Bank Harassment

mgdavid

Sibz wrote: »

If you've nothing productive to offer go and troll elsewhere.
Given authorisation from an account holder banks can discuss details with whomever the account holder authorises. Now crawl back under your rock

I think I know why your bank are giving you a hard time - if this is your normal attitude and manner on hearing things that are not to your liking.

Sibz

Thanks for the constructive replies. Perhaps I've given too little information, didn't want the post to be too long.

We have answered the questions, we returned the form completed in branch, and sought advice from them when there.
My wife doesn't like speaking to people over the phone, so it is common for me to do it, I'd rather she did it herself but it's not a bone of contention for us.

It is not HSBC, but it sounds like it's the same thing, thank you for posting the link - I will read it now.

Mgdavid - if you read the post that I was replying to in your quote perhaps you'll get the context. I appreciate those that have replied being constructive, isn't that what these forums are for? I'm not just here asking for advice myself, I also reply to others to help... my attitude with the bank (while frustrated by their behaviour) has been fine, it's business not personal - despite their repeated threats that could put us in a bad position financially.

Sibz

meer53 wrote: »

Why not just answer their questions ? Or is that a bit too obvious ?

We have, on 3 occasions now, answered their questions in full. Once in writing and twice over the phone. Only for another threatening letter to be sent a couple of days later despite this.

The questions are getting more ridiculous and seemingly pointless. One of which being 'what did you buy at the pram centre' - I wanted to tell them it was a couple of elephants, but it was in fact a pram...

colsten

Sibz wrote: »

We have, on 3 occasions now, answered their questions in full. Once in writing and twice over the phone. Only for another threatening letter to be sent a couple of days later despite this.

If all this is the case, and if the account is important to her, your wife would be well advised to raise a formal, written, complaint with the bank, and to keep the complaint brief, factual, and unemotional. Your wife will find the bank's formal complaint process on their website somewhere.

IMO, your wife would further be well advised to get herself an alternative bank account, with an entirely different financial institution, and to have her wages paid into that account. That way, she won't be stuck for money should the current bank decide to block her account.

Zero_Sum

Move banks.
In fact its always a good idea to have at least a 2nd backup account with someone else anyway for a number of reasons

eskbanker

OP clarifies in the HSBC thread that the bank concerned is Santander and also discloses there that their wife isn't a permanent resident, which in itself shouldn't be an issue but could have something to do with Santander's desire for further information, although that still wouldn't justify the bank's conduct on the basis of what's been posted....

meer53

Sounds as though Santander are investigating the whole account operation if they're asking whats being bought. Not neccessarily the OP's wife but where she is shopping ! You don't have to be a money launderer to be involved in a money laundering investigation.

xylophone

but where she is shopping !

One of which being 'what did you buy at the pram centre' -

Wheeling away the "laundry" under the mattress?:)

Sibz

Thank you for the further replies. I would kind of understand the banks behaviour if we weren’t co-operating and ignoring their communications, we’re not.

I will raise a formal complaint with them.
I also suspect that my wife’s nationality is behind this, though she is here perfectly legally with leave to work etc and paying a lot of money to remain so alongside the national insurance and taxes we all do. She’s on a min wage job and besides a couple of small transfers from her mother that’s all the money we are talking.

Surely it’s straightforward enough for them to confirm the employment is genuine and see that this is a very basic account?

BooJewels

Sibz wrote: »

and besides a couple of small transfers from her mother that’s all the money we are talking.

It may be that this is a pertinent factor - money received from overseas does seem to be an issue that has caused posters bank problems here repeatedly - inheritance, gifts, family loans etc.