Malaysian student in UK pleads for help after bank freezes account

 

Sidiq Hayat, a Malaysian law student in the UK, claimed he had no money after his bank account was frozen. (rawpixel pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian law student in the UK is pleading for help after his bank account was frozen last Friday due to “suspicious activity”.

Sidiq Hayat, 23, only discovered that his account had been frozen when he wanted to pay for some Malaysian food and his debit card was declined.

The final year student at the University of Essex had recently transferred all his money to the bank after being attracted by its cash back promotion.

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Almost a week later, his balance of about 600 British pounds remains locked in the account. The bank said the account had been flagged and placed under “regulatory review”.

Sidiq Hayat.

Sidiq, who is from Sungai Buloh, claimed that he had no cash in hand as he made all his transactions through his debit card.

He said his pleas to the bank to release his account had been unsuccessful.

Sidiq said he found it strange that his account was under review as the first transaction he made was to pay his 1,400 British pounds rent for his on-campus lodging last week.

“I only get around 400 to 500 British pounds a month from my father and I usually cook at home as eating out is costly. I would only eat out once a month to treat myself and get a Malaysian meal.

“Fortunately, my friends helped me to settle my 10 British pounds chicken rice meal last Friday, but the fact remains that I am broke,” he said, adding that his family is unable to provide him with more money this month.

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Sidiq claimed to have been given the runaround by the bank’s customer service agents and shared with FMT screenshots of his conversations with the bank’s live chat agents.

He also shared an email from the bank’s complaints department last week assuring him they would provide an update in three days but Sidiq said there had been no news so far.

Desperate, Sidiq took to Twitter to highlight his plight. He said that while some Malaysian friends had sent him money through an e-wallet service, it was only enough to last him a few days.

“The timing is horrible as my final exams are tomorrow and I am graduating in July. Beyond the kindness of my well-wishers, I am not sure how long I can afford being penniless,” he said.

“I wish someone can help me unfreeze my account so I can rest easy.”

FMT has reached out to the bank, Wisma Putra, the UK Financial Ombudsman Service, and the Financial Conduct Authority for comment. - FMT