Alliance Leicester Premier account flagged & frozen

tony2toes

I had a rude shock when I tried to transfer funds from my A&L Premier Direct account and discovered that it was frozen. After inquiring, I found out that my account had been frozen because it had lots of transactions (external and internal, all between my other bank accounts) and the rude lady at the securities department of A&L was questioning my account transactions. Since when having many transactions between my own bank accounts is illegal? They are asking me to pop into a branch with my passport and utility bill. Hopefully the situation does not escalate to something worse than it already is.

I am pretty annoyed and angry at this because I have done nothing wrong and got nothing to be afraid about and was told that it is part of anti money laundering regulations.

Has anyone here had a similar experience with their bank? Who do I speak to if the situation escalates?

Cheers!!
tony2toe

mary

I do have an A& L Premier account, but have not moved anything significant through it, but I have pushed a fair few thousands through my Lloyds account and Egg account in the last 12 months.
How many thousands or more are you talking about and over what sort of timescale?

young

I am currently switching to A& L Premier account, but its taken them 2 months so far.

I would be real annoyed at what your outline in message 1 though. Bit over the top asking for passport evidence etc. It is YOUR money after all. Are we talking huge sums of money here that arose suspicion?

My 'other' current account is Nationwide an in last 7 days I have made two £5,000 CASH withdrawals without any query. Money came from premium binds, but they did not know that and were cool about it.

Deemy

tony2toes wrote:

I had a rude shock when I tried to transfer funds from my A&L Premier Direct account and discovered that it was frozen. After inquiring, I found out that my account had been frozen because it had lots of transactions (external and internal, all between my other bank accounts) and the rude lady at the securities department of A&L was questioning my account transactions. Since when having many transactions between my own bank accounts is illegal? They are asking me to pop into a branch with my passport and utility bill. Hopefully the situation does not escalate to something worse than it already is.

I am pretty annoyed and angry at this because I have done nothing wrong and got nothing to be afraid about and was told that it is part of anti money laundering regulations.

Has anyone here had a similar experience with their bank? Who do I speak to if the situation escalates?

Cheers!!
tony2toe

That sounds so bad ! Another example of why A&L stinks as a bank ! Stinks rotten !

I have going on 100 transactions month through my halifax account, and have NEVER even had a murmer out of them ! Not a peep !

If I were you I would complain in writing then set about changing to a 'proper' bank

K9cuddles

TBH.. I hate A&L.. but I rate them for taking the precautions!!!

I work for a financial regulated body and we fill our Supsicion Activity Reports (SAR) right left and center! Better to be safe then sorry IMHO!! I guess your activies aren't "normal" by there stanards so there playing it safe.. I mean alot of the same stuff happens with money from illegal dealings. There just making sure they've got a clear defination between the two!