So I'm under suspicion of money laundering...

Rotating Rabbit · #1 07-13-2005, 06:40 PM

So I go into a branch of barclays bank that I don't normally bank in london (uk) on monday as I am in the area on other business, and pay in two substantial cheques I had cashed out from various poker sites (via neteller and another uk account) to my current account (which normally has next to nothing in it because of a non existant rate of interest). I'm 21 and was looking pretty scruffy, t shirt and rucksack on (rather like a tourist) and the cashier started asking me questions about my identity/dob/where the money came from/ etc. I asked if everything was ok he said yes, stamped my paying in slips and I went on about my day.

Next day my account is frozen, the money I paid in seems to have disappeared. I spent 2 hours in my local branch trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and after much enquiry it appears their money laundering team are investigating me. Needless to say i'm pretty pissed off as I need the cash fairly soon for a property purchase.

Has this ever happened to anyone here? I'm going to really lay into the management of the bank for this.

MoreWineII · #2 07-13-2005, 06:43 PM

Clearly, the answer is to rob the place and then immediately spend the money, thus proving you don't even know any money launderers.

swede123 · #3 07-13-2005, 06:44 PM

The man's always out to get you. Of course all the things you mention certainly add up to a certain perception, which would raise flags for the bank folks. If you had bothered cleaning up a little before this transaction I bet nothing would have happened.

Swede

SpearsBritney · #4 07-13-2005, 06:45 PM

one day I hope to have your problems

Sponger15SB · #5 07-13-2005, 06:47 PM

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Has this ever happened to anyone here?

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Maybe some of tdarko's friends....

SpearsBritney · #6 07-13-2005, 06:48 PM

THIS IS A FCUK!

eric5148 · #7 07-13-2005, 06:55 PM

Your avatar says "Photobucket.com bandwidth exceeded."

Sponger15SB · #8 07-13-2005, 06:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Your avatar says "Photobucket.com bandwidth exceeded."

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I know. I tried purchasing a premium account from them, but apparently I suck at entering my CVV2 # and now I...uh....can't.

Supersetoy · #9 07-13-2005, 07:01 PM

How large were the deposits? (If you don't mind me asking).

I've worked for a few banks growing up, and the US has a "10K" rule. If a deposit is made over 10K, the bank has to check where the deposit is coming from, clear the check...etc. Usually this takes a week to clear. I've seen some pretty ticked off customers with this policy in place...but I'd guarantee no one on this site has read through a full rules and regulations disclosure for their bank.

More than likely within that little pamphlet there's something that states: "The bank, at any time, for any reason, may hold your funds for an extended period of time".

Rotating Rabbit · #10 07-13-2005, 07:34 PM

Yeah they were more than that. I think the uk has a similar rule at about that level.

Im sure you're right there'll be a disclaimer somewhere buried in the smallest of smallprint. Its still irritating though, and had I not been paranoid and checked the account the next day online it could have been ages until I noticed.