Fraud & Banks

[Guest Guest]

My brother is in Afganistan atm. His bank phoned our house today, they left a message on the answer phone asking for him to phone back asap in regards to fraud.

 

My mum got the message so phoned them straight back only to be met with the scripted reply of "You are not the card holder, we must speak to the card holder".

After repeatedly telling them he was in Afgan and we wouldnt be able to get a message to him, never mind the fact he most likely wouldnt be able to have a long winded convosation with them, the women just hung up.

 

Is there anything we can do? The way i see it the banks next course of action will be to freeze his bank account, which will leave him with no access to his money until he can contact them! And if they cancel his card he will be stuck until one is posted... to Afgan!

 

Surerly banks have heard of the armed services, and that we just happen to be at "war" atm, theres got to be some kind of procedeour we can follow?

 

Any gen?

Edited December 1, 2008 by Guest

[FN-GM]

can't you phone and claim your him?

[Guest Guest]

can't you phone and claim your him?

 

Hmm. We just had this the other week aswell. His car insurance renewal came up. I phoned up pretending to be him but made a pigs ear of it lol! The women threatened to call the cops etc so i dont fancy doing it to a bank in the current climate. Besides, why should i have to do that?!

[FN-GM]

Besides, why should i have to do that

 

Because the banks are bloody idiots and will land your brother in it.

[Lithium]

Is it actually his bank?

 

None of my banks have my mobile number yet I keep getting people ringing up saying I maybe overdue in claiming fees back etc... I just play along with them, wasting their time.

[laserblazer]

Sounds dodgy to me. I would contact the security department at the bank and ask their advice. A friend in South Africa told me that someone from Standard Bank phoned her to try and get her PIN number and he had all the other details. When she refused, he got very shirty, she got suspicious, he's in jail!

[Guest Guest]

When my mum phoned the bank they knew what it was about, they just wouldnt tell her.

[garethEds]

When my mum phoned the bank they knew what it was about, they just wouldnt tell her.

 

Find out if the bank will let your brother set up a proxy. I've done this with a lot of my wife's contracts because she hates speaking to companies on the phone. I know I can deal with several companies on behalf of her.

 

You should visit the bank and speak to a personal adviser face to face - it's a lot better than the phone. Or failign that, a letter to the customer services manager asking them what they do in these situations.

 

GJE

[ZeroHour]

You could get official papars from the forces stating he is away and unreachable and take them into the bank and speak to the manager at the branch and see what he recommends.

[Guest Guest]

Cool, good thinking people. I didnt know you could set up a proxy, no good now but for the future...

 

Lets just hope we can sort it out before they break his account.

[elsiegee40]

My husband works overseas a lot. He has had to write letters to the bank and the credit card company authorising them to talk to me if I give a particular password.

 

This happened after problems with his card while he was in India.

 

The daftest security was a holiday company that refused to deal with me as I hadn't made the booking. However, they would talk to me if my other half sent an email authorising me to speak to them... so 'he' did ... OK I sent the email in his name It worked.

[rush_tech]

My brother is in Afganistan atm. His bank phoned our house today, they left a message on the answer phone asking for him to phone back asap in regards to fraud.

 

My mum got the message so phoned them straight back only to be met with the scripted reply of "You are not the card holder, we must speak to the card holder".

After repeatedly telling them he was in Afgan and we wouldnt be able to get a message to him, never mind the fact he most likely wouldnt be able to have a long winded convosation with them, the women just hung up.

 

Is there anything we can do? The way i see it the banks next course of action will be to freeze his bank account, which will leave him with no access to his money until he can contact them! And if they cancel his card he will be stuck until one is posted... to Afgan!

 

Surerly banks have heard of the armed services, and that we just happen to be at "war" atm, theres got to be some kind of procedeour we can follow?

 

Any gen?

 

One route you could take is to get a message to him about this, and for your brother to contact his pay clerk or his Regimental admin officer out there and make them aware of the situation. They will have the resources to sort this out.

[GrumbleDook]

The Pay Clerks will sort this out, contact his Regiment (or regimental association if the regiment is on short strength due to deployment).

 

God bless the AGC ... keeps the army paid and on the system when all else fails.

[RabbieBurns]

when i was away in australia for a year I had my old dear registered as power of attorney for me so she could act on my behalf in my absense.

[Guest Guest]

Cheers rush_tech and GrumbleDook thats just what i was looking for, i knew there must be some sort of procedure. Just wish the snotty bitch on the phone had mentioned this instead of being deliberately awkward: you'd have thought it would have been in her all mighty script as im sure this isnt the first time one of their customers has been on tour

[alan-d]

I presume you have a contact number for a representative in the rear party which remains behind in the barracks he is usually based. They will help you with the info that you need. Chances are they will contact the bank on his behalf. Failing that they will be aware of a possible problem and be able to arrange alternative arrangements for his pay.

 

It happens quite a lot and they have standard procedures they follow. They will have direct contact numbers they can use to inform him of what is happening.

Edited December 1, 2008 by alan-d

[ahuxham]

The Pay Clerks will sort this out, contact his Regiment (or regimental association if the regiment is on short strength due to deployment).

 

God bless the AGC ... keeps the army paid and on the system when all else fails.

 

How is a Clerk going to get authorization to act on his behalf, let alone his own mother or brother, this isn't about payment, this is about a fraud is it not?

[rush_tech]

How is a Clerk going to get authorization to act on his behalf, let alone his own mother or brother, this isn't about payment, this is about a fraud is it not?

 

They don't need to! they have comms back to the UK and he can speak to his bank direct.

[GrumbleDook]

How is a Clerk going to get authorization to act on his behalf, let alone his own mother or brother, this isn't about payment, this is about a fraud is it not?

 

There are a number of established procedures for dealing with finances by proxy and the MOD (and their representatives, in this case the RAO or other AGC staff) can act as an agent for their employees or work with forces personell to set up other agents. Most UK banks (based in UK or having a significant UK presence) are aware of this and will quickly come to arrangements.

 

MOD trump family members if no existing proxy is setup.

[alan-d]

There are a number of established procedures for dealing with finances by proxy and the MOD (and their representatives, in this case the RAO or other AGC staff) can act as an agent for their employees or work with forces personell to set up other agents. Most UK banks (based in UK or having a significant UK presence) are aware of this and will quickly come to arrangements.

 

MOD trump family members if no existing proxy is setup.

 

As an ex RAOWO - I can confirm that

[witch]

Another real issue is that the bank didn't bother to listen to the problem and give some suggestions as to how to sort it out - it must have happened before, after all.

[Guest Guest]

Another real issue is that the bank didn't bother to listen to the problem and give some suggestions as to how to sort it out - it must have happened before, after all.

 

Yep, that is our main issue here. This is supposed to be a bank, a place where your money is safe. If their employees refuse to even listen to reason and atleast think about acting on common-sence then i see no hope for the banks. It isnt like this is a rare case, hes only in the army.

 

The chances are the bank simply want to know why money has been withdrawn in Afgan, which is quite simple really, hes in Afgan. Fair enough you dont have to believe us but atleast give us the chance to explain so that you can put a note on his account giving him time to get in contact with them rather then taking the stupid attitude of "You arnt the account holder" - like they know who they are speaking to on a phone...