Bank account on “temporary block” - revived 10/09/24

TojoRalph

debthelp1 said:

They have now closed my account and sent the balance on to another of my accounts as I requested. That in turn has now meant the account they sent it too has flagged up the receipt and temporary blocked me as well. I am at my wits end.

I have completed an access request with CIFAS and they say nothing is on file. 

Apparently I will be informed by post of the reasons for this decision. 

Sorry to hear this has happened, but please don't hold your breath that the bank will advise you why they blocked and closed your account. From what I have seen first hand and read in previous banks, banks only have to reference AML/fraud concerns and they get to act as a law unto themselves. You say you answered the banks questions, what did they relate to? Was it a specific payment made or received?

born_again

debthelp1 said:

They have now closed my account and sent the balance on to another of my accounts as I requested. That in turn has now meant the account they sent it too has flagged up the receipt and temporary blocked me as well. I am at my wits end.

I have completed an access request with CIFAS and they say nothing is on file. 

Apparently I will be informed by post of the reasons for this decision. 

Is it part of the same banking group?

debthelp1

debthelp1 said:

The only account I have which is Co-Operative have blocked my account use for what they claim is suspicious activity. I’ve had a call with them three days ago and explained everything they asked for but I still have no access 

I don’t have any cash I need access to my funds for food! I called again this morning and they said I can only go to a branch and take out any wages or benefits paid in recently , which there hasn’t been for three weeks. 

I don’t know what to do and I can’t believe they can actually do this and withhold my money 

I am now back here after a year due to a sudden problem arising last week. Co-Operative closed my account back then as did Chase (both cited suspected fraud) so I opened up a Barclays account with no issues and been using it for a year.

Last week walking along carefree through the park my phone buzzed and I'd had a notification to say my Barclays debit card would no longer be valid for apple pay. I went to open my Barclays app it said access was blocked and to call the number. Upon answering he said he was on the fraud team. Turns out my account had been closed immediately and to go to a branch to get my funds. He could not tell me why, only that I would receive the reasonings in writing soon. Since then I have had emails from Barclays telling me important documents are on my app to read. Well you morons you have blocked the app so I cant read them can I?!

I had paid cheques in for someone (I considered a friend) to my Co Operative account two years ago which is what started all this nonsense. I have taken legal advice since then and it seems I was only guilty of being a complete idiot but since my accounts at Co Op and Chase were closed I have heard nothing at all from any banks or worse still, the police.

I did a CIFAS check when it all happened and it was all clear hence being allowed the Barclays account (the only money that's ever been paid into this Barclays account are my wages or universal credit) but after this recent closure I tried to open a basic Santander account and was rejected. This would suggest there is a mark against me so I have now put in another CIFAS DSAR request and await their findings. 

I have a prepaid Wise card/account and a Monzo but are these also likely to be closed therefore leaving me without any bank account whatsoever? I need somewhere to be paid my salary and have my bills come out of!

I am also now in a relationship and living with someone so I am scared me previously transferring them money for our living expenses is going to affect their account or name as well. She has a great job and mortgage etc so I live with dread and fear wondering if I have affected her somehow. Like I say I've heard nothing about any of this for 12 months until that notification the other day.

GTR_King

Sounds like the cheque you paid in (from your supposed friend) was a fraudulent cheque & at the time your chase & Monzo accounts were shut down! & CIFAS marker was added!

Since then you been fine but either that Ciafs marker been there all this time & Barclays didn’t check so just found out & closed your account down! Or it just been re added & that’s why Barclays account closed down!

they will send you the last 5 years worth of statements so check them to see if anything suspicious has happened 

So it will be 6 years from when the CIFAS marker was add when you can apply for more credit or get a bank account! 

There not much you can do unless you believe it wasn’t your fault & the victim! 

Other than that you better tell your partner what happened & why you accounts were closed 

hope she will understand but will affect you buying a house together etc 

debthelp1

Thanks for that @GTR_King

What about future employment, do they have access to CIFAS marks or can they make checks on it?

I am quite far down the line and almost through the process of becoming a train driver for a major operating company.

It all seems very unfair to have had this hanging over me for a year at least with my only updates being a bank account being shut down without warning or (so far) explanation

Nasqueron

debthelp1 said:

Thanks for that @GTR_King

What about future employment, do they have access to CIFAS marks or can they make checks on it?

I am quite far down the line and almost through the process of becoming a train driver for a major operating company.

It all seems very unfair to have had this hanging over me for a year at least with my only updates being a bank account being shut down without warning or (so far) explanation

It largely depends on the industry, it's not as likely a train driver will have a full credit check vs a job in finance but better to be honest if asked!

debthelp1

Are Wise likely to check CIFAS or be alerted by them and also close my account? 

It’s the only one I have left so if they do I won’t be able to receive any salary

i have a Monzo card but don’t think I’ve ever used it. 

GeoffTF

On a previous thread, a poster suggested opening an old fashioned building society savings account and getting your salary paid into that. It may be worth a try if you have a local branch to withdraw cash.

debthelp1

GeoffTF said:

On a previous thread, a poster suggested opening an old fashioned building society savings account and getting your salary paid into that. It may be worth a try if you have a local branch to withdraw cash.

Are they different to banks then?

GeoffTF

debthelp1 said:

GeoffTF said:

On a previous thread, a poster suggested opening an old fashioned building society savings account and getting your salary paid into that. It may be worth a try if you have a local branch to withdraw cash.

Are they different to banks then?

That was the suggestion. The building societies would be subject to the same AML rules though, so I am sceptical too.