Frozen accounts are bank or investment accounts that have been placed under a temporary hold, prohibiting you from accessing funds. A creditor or the government is usually the reason for freezing your accounts. If your bank notices unusual activity on your account, you may be subject to account suspension.
When it comes to child support payments, if you're more than two months overdue, owing more than $300, and haven't made any payments in the last 45 days, the government can block your bank account. To get your account unfrozen, you have 15 days to make a payment or submit a claim showing that you are exempt or made a mistake.
Understanding the Frozen Account
Accounts that have been frozen do not allow debit transactions. Owners of frozen accounts cannot make any transactions or transfers but may still be able to deposit funds into the account. Consumers can fund their accounts, but they cannot withdraw funds from those accounts. An account can be frozen at any time for any number of reasons. The freeze is usually released when the account holder meets the freeze's requirements.
Due to debt to another person or business, a bank account may be frozen. Irreconcilable debt to the Internal Revenue Service may also cause account blocks. Any creditor may block an individual's bank account with a judgment against them. Creditors have the power to impose a freeze on an account equal to two times the amount owing.
Banks and financial businesses must obtain a court order before proceeding with an account freeze. Banks must promptly freeze an account after receiving a judgment and are not compelled to notify the account holder. In some cases, the bank may be able to place a temporary hold on the account without making a decision.
Frozen Account: What Does it Mean For You?
This implies that you will be unable to access any of your funds until the issue is rectified. You won't be able to withdraw any money, and planned payments won't go through due to this. Because these payments are likely to bounce, you'll likely be hit with a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee.
This will deplete any funds you have in your account. If you don't, you'll end up in an overdraft situation. In this situation, you'll be required to make up the gap in fees and interest by paying them over time.
Your credit score can blow if a creditor files a lawsuit against you. For outstanding debts, a judgment will generally remain on your credit report for seven years. The bank has the right to terminate your account without warning if it has grounds to believe you have been transacting illegally. As a result, you won't have any cash or a place to save your wages.
In the future, you may not be allowed to conduct business with that bank and will need to find a new one. However, this is only one possible conclusion. You could be fined or prosecuted if your bank reports your account activity to the authorities.
Reasons for Having a Frozen Account
There are a lot of reasons why a financial institution can put a hold on your money. Keep a close check on your account if one of these seven causes a freeze.
- Creditors can levy (or take) your bank account if they have a judgment against you for owing them money.
- To collect federal taxes, student loans, child or spousal support, or other government debts, the government has seized your account (without a judgment).
- If you've misplaced your debit card or checkbook, don't hesitate to get in touch with your bank: As a precautionary measure, the bank has placed a hold on your account (with your agreement).
- The bank has flagged your account for possible fraud or illegal activity: Bad checks or a questionable deposit or transfer are the most common causes. The bank has put a hold on your account while they investigate.
- Due to a criminal conviction, the government has ordered all your assets to be frozen to protect your victims' funds.
- You are the owner of an investment account from which you have "freeridden": Freeriding means that you bought and sold stocks before you had to pay for them. The institution has frozen your account for 90 days to comply with Regulation T.
- A beneficiary or executor of the estate must step forward to unlock your account, which has been frozen for the time being.
