Bank Is Refusing To Answer Regarding Closed Account

[ro2124]

Some time ago my bank in UK closed my account while I was abroad. I was outraged as I had been with them for 20 years and never owed them a penny and paid all bills on time. When I called them I was just passed from one department to another ,without any real explanation as to why.

As I am still abroad unfortunately cant just pop into nearest branch! Instead then I have written them several letters, which have been completely ignored by them!

At the time the account was closed by bank, there were several thousands in there and I am at my wits end.

Its almost like having it stolen and no one seems to care. I can now understand why people call them “Banksters”!

Being abroad makes it very hard to deal with this.
What can I do to force these people pay my money back?

[sandyRoe]

Could these people help?

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

[Buenchico]

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm

[Peter Pedant]

very very odd indeed - I had an account in Newfoundland and after ten years they wrote and said have you forgotten us ?

You should write to your branch bank manager and insist it is taken as a complaint. - they arent refusing to answer by the way - they are failing to answer....- give them ten working days and then ask for a review and then follow their complaints procedure....
which will probably involve another review
and then go to the ombudsman

There is a general principle which applies in this case specifically
that you have to exhaust local remedies before going to the ombudsman

and good luck

[Peter Pedant]

dont phone or email
WRITE and of course keep copies of the letter

Oh, are you sure they havent closed that branch ?
that happened to me - it just disappeared
and when I found it again 6 miles away, and changed bank within a week
the manager commented: actually I dont blame you....

[kjn2]

If the account has been dormant for quiet a while it MAYBE possible that they have closed the account and put the funds in a suspense account under your name. This is a practice the Banks take when they do not have the updated /correct documentation for your account. suggest a very strong letter to the Banks Head Office enquiring why and where your money has gone.Good Luck.

[factor-fiction]

Which bank was it?
Something seems rather unusual here if you are saying they retained your money.

[SirOracle]

Totally agree with you FF,most unusual conduct,especially if the OP is saying that they are keeping the money in the account.

They cannot do this.

[IggyB]

... Sounds suspiciously like your accounts have been frozen rather than closed. Are you possibly suspected of a criminal office or have you traveled to a warzone where it may be suspected you are not providing humanitarian aid (but get getting involved none the less).

[ubasses]

Banks have always closed accounts that have not operated for a specified time (basically it costs too much!). The funds are transferred to unclaimed balances but remains the account holders and if an interest bearing account, that has to be paid when the funds are claimed.
It should be a very simple operation and it looks like you are dealing with untrained staff.
If you are phoning the call centre, ask to be put through to the Branch Manager making it clear you have a serious complaint, and if he is not available and doesn't phone back your next communication will be with the Chairman/CEO.
Depending on the length of time since the account operated there may be a problem with I/D. Just before I retired the Banks had been ordered to ensure that I/D was up to date on all their customers and had been given a timescale. A copy of your passport verified by your overseas Bank may meet their requirements, if it a Bank with overseas branches you may be able to visit them with I/D.

[chrissa1]

When we moved home from NI and opened a new bank account here, Our old bank, Bank of Ireland decided to close our account. This was because it was not being used. There was about £300 in it.

We received their cheque in this amount after about a month or so.

[atalanta]

If all else fails, write to your MP. A letter from an MP to the Chairman of the bank doesn't half make the bank staff sit up and pay attention. MPs do actually have some uses, and that's one of the most helpful.

[ro2124]

Thanks for all the answers.
Yes it does seem odd they have not answered.I
have written at least 4 times to the manager of the branch which still exists (it was LloydsTSB Bank by the way) One would have expected at least an acknowledgement that letters have been received and matter is looked into, but absolutely nothing!. And the account before closure was not dormant as my Armed Forces pension was paid into it monthly..

But it seems this kind of treatment is getting quite common among these useless idiots.

I also opened an account with a bank in Prague a while ago, they were great at first but recently wrote to them regarding a new cash card and for 3 weeks no answers- despite 6 emails These banks really need to be held to account after all its our money they are superposed to be looking after, but they seem to think we are nobodys to be ignored when it suits them -as I said the phrase “Banksters” seems very apt the way things are going!

[factor-fiction]

I too am puzzled by this.
I'm wondering how you found out the account has been closed. If you had a letter then I'd be very surprised if it contained no info on what would happen to your balance and who to contact with any queries.

[ubasses]

Have you tried using Lloyds on line complaint form, once one of these is in the system I would expect they have deadlines to deal with it, and probably senior staff will get regular printouts to monitor.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe there is a suspicion of money laundering,
Did the letter give any explanation?

[EDDIE51]

LLoydsTSB has gone back to being 2 different banks recently, it is now LLoyds OR TSB, accounts have been switched to one or the other often in 2 different towns. I was TSB now I have been switched to LLoyds as there is no TSB in our town any longer.

[factor-fiction]

I am not sure that the local branch is the best place to write to in these circumstances. Correspondence will be dealt with centrally in a service/processing centre, maybe not even in this country.

[ro2124]

>Did the letter give any explanation?

There was no letter I only found out when my cash card suddenly was not working abroad.
I called Lloyds from abraod and they said it was closed -asked for explanation as to why but they said they cant tell me at the phone banking service and I had to call local branch.
i did this, but was passed from one department to another with no resolution. Eventually insisted to talk to Branch manager but he was busy- but promised to call back -which he never did!

>Maybe there is a suspicion of money laundering or anything

If there was its news to me and I was never interviewed by cops

[hc4361]

Are you living abroad? If so, have you informed the bank?

[Tuvok]

Have you somebody that can visit the branch for you.

I know the bank won't be able to discuss with them, but they could perhaps hand deliver a letter from you to the branch.