Many clients of Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, known as MB, said they unexpectedly found individual-business accounts in the MBBank app registered in their names even though they had not applied for them.
Clients found accounts registered in their names
A client named Tuan from Phu Tho told Dân trí that he accidentally found an additional individual-business account for mobile transport services in the MBBank app. The address listed was 18 Le Van Luong Street in Hanoi, where MB's head office is located. Tuan said he had never been there and had never registered such a business. "I was very surprised. I searched online and saw that many other people had the same problem," he said.
Another client, Hoang Linh, said the bank had opened an individual-business account for accommodation and food services at 4 Ton That Tung Street in Hanoi. Linh suspected that a bank employee may have carried out the operation without asking for his consent.
"I have not used this account for a long time. Now I plan to take my identity document to the bank to resolve the matter. I want to keep the account with the attractive number, but I may have to close it," he said.
Other MB clients posted similar reports on social media in recent days. Some said accounts had appeared under different business categories, including ride-hailing driving, street vending and shop operations. Residents of Ben Tre also said a street-vending account had been opened for them in Hanoi.
"What worries me most is possible tax trouble later," user N.T.X. wrote.
The bank's response
According to Dân trí, the situation was linked to the display of shop information and VietQR payment codes in the MBBank app.
On the afternoon of October 30, MB issued an official statement. The bank said account opening and payment services, including VietQR payment codes, are provided in line with the law and the bank's procedures.
The shop and VietQR payment-code functions in the MBBank app are designed to help clients receive payments and track transactions. MB said individual-business accounts are opened under State Bank of Vietnam rules and with the documents required to register such a business.
The bank also said that displaying shop information or a VietQR code in the MBBank app is not, by itself, grounds for concluding that a client has tax obligations. Tax obligations are determined by tax law and the taxpayer's actual activities.
MB said it would continue reviewing the registration and service-use process and work with clients to resolve individual cases and protect their lawful rights and interests.
Nguyen Hoa, director of Thien An Sustainable Business Solutions Co., Ltd., said that in practice people need to register a business and obtain a tax identification number to establish an individual business. A VietQR payment code alone is not enough to establish that a client has become the owner of a company or individual business.
Nguyen Hoa also noted that maintaining an account usually involves an annual fee. If an individual-business account was opened without the client's knowledge, charges may increase if the account remains unused for a long time without being closed. No transaction also means no tax obligation arises.
Against the background of claims that bank employees may have opened individual-business accounts on their own, Nguyen Hoa advised clients to go to the bank, ask for clarification and close the account if they do not need it.
Clients should also regularly check their bank-account information, linked services, business-registration details and tax identification number so they can spot unusual changes in time.
"If you find that an account or information was registered without your consent, you should contact the bank and the relevant authorities to verify and resolve the matter. This can help avoid unnecessary charges and other problems," Nguyen Hoa said.
Sources: Dân Trí
