Forum Topic

Halifax bank - can they do this to me ??

I paid a cheque for 2 thousand pounds (a present from my uncle) into my account at the Halifax. It’s not my main account – I use it mainly for my dole money when I’m “resting”  (increasingly frequently at the moment :o(   ) My card got swallowed at a cash machine and, when I investigated, the bank said that because I had never before  paid in a cheque for so large an amount they had suspended my account while they investigated. I appreciate that the cheque was large and “suspicious” but surely the professional way to proceed would have been via my uncle’s bank and get  confirmation from him that all was well? The numpties at Halifax now want my uncle to write them a letter (he’s in his eighties!) – they even wanted him to provide a bank statement, (I kyboshed that). I then insisted that they at least gave me my dole money – which they did. But before they’ll release any of “my” 2 thousand they want me to take in passport, utility bills, blah blah blah to prove who I am – in which case why give the smaller amount?That it’s a nonsensical way for a bank to behave is self evident, but are they acting within banking law / regs.I am so angry.

Viv Ellis ● 6528d7 Comments

I'd be tempted to go to the Police and accuse the bank of theft. Currently they have stolen your money. The bank has the value of your money but you don't 'appear' to have.One wonders whether this bank disfunction is caused by a computer software programme that automatically suspends a bank account if an attempt is made to deposit an amount say 10 times more than the average deposit. It's enought to make you give up doing The National Lottery!

Eric Alan Leach ● 6527d

Incredible! I share your anger. It sounds like a stupid bank policy but I imagine it would be a complex legal puzzle if you tried to unravel it. You could probably get some advice from the FSA. I would quietly get it sorted then withdraw my account in favour of another bank, sending the Halifax a very sharp letter too.

Verification Required ● 6527d

The threat to close the account could be a good one. also let them know about this thread which tells all locals what a rubbish bank they are

Peter Chadburn ● 6527d

I suspect the threat to close the account will make no difference at all - they are too big. I recently threatened to close all my HSBC accounts (maybe five in toto) - after 34 odd years - because they wouldn't let me amend a joint account to a single account following a bereavement - to be met by total indifference.

Sara Nathan ● 6526d

While banks are legally bound to keep an eye out for money laundering I would say on the face of it that they have behaved totally unreasonably. £2000 in my experience is not normally a figure that a bank would blink at.  You have been denied access to your money. That is out of order especially e.g. if you wanted to buy a Christmas present in a sale and you have been denied the opportunity. Presumably the Halifax can identify you from your signature. Take your ID if you have to just to save time. You ask for a copy of their complaints procedure at the same time.You can complain in writing under their complaints system asking why such a miniscule amount gave them cause to think they should investigate you under the money laundering rules. You would ask for a written apology. You would ask for compensation. You might be saying that be you have been discriminated against because they know you are on Benefits. You can say that  you have been treated with gross unreasonableness. You can say you have been made to feel like a criminal. When you get a mealy mouthed response you write back and say you are not satisfied (no more) and deal with the complaint at the next level. When you exhaust their complaints procedure in writing you then write to the banking Ombudsman with all the correspondence and ask for his view. Banks hate that. If they start telling you to close the account (which they might)you can treat that as a separate complaint. Ultimately you could send the file to the Saturday Guardian money pages.You open an account with another bank - now. If on Benefits this would be a card savings or Basic bank account. Why? Because people on Benefits, especially, are best advised to have two accounts just in case one of the accounts gets out of control. A person on benefits with only one bank account out of control is in a very invidious stressful and vulnerable position. Also in your case once the Halifax saga is concluded you can move your cash to the new account.Otherwise forget it and move on.

George Knox ● 6526d

Thanks all. It gets even better. Uncle writes a letter confirming he did send the cheque but apparently I may have forged that so they want him to fax his bank statement ! In his eighties, fought in WW2 and he's treated like that. That's not even something I can ask him to do ! Unbelievable. The FOS has agreed  to write them a letter just on the strength of my phone call to them so I seem to be getting  somewhere on that front,

Viv Ellis ● 6526d

I'm on the committe of a local Community Amateur Sports Club. One of our members took on the job of Bookkeeper in the summer and in September the club completed the requisite paperwork to make her an authorized signatory of the club account. She has been signing cheques for £1,000s ever since as we are building a new clubhouse. All the suppliers got paid. She went to the bank last week and asked for some new cheque books. The bank refused her and told her that according to their records she was not an authorized signatory on the account. She said '..but I've been signing cheques and paying suppliers for two months'.The bank then excelled itself by saying '..well we can't check every cheque signature!!And which bank was this? It really doesn't matter because of course it could be any of them....

Eric Alan Leach ● 6526d