Overview
During a third-party account seizure, a creditor or authority takes funds directly from your bank account, via our banking partner, to recover outstanding debts. This can happen if you fail to meet certain financial obligations. A "Saisie Avis à Tiers Détenteur" (SATD) is a legally enforced seizure request issued to a third party such as a bank.
‼️ Important: This process is legally binding and not controlled by Accountable or our banking partner.
This article covers how you will be notified, the possible reasons for a seizure, how to recognise and identify one, the fees that apply, and what to do if you believe a seizure is incorrect.
Will I be notified in advance?
In most cases, you will receive a notification before the seizure, for example:
By letter
By email
This notification is sent directly by the relevant authority or creditor.
Our banking partner can only provide the contact details and reference number of the authority, not the reason or documentation behind the seizure.
Possible reasons for a seizure
A seizure request can be issued for various reasons, including:
Unpaid taxes or tax penalties
Loan repayments (e.g. car, personal, or student loans)
Mortgage payments
Child support obligations
Medical bills
Legal fees or fines
Court-ordered restitution
Other outstanding financial obligations
How can I recognise a seizure in my account?
A seizure appears in your account history and bank statements.
Typical indicators include:
An unfamiliar debit with a reference number
A transaction type labelled as an internal transfer
The receiving account labelled as "end-customer seizure" or similar
If you are unsure, verify whether it is a legitimate seizure before assuming fraudulent activity.
How can I identify the responsible authority?
To identify the authority behind the seizure:
Check the transaction label (reference number, amount)
Compare it with any notifications (letters or emails) you have received
If you need help, contact our support team.
What fees apply?
A seizure charge consists of two parts:
The seized amount
A handling fee
The handling fee is:
20% of the requested amount
Capped at €100
This fee is charged regardless of your account balance.
After deducting the fee, the remaining balance is transferred to the requesting authority.
‼️ Important: If your account balance is insufficient, only a partial amount will be transferred. You remain responsible for any remaining outstanding balance.
What should I do if I believe the seizure is incorrect?
If you believe the seizure was made in error, contact the authority that initiated the request directly.
Neither Accountable nor Swan can independently review or reverse a seizure.
Key takeaways
A third-party account seizure is a legally binding process that Accountable and its banking partner do not control.
You will usually be notified in advance by the relevant authority or creditor, not by Accountable.
A handling fee of 20% of the seized amount (capped at €100) applies in addition to the seized amount itself.
If your balance is insufficient, only a partial transfer is made, but you remain responsible for the full outstanding amount.
If you believe a seizure is incorrect, contact the authority that initiated it directly.
Need help? Chat with us or email support@accountable.eu, we're happy to help.