Help! Account frozen 2 weeks before discharge

TinyPomegranate

I had no idea this might happen. I have a basic account with Lloyds (plus a couple of attached savings accounts with them to help with budgeting) and for some reason my account has been frozen. I have just rung Lloyds and they told me the block was put on on the 28th - I'm due for discharge on May 14th.

I am paying into an IPA and have done everything asked of me in that regard.

No recent change in income or outgoings. Everything was going smoothly, no problems anywhere and I don't owe anyone anything.

This account was a new fresh account I made when I first became bankrupt. It's a basic account (with a debit card but no credit facility) and they knew about my bankruptcy.

Any ideas why this might have happened? Presumably the OR won't answer an email on a BH weekend

JCS1

It's the bank, not the OR, who freezes bank accounts

TinyPomegranate

JCS1 said:

It's the bank, not the OR, who freezes bank accounts

Thanks. Any ideas why the bank might have done this so close to discharge? I've never been overdrawn with them or had any returned payments etc.

Grumpy_chap

Have there been any transactions that are outside of your normal pattern?

TinyPomegranate

Grumpy_chap said:

Have there been any transactions that are outside of your normal pattern?

None at all, other than a double payment to Advantis for my IPA whch they asked for.

Weirdly I still have access to internet banking which I thought they blocked when an account is frozen. It looks normal until I try to actually do any transaction.

From the reading I've done and the reply above putting it as the bank's decision, I think my best action is to email the OR on Tuesday and ask them to tell the bank they have no interest in the account. If anyone spots a flaw in this plan please advise - thanks!

Sonic101

TinyPomegranate said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Have there been any transactions that are outside of your normal pattern?

None at all, other than a double payment to Advantis for my IPA whch they asked for.

Weirdly I still have access to internet banking which I thought they blocked when an account is frozen. It looks normal until I try to actually do any transaction.

From the reading I've done and the reply above putting it as the bank's decision, I think my best action is to email the OR on Tuesday and ask them to tell the bank they have no interest in the account. If anyone spots a flaw in this plan please advise - thanks!

Hi there
Is it definitely frozen? Reason I ask is I saw something in the medía yesterday about big problems occurring with Lioyds bank accounts - people unable to make transfers or withdraw cash etc., don’t suppose it was anything to do with that? 
 

TinyPomegranate

Sonic101 said:

Hi there
Is it definitely frozen? Reason I ask is I saw something in the medía yesterday about big problems occurring with Lioyds bank accounts - people unable to make transfers or withdraw cash etc., don’t suppose it was anything to do with that? 
 

Thanks, I did hear about that but when I rang them they said it was frozen due to being bankrupt. My debit card didn't work as well as transfers in and out. I still don't understand why they waited almost a year to freeze it! Luckily I have a few basic accounts to help with budgeting etc so I'm just paying my bills out of my "savings" for now until they fix it.

sourcrates

I think things in general, and banks in particular, are playing catch up at present, due to covid etc, as lots of staff still working from home.

That may go part way to explaining the delay, once the OR informs them they have no interest in the account, it should be released, Lloyds are one of the more bankruptcy friendly banks, so I can`t see them closing it.

DCFC79

Do you have anything confirming Lloyds acknowledging you being bankrupt ?

No harm in speaking to OR first, hopefully they can sort it.

TinyPomegranate

DCFC79 said:

Do you have anything confirming Lloyds acknowledging you being bankrupt ?

No harm in speaking to OR first, hopefully they can sort it.

Nope, other than the phone call the other day which I presume would be recorded. At the point of bankruptcy I didn't have this account, it was a new fresh one about a month later. I can't remember if I had to explicitly tell them I'm BR when applying (I opened a few different accounts at the same time and some asked/some didn't) but I remember being scrupulously honest with all questions of that type, so they either didnt know or didn't ask/care.