I placed a hold on my accounts voluntarily because I was traveling to Africa and didn't want anyone tampering with my money. I have been stranded in Africa for a month and my bank won't let me access my account. What can I do? Is there any way I can lift this hold from abroad?
The voluntary hold should have included a provision allowing the bank to release it, at least temporarily, upon your confirmed request. The bank would need to be able to confirm that it is indeed you who authorizes the lifting of the hold.
Call someone at the bank that you know, and who knows you, and provide enough information for that person to be comfortable that it is you on the phone. Then ask to have the hold lifted and arrange for funds to be transferred to you. Understand, however, that so many frauds have been connected to telephoned wire transfer requests that most banks are very reluctant to make the lifting of a voluntary hold easy.
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The voluntary hold should have included a provision allowing the bank to release it, at least temporarily, upon your confirmed request. The bank would need to be able to confirm that it is indeed you who authorizes the lifting of the hold.