After leaving Ukraine, many refugees focus on documents in the host country, conditions of temporary protection, and finding housing and work. But in parallel with this, the issue of maintaining control over financial affairs at home remains no less important. One of the situations that is increasingly causing concern is the blocking of bank accounts of Ukrainians who have gone abroad. The problem arises mainly due to the debt for communal services, which was not closed for a long time, believing that it has no consequences if it is not in Ukraine. However, this is not the case.
Legal mechanism: how does blocking occur
When a person does not pay utility bills, for example, for heating, gas, electricity or water, the debt gradually accumulates. The supplier company, usually after several months of non-payment, has the right to go to court with a debt collection claim. If the court makes a decision in her favor, the document is transferred to the executive service.
At this stage, an automatic mechanism is launched: the state or private executor issues a resolution on the initiation of enforcement proceedings. This resolution is sent to banking institutions where the debtor has accounts. The bank is obliged to comply with the decision and impose a seizure – in full or in part – on the available funds.
Which accounts are subject to blocking
Arrest can be imposed not only on the current account, but also on:
- salary accounts (even if the funds come from abroad),
- deposit deposits,
- any bank products issued in the name of the debtor – regardless of whether they are currently in use.
It does not matter if the person is physically in Ukraine. The legislation does not take into account the place of stay, if it is about the execution of a court decision.
Why accounts are blocked even if the home is empty
Absence from the apartment or house in itself is not a reason for the termination of utility payments. If the housing is not transferred to the status of non-residential or unofficially decommissioned, services continue to be charged at the usual rate. Sometimes even for standard consumption, if meter readings are not transmitted.
Therefore, from a legal point of view, an abandoned dwelling without the appropriate registration in the absence of the owner is no different from the dwelling in which they live. This leads to situations where a person has left the country, but the debt grows every month, and a few months after the court decision is passed, his accounts in Ukraine are already blocked.
What steps should be taken to avoid blocking
Experts in migration and civil law advise not to ignore the issue of utility debt even after moving. Among the available actions:
- Check whether enforcement proceedings have been opened. This can be done through the Unified Register of Court Decisions, as well as in the executive service system. It is also worth checking your e-mail and personal account at the bank – they usually notify you of blocking.
- Contact service providers. Some of them allow you to draw up contracts for the suspension of service, if the housing is not really used. You can also apply for debt restructuring — this will avoid legal proceedings.
- Issue a power of attorney for a relative or a lawyer in Ukraine. This will allow the authorized person to respond to court or executor requests in a timely manner, submit documents and receive official correspondence.
- Contact a lawyer in case of already opened proceedings. If the account has already been blocked, there are only two ways to remove the arrest – by paying the debt in full or challenging the executor’s actions in court. The law does not provide for other ways.
What you need to know in advance
If you continue to use banking services in Ukraine (receive transfers, pay for online purchases, transfer money to relatives), blocking the account can completely paralyze this system. In some cases, the arrest may cover not only the main account, but also others – even those that you have not used for a long time.
In addition, the seizure of a bank account often entails additional commissions charged for the execution of executive actions. That is, the total amount to be paid increases compared to the initial debt.
Therefore, for Ukrainians who have gone abroad, financial obligations in Ukraine do not disappear automatically. Blocking accounts due to debts is not a hypothetical risk, but a real mechanism that is already in use. To avoid unexpected interference in your affairs, you should take care of the legal registration of housing, utility bills and access to banking services in advance. If necessary, involve a trusted person in Ukraine in order to stay in the legal field and be able to solve the problem before it becomes critical.
