Urgent Help - Bank Account Frozen

VictorOne

Hi, Newbie here at my wits end, I’m looking for help regarding my Bank Account! Hope I have posted in correct place.

Last week I was having a clear-out, as you do, in preparation for Christmas etc and obviously to make a few pennies. Anyway, I advertised an item on a popular buy and sell app (GTree (not sure if I’m allowed to post name))?

So, the buyer and I had loads of communication etc, all seemed well so, as I don’t have PayPal, I sent him my bank details and on Friday he wrote to say that a transfer had been made into my Nationwide account.

During our communication I said that the item, on receipt of funds will be sent to him by Royal Mail Special Delivery, and I would do my best to get them to the Post Office that afternoon in the hope he gets it on Saturday.

Friday was a busy day for me as I explained to him previously and unfortunately I missed the Post Office.

To cut a long story short, the buyer has completely seen his backside because I missed the Post Office, like an immature kid, so has called his bank, I believe Santander to complain that he has been scammed!!!

As I sit here right now ALL my Nationwide accounts have suddenly disappeared from my homepage and when I spoke to them, I was told the accounts are “under review following a suspicious credit into my account”... They have until the 27th to reply?

I can’t even refund this idiot as NW won’t budge even though I’ve explained what’s happened. I also understand, well so the buyer says, that he too has called his bank to “lift” the freeze?

As of right now I have access to nothing and my PIP plus other benefits (I’m disabled) are meant to go in on Thursday, I’m petrified thinking any minute I’m going to be carted off and I’ll have nothing over Christmas.

Can anyone help or advise with what I can do? NW won’t budge other than allowing me to “go in branch” to withdraw only, difficult because of my disability and again, impossible as they have my money for me to even get there!

Any help would be great.

Also, the buyer and I still talk, I’ve told him there is nothing I can do until Monday now and even so, because of all this aggro I’m just going to refund him anyway. My other worry is that I can’t refund him until they release my accounts, that’s if they do, which he’s had frozen! Arrrrgggghhhh! 😤 😡

Help!

Zanderman

Not sure what help you're looking for - the bank is going through its procedures following the buyer's report that he's been scammed. The fact that you and the buyer are still talking is good, but doesn't change the bank's procedures. You just have to wait until they're done.

I know the following is easy to say with hindsight but I'll say it anyway, just in case it helps in future.

• don't just bank with one bank. Always have another account or two elsewhere with some money in, just in case something like this happens, or in case your bank has an IT meltdown and all accounts are locked
  
• heed the advice on gumtree which says, on every page, 'meet face to face, never send payment for items you haven't seen' - in other words don't use gumtree the way you've just used it! (and if you must do that never delay sending something you have been paid for)

eskbanker

VictorOne wrote: »

To cut a long story short, the buyer has completely seen his backside because I missed the Post Office

And to cut another story short, this expression provoked much confusion on another thread, where many didn't know what it meant - it was eventually clarified that it's a regional colloquialism meaning to be annoyed....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6056819/barclays-seen-it-s-a-e-with-post-office-cash-withdrawals

18cc

And to cut an even longer story shorts I can only repeat what I have said many times here on these fora - never allow a payment into your bank account from an unknown party

it is hard I know but these days things have changed and you should never give out your bank sort code and account number to anyone other than completely trusted sources for example your salary.

Just don't do it

born_again

I would be surprised if your account being frozen has anything to do with them contacting Santander. As they will have told them that they have to wait and see if the item arrives.

How much are we talking here?

Just make sure that if you refund it goes back to the account it came from and not another one... So ask your bank to reverse it.

jonesMUFCforever

I wonder if the original credit to OP's account was legit?
It seems to me that Santander and Nationwide contacting each other on a Saturday? the timescales are tight, could mean that the OP was about to be scammed.
Let the bank refund the credit.

Ben8282

born_again wrote: »

I would be surprised if your account being frozen has anything to do with them contacting Santander. As they will have told them that they have to wait and see if the item arrives.

How much are we talking here?

Just make sure that if you refund it goes back to the account it came from and not another one... So ask your bank to reverse it.

I agree. Timeframe too short and contrary to what is written repeatedly on these 'my bank account has been blocked' thread the banks do not just block accounts on the word of a third party to their bank over the weekend without any investigation.
So I suppose the moment he called Santander they were straight on the phone to Nationwide and said whatever as a result Nationwide just decided to block the account of a longstanding customer who had always maintained their account in good order.

zerog

The "buyer" has stolen someone else's bank account and paid you from it.

The actual owner has reported money missing from his account, and the bank believes that you are the thief as money was transferred to you. This is why your accounts are now frozen.

This is why cash should not go away.

Brewer20

I can only repeat what's been said so far, do have a back up account. I never use my main account (that has the bulk of money in it) for these types of transactions.
It all seems a bit sudden to block someone's account over a weekend, as said the buyer must be scamming someone else with false details but that seems not logical if they are still in contact with you.

xlnc99

Ive been in a similar position with Nationwide. Exact same situation. Dont worry about it, if everything is above board they will open your account. Explain the circumstances and show the evidence of the text messages/emails to nationwide via email or branch. Get something in writing from the buyer that he made a mistake calling the bank and he jumped the gun. Also get in writing he called his bank to get the lift removed.

Dont worry about it, it should be fine. Nationwide are very good at this.

Usually they dealt with me situation on phone and email, i did not need to go into a branch,

xlnc99

also i advise you to call in again and speak to someone who knows what they are talking about. Usuually they will transfer you to someone in the fraud department or head office that is dealing with this. Dont take the word of the customer agents on the phone, most of them dont no what the are talking about