: Check out this article for enabling the debug menu in Safari:

[developer.apple.com]