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Is it ok to share your bank account no. and sort code?

20 replies

Juice9000 · 30/06/2021 22:34

I’m doing a collection at work and wondering whether it’s ok to share my bank account number and sort code so that people can contribute more easily. Is it safe to do?
I looked on my bank’s website for advice but I couldn’t find advice on this.

OP posts:
accentdusoleil · 30/06/2021 22:35

Yes and you will need to give your name as it appears on the bank account

Juice9000 · 30/06/2021 22:44

It just feels wrong , I feel really uncomfortable doing it but it would be very awkward to ask everyone to give cash as I might not see people for a while.

I came across the story about Jeremy clarkson sharing bank details in his newspaper column then someone setting up a direct debit to his account.

Not that I think anyone would do anything untoward but i don’t know everyone so well.

OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 30/06/2021 22:44

yes, it's fine

we do this all the time for teachers' gifts.
the person collecting gives us their details.

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HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 30/06/2021 22:46

Reassure yourself - go through the steps needed to set up a direct debit to a new destination. It'll probably involve three passwords and an SMS/email check.

It's pretty safe.

If you still don't like it, set up a paypal account or something, and give out the link to that instead (remind everyone to donate 'friends and family' though).

TakeYourFinalPosition · 30/06/2021 22:47

You can - it’s been a long time since the Clarkson issue! - and it’s the same info that’s on a cheque.

But people might be more comfortable with PayPal/Venmo depending on demographics, and that avoids the problem, if it suits you better.

HollowTalk · 30/06/2021 22:48

But if you gave them a cheque then those details would be on there.

Juice9000 · 30/06/2021 22:52

I wondered about PayPal but it seemed like a bit of a rigmarole to set it up when I can’t imagine I’d use it for anything else.
Is it easy to transfer out of PayPal once everyone has donated?

OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 30/06/2021 22:56

with PayPal you need to set it up for "friends & family" so it doesn't appear like you are selling stuff and so you won't get charged per transaction!!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/06/2021 22:57

It's fine, you're massively overthinking this. A cheque has all the details of your account on it. Every trades person I've dealt with has their bank details on their invoice.

Juice9000 · 30/06/2021 23:09

It's fine, you're massively overthinking this

I know, that’s me!

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/06/2021 23:29
Grin
BarbaraofSeville · 01/07/2021 05:32

Paypal do a thing called a Moneypool designed for this sort of thing.

Very easy to set up and withdraw the money.

But if you do that, see if you can set the amounts donated to be anonymous because when we started using them for the work collections, the first person who donated to the first one gave an amount that was quite a bit more than what is 'normal' for our organisation (in the days when people used to pass round an envelope, most people gave a couple of quid) and it kind of set a precedent and people felt pressured to keep up and it got a bit out of hand.

But the last one we had you couldn't see the amount, so you could give what you wanted.

Or yes, it is safe to give out your bank account number, as others have said, in the days when cheques were commonplace, these details were on them and no-one worried about giving cheques to strangers.

The only thing you can do with someone else's bank account details is pay money in, or you could try and set up a direct debit, but in the vanishingly small chance that one of your workmates is a fraudster, it's likely it would be detected as antifraud checks, or when they started writing to you about a new DD or you'd be covered by the DD guarantee anyway. You wouldn't lose money.

But it's probably a lot easier to donate by a Paypal moneypool anyway. If you've set up a new payment on your bank account any time recently, you'll know what a pain it is with the anti fraud checks and their repeated questioning about whether or not you know what you're doing or is someone trying to con you.

cariadlet · 01/07/2021 05:52

We've been doing this at work since covid. We used to have collection envelopes going round but now someone who is a close colleague of the person leaving/ getting married/ having a baby etc will email their bank details for people to transfer money.

Nicolastuffedone · 01/07/2021 05:56

I know what you mean OP! Especially since my friend was scammed out of £15,000! (Different scenario from what you’re talking about) it took minutes for her account to be cleared! Luckily she got it back, but it’s made me twice as wary now!!!

Sparklingbrook · 01/07/2021 06:17

I think it’s fine. Like PPs have said a cheque had your sorting code and account number plus your signature.
And these are your work colleagues.

strawberrydonuts · 01/07/2021 06:31

Yes it's fine. No one can get into your account or buy anything with the sort code and account number - they don't even ask for these when you are buying things. That would be the long number and security code.

People share account numbers and sort codes quite often with family/ friends/ colleagues for bank transactions for all kinds of reasons.

Faevern · 01/07/2021 06:44

I came on to say PayPal money pool, easy to set up, no chance of it going to wrong account, no need to filter through transactions, no worries about your account details.

newnortherner111 · 01/07/2021 07:08

If you are physically in the office get everyone to donate cash placed in an envelope.

Stretchandsnap · 01/07/2021 07:09

I always use PayPal pools for collections now - so easy! www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/money-pools

SinkGirl · 01/07/2021 07:14

Most banks now have it set up so you can just enter the person’s mobile number in the payee field and it will find you - check whether yours has this if you’re worried

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