First Direct closed my account without warning

Pincher

How do they know who you are you when you called up to get them to retract the note?

Someone opened a TESCO Clubcard account using my name and address, ordered a Sony PS3 from TESCO direct, which ended up being delivered to my address. I refused the delivery, and tried to call TESCO to tell them the account (different account number from mine) was fraudulent. They said they cannot take my word for it, since I cannot confirm the account details. They wouldn't even make a note on the account that I reported it a fake! I tried to report it to the police, who didn't want to know.

This other company could easily have said they cannot confirm whether you are the fraudster or the victim. If there was a fraudster, the application would have used the same birthday etc. Presumably they made a silly mistake in processing the initial application. For example, your application says 27 Peterson Road, but they had 27 Peterson Drive on record, and someone (possibly automated) construed this to be grounds for flagging an identity fraud.

GingerBob_3

I suppose a safeguard against this reprehensible behaviour on the part of the banks is to have at least two current accounts. One should be a standby with reserve cash in it. Whenever you open a new current account don't close the one you're leaving. Just keep it ticking over.

Oh, and if and when a bank pulls such a stunt don't use them ever again, and tell as many people as you can how bad they are.

SuperHan

giblet10 wrote: »

One of these days the banks will be forced to admit why they close peoples accounts. They're more secretive than the NSA!

It's the tipping off money laundering legislation that makes it this way. If call centre person gives you too much information, and hints that they have reported you for money laundering then they are liable for prison sentences themselves.

It's much easier (and much better protection for the call centre staff) if there is a policy for no information to be passed to the customer in the case of potential fraud etc etc. Unfortunately, the law has made it a necessity really, as further explanation from FD is pretty much illegal.

grumbler

Paranoia springs to mind, not AML regulations
What ML it the account remained empty since opened?

This case had nothing to do with ML, and the OP was eventually told the alleged reason.