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What happens during third-party account seizure?

Written by: Sophia Merzbach

Updated on: August 24, 2026

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Overview

If you fail to meet your financial obligations, a creditor or authority may initiate a third-party seizure. In this case, funds are taken from your account via our banking partner to recover outstanding debts.

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.

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 recognize a seizure in my account?

A Seizure will appear in your account history and bank statements.

Typical indicators include:

  • An unfamiliar debit with a reference number

  • Transaction type labeled as an internal transfer

  • The receiving account labeled as “end-customer seizure” or similar

If you’re unsure, first verify whether it’s 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/emails) you’ve received

If you need help, you can always contact support.

What fees apply?

A seizure charge consists of two parts:

  1. The seized amount

  2. 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, you must contact the authority that initiated the request.

Neither Accountable nor Swan can independently review or reverse the seizure.

Need help?

If you need assistance understanding a transaction or finding the relevant contact details, feel free to reach out to our support team; we’re here to help.🚀

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Sophia Author

Author - Sophia Merzbach

Sophia has been a key member of the Accountable team for many years, bringing a unique blend of journalistic precision and in-depth tax expertise to her work.

Who is Sophia ?

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