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Bank negligence, police involved
Lulumu
Posts: 12 Forumite
Hi, I’m a newbie so I hope I’ve posted on the correct page and someone will have had the same experience as me.
To cut a very long story short, 2 of my kids have savings accounts which require joint signatures by myself and my mother to make a withdrawal.
In September last year I went no contact with my mother. As she held the passbooks, I called the bank and explained I would not be signing any withdrawals and to be aware my mother may do something fraudulent (can you see where this is going...)
Bank said no worries as we both had to be in branch to make any withdrawals. And as I live 250 miles away no problem.
I then went into the branch and reiterated this. Again, no problem as account water tight. Anyway since the bank had put flags on the account no money could be withdrawn especially as we are in dispute.
In January I had to report my mother to the police, that was on the Friday. Police gave me case number and told me to give that to branch.
Went into branch on the Monday and explained situation, explained AGAIN she might do something fraudulent so they spoke with their fraud dept as I asked for s freexr on the account, and guess what? No need, account water tight as it needs both of us in branch to sign withdrawal.
Last week I thought I should call bank and just check balances , so when I was told withdrawals had been made on both accounts I can’t tell you how shocked and angry I was,
Dropped phone and flew up to branch. Was told yes mother had withdrawn £5000 and the first withdrawal was just TWO days after I’d given them police case number!!!
They also confirm that somehow she’d managrd to withdraw £500 x cash twice and have 2 counter cheques raised.
I’ve gone nuts and the police are investigating a possible identity fraud by my mother.
But whether she’s done that or not, there were flags all over the account and I was assured categorically no withdrawals could be made.
I’m reeling from it all. I knew my mother would try this. But the banks negligence is astounding. My branch manager is hopeless, she didn’t even want the police crime number but I insisted,
Anyone else suffered a similar situation as I’m out for blood. Can’t believe I warned the bank multiple times and yet this still happened.
Thank you
To cut a very long story short, 2 of my kids have savings accounts which require joint signatures by myself and my mother to make a withdrawal.
In September last year I went no contact with my mother. As she held the passbooks, I called the bank and explained I would not be signing any withdrawals and to be aware my mother may do something fraudulent (can you see where this is going...)
Bank said no worries as we both had to be in branch to make any withdrawals. And as I live 250 miles away no problem.
I then went into the branch and reiterated this. Again, no problem as account water tight. Anyway since the bank had put flags on the account no money could be withdrawn especially as we are in dispute.
In January I had to report my mother to the police, that was on the Friday. Police gave me case number and told me to give that to branch.
Went into branch on the Monday and explained situation, explained AGAIN she might do something fraudulent so they spoke with their fraud dept as I asked for s freexr on the account, and guess what? No need, account water tight as it needs both of us in branch to sign withdrawal.
Last week I thought I should call bank and just check balances , so when I was told withdrawals had been made on both accounts I can’t tell you how shocked and angry I was,
Dropped phone and flew up to branch. Was told yes mother had withdrawn £5000 and the first withdrawal was just TWO days after I’d given them police case number!!!
They also confirm that somehow she’d managrd to withdraw £500 x cash twice and have 2 counter cheques raised.
I’ve gone nuts and the police are investigating a possible identity fraud by my mother.
But whether she’s done that or not, there were flags all over the account and I was assured categorically no withdrawals could be made.
I’m reeling from it all. I knew my mother would try this. But the banks negligence is astounding. My branch manager is hopeless, she didn’t even want the police crime number but I insisted,
Anyone else suffered a similar situation as I’m out for blood. Can’t believe I warned the bank multiple times and yet this still happened.
Thank you
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Comments
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Are you are hoping for recompense from the Bank?0
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Hi, yes as well as anyone’s experience. Until the police determine whether fraud has happened there isn’t much I proceed with. This other question is what happens to the account/money if she’s found to have carried out fraud?0
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I think it first needs to be established exactly how the money was withdrawn.
I'm not sure I agree the bank has been "negligent" if your mother held the passbooks and had someone sign as you.
You may well have "warned" the Bank in advance that this might happen, but your mother might equally have "warned" them that your actions were suspect. Who was the Bank supposed to believe?0 -
Not negligent? When they put flags all over the account that we were in dispute and that I would not be signing anything plus they allowed a transaction to happen several days after telling them she’d been reported to the police. I could not have made it clearer to them. If they are telling me that neither can withdraw because of all the flags something has gone wrong st the bank. And no, the bank weren’t ‘warned’ that I was ‘suspect’ by her. What a strange thing to suggest since I told the bank I would not be signing any withdrawals?? And a police case number about her?
So, if she has committed fraud , am i potentially complicit too lol??
I’m after people’s experiences, not comments suggesting I’ve might be in the wrong. The bank acknowledges that they know I have nothing to do with this.0 -
I'm not quite sure what the bank are meant to do with the meaningless reference number you gave them.
Which bank?
What is the exact title on the account (eg mum and grandma trustee for daughter)?
It becomes relevant to understanding if the beneficial owner of the account has been defrauded.
You have the bank fraud department to complain to. If you don't like their response you have the FOS to fall back on.
I'd suggest keeping this away from the branch as they will probably be defensive.0 -
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Why on earth didn't you insist on closure the accounts instead of warning of a potential withdrawal?
If your mum is a fraudster, not hard to believe she could copy your signature, also to withdraw £5,000 from most banks you need to take in Photo ID as well if the account has no card/pin number i.e savings accounts with passbooks.
So she probably forged your signature & if she didn't and it's the banks error or a new cashier, you'll get your money back.
However if she holds the passbooks, is she the original owner of the account? Because if two people came into a branch shouting different stories and one had more evidence of ownership than the other.....Save £12k in 2019 -0 -
It wasn’t s meaningless number. Police advised me to inform bank. It should have flagged up that our dispute had worsened.
Bank accounts in kids names / with joint signature of mother & grandma.0 -
Difficult on a both to sign account.AstroTurtle wrote: »Why on earth didn't you insist on closure the accounts instead of warning of a potential withdrawal?
There are no gradings of dispute. The account is either in dispute or it isn't. The police reference number makes no difference to that.It wasn!!!8217;t s meaningless number. Police advised me to inform bank. It should have flagged up that our dispute had worsened.
Bank accounts in kids names / with joint signature of mother & grandma.
What is the actual wording on the account for names and ownership (disguise names)?0 -
The bank wouldn’t freeze the account because they told me as it had to have two signatures both in the SAME branch the account was water tight.
This is my whole point!
Bank assured me that no withdrawals would be allowed.
They’ve told last week she can’t take money out unless I’m with her. I even got them to show me on screen what happens on the account when you make a withdrawal/ it’s near impossible because you have to tick two signature boxes.
Anyone had a similar experience, pllleeaase???0
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