Barclays Bank account froze

efc140597

Hi,

My step father recently opened up a Barclays Bank account so he could start some matched betting through it. I had lent him some money across from my bank account to his bank account as he was going to use it for matched betting, he started using it and then I decided I would like to book a holiday so needed some money back. We could not book it from his card as I was the lead person for the booking so he tried to send me the money back so I could book the holiday from my card. The transaction was blocked and he called Barclays, they were asking him why I had sent money one week and he was sending it back the week later and lots of other questions like it was wrong what we had done. They then informed him it was going to be investigated by fraud people. They closed his account and said he needed to come to a branch with 2 forms of ID. They then closed my account 2 days later and said I also needed to go with him to the branch with 2 forms of ID. The next available day we can both go to branch together is next week..

Has anybody experienced anything like this before or know what might happen next? We have been made to feel like criminals but I cannot see a problem in what has been done?

Please help as when I am looking online I am seeing comments from people who say that they will close both our accounts and then they will put a CIFAS marker on them and all other accounts will be closed? But we have done nothing illegal or wrong?

Thanks in advanced..

[Deleted User]

Use the forum search box

They need to investigate the account for fraud purposes.

You!!!8217;ll need to wait for the results

efc140597

But nothing that we have done there is fraud is it? So surely we will turn up with our ID, confirm our Identity and that will be it?

18cc

Well a brand new account opened by person A who deposits money , sends it to person B who then does some gambling transactions matched betting entries bookies etc and then sends the money back to person A might well raise a few eyebrows....

I mean it's not like opening a new account setting up your council tax and utilities direct debits and spending a few pounds at a supermarket on the debit card which I suppose would be considered the 'normal' use of an accounts - whatever that is

efc140597

No person A is me, who has had a bank account open for 7 years with Barclays sends money to person B who has recently opened a bank account who is doing some matched betting. So their account is the new one.

But either way, there is nothing illegal about gambling, nothing illegal about matched betting, nothing illegal about me sending money to my stepfather? I can prove where the money in my account, that I have sent to my stepfather, has come from? So I totally understand it may raise some suspicion but nothing wrong has been done? But I have seen other comments online that people who have also had fraud investigation on their account have just had it closed without any explanation and had a CIFA marker placed on them? That is my concern.. that something like that will happen even though we have done nothing fraudulent?

[Deleted User]

Then you need to prove it.

There!!!8217;s always more to these stories than what gets posted online

18cc

Yes sorry B was the new bank account, not A.

18cc

Probably nothing illegal - they might just not like the new account being used as a betting account.

efc140597

There is nothing more to the story at all.. Every penny can be accounted for. My point that I am asking is if anybody is aware of the next steps? Whether once we confirm with our ID then accounts will be opened again or whether there will be further things to do.

efc140597

I thought that could be the case but having looked online on many different matched betting forums it is advised to open up a separate bank account to run matched betting through as it keeps the money separate from your main bank account... so I assumed that banks were not too bothered about an account with a lot of betting activity on it.

[Deleted User]

People advise to use separate accounts to prevent lockouts so you can!!!8217;t access your legitimate money.

You need to wait on their decision now