How to make a SEPA (EUR) withdrawal, Step 1: Permission to enter bank account details [UNSOLVED]?

\[SOLVED! THANKS A THOUSAND!\]
(sorry but I can’t seem to figure out how to change the “\[UNSOLVED\]” bit of the heading)

# Original Post

Hi,

Since Monday, Nov 18th, I unsuccessfully try to enter my bank details into my BitStamp account because I want to make a SEPA (EUR banking) withdrawal. This was not possible because the website reported an error, and I reported this to support (online). On Wednesday, I called their phone support, which resulted in a first reply on the support page, along the lines of “we’re working on it.” On Friday I complained that this has been taking a week without meaningful update, and inquired if I could just pass my bank account details along some other means of communication. On Saturday, I was asked for my account details which I provided the same day. On Monday \[correction: actually on Sunday\], I received a thank-you which noted that my bank details would be passed on. Today, Tuesday afternoon, nothing has changed: No further support message, and still not a single bank detail added to which I could request a EUR withdrawal via the website.

Does it routinely take more than a week to simply enter a bank account in preparation of one day finally being able to request a EUR widthdrawal?

Are there alternatives, such as making a legal request (via a lawyer, perhaps) to be given one’s own money in BitStamp’s custody?

Is BitStamp insolvent and hence unable to permit customers to request withdrawals at the speed that customers would like to do so, lest it becomes apparent that BitStamp cannot honor its financial obligation to its customers?

How should one proceed in my case?

Thanks everyone!

# Updates Since Original Post

Within 30 min of my post, a commenter asked to be contacted via DM with more info. He never replied to my question (via DM, later also via comment) what he needs.

About an hour later, I wrote another support message, asking Bitstamp to reach out to this commenter if he is indeed an employee, and requesting a bank transfer to be initiated via text instructions rather than via the website.

About 3 hours after my post here, I received a support message claiming the issue had been resolved. I was then indeed able to add my bank account details and initiate a SEPA withdrawal. I expect to receive the funds within 3 business days max (legal speed requirement for international inter-bank SEPA transfers), and Bitstamp displayed the expected time for such as “1-3 days.” The requested withdrawal is currently shown in my account as “Waiting to be processed.”

About 5 hours after my post here, the status of my requested withdrawal changed to “finished.” Obviously I still haven’t received the funds, but am now starting to feel confident that I will within the timeframe that SEPA transfers usually take. I’ve since added “\[UPDATE: POSSIBLY SOLVED NOW\]” to the top of this post and am already reconsidering my plan, formulated during the past week, to stop using Bitstamp as soon as practical—personally, at the moment at least, the quick apparent resolution of my issue after posting on Reddit is indeed changing my attitude and view about the initial delay significantly. Yay, Reddit and thanks, Bitstamp, for finally addressing my issue!

Correction: Immediately after (but only after) writing the above paragraph I checked my online banking. I have already received the funds—not just in the typical way where my bank tells me it knows about it and will credit my account the next business day, but indeed immediately crediting my account on today’s date, despite it now being after regular business hours for banking, local time. Thanks for the quick resolution!