Arghhh Bank Account frozen by FRIEND!

Tadman2

Hey Guys,

I hate to be writing this post as it sounds pathetic,

However, after a night out at the weekend with my husband and some friends. One of our friends got let's say very very merry and ended up vomiting in our cab home. The cost of cleaning plus our fare came to £104.78. I paid in full as my friend was in no state to start arguing about who owed what.

Anyway the next day, My friend apologized and said they would transfer £100 to me to cover the costs. Which was all fine. Said friend then transferred the money on Sunday night.

Fast forward to Monday, I'm in Tesco last night and the machine wouldn't read my debit card... I logged into my mobile banking... current account has disappeared..... Called the bank to find out what has gone on... Told to call back this morning as the 'fraud' team aren't open.... I though, jeez, is it something to do with a purchase I've made online?!...

Spoke ot fraud team this morning and it turns out this 'friend' of mine has caused a real fuss, she has told her bank that the payment was a 'scam' and she has made up a HUGE lie and said that it was part of a 'forex trading scam'... she has said she was told to transfer the £100 and was promised £500 bloody profit!!! I honestly was in shock when the bank was telling me this morning.

I gave them the full story and they have told me that the team will now investigate it. They told me to contact my friend and tell her to cancel her 'scam claim'. Friend has since blocked me across all platforms and my husband can't reach her either. My bank account will remain frozen until I can sort things out.

They said they 'hope' it would be by the end of the week, however, they can't guarantee it.

I've also been told that the only way I can get money out is by visiting a branch, again it is at the bank tellers discretion wether they will give me it. I've recently changed my name and my photo ID is still in my old one so I can't even do that!

The whole thing is a dreadul mess and I feel that my bank aren't doing much to be on 'my side'

Has anyone got experience of this? I've even told the bank to just give her back the £100 if it will unlock my account grrrr

dj1471

What a scumbag.

I don't think there's a whole lot you can do, you have to wait for the bank to finish investigating. Send the bank any proof you have of what the money was really for (texts etc).

If they return the money take your ex-friend to small claims for the money and any further expenses incurred.

Robin9

Tadman2 wrote: »

Spoke ot fraud team this morning and it turns out this 'friend' of mine has caused a real fuss, she has told her bank that the payment was a 'scam' and she has made up a HUGE lie and said that it was part of a 'forex trading scam'... she has said she was told to transfer the £100 and was promised £500 bloody profit!!! I honestly was in shock when the bank was telling me this morning.

I gave them the full story and they have told me that the team will now investigate it. They told me to contact my friend and tell her to cancel her 'scam claim'. Friend has since blocked me across all platforms and my husband can't reach her either. My bank account will remain frozen until I can sort things out.

I'm most surprised that the bank is talking to you in this detail? They should not be divulging anything while an investigation takes place.

Tadman2

Thanks for your replies,

I gave my side of the story this morning.... I was then asked if I knew anything about 'Foreign Exchange'... it was only when she repeated herself that I realised she had said ' Forex Exchange' .... that's when I was told about this 'scam'....

I just don't know where to begin, I mean of all things she could have said , why lie about Forex scam etc... I suppose I am more disappointed in her than anything else.

However it completely messes up everything for the rest of the week.

I've sent her an email this morning I'm blocked across everything, asking her to revoke the 'scam' claim and see if she will talk to me.

System

Omg. that is awful. What a bloody psycho friend. Hope its all sorted soon enough.

SnowTiger

Your ex-friend may find she receives a fraud marker and has her accounts closed.

eskbanker

Tadman2 wrote: »

I gave them the full story and they have told me that the team will now investigate it. They told me to contact my friend and tell her to cancel her 'scam claim'. Friend has since blocked me across all platforms and my husband can't reach her either. My bank account will remain frozen until I can sort things out.

They said they 'hope' it would be by the end of the week, however, they can't guarantee it.

I can see why retraction of the false claim might help speed things along but fail to understand why a fraud investigation at this sort of level should be time-consuming even without that - any self-respecting real scammer would be dealing at a rather different order of magnitude from a one-off transfer of £100 into a personal account that is presumably readily verifiable as being used exactly as a normal personal account would be.

ValiantSon

Have nothing more to do with this person. She is not your friend.

The bank will find that there was no fraud and she will face the consequences of a fraud marker that will prohibit her from gaining access to most financial products in future. This is exactly what she deserves.

I know that it may be difficult to manage your cash flow for a few days, but unfortunately there isn't much you can do about that. Does your husband have a separate account that can be used in the short term to cover all household expenses?

sheramber

Which Tesco branch would you visit?

Robin9

sheramber wrote: »

Which Tesco branch would you visit?

puzzled . ...... what's this got to do with the OP's problem ??

PeacefulWaters

sheramber wrote: »

Which Tesco branch would you visit?

The big non-food one in Bratislava.