Barclays Bank Business Account Closed and Proof of Funds Impossible

SallyBCL

Hi,

looking for advice. I have a business for 5+ years and account with Barclays. Recently I opened another business to trade cryptocurrency, bank account also with Barclays. All went well for a while but I think I got scammed by someone who use a fraudulent account to send me money. As a result, BOTH account have been closed at short notice. No one on the phone or on the branch will help and was told to send an email with 'proof of funds' to get money back. No one is replying the emails.

Please do not judge me to harshly, I realise I made a mistake dealing with someone not verified, but the amount was small, and I have funds I would like to get back. I think it is unfair that they make the process so hard, I would just want to sit down with someone and discuss which seems to be impossible.

Any help much appreciated

eskbanker

In suspected fraud-related circumstances like this they won't be able or willing to discuss anything with you (unless they need information from you), so unfortunately it's just a case of waiting for their investigation to take its course, unfair as that may seem....

SallyBCL

I don't think they are doing any investigation anymore, as they have closed both accounts... I just want my money back

pochisoldi

Any properly run business will have accounts. These would show the source of the funds.
You either keep a full set of books yourself, or pay an accountant to do it for you.

The only extra work involved to get your money released would be to prepare a set of interim accounts for the last tax year, and possibly another set showing what's happened since the beginning of this tax year. (Replace "tax year" with "accounting year" if you're incorporated.)

If they release the money to you with out you proving where the money came from then they could be prosecuted and/or heavily fined for money laundering.

PochiSoldi

SallyBCL

Thanks PochiSoldi, that is useful, another problem I have regarding accounts is that I don't have access to any recent statements since the account closures. However the accountant route is a good hint.

I was wondering if any solicitors would be used to this kind of requests.

pochisoldi

SallyBCL wrote: »

Thanks PochiSoldi, that is useful, another problem I have regarding accounts is that I don't have access to any recent statements since the account closures. However the accountant route is a good hint.

I was wondering if any solicitors would be used to this kind of requests.

No - accountants do money, and the law related to that (e.g. tax, company law). Solicitors do legal things.

meer53

SallyBCL wrote: »

I don't think they are doing any investigation anymore, as they have closed both accounts... I just want my money back

Closing your accounts is the first step, the investigation comes after that.

SallyBCL

Quick update for whom it might help, I received a reply to my email eventually asking me to clarify a few transactions, so there is hope...

jonesMUFCforever

Under the new GDPR rules you can get up to 5 years worth of statements on a closed account for free.

Stranger101

SallyBCL said:

Quick update for whom it might help, I received a reply to my email eventually asking me to clarify a few transactions, so there is hope...

Hi Sally,
I am now in the same position. I opened a personal account with Barclays on the Tuesday, made two transfers to it from my husband's and I joint account. They then, on the Thursday put a block on my account and withheld all my funds.
Now I am being told to send proof of funds to the Barclays email address BarclaysPOF@barclayscorp.com, and to wait 10 workings days for a reply.

I just want to know if in the end, you got your money back. I feel really helpless, when no one over the phone and in branch can help me. They said if you had  wages and benefits paid into the account, you can go in with 2 IDs and withdraw. But this account is new, and i had no wages and benefit paid in. 

This is so stressful for me.

jonesMUFCforever

Stranger101 said:

SallyBCL said:

Quick update for whom it might help, I received a reply to my email eventually asking me to clarify a few transactions, so there is hope...

Hi Sally,
I am now in the same position. I opened a personal account with Barclays on the Tuesday, made two transfers to it from my husband's and I joint account. They then, on the Thursday put a block on my account and withheld all my funds.
Now I am being told to send proof of funds to the Barclays email address BarclaysPOF@barclayscorp.com, and to wait 10 workings days for a reply.

I just want to know if in the end, you got your money back. I feel really helpless, when no one over the phone and in branch can help me. They said if you had  wages and benefits paid into the account, you can go in with 2 IDs and withdraw. But this account is new, and i had no wages and benefit paid in. 

This is so stressful for me.

This thread is over 2 years old and it is highly unlikely that the posters are still around.
You may get more help by starting your own thread.