Learning that your account has been frozen is never an easy experience. You worry about your bills and receiving your pay. Fortunately, the best thing to do is to check your bank account for any unauthorized transactions and then call Ally Bank Customer Service as soon as you can and discuss this with them. They might be able to release your account immediately, but that depends on their policies.
Although Ally Bank is an online bank, it still has to follow federal safety guidelines when it comes to monitoring possible fraud and unauthorized transactions with its customers' accounts. Please note that you will be advised of any holds Ally places but there are some things to keep in mind to lessen the stress placed on you.
Reasons Why Banks Place Holds or Freezes
Situations like changes in your spending habits can cause your bank to become suspicious and freeze your account, particularly if your card is used at a retailer located oversees. This used to be a definite sign of possible fraud in the past, but since many retailers now have online stores and ship worldwide, banks are just using caution. If you find that you're unable to use your debit card, simply call Ally Bank Customer Service and confirm that you were the one who initiated the transaction. They might be able to release your account immediately but that depends on the age of your account and Ally's own policies. Please review the policies as soon as you can or contact customer service. Ally also has help pages located online for your perusal.
If you're not the one who initiated the transaction, please call the Fraud Hotline.
Alternatives to Account Freezes
When someone's account is compromised, the next step depends on how it was compromised. If your checkbook was stolen, then your account would have to be closed and a new account opened to receive the transferred funds. A lost or stolen debit card can be temporarily frozen while you attempt to find it and the hold removed when you do. If you're unable to locate it, Ally will cancel your lost card and issue a new one. And you're now able to put a hold on your card through your bank's app like Ally Mobile and you can remove the hold just as quickly.
Possible Consequences of Account Freezes
Since account freezes put a stop to both deposits and debits, any automatic payments you have scheduled for your bills won't be paid and any deposits you're expecting will be returned to the originating bank. So if you have an account freeze happen to you, it's best to try to resolve it as soon as possible and make arrangements so you can still receive your paychecks and remain current on your bills. This may require you getting in touch with the ones responsible for dispersing the checks.
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