Barclays have just frozen my account

MABLE

flashgordon666 wrote: »

same is happening to me, I took in £3k they asked me if i was a drug dealer, this was natiowide, I wrote a letter in they said sorry, then I just took in £4k an they said this will be flagged an I need a business account which im looking into now.

I think anything is flagged over £3k on a personal account in one go.

A while ago I paid in £8000 cash i to my Nationwide account and I said to the teller did they want to know where it came from and the teller said no.

Huskyrunner

Whats the update on this i used too work for Barclays maybe i can help

bettyboo71

About the only thing I think is particularly bad with this situation is the length of time Barclays are taking to give you accurate information. In the long term, that would probably be enough for me to change banks as soon as it is sorted - but I think you have already decided that.
Having previously worked for a different bank, it seems from what you have said that someone has attempted to make suspicious payments into your account. It may be that this third party was already being monitored, and that you are just the unlucky person whose account they have used. In this situation the bank probably doesn't have any option but to freeze access to your account until the matter is fully resolved. It might be better to conduct all discussions with the bank in writing so that you have an accurate record of who is telling you what and when.
One thing I would suggest is making sure to run full anti-virus and anti-spyware checks on any devices that you use for banking, and consider changing passwords on main email/paypal/ebay etc. It may seem a little paranoid - but unless some one can tell you precisely what has happened and how they got your account details, it sounds like there may have been a breach somewhere.

charlybarly

UPDATE:
Rang the Barclays "fraud" number on Monday morning (15th) and got nowhere, the lady said she couldn't get into my account, she said I should go into my local branch.
So, later on Monday I went to my local branch again, a full 17 days since my account was frozen. She tried valiantly to get something on her screen that would progress my situation and was instructed to ask me for two forms of ID before she could proceed. I had my driving licence, she asked for a passport (I don't own a passport) so we couldn't get any further.
I have arranged to return to the branch on Wednesday (17th) with two forms of ID (license + utility bill) to see if we can get something done.
In the meantime I have several people who are expecting payments by bank transfer that I cannot pay.
Also several online subscriptions have lapsed and I have took the opportunity to change my payment details on these accounts to my re-activated Halifax account.
Slowly but surely my banking activity is moving to the Halifax, as soon as I can I will move my money away from Barclays.

charlybarly

bettyboo71 wrote: »

About the only thing I think is particularly bad with this situation is the length of time Barclays are taking to give you accurate information. In the long term, that would probably be enough for me to change banks as soon as it is sorted - but I think you have already decided that.
Having previously worked for a different bank, it seems from what you have said that someone has attempted to make suspicious payments into your account. It may be that this third party was already being monitored, and that you are just the unlucky person whose account they have used. In this situation the bank probably doesn't have any option but to freeze access to your account until the matter is fully resolved. It might be better to conduct all discussions with the bank in writing so that you have an accurate record of who is telling you what and when.
One thing I would suggest is making sure to run full anti-virus and anti-spyware checks on any devices that you use for banking, and consider changing passwords on main email/paypal/ebay etc. It may seem a little paranoid - but unless some one can tell you precisely what has happened and how they got your account details, it sounds like there may have been a breach somewhere.

Already done, very thoroughly. x

charlybarly

Huskyrunner wrote: »

Whats the update on this i used too work for Barclays maybe i can help

See my latest post. I will update on my Wednesday meeting asap.

charlybarly

UPDATE
Visited my local branch as arranged and met with the teller I spoke to on Monday who was again helpful and sympathetic.
I had to show two forms of ID which then allowed her to access a direct chat screen with Barclays fraud department.
Again they repeated the line that they were still investigating and that all restrictions were still in place.
Finally, after 19 days I was told what I had to do in order to progress the dispute.
I have to provide proof of income. I was given an e-mail address to send documents to.
So, I plan to send documentation from Aviva that shows I took retirement in June and supply them with figures relating to that.
I will also send them statements of my business through Ebay that will prove my main source of income.
Beyond that I am at their mercy.

masonic

charlybarly wrote: »

I have to provide proof of income. I was given an e-mail address to send documents to.

Great, a fraud department who would like you to send sensitive documents to them by email. :doh:

bigadaj

masonic wrote: »

Great, a fraud department who would like you to send sensitive documents to them by email. :doh:

It's not unusual through is it.

We've had phone calls from banks when the caller seems offended that we've asked for some form of security identification, and they've requested the same from us.

Even when we point out that we can ring the main number and ask for them by name they seem quite put out, by which time I am probably calling them stupid and irresponsible which leads to a natural conclusion of our discussions.

masonic

bigadaj wrote: »

It's not unusual through is it.

I've not come across it before. I've only ever been asked to send such documents by post or take them to a branch. Most banks in my experience won't even enter into account-specific discussion by email. Some have a secure messaging facility, while others require you to phone them, write a letter or go into branch.

I agree with you on the point of banks phoning customers and not having some way of identifying themselves.