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Taf 02-08-2017 12:56

Suspicious Activity Report
 
A friend of mine sold his caravan at the end of last year. He went to the bank to deposit the cash but the bank refused to accept it without proof of where he had obtained the money. Ditto his second bank. So he decided to just use the cash for everyday bills.

Last month he received a letter from HMRC demanding proof of where the original sum had come from, as they had received SAR's (Suspicious Activity Reports) from both of his banks. And "further investigations" had shown that his banking habits had changed in that he was not withdrawing cash or paying bills as he used to.

He has been unable to contact the person who bought the caravan, and it has been moved from the site it used to be parked at, so is a bit stuck to provide proof of sale.

A neighbour returned from a long winter/spring holiday abroad, and went to a Bureau de Change to change leftover euros to pounds. She was quizzed as to where she had obtained the currency, and they too refused the transaction. 4 other places did the same. Eventually she exchanged part of it in a Post Office.

She returned a few days later to exchange more, but was refused.

Knowing that we travel to France, she told me of her problem and offered to sell us the currency, but a holiday is not on the cards for us this year.

Last week she too received a letter from HMRC triggered by SAR's.

And in just our small circle of friends and family these situations are not rare.

Winnings from casinos refused by banks. Savings from "under the mattress" refused. Cash to buy a second hand car refused. Even old style pound coins saved in a jar refused!

And we're not talking about large sums at all. The caravan raised £8k, the euros were about £4k worth, the savings under £2k, the car purchase under £3k.

I understand that HMRC have told banks and vendors to report suspicious financial activity to thwart money laundering, terrorist support et all, but it all seems to have become a tad too much Big Brother.

HMG would love for us to become a cashless society so that all monetary transactions could be monitored. In fact recently there was a call for people not to pay windowcleaners, etc, in cash....

pip08456 02-08-2017 13:04

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
IIRC anything over £1.000 has to be reported. Easiest way, keep it under that amount and spread it around.

Osem 02-08-2017 13:12

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Big brother is indeed watching you eh. We're fast moving to the point where our glorious leaders will be able to switch our lives on and off as they see fit. Once your life is run entirely via your phone watch out...

---------- Post added at 12:12 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------

Meanwhile we have this situation:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/414935...ealth-selfies/

Wonder if big brother is paying them all a call?

Maggy 02-08-2017 13:13

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
However if you just use cheques and bank transfers no problem..as for coin savings as long as it's less than £100 my bank will take it in my tiny rainy day savings account.

pip08456 02-08-2017 13:14

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem (Post 35910345)
Big brother is indeed watching you eh. We're fast moving to the point where our glorious leaders will be able to switch our lives on and off as they see fit. Once your life is run entirely via your phone watch out...

---------- Post added at 12:12 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------

Meanwhile we have this situation:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/414935...ealth-selfies/

Wonder if big brother is paying them all a call?

Didn't you read the article? They are serving prison sentances.

Osem 02-08-2017 13:27

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456 (Post 35910348)
Didn't you read the article? They are serving prison sentances.

Yes I did read it. I wasn't referring to just those men - the problem is widespread or didn't you read the article? Police discovered a photo of one of the men when they'd already raided him but it doesn't say whether on not the other images shown led to the capture and prosecution of these guys. The Albanians are a now significant presence in UK drugs dealing, people trafficking etc. etc. etc. Cash rich I'd have thought and unlikely to be declaring much. Maybe that accounts for all those Albanian owned car washes that keep popping up all over the place.

Damien 02-08-2017 13:29

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem (Post 35910351)
Yes I did read it. I wasn't referring to just those men - the problem is widespread or didn't you read the article? The Albanians are a now significant presence in UK drugs dealing, people trafficking etc. etc. etc. Cash rich I'd have thought and unlikely to be declaring much. Maybe that accounts for all those Albanian owned car washes that keep popping up all over the place.

Well if they get too close to the system then yes.

Osem 02-08-2017 13:33

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35910352)
Well if they get too close to the system then yes.

I wonder. Maybe as much as they do when it comes to making 'travellers' pay their dues perhaps.

Damien 02-08-2017 13:35

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem (Post 35910353)
I wonder. Maybe as much as they do when it comes to making 'travellers' pay their dues perhaps.

Well the people in the article got caught and it's not as if we're talking about tax dodging here, they're dealing drugs. Police would be pretty interested.

Osem 02-08-2017 13:43

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35910354)
Well the people in the article got caught and it's not as if we're talking about tax dodging here, they're dealing drugs. Police would be pretty interested.

They got caught yes but the article doesn't say whether it was as a direct result of them publishing these pictures. That evidence may have come to light after their arrests. They should be done for tax dodging as well as anything else.

Let's be honest, it's much easier to target someone like Taff's mate than some of these people who often have multiple ID's etc. and live beneath the radar as much as possible.

---------- Post added at 12:43 ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 ----------

Interestingly, from what I've seen, High Court Enforcement Officers don't appear to have any problems accepting any amount of cash when enforcing writs. Doesn't anyone wonder where that cash comes from and whether it's legit? :shrug:

Taf 02-08-2017 14:12

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J (Post 35910347)
..as for coin savings as long as it's less than £100 my bank will take it in my tiny rainy day savings account.

A neighbour's son was contacted by HMRC after paying in around £50 cash per week over several months. It was pocket money from his grandparents. But guess what, there are limits to how much you can "gift" to your grandkids! Something to do with Inheritance Tax I think.

Damien 02-08-2017 14:59

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf (Post 35910369)
A neighbour's son was contacted by HMRC after paying in around £50 cash per week over several months. It was pocket money from his grandparents. But guess what, there are limits to how much you can "gift" to your grandkids! Something to do with Inheritance Tax I think.

Sounds like HMRC are after everyone associated with you! :shocked:

I think you can gift as much as you like but you get into allowance territory if you day within 7 years of the gift, it's to stop people offloading money as a gift ahead of their death to avoid tax. £50 a week would fall into a £3,000 allowance even then.

Matthew 02-08-2017 15:30

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Interesting topic. I know when I've paid cash in (must admin not those sums) I use the automated machines to pay in, saves the questions at the counter although I did bank several hundred quid of change in a backpack a few months ago, the only look I got was an oh god this cannot be happening to me when I chucked the bag over the counter!

I've never heard anything like this before so will bear it in mind.

Osem 02-08-2017 15:31

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35910384)
Sounds like HMRC are after everyone associated with you! :shocked:

I think you can gift as much as you like but you get into allowance territory if you day within 7 years of the gift, it's to stop people offloading money as a gift ahead of their death to avoid tax. £50 a week would fall into a £3,000 allowance even then.

:D

Taf IS the lowest common denominator. I've removed him from my friends list... ;)

Damien 02-08-2017 15:55

Re: Suspicious Activity Report
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem (Post 35910395)
:D

Taf IS the lowest common denominator. I've removed him from my friends list... ;)

Think we might have to remove him from here lest we all get audited! :shocked:


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