Help, Account fraud with Abbey!!

alexs299

Hello, I've been looking round on the site and this has been very useful to me before but now i need help.

Basically, In the run-up to the Christmas period, My account had some fraudulent activity occur without my knowledge and a cheque of £24,000 pounds was paid in and it seems that the fraudster had stolen my details because when i checked with the bank, they were using Chip & Pin to withdraw large amounts of money (i.e £2000) and various places now leaving my account £24,000 overdrawn becus the cheque bounced. Now when this occurred, I currently had my card until i lost it a few days later ( i.e let say the fraud happened on the 18th and i lost it on the 21st). Now i call up abbey to cancel my card and ask for a replacement but they came that has been a fruad block on it and i had to speak to the team the next day. After speaking with the team, I was told that i will be able to use my account its jus that its under investagation. Now, I come into the branch trying to withdraw my money but I cant because they have placed a total freeze on the account. After much deliberation with the branch staff, i am able to access my money, jus having the fact i neeed to provide i.d so im currently waiting for my tax codes form HM revenue as my other i.d is invalid. But what tops it off is that now abbey are trying to make me pay the £24,000 back until the investagation is over and both my student loan payment and work wages have gone in before i was able to change them to my natwest account. fair enough with the i.d i can claim these to payments back. but how can they how me liable for such a ridculous amount of money?. I have never tld anyone my pin or any details of the sort and the branchs used to pay this cheque in, i have never been to before. At the end of the day, how can abbey expect an 18 year old student to pay back this amount of money?. There's no way i can get rid of the debt unless i pay it or default on my account.

What can i do???
(sorry for the long post, just wanted to express every detail)

tallulah20

HAs it been reported to the police by the bank or yourself? I would speak to the bank and ask them to obtain the cctv of the branch at the date and time the cheque was cashed and also attempt to obtain the cctv (if there is any) of each cash point withdrawal.

Abbey should be treating this as an ongoing fraudulent investigation and therefore not expect you to pay any money etc.

Maybe someone who works for Abbey may be able to assist you further

alexs299

Thank you for your reply, I could see whether i can get them to have the cctv of the branch. But still how can they make me liable?? Th e biggest amount of money i have had is just university student loan

debt_free_me

I just wanted to say I hope you get this sorted really soon and that I think it's disgusting they are trying to make you pay it. Keep us updated and good luck.

alexs299

Thank you and i will do, but im seriously thinkin of trying to open a new account, get my previous student loan payment & work wages and just default the current account because i know i cannnot pay that back and im well capable of living with the means of what i get, so therfore im not looking for a loan, mortage or anythin of that sort in the near future. The student loan is only the only i want to repay for a very long time.

jill2002

Hi,

They will not expect you to pay it back whilst your account is under investigation.

However, before they complete the investigation, how do they know that it was not you that paid in the cheque and then withdrew the funds - that's what the investigation is for and why your account has been frozen. At the moment, all they have is your say so.

Just sit tight and don't panic - it will be sorted - eventually. Just keep in touch with the fraud investigation team to ensure that it is sorted quickly.

alexs299

Thank you jill 2002, but however im still getting letters regarding about me making the payment and that i still need to clear the overdraft balance even though the investigation is still being carried out.

RAS

I think a formal letter of complaint to Abbey might be a good idea.

alexs299

what should i state in the letter??

jill2002

Alexs299, the letters are probably sent out automatically. Speak to the banking centre or fraud investigations dept. and ask them to put a notice on your account - it appears the two departments don't talk to each other !!

RAS

What you wrote above and that because of there action you have had to move your account.

The problem may be that if you move your income they freak out and assume that you are not going to re-pay the OD, so make sure they understand that you want to be their customer, but they are preventing you from accessing your money.