Bank Account Frozen - Help Please

jsharp1982

Hi Guys,

Always looked on the site but never posted before. I have a problem.

I have been banking with Think Banking for about a year. Never had any problems whatsoever, only credits to go in have been my salary once a month. Over the last ten days, I have been getting rid of some old stuff I no longer use, so have had around 9 paypal transactions transferred to my bank account ranging from £30 -£75.

Yesterday, I tried to use my card and it was not accepted, despite money being in the account, I got home and could not log on.

I called and was told nothing basically, they don't know what the problem is and there is no time scale for it to be corrected!? Surely this isn't correct and they can't keep my money and leave me nothing to live on?

I did some research and the only reason I can possibly think of is the PayPal transactions going in that they suspect me of money laundering? To cut a long story short, to rectify this problem, I assumed this and emailed them a copy of transactions into my paypal account and transactions from paypal to my account so they could see where it was coming from.

I had a call last night at around 6:30 telling me they had received my email and would be in touch "at some point" when resolved.

What else can I do? I have no money and don't have credit cards and my family live abroad!

Thanks in advance.

DCFC79

It is correct and they havent kept your money, just blocked your access. I could be wrong but Im sure you can ask for some money to pay for food etc but not sure how you go about it.

pqrdef

They can take weeks if they like. You might have to resort to crime.

MrSilk

Think Banking are not a bank, they prey on the desperate who cannot get bank accounts with a major high street bank.

Make this a lesson learned.

jsharp1982

I know what you are saying MrSilk, so what do I do? That's the info I need? Is it just the waiting game until they decide to do something?

MrSilk

You need to find out of they have a complaints procedure, and use it

They are part of the FSA to they are regulated

MrSilk

http://www.thinkmoney.co.uk/about-thinkmoney/complaints-procedure/

Jamie_Carter

This is something that most of the banks do. As you suspect, it is an anti money laundering investigation that has been triggered y unusual activity.

The strange thing is that this isn't usually triggered by small transactions.

I don't know for sure, but I'm sure I remember someone saying that it should be no more than five days suspension.

If it was a high street bank, then you could appeal to the manager to release enough funds to live on.

jsharp1982

Thanks Jamie. I have sent them evidence of where the money came from so will just have to wait and see I suppose, definitely going to start keeping some cash in the traditional place (under the bed) for rainy days now! The strange thing is they have had technical problems for two days and the woman I spoke to said to me that some accounts are experiencing these difficulties, even my wife still cant log into online or use the text services at the moment, so it may just be me reading too much into a technical glitch!

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Are we getting the whole story?

jsharp1982

There is always one!! Yes, the whole story. Every month one salary credit, this month, a few paypal transfers!

That is the full story! If I had £10,000 go in in small increments I would say, I have had an additional £300ish go in because I'm having a clear out!