METRO BANK FROZEN £150K

Shakin_Steve

Something about the transaction has triggered a fraud alert. When this happens a series of events take place. This takes time (though not usually up to a year), and banks will not/ cannot be rushed. As part of the process, the bank ceases all but the most basic communication with the account holder. They cannot, for obvious reasons, discuss any of their processes, for fear of tipping off any future fraudsters. There are severe penalties for banks who do not follow these procedures.
In other words, you are on a hiding to nothing, and your solicitor's input will bear no weight.
The FO is powerless until the investigation is complete, it may then look into any grievance. 

This is really bad for an innocent party, but there are many such tales on this forum.

Yorkshire_Pud

hereforhelpnow said:

Well the solicitor has sent a letter to the HQ. 

It was immediately sent to the FO!.. Why.. I don’t know!?
We import / export medical goods for companies, health services and under privileged countries. 

Metro don’t send your letter to FO, they give you a final response within eight weeks and then YOU decide whether you want to take it further with the FO.

I’m oot!

unforeseen

Ive contacted Tony from Daily Mail. 

Well, if Tony (whoever he is) is on the case then all is in hand and nobody else need do anything. 

John_

hereforhelpnow said:

Well the solicitor has sent a letter to the HQ. 

It was immediately sent to the FO!.. Why.. I don’t know!?
We import / export medical goods for companies, health services and under privileged countries. 

Are you using a personal account for business transactions, or is this a salary or a dividend payment, a repayment of a loan, or similar?

eskbanker

John_ said:

hereforhelpnow said:

Well the solicitor has sent a letter to the HQ. 

It was immediately sent to the FO!.. Why.. I don’t know!?
We import / export medical goods for companies, health services and under privileged countries. 

Are you using a personal account for business transactions, or is this a salary or a dividend payment, a repayment of a loan, or similar?

OP's explanation did seem very vague on the exact nature of the payment:

hereforhelpnow said:

I deposited funds from a business deal from my solicitors account to my personal account. Classed as a payment to myself.

As you say, there are a limited number of valid reasons for company money to be paid to an individual, and I can't think of any that involve 'funds from a business deal' being routed via a solicitor, so it's understandable why this may have spooked Metro....

A_Lert

If the bank suspect fraud, then they are legally banned from telling you that. It's regarded as "tipping off".

Your account is frozen based on evidence you have no right to see and challenge, no right to even know any evidence exists. It's a !!!!!! situation but that's how the law is.

hereforhelpnow

Yorkshire_Pud said:

hereforhelpnow said:

Well the solicitor has sent a letter to the HQ. 

It was immediately sent to the FO!.. Why.. I don’t know!?
We import / export medical goods for companies, health services and under privileged countries. 

Metro don’t send your letter to FO, they give you a final response within eight weeks and then YOU decide whether you want to take it further with the FO.

I’m oot!

They’ve already given me a final response letter - almost immediately. They suggested I went to the FO - which I’ve done. 

The payment was a dividend payment to myself. Anyone know time frames for these muppets to respond?

hereforhelpnow

A_Lert said:

If the bank suspect fraud, then they are legally banned from telling you that. It's regarded as "tipping off".

Your account is frozen based on evidence you have no right to see and challenge, no right to even know any evidence exists. It's a !!!!!! situation but that's how the law is.

Yes - tell me about it.. it’s hard enough making money then get it stuck when you do 😂.. what a joke !

Tildaplum

Best you write and ask them how long they take to respond - be sure and include the word 'muppets'.

Yorkshire_Pud

hereforhelpnow said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

hereforhelpnow said:

Well the solicitor has sent a letter to the HQ. 

It was immediately sent to the FO!.. Why.. I don’t know!?
We import / export medical goods for companies, health services and under privileged countries. 

Metro don’t send your letter to FO, they give you a final response within eight weeks and then YOU decide whether you want to take it further with the FO.

I’m oot!

They’ve already given me a final response letter - almost immediately. They suggested I went to the FO - which I’ve done. 

The payment was a dividend payment to myself. Anyone know time frames for these muppets to respond?

Funds from a business deal.
Now morphed into,
A dividend payment to myself.

Are these the same thing?