Bank worker has just lectured me on my spending

Did she actually say that you were spending irresponsibly? Or did she say that your spending might have been flagged because it was different to your normal spending pattern?

I work for a bank, and rather than irresponsible spending, I would say that an amount of money being withdrawn from a savings account followed by a number of out-of-the-ordinary spends would be flagged as an account takeover. And account takeovers or attempted account takeovers are absolutely rife at the moment, where someone gets hold of enough detail to be able to pass a security check and to then change certain personal details such as a phone number in order to take control of an account and spend out of control.

We have all manner of systems to hopefully prevent it but it does happen.

If she actually did say that your spending was irresponsible then of course she’s in the wrong.

But personally if a customer came through to me with a blocked card I would go through the transactions, and if they recognise them then i unblock the card. But if they asked why the card had been blocked then I would likely say that it could be because the spending was outside the normal spending pattern and this triggered a fraud alert.

It happened to me when I paid for DC’s phone on my credit card. Because it was late at night, the amount was above what I’d normally spend, i had a message saying the transaction had been blocked. It’s annoying but understandable.

And having spoken to customers whose accounts have actually been taken over or whose cards have been cloned, it’s a horrendous thing to unravel when it happens for real.

maybe she was just jealous that she can't go shopping. Go and enjoy your new stuff and think no more of this. Personally I wouldn't even complain but thats entirely up to you.

🤣

I could be wrong here, but I thought banks were supposed to check incoming funds for money laundering, thereby ensuring what was in your account (and in their charge) was kosher, not wait until you start spending your own money, not borrowed funds. Add to that that there are regulations with regard to giving financial advice and I don't think that includes a basic bank employee admonishing you on your spending habits. Methinks this is an employee acting beyond their remit in need of some further training.

My card got blocked recently because I went mad on Vinted 😂 didn’t get a lecture though.

Same here, we’re busy so it’s not uncommon for us to allocate a few hours together to sort stuff out and then book a holiday, order an appliance, order dc new football boots, order their main Xmas presents all in one go.

It’s not irresponsible, the op had saved that money to spend. It would be irresponsible maybe if she’d put it all on a credit card with no way of paying it off.

Yet another example of the ridiculous state the UK has become. $1200 money laundering?! What is this idiot bank employee on? And I can't believe they blocked your card in the first place because they were "suspicious". Frankly I would make a massive complaint to a manager and, as they will no doubt not give a crap, close the account and bank elsewhere.

How dare she! It's your money and you can do what you bloody like with it. I would report her because she is working for your bank who are meant to be working for you. Bad customer service too. Tell the bank you will change banks and that she ruined your spending spree which you saved up your hard earned money for, you deserve to feel rich for a day and but whatever you want. x❤️

ChicoMarx was asked in 1959 how much money he lost gambling. "Ask Harpo how much money he has, that's how much money I've lost."

George Best: The legendary Northern Irish footballer famously said, "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered".

Tug McGraw: The beloved Major League Baseball pitcher put his own spin on it, stating, "Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish Whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste".

W.C. Fields: The classic American comedian also delivered a similar line: "I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted"

Yes, patriarchy. Institutional lectures on how someone spends her money is patriarchal. And yes, even if the employee is female, and yes, even if the customer is male. 😘

patriarchy?? 🤣🤣

Fraud flags are fine, but this person had no right whatsoever to tell you what is responsible or irresponsible about how you use your own money. This internalised patriarchy stuff is absolutely unacceptable and needs to be called out. I’d absolutely make a complaint.

They are duty bound to look for suspicious activities. When I bought a lot of new clothes (unexpected weight loss) my bank app asked me if I knew how much I’d spent on clothes in the last month. I just ticked yes. 🤷‍♀️

I lived in Japan for a while and my UK bank was fully aware - they had our phone numbers and postal address and we had had various conversations with them before we moved. Yet still they used to block my card approximately once a quarter ‘because it has been used in Japan’ 😭😭😭

She was trying to protect you and they monitor unusual spending patterns

I would file a complaint, since this is not the way to talk to a client - and anyway, tipping you off that you may be suspected of money-laundering is ridiculous, because it would put you on the alter - and also, mention this in your complaint. HSBC were asking why we want to withdraw funds, and there is always the 'remodelling' thing...

but it's not the bank's job or remit to flag for irresponsible or compulsive spending! OP wasn't applying for a loan, she was just spending her own money, so it is none of their business what she spends it on or how often.

They're the fraud protection division, not the Martin Moneysaver is this a prudent and sensible purchase division.

Yes, I agree it could be a bit of an overstep but I couldn't arsed making a complaint to be honest.
I would have moved on long before now tbh

Transferring a large sum then spending it all on multiple, small, online purchases in one go, does look like irresponsible/compulsive spending. Especially if it is unusual for your account. If you were to apply for a mortgage in the future, they do look at spending habits, so she isn't wrong to say it might be a "red flag". This would more likely be a red flag for compulsive spending, rather than money laundering, but both could be considered.

Without hearing the call itself its hard to know whether the staff member is in the wrong, or whether it is how you have interpreted what she said.

If you aren't happy, make a complaint.

If it is true that a sudden spending spree might be detrimental to you in relation to borrowing then she is right to warn you of that.

It is your money. Spend it if you want. I'd raise a complaint about the behaviour of the bank clerk with the bank itself. Calls are usually recorded anyway so there should be supporting evidence.

There’s the difference. You regularly spend like this so it’s a known pattern. This poster did it as a one off so it flagged. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

The sum you mentioned, frankly, doesn't scream "money laundering" to me.

Can I ask what is irresponsible about it? I could easily spend that in one day doing ‘home admin’ (I like to get all the tasks done in one go!) say, sorting gift buying for Christmas and upcoming birthdays/celebrations, booking a short break, redecorating a room (in fact thinking about it, any one of those could come to the amount OP spent!).
I do have a mortgage but looking to borrow more to move somewhere bigger and the last thing I want is being refused and seen as irresponsible because I bought new carpet and booked a holiday on the same day…