Lloyds blocked my account

grumbler

It's simple.
I usually do this only if I have something useful/constructive to say as well.

colsten

kal79454 wrote: »

It's pretty scary knowing the banks can just block access to all your money cash. Makes me think I should just stash cash in the house or buy gold.

You'd be here spitting blood if someone else had used your card and Santander had let them go on unchecked.

grumbler

colsten wrote: »

You'd be here spitting blood if someone else had used your card and Santander had let them go on unchecked.

Can you explain then what is the point in blocking the account, not just the card?

Anthorn

kal79454 wrote: »

Alright, so used my account on some Chinese website and I think it shows as I used my card in China.

I have to go into the branch to get my account unblocked. They said they left me a voicemail with a code that I could of used to unlock it through the phone, couldn't find it, so have to go in with ID to confirm transactions.

Is this normal? and is it normal that I can't transfer money from my account? Do card blocks apply to the account too?

I haven't done anything wrong but paranoia is getting to me. What if they just say sorry and keep my 4k plus that's in the account.

This happened to anyone else?

It's the anti-fraud process operated by banks with the support of VISA and Mastercard which identify suspicious possibly fraudulent transactions, especially those which don't fit in with your spending pattern. There should have been an automated phone call asking you to respond that you did or did not authorise the transaction.

Of course it's normal: With my own accounts Santander did it and caught a £500+ fraudulent transaction, Co-op Bank did it several times and so has TSB recently. Personally, I think that having to respond to a phone call is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

What has happened now is that the bank don't know if the transaction were authorised by you or are fraudulent. So they protected themselves and you by blocking the account and all associated cards.

So what exactly is the problem with going into the branch with ID to unblock the account? I never had a problem going into any bank branch.

colsten

grumbler wrote: »

Can you explain then what is the point in blocking the account, not just the card?

We are not privy to all the transactions that happened on the OP's account but, for example, if a card has been used online, it could also perhaps be used in an ATM, or even over the counter, for cash withdrawals. The Santander "blocker" department will no doubt have had their reasons for blocking the entire account.

grumbler

I just like people that never have any doubts.
The card was possibly compromised - online, it an ATM -whatever. Fine, block it. What does online access to the account and online transfers have to do with this?

Anthorn wrote: »

So what exactly is the problem with going into the branch with ID to unblock the account? I never had a problem going into any bank branch.

Good for you.
For many people the problem is that they work, typically not near a branch, and all branches get closed at 5p.m.
BTW, it's only Tuesday. How is OP supposed to survive until Saturday if it's her only bank account? "The Santander "blocker" department will no doubt" explain how .

Anthorn

grumbler wrote: »

I just like people that never have any doubts.
The card was possibly compromised - online, it an ATM -whatever. Fine, block it. What does online access to the account and online transfers have to do with this?

Good for you.
For many people the problem is that they work, typically not near a branch, and all branches get closed at 5p.m.
BTW, it's only Tuesday. How is OP supposed to survive until Saturday if it's her only bank account? "The Santander "blocker" department will no doubt" explain how .

Let's look at with with some common sense: If the OP doesn't go into a bank branch their account will no doubt remain blocked.

grumbler

My common sense says that there was no need in blocking it in the first place.

Blocking the card would be a reasonable and far less drastic measure that wouldn't require an urgent visit to a branch at any cost.

colsten

grumbler wrote: »

I just like people that never have any doubts.
The card was possibly compromised - online, it an ATM -whatever. Fine, block it. What does online access to the account and online transfers have to do with this?

I honestly think you are destined for the know-it-all-much-better-than-anyone-else-without-knowing-all-the-laws-and-without-knowing-the-current-threats-and-without-needing-to-see-all-the-facts-overlord-of-all-banking-operations, and you shouldn't hold back any longer from taking control of all the idiots (as you like to call anyone who doesn't agree with you, and particularly those who work in banks in any capacity) and also from making the world free of all money launderers. Amen.

KJSmith

grumbler wrote: »

I just like people that never have any doubts.
The card was possibly compromised - online, it an ATM -whatever. Fine, block it. What does online access to the account and online transfers have to do with this?

It doesn't.

grumbler wrote: »

My common sense says that there was no need in blocking it in the first place.

Blocking the card would be a reasonable and far less drastic measure that wouldn't require an urgent visit to a branch at any cost.

And agreed.

I am led to believe that they would decline the transaction and possibly block the card if they suspected the card/card details were being used by somebody other than the cardholder. But they would only place a block on your accounts (i.e. preventing transactions through Internet Banking, Telephone Banking etc.) and refer you to a branch with photo ID if the fraud team could not identify and verify you over the phone.