abbey national have put my accounts on hold, 2 weeks and I cant get any help.

chexum

izools wrote: »

I ended up winning by suggesting they come with me to the lettings agents to see for themselves exactly what the money would be used for if they so fancied.

Are you sure you "won", or the investigation already concluded that the account can be unfreezed? I don't think the bank staff can do anything once they set the AML reporting in motion...

Which is why these regulations are a complete madness - the only reason any account (or transaction) needs to be frozen for days without any reasonable cause (or changing causes!) is an AML investigation, hence by telling vague reasons, the bank are already tipping off! And even the FOS is instructed to acknowledge the need of these procedures.

Incidentally, this must be why the branches always kept on insisting ID checks as this is something we have grown to be accustomed to be exposed regularly, can be requested on a whim, and they may expect it to take a few days until the customer can go to a branch - and even if he does, it's now a different staff's problem to tell it will still be delayed...

Why don't they freeze only the questionable transaction in question instead of the complete account is beyond my comprehension (or do they?) - they just made us all aware of these quirky regulations, instead we would just be done with "oh, some transactions need longer time to clear".

clairecymru

I can totally understand your frustration. The same thing happened to me with Santander. I paid in a cheque from my mother in law for £10,000 and had no access to my money for over a week. Direct debits were bouncing. It was a nightmare. Someone in branch told me it was because they thought I was involved with money laundering. I must have spent a fortune on the phone to them and going back and forth the branch, each giving different advice. Glad I finally left them. Worst customer service in the world!

meer53

Telling a customer that they're suspected of money laundering is a sackable offence where i work ! Sounds about right for Santander !

missile

pelirocco wrote: »

Really? , that amount would surely flag up . I know of a large vehicle dealer that have been instructed by their head office not to take cash amounts over £10k because it could cause problems

These were not cash transactions, see OPs post #1

I took a loan out with nationwide for 14k to buy a car, it was paid into my account by bank transfer ....
....I transferred the money online .....

I have transferred a lot more than £14K into my current account with no problem. Fortunately I don't bank with Santander :rotfl:

stolt

thanks for all the replies, i agree about the suggestion of putting just the disputed transaction on hold until solved not every account owned by the person, as i say i was stupid enough to be so loyal that i didnt have any other bank accounts, mortgage etc but have now learnt my lesson as i said to the lady on the phone, i dont think you could have got a more loyal customer and in this day and age i thought i was exactly the sort of customer they were looking for, ie. all products with the one company, and even three children signed up for accounts aswell.

I would like to see those members of staff reprimanded for suggesting i was money laundering, especially as i was in front of a queue of people.

teffers

£100 and missed payment interest is an insult.

I would have advised the following:

1) Work out your financial losses.

2) Visit a solicitor (don't worry you'll factor this cost into your bill to Satander).

3) Solictor sends letter requiring they put you back into the postition you were in (financially) before they started this mess.

4) If Satander don't re-imburse you for your financial loss then begin a small claims procedure (very cheap).

In the meantime speak to the local media (local radio/local TV/local paper) etc and ensure Satander are aware of your desire to do so.

Just to re-iterate £100 is a bare faced, laughing behind your back standard compensation offer that in no way reflects your losses.

stolt

teffers wrote: »

£100 and missed payment interest is an insult.

I would have advised the following:

1) Work out your financial losses.

2) Visit a solicitor (don't worry you'll factor this cost into your bill to Satander).

3) Solictor sends letter requiring they put you back into the postition you were in (financially) before they started this mess.

4) If Satander don't re-imburse you for your financial loss then begin a small claims procedure (very cheap).

In the meantime speak to the local media (local radio/local TV/local paper) etc and ensure Satander are aware of your desire to do so.

Just to re-iterate £100 is a bare faced, laughing behind your back standard compensation offer that in no way reflects your losses.

cheers, thats pretty much what my missus said !!!! ive wrote off to them yesterday and expressed me disappointment in the £100 offer (originally it was £75!!) and stated i was still unhappy about the chasier informing me about the money laundering checks in front of a queue of people and that i took 3 days off work as holidya to go to the branch to product documentation etc.
I was going to go to the financial omsbudsman and see if they could help broker a deal. What price do you put on that I I dont know how much in money terms 3 days holiday allowance is worth, i can work out petrol, parking and mobile phone calls. But its was the worry that i couldnt pay one single bill, and not knowing when it would end.

stolt

just an update an perhaps to see if people are think i'm being unreasonable. Santander called me again this morning after i sent a letter to them saying that I thought the £100.00 wasn't compensation enough the for deflamantion of character plus stress etc etc... plus the fact that i had to take 3 days from work allow me to sor tout the issues at the local branch. Also not forgetting the fact that the cashier mentioned to me that he couldnt release the hold on my account as they were on hold due to posisbel money laundering issues.

basically santaner have now said, they have looked through the file again and realsie that £100.00 wasnt enough compnesation for the greviances that I have had and they would like to offer more as a goodwill gesture... and can i give them a figure of what you will be happy with.
I'm useless at things like this...i guess they must have a sliding scale to offer? do you think £500 is pushing my luck?

MsSupertech

£500 is worth a punt. On the other hand, if was me I would settle for less cash and maximum bad publicity for this bunch if hopeless incompetents. It's the only way customer service will ever improve.
My partner has repeated problems with moving money from their expiring savings accounts back to his (Santander) current account. Always required to visit branch - why?? Can their left and right hands not talk to each other?
I was an old Abbey customer for may years but switched some years ago when service began to go downhill. I'm sorry you had to find out the hard way not to go near them with a ten foot barge pole.

stolt

thanks to all i spoke to them last week and they have phoned this morning to agree to the £500.00 compensation plus they will pay the interest charges on the credit cards.

happy with the outcome and glad its all over. thanks once again