Hello

From memory the Barclays account was restored after either 10 or 14 working days so you are likely to have to wait about 14 to 18 days for restoration, maybe an extra day as this weekend is a bank holiday.

The bank will have reported your account to the National Crime Agency who have that amount of time to express an interest in you.   If they have not done so after that time has elapsed then Barclays will restore your account.  95% or more of the time the NCA has no interest.

The Starling one was a bit different, they just gave me 10 days to quit.  I have a case against them and should really pursue it!

Hi - thank you for your response and help.

Oh dear - 18 days is so long this covers two bank holidays as well. Did they write to you? Or did you just wake up with money back in the account? 

Did Barclays end up making you close the account? Did you or your business get a fraud marker?

I would be surprised if the NCA has an interest. Although I have large cash deposits, I have been doing this since 2018. Yes this year is a bit more, but I have no criminal record or anything for the NCA to think of me as a criminal. I saw a few other people have large cash deposits and not be questioned for this. This is what I am hoping for as these questions would only add to the delay. Funny how this was the week I finally needed my life savings too. 

I have complained, and also made an exec level complaint. Who knows what will do as they are still not telling me anything. 

I started court action, Barclays did  not like that, said the relationship had broken down and closed the account.

We did not get a fraud marker.

The money automatically was restored, less the fees they charged for failed direct debits which could not go out because they had frozen the account, utter bastards.

Moving forward you should have multiple accounts and spread the money around as much as possible so as to reduce the risk to yourself of having all your money in one place.

Depending on how big your life savings are you should not have more that 85K in any one savings account anyway as beyond this level the money is not protected.

For example I have personal accounts with Metrobank, TSB, Halifax, Nationwide, Revolut.

I have business accounts with Starling, Mettle and Sumup.

I have savings accounts with Marcus by Goldman Saks and Ford Money.

If it sounds Like I am rich , sadly i am not, currently there is nothing in them as I have been decimated in the last 18 months, but I live in hope ha ha!

I take the view that every financial institution is dodgy and not to be trusted, divide and rule.