Absolutely FUMING with Abbey

Meltdown_2

Yes, I'd like the legislation quoted that is supposed to back up ******smart****.
I've read it all - and it doesn't. It essentially tells the companies to exhibit due diligence to ensure that they are not party to money laundering, and that they should have policies in place that could satisfy the relevant authorities.
This leaves a lot of it up to them as to how they achieve that.

johnmoney05

Not surprised I waited in the queue for almost 45 mins the other day in Holborn Abbey branch. If we all are asked so many questions just because of taking £2,500. For goodness sick, it is not £25,000. I certainly will not remember what direct debit I have with my accounts. What is the exact balance of the account. What/when is the last deposit. To be honest, I don't even remember how many current/saving accounts I got. Sometimes I even forget the pin number for each of my credit /debit cards which I have more than 20 in total.

Finally if I see a lady in her 70, I certainly will not have any doubt in believing her, so long as she can produce the debit card and proving her IDs. Well, we have to show some respect.

PBA

dfwz wrote: »

Is it ?

Can you point me to the specific legislation as I'm not personally familiar with it ?

AML regulation. Can't provide a specific reference I'm afraid, but I do know it's the one thing a bank cashier can go to jail for through doing their job.

Meltdown_2

Thanks, PBA, but your answer is the sort of thing I expected.
What sort of training did your bank give you and the other staff in this area?
I would have hoped a course which would lay out the background, list the relevant legislation and other important documents, indicate the information needs & requirements of banks in general, and explain how your particular branch intended to proceed - giving ample opportunity for experienced cashiers to be able to say "hold on, this will seriously annoy our customers" or "won't this make our queues so long that they reach out the door".
These aren't the issues that some of the policy-makers seem to spend any time thinking about.

Flynn_2

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

Its perfectly normal
when will customers learn that 1) they do not know better about security and fraud than banks

If you understood internet security you'd know that wasn't true. The primitive login for Abbey on-line accounts and the way it allows the setting up of payment mandates suggests they don't understand, or perhaps care, how vulnerable their system is.

Scousebird_2

dunstonh wrote: »

Money laundering requirements as well as fraud prevention. Unusual cash transactions require the bank to ask questions.

If you acted negatively towards the questions then you may find that the clerk reports you under the Money Laundering rules for you to be investigated for potential money laundering.

I echo this comment-they are protecting your funds at the same time as following the law-if the cashier gave you money without asking questions, and then later you were in fact a money launderer (please do not think I am accusing here-as I am sure you wanted to just use your money) then she can be prosecuted as an accomplice so she is just doing her job and covering both your back and the Abbey's!

I can appreciate it is annoying when you see it as such a small amount, but unfortunatly we live in such a dishonest and corrupt society and some people are not as genuine and honest as yourself so that's why you get the 'interrogation'-if it was an unusual transaction (eg-you dont withdraw large amounts often)-then the cashier-from a customer service point of view will just be checking to make sure everything is above board. Some banks are quite lenient on checks-others are not but it's better to be safe than sorry!

DGJsaver

All these posts would make perfect sense IF the bank was as bothered when we put large amounts IN....:D

mitchb

DGJsaver wrote: »

All these posts would make perfect sense IF the bank was as bothered when we put large amounts IN....:D

If the cashier is concerned when large / unusual amounts are being paid in their is a process they must follow, passing details to an AML department for further checks.

Part of this process is that they must not indicate to the customer that they are suspicious of the transaction. If they tip the customer off, accidently or not, the cashier can face a fine, imprisonment or both.

Wyndham

I don't object to the questions, and can see why the banks do it. But it does seem in this case that there were a lot of questions i.e. I would expect one or two and to provide some id, but not this many.

gatita

I really do want to write a letter of complaint to Abbey National, (not just customer services) but to the chief executive, or some such person:rolleyes: The thing is I am unsure of where or who to send it to. I would be very grateful for any help on this.

I am still so angry at the way I was treated, and the last question asked was nothing short of disgusting.:mad: