Las Vegas, NV asked in Banking and Business Law for Nevada

Q: If square froze my account for suspicious activity and a check was returned are they responsible nfs returned check fee

On Thursday February 29th square bank froze my account for what they thought was suspicious on Friday march 1st a bill pay I initiated on Thursday was returned now the company I was paying the bill to wants an additional 100 dollars for the returned check fee is square responsible for that fee? I don’t think they had good reason to freeze my account as it was me that manuly

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James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Business Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: When your account with Square Bank was frozen due to suspected suspicious activity, and as a result, a check was returned, this situation understandably causes frustration and financial inconvenience. Banks and financial institutions have policies in place to monitor and act on activities they deem unusual or potentially fraudulent, which sometimes leads to account restrictions. These measures are intended to protect both the account holder and the institution from fraud.

If a payment you initiated was returned because your account was frozen, leading to a returned check fee from the payee, the responsibility for this fee can be a complex issue. Generally, banks may not automatically assume responsibility for fees incurred as a result of actions taken to secure an account. However, if you believe the freeze was applied in error and you can substantiate that your account activities were legitimate, it may be worth discussing the situation with Square Bank.

Reaching out to Square Bank to explain the circumstances and presenting any evidence that supports your claim of legitimate use of your account is a good first step. Customer service can provide more information on their policies regarding account freezes and any possible recourse for fees incurred as a result of such actions. Additionally, explaining the situation to the company you were attempting to pay, showing them evidence of the freeze, and negotiating the return check fee may also be an avenue to explore.

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