| Hive advice please an interesting scenario 18:01 - Feb 3 with 1061 views | earlsgreenblue |
My neighbor here on Madeira is an elderly French gentleman who was at some point working for the English NHS as a GP in London. He is now wheelchair bound, struggling to walk more that a few steps.
Now the awkward bit, his French passport has long expired, so has his local residency, he has a substantial sum in a UK bank with no access to it. No cards or anything & the bank keep sending him round & round in circles.
The local French consulate have been no help with anything so how does the poor old boy get access to it? |  | | |  |
| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 18:29 - Feb 3 with 986 views | factual_blue |
If you can't get him set up with online access to the money, then my only other suggestion would be a lawyer. |  |
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| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 20:01 - Feb 3 with 907 views | BloomBlue |
Bank accounts freeze normally after 1-2 years (depending on the bank) if no activity occurs ie payments in or out.
Banks will unfreeze but will require certain information as proof, mainly to prevent fraud.
I obviously don't know the situation with your neighbour but has he kept the bank updated if he has moved house? If no that's the sort of thing that can cause issues if they're looking for proof, ie the account is registered at a different address and somebody is trying to active it and their proof doesn't match.
Most banks have a department that handles these types of issues but I'm guessing he's using a generic number for the bank and possibly ending up with a help desk in India.
One option is try and contact the branch directly where the account was registered - if the branch still exists.
Option two, when contacting the general bank number tell them you what to make a formal complaint about the bank and ask to be transferred to the complaint team
Option Three, telephone the Financial ombudsman help line 0800 023 4567, they might be able to help, offer suggestions [Post edited 3 Feb 2023 20:54]
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| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 20:12 - Feb 3 with 870 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 18:29 - Feb 3 by factual_blue |
If you can't get him set up with online access to the money, then my only other suggestion would be a lawyer. |
I totally agree with this.
If the sums involved are in the thousands+ then the best thing you can do is encourage him to instruct a lawyer so that there is a clear paper trail and the bank stop messing around.
It would be horrible if the OP did the work, got the account unfrozen, then accessed money from a cashpoint for the neighbour periodically, as requested.
Then the neighbour dies, and a second-cousin twice removed inherits, having previously given substantially less than one toss, and suddenly starts throwing accusations that the OP had been gently syphoning the money and draining their inheritance.
Ask around for recommendations for a trustworthy lawyer, persuade the neighbour, and keep everything at arms length. | | | |
| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 20:13 - Feb 3 with 863 views | Pinewoodblue |
Which bank? There is an outside chance tan someone on here works for them and maybe able to help. |  |
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| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 20:22 - Feb 3 with 837 views | BlueandTruesince82 |
Could the finnancial ombudsman help? At least advise? |  |
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| Hive advice please an interesting scenario on 23:11 - Feb 3 with 734 views | Ryorry |
If all else fails, a direct email to Martin Lewis? or maybe read the experiences of others in similar sitations on https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/?&source=GOO-0X0000042AADF6151C&gclid=
Edit:- Specifically, https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/reclaim-lost-assets-free/
Haven't read the site for years, but it used to be superb for these kind of issues, can't remember any problems posted on it which weren't shared by at least several others, often thousands.
Also 'Which?' magazine have helplines (incl legal) for financial & other consumer problems. Might be worth joining up to get, if not already a member (costs a few quid more to get the legal advice line, but not much). [Post edited 3 Feb 2023 23:19]
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