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Bank account closed because of fraudulent money paid in

llama13
llama13 Posts: 39 Forumite
edited 20 October 2010 at 11:52AM in Budgeting & bank accounts
Hi

My friend had an account with HSBC and they recently 'closed' it because someone had been paying money into it fraudulently.

This had happened once before, last year, they called her in and she had to sign to have the money sent back out.

But about a month ago this happened again, money was paid in and the sender reported that they hadn't authortised it. HSBC closed my friend's account and said that she could not have access to any of HER cash, even though she was not responsible for the fraudulent money being paid in.

HSBC have been completely unhelpful and said they cannot help her and will not give her access to her account, it seems money can still go in but she is not able to take anything at all out.

What can she do? CAB told her that banks are within full authority to do as they please. It's been awful for my friend as she only had the one account, so hasn't had anywhere for her pay to go and also has lost all the money she had. It seems completely unfair that she's had to lose out financially as she was a victim of fraud.

Many thanks

Comments

  • the bank can't just refuse to give her her money even if there is other fraud on the account.

    can she prove where the money came from? i.e. benefits

    if she can, I'm sure the bank will give it to her. if she can't, then it becomes a bit more troublesome!
  • exel1966
    exel1966 Posts: 5,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    llama13 wrote: »
    Hi

    My friend had an account with HSBC and they recently 'closed' it because someone had been paying money into it fraudulently.

    This had happened once before, last year, they called her in and she had to sign to have the money sent back out.

    But about a month ago this happened again, money was paid in and the sender reported that they hadn't authortised it. HSBC closed my friend's account and said that she could not have access to any of HER cash, even though she was not responsible for the fraudulent money being paid in.

    HSBC have been completely unhelpful and said they cannot help her and will not give her access to her account, it seems money can still go in but she is not able to take anything at all out.

    What can she do? CAB told her that banks are within full authority to do as they please. It's been awful for my friend as she only had the one account, so hasn't had anywhere for her pay to go and also has lost all the money she had. It seems completely unfair that she's had to lose out financially as she was a victim of fraud.

    Many thanks

    A look at all your previous posts shows that unexpected difficult events are right up your street as you seem to have so many of them.

    When's the Pulitzer prize due ?
  • I have just had a letter today from HSBC that they no longer want me as a customer no explaination nothing ! I think they are doing what Egg did 18 months or so ago offloading "risky" customers of which I take great offence
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