Yorkshire Building Society closing accounts down on people with views that don't agree with their policy

[Summer2023hasarrived]

So the story goes that if you have a view on Brexit or LGBTQ?+ that isn't inline or in agreement with the people that know what view is right at The Yorkshire Building Society then they can close your account?

AIBU - stick to the day job and provide mortgages and savings

YABU - they can decide if the values of their customers don't align to shut them down

Banks can close your accounts if they suspect money laundering. And you can't really find out why they have shut it down as you might tip someone off.

Maybe a good idea to keep cash or gold somewhere. Or an offshore bank account

I thought he was going to piss of if Brexit failed. He's admitted it has, but is still lingering like a ripe old fart.

Businesses can choose who they deal business with. I don’t see the issue.

This is why we had the Disability Discrimination Act. Because businesses discriminated. It's why we now don't let banks check the HIV status of gay men, or make women prove their husband can financially vouch for them.

They cannot choose not to serve you because they don't like your views or who you are.

This is about him receiving funds from Russia.

Maybe stop reading the Daily Mail and read a proper newspaper instead.

Banks are private enterprises, they can set whatever rules they like regarding the people or companies they will work with / provide services for, providing it doesn't contravene any laws.

Refusing to work with / provide services for someone becuase you don't like them or their views is completely legal and fine. It's weird that so many ranty righty snowflakes, who constantly harp on about "free speech, free market, free country" are constantly surprised that this works both ways.

That said isn't Nigel's account being closed under the political exposed person regulations? Tbh I wouldn't be surprised if he's shopped himself in, looks like he's accepted the country is in terminal decline and is desperate to jump ship but doesn't want the bad publicity that would come with just moving abroad.

Could you share the evidence that they have Russian money from one of your sources please?

Refusing to work with / provide services for someone because you don't like them or their views is completely legal and fine.

No, it isn’t.

Which newspaper would you suggest is best?

Once again - No you can't refuse to work with or provide services to someone because you don't like their views.

The Equality Act protects against discrimination on grounds of political views in precisely the same way as discrimination on the basis of sex, disability, serial orientation or religion.

The nearest you're going to get to neutral is the Times. If they had articles stating this sort of thing was happening without there being anything going on in the background, I'd be inclined to take it seriously.

But I'm betting that when the dust settles this will all be either

1. suspicions of money laundering or other illegal behaviour, or
2. aggressive/abusive behaviour towards staff in branch

In which case it's fine.

I would suggest thinking a bit before jumping to conclusions because an article has been published that may suit your biases.

I guess you have assumed that the account was banned due to LGBT views and you decided to post it on social media.

It may be true. It may not be true.

What if it wasn't true? What effect do you think posting it would have?

Busineas can but it's an exceptional circumstance. Eg I can understand Sharia compliant bank not wanting to hold accounts of alcohol business, or strongly Christian bank (some denominations, not all, many are ok with this) not holding accounts to assisted suicide business.

However, normal non restricted, non compliant with any religion etc, business should just be open to anyone.

Farage is an awful person and I'm glad they've done it.

I'm certainly starting to think I should try and spread the risk a bit more. Particularly as my only accounts are with First Direct also mentioned in the article

So sex offenders aren’t going to be able to hold bank accounts? How about any ex criminal, or anyone convicted of cruelty against an animal?

Here you go

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nigel-farages-bank-accounts-closed-without-warning-0dckcq55c

What if I'm a bank manager and I think you are an awful person and close your account - no reason needed. Would that suit you too?

This and what happened to wings is scary.

It's changed my mind about moving to cashless society.

It has everything to do with their political views. The proxy excuse that it’s related to Russian money is a pathetic cover. It’s not hard to make up a statement like this since no one would ever be able to prove or disprove it. You don’t have to agree with Farage to know that this is a not so thin end end of a wedge.

The fact is his accounts have been closed.

What other facts are known - and what's the actual evidence for them?

I know that accounts get frozen for money laundering. I guess Russian sanctions are also some other reasons.

I always kept money spread out in case of breach or system failure.
Major bank as main account, savings account
Metro bank for going out (if i lose card, it's just very little on it)
Another major bank joint with dh and free travel insurance, savings account
Part avings in different establishment (moneybox)
Easy to keeep track with apps

There is a Times share token in another thread, Barclays were involved.

Share for the Times/Farage:

Nigel Farage’s bank accounts closed without warning

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/195e699a-16ab-11ee-b768-bb6d328f2d92?shareToken=431647b21adb08dc9f27f457ff65b1fa

Conservatives for Women had their Ko-Fi account shut down. They've never found out why:

twitter.com/cforwomenuk/status/1588091837675339779?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

Triggernometry's account:

twitter.com/triggerpod/status/1659563447305089024?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

Some reasons why an account may be frozen

Why banks are freezing accounts and what to do if it happens to you - Which? News

Banks have legal and regulatory obligations to prevent accounts from being used for Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering.
If a bank has any suspicions it must report the account to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and freeze the funds in the account until it gets clearance.
This means banks aren't always able to explain reasons for account closures to customers as it risks 'tipping off' the account holder, which is a criminal offence.
Resolver's research found reasons can include:

• suspicious transactions outside of the normal range in the account
• lack of use
• suspected fraud
• personality clashes (you've been rude to staff repeatedly)
• support for unlawful activities
• reputational risk.

There is also a chance automated systems make mistakes or human error might be at play, according to the complaints service.

Over 1,000 banking customers have complained about their accounts being blocked, suspended or frozen for no reason, often without warning, new analysis shows.
Resolver, a complaints resolution service, studied 4,300 complaints made between July 2020 and July 2021 where people had selected 'account problems' as their main issue.
Banks are allowed to freeze accounts if they suspect fraud or money laundering, but Resolver's analysis shows people have had their accounts frozen for reasons such as transferring £40 to a friend, getting an HMRC rebate, or simply recieving their regularbenefit payments.

@pointythings sneered that "I should find a better source for my story that the DM" Another poster (thanks @Snorkers then found the story in The Times. So does that make it ok now to post here? @pointythings feel better now?

Often the cheaper papers that are sold to the masses or are FREE online are shown because everyone can read the story. The trouble with The Times running the story is it's behind a paywall so if it's shared many/most cannot read it.