SO ANGRY - DAMN SANTANDER
- 4 December 2010 21:5083264I have to share this with you - I am so damn angry
My son-in-law is doing a tour in Afghanistan for 7 months, and will not be home until May.
Over the last few weeks, my son-in-law (James) has emailed me to ask if he puts some money into my account, would I buy some Christmas presents for his wife (my daughter) as a surprise. Of course, I said, not a problem I said.
So today I see that the money has been transferred into my account, and an email with the list of what was to be bought was sent.
I ordered the first item online - to which it came back - not authorised, so I tried again - not authorised?
Then I looked for the same item with another supplier just in case it was a foreign website - found it and paid for the item through Paypal - to be told that it was not authorised.
I phoned my bank to be transferred to the SECURITY department - who told me MY account has been frozen because of this payment
Excuse me - did my son-in-law not have to go through a load of security questions to transfer HIS money into my account. Excuse me - do I not have money of my own in my account which could pay for this item???
Am I not on the phone now - clarifying that HIS money has been transferred into MY account - What's the issue
My son-in-law now has to phone up again - like he is allowed to carry a mobile on the front line - to phone the bank - to again clarify that the money he transferred is OK to go into my account. SERIOUSLY.
My account now is on hold until such time James can contact them to clarify this transaction - No Bills will be paid, MY money that is paid into my account, I can not access until this phone call is made - HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. IT IS MY ACCOUNT AND MY MONEY
How dare they take a very special phone call that is being waited for by his family - to clarify a transaction that he has already authorised.
I will be taking this up with the Ombudsman on Monday - but for today I want to share it with you - I AM SO DAMN FURIOUS I COULD SCREAM FROM THE HOUSE TOP - 4 December 2010 22:0483266My advice to you is go to the national press now, give them shite. Also try his regimental rear party its surprising what they can do.beer the food of the gods
- 4 December 2010 22:5983272That is dreadful Terri,I know that the Mercury and the Express cover these pages surely everyone should be warned as this is still a Garrison town and lots of people will have family away at the moment.The Local papers may lad to Natioonal coverage if they don't know about it already.If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
- 4 December 2010 23:0483273Terri phone the families officer at his regiment, they are usually very helpful.
- 5 December 2010 00:3183278I would be in that bank faster than they can blink first thing on Monday morning having a barny at the manager loud enough that everyone knows... and i would invite the press and all..
blinking bank... - 5 December 2010 00:5183280Call Rhys Griffiths at Dover Express his number is 01303 851683 or if that doesn't work try 07738 367141. Or Newsdesk at BBC South East 01892 675580. And I have texted the link to our MP for his advice/ action.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 5 December 2010 01:3183281Charlie moves fast. He has asked that you email him directly at Charlie.Elphicke.mp@parliament.UK and he will be on to it asap.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 5 December 2010 08:5683290That is dreadful Terri and so frustrating; I really hope you (and others you ask to help) are able to sort it out - and soon.
Security is one thing, but this sounds crazy.
Good Luck with it - well done Peter.
Roger - 5 December 2010 09:5283300Thank you all for your comments - I am just starting to calm down, but I think it is pure disgusting. I even phoned back in case it was just one person who would not help, but it was not the case.
I really don't understand why? I understand "money laundering" and it is not like we are talking thousands here - jeez he is only in the army on the frontline - and they don't get a fortune (honestly)
Plus it is my account that has been frozen - so what gives - James has to contact them to have the marker lifted off my account
Peter, Thank You - I will email Charlie - and hopefully this can be highlighted to those who need to know and can do something about it - I am sure that there are other families that will suffer at the hands of Santander and be in a right mess for Christmas - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
5 December 2010 10:3683303That is disgraceful Terrismark, no way should YOUR account be frozen, what about direct debits being due or you wanting to buy food. The whole situation is disgraceful.
I often transfer money into various family members accounts using internet banking and have never had a problem with my bank.
I hope you get it sorted soon and your son-in-law stays safe.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 December 2010 10:4883307Terrismark I really feel for you and your son in law, it's totally disgraceful. I do hope it's resolved soon.
- 5 December 2010 13:4383327Outrageous - totally outrageous. Well done Peter, nice one. Let's hope someone with some common sense can sort this out before it becomes even more of a farce.
- 5 December 2010 15:5183338Terri it's terrible that you have been treated so badly especially as you say it's your bank account and you cannot expect your son-in-law to stay on hold when he is supporting a military action
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Doverforum is constantly monitored by the local press, so rest assured Terri that they would have seen this as soon as it went up.
Also BBC Southeast and ITV Meridian have contacted us for local stories, the latest being the 'White Cliffs Debacle' it was here where you heard it first, picked up later by the local press. Doverforum is a voice to be heard for the Dover Community and we hope that they will listen to yours.
Terri, I hope that your predicament will be sorted out for you and your family in time for Christmas. - 5 December 2010 15:5583339quite right barry, i fully expect this story to go big tomorrow.
the t.v and radio people will have read this by now. - 5 December 2010 16:4183341Terri Hope this is solved quickly for you, know what it is like having service personnel on the front line can be, had 2 sons & a daughter-in-law in the services, so know how worrying it can be and how valuable those phones call are.
- 6 December 2010 00:0983396Well that is my email sent to Charlie - I have also sent an email to the Daily Mirror.
I have sent James an email to let him know the situation and hopefully he will be able to find the time to ask the Taliban to stop firing bullets so that he can make a phone call to the very special Santander, I do hope the Taliban respect his wishes.
What has made this so more difficult is that I am trying to keep the presents a surprise to my daughter so have not been able to discuss this disgusting behaviour of her bank too, with her. But I will be encouraging both Donna & James to change their banks as soon as possible after Christmas - that will be 5 family members bank accounts will be closed by the beginning of January. I guess they can afford to lose customers, as they are one of the biggest banks in the world
- 6 December 2010 09:5983411Thats disgusting i hope you got it sorted best wishes to your son in law for xmas .
- 6 December 2010 11:5183418Hi Terri,
That is appalling, I hope that something is done about this appalling situation. I cannot understand why they have frozen your bank account when its James transferring the money! it will be a computer somewhere set to freeze accounts when a certain type of transaction comes through which cannot be put right by a human being!!
love to you all xxxx - 6 December 2010 11:5483420Terrismark: I hope it all got sorted. It seems incredible that "they" would see this as an attempt at money laundering. Still, we should all be alright now, they are obviously on the ball.. there will be no more money laundering slipping through to enable terrorists to buy bombs, etc......... NOT.
- 6 December 2010 18:4683463Well I am not one for giving up on this - I phoned Santander again, to have to go through a major security check to be told at the end - You have already been told several times that your account is frozen until the payment has been verified. He was actually quite rude about it.
I have now been in contact with the Ombudsman, but it seems this is a slow process and can take up to 8 weeks to even get a reply from Santander.
Mr Charlie Elphicke's office has been in touch and I have been in contact with the SE BBC who will be coming out to see me tomorrow, hopefully this may get a quicker response from them?
I do hope that this highlights what a bad practice this is and that it gets resolved quickly.
I have also been advised that this could affect my financial rating, if bills do not get paid - something that is not helpful in this economical climate - so what do I do in the meantime?
Lucky me to have such a supportive family - I do hope that they have the same understanding when they don't have any Christmas Dinner to eat and presents to open if I can't get this sorted beforehand.
Thank you Santander for a wonderful start to my Christmas