Santander blocked my account.

Calpol4life

Should have went with antanddec

eskbanker

trient wrote: »

in other countries cash is still king, and bringing 10-30-50k in cash is not de facto fraud but rather the norm. In my own home country withdrawing cash from a term deposit can be free, while sending a SWIFT payment is charged hundreds (the price of a plane ticket) -- surely going the cash way feels like a no brainer. Don't assume that just because something is different it's also a crime.

I don't think anyone on here is accusing OP of a crime (other than lack of customs declaration perhaps) but what most are doing is to highlight just how suspicious sizable cash sums look to institutions in countries that have ever-tighter anti-money-laundering regulations. What passes for the norm in other countries is frankly irrelevant....

SnowTiger

Darako wrote: »

Because İ did not have a clue that this would be a problem and Did not know any information about a declaration for money. ( but i Knew about alcohol and cigarettes declaration)

https://www.gov.uk/bringing-cash-into-uk:

Penalties

You could face a penalty of up to £5,000 if you do not declare your cash or give incorrect information.

Looks like things could get more complicated for you.

I had my Barclays current account frozen when I sent a small amount of money abroad. It took several weeks for the bank to complete their investigate and unfreeze my account.

boo_star

trient wrote: »

For what it's worth - not that I'm supporting Darako's case (can't comment), but I do sympathise with him being in a similar situation with my own blocked/closed account (see separate thread) and having been treated with similar deference (or lack thereof) around here.

I came here to point out that, just like on my thread, people are too quick to pass judgement (from making jokes to assuming there just has to be something dodgy). That may well be the case but what about innocent until proven guilty? Is that not a value around here? (and I mean not just MSE forums - but the country as well!)

The OP came here for advice, and most of you keep bit-ching about his keyboard. For what it's worth in other countries cash is still king, and bringing 10-30-50k in cash is not de facto fraud but rather the norm. In my own home country withdrawing cash from a term deposit can be free, while sending a SWIFT payment is charged hundreds (the price of a plane ticket) -- surely going the cash way feels like a no brainer. Don't assume that just because something is different it's also a crime. It's enough that banks are treating their customers like criminals. People are coming here to seek empathy not finger pointing and sarcasm.

In short please be more gentle, if you had 10k blocked you wouldn't worry so much about your keyboard. How about being excellent to each other instead?

Oh please.

Even if the OP is legitimate, the whole scenario stinks to high heaven of money laundering.

Thank God someone at Santander did the right thing and froze the OP's account.

Darako

3-4 Months ago İ have Applied for a car finance so İ can buy the car İ was intrested and i was declined. And as another option İ applied for a credit in my bank and İ was declined again. So Because i wanted to buy the car i was intrested i applied for a credit in my own country and was accepted. So Please Someone tell me İ am a citizen in U.K. and also in my country , What is Showing me that İ am a money Launder, it is my source my fundings and İ am a buying a car for my self.

DCFC79

Darako wrote: »

3-4 Months ago İ have Applied for a car finance so İ can buy the car İ was intrested and i was declined. And as another option İ applied for a credit in my bank and İ was declined again. So Because i wanted to buy the car i was intrested i applied for a credit in my own country and was accepted. So Please Someone tell me İ am a citizen in U.K. and also in my country , What is Showing me that İ am a money Launder, it is my source my fundings and İ am a buying a car for my self.

The bank has a duty to check it out, if they didn't and you did something illegal and at a later date it was found out the bank didn't carry out the checks the bank would be held accountable.

Just sit tight and await the outcome.

You really should have declared it at customs.

bengalknights

The issue here is that you flagged the 10k Euro limit that banks have to report out on, the fact you deposited the cash which is of origin from a non EU nation that is close to borders with a warzone would most likely have made it look a bit too hot money for Santander not to look at it.

You do have 2 options work with santander or go to the ombudsman, however money laundering investigations can take a long time to get to the bottom off. If all is fine you will get the money back with a little amount of interest to compensate.

worried_jim

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck......

Slappermum

So you live and (presumably) work in the UK, but a bank in Turkey, where you do not live or work, gave you a £10000 / 24 months loan. Riiiiight.

Taking more than $5000 out of Turkey needs to be declared. Been a while since I was in Turkey so not sure how prominently this information is displayed at Turkish international airports. But I do know it's quite difficult to miss the "declare more than E10000" signs all over EU airports. More so if you're actually travelling with loads of cash.

Let's talk about the car instead. Cars are fun.

Terry_Towelling

Darako wrote: »

. Then Please tell me depositing your own money in to a bank is no legal?

I didn't say that. You can prove you took a loan, and you can prove it was converted into Sterling, and you can prove you withdrew the cash from your bank in Turkey, but you can't prove the cash paid in to the UK bank was the same physical cash bundle that you illegally brought into the UK.

You've further damaged your chances by letting the UK bank know that you brought cash into the EU/UK without declaring it when it exceeded the 'non-declaration' limit.

The question now is, does the bank have to prove you are 'up to no good', or do you have to prove you are not, before things can reach a conclusion? Please note, I am not saying you are acting unlawfully.