Natwest blocking access to account

Kmol

Hi,
First post from me, hope someone can offer advice.
My grand daughter noticed some erroneous transactions in her Barclays account. She reported them to the bank as soon as they were noticed but Barclays stopped her account without giving any reason, which i understand they are entitled to do. She then opened a current account at Natwest but they also closed her account after a month or so probably based on some comment logged by Barclays. The problem is that she has two months wages in her account and Natwest Bank (Reading Branch) are preventing my grand daughter getting access to funds in her account. She has been into the branch several times with payslips and photographic ID but the branch tells her that her account is under review and that no funds can be withdrawn at this time. They have not given us a date for the conclusion of this review process which has been going on for several weeks to date. The branch tell us it is out of their control and refer us to customer services, in turn customer services refer us back to the branch, who again refer us back to customer services...

Can Netwest prevent my grand daughter getting access to her funds in this way if she can prove the money in her account was paid to her by her employer as her salary..?


Appreciate any comments.
Kind regards
Kmol.

eskbanker

Immediate withdrawal of access to accounts without notice generally signifies suspicion of fraudulent activity, which is reinforced by closure of a second, unrelated, account too. Unfortunately the banks can (and indeed are obliged to) withhold access while investigations are conducted, and they're never in a position to advise of timescales, frustrating as this undoubtedly is.

The usual recommendation is for the account holder to contact CIFAS (fraud agency) to find out what is recorded about them, see https://www.cifas.org.uk/contact-us/subject-access-request

CIFAS will presumably show the source of the problem as being with Barclays, so she should pursue them to try to clear her name there.

Mermaid89

got fraud, and or money laundering all over it.

Browntoa

Did she get conned into taking "payment" for a company and passing on the balance after taking her commission ? Or something similar.

If so it's a cifas marker and she will find it very difficult to both get access quickly to her NatWest money and to open any bank account

Browntoa

Similar thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75054670#Comment_75054670

Kmol

Thanks for all the comments and posts.
The grand daughter is only 16 and not particularly outgoing so i am confident she was not actively engaged in any premeditated dubious activity however that's not the say she was not duped somehow. I will go the CIFAS route and see where that takes us.
Once again many thanks.
Kmol

Robin9

Is she old enough to open an account with Natwest - should be 18+ ?

boo_star

Robin9 wrote: »

Is she old enough to open an account with Natwest - should be 18+ ?

Am I missing something in the OP? There doesn't seem to be any indication that the granddaughter opened an adult account with Natwest.

colsten

Robin9 wrote: »

Is she old enough to open an account with Natwest - should be 18+ ?

All banks offer under 18s accounts.

Thrugelmir

Kmol wrote: »

My grand daughter noticed some erroneous transactions in her Barclays account. She reported them to the bank as soon as they were noticed but Barclays stopped her account without giving any reason, which i understand they are entitled to do.

A fuller explanation of events which happened some months ago would help greatly. Simply not possible to walk away as if nothing has happened. As something obviously did. Targeting children and using them as money mules is very serious.The concern being that someone is still owed money.

Robin9

A presumption of mine seeing as she was having her salary paid into it.