How can I send money to someone?

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

I don't want to get into the backstory, but someone's being a prat & I want to refund a small amount of money they sent me (when I told them not to).

How can I do this?

Online banking (I don't do it) & a cheque are no good, because I'd rather keep my bank details private.

I don't want to send cash because (a) I'll have to go to a cashpoint first, (b) you're not supposed to send it in the post & (c) I'd have no proof they got it or how much I sent.

Postal orders - do they still exist? I'd have to go to a P.O. (am not-quite-shielding) & sending one has the same problem with proof.

PayPal would work except the prat refuses to give me details of a PayPal account, for some unknown reason.

Is there any other way to do this? (They sent cash in the post.)

You can use PayPal to send money to a phone number or email address.

Wouldn’t you need bank account details though? And if they aren’t willing to give up their PayPal details - I doubt they would give their bank details.

A quick google says postal orders are still available for a small fee.

The recipient has to log on to paypal to claim it but that sounds like something that is their problem!

Alternatively use those cash in the high street gift cards for the amount you need to send and post that to them as a recorded delivery.

PayPal a mutually known person who can then hand over the cash?

Post the cash (assuming it's not too much) as signed for, so you have proof it was received? Not sure how signed for is working at the minute though. Are they taking a photo like the parcel delivery companies are?

You can post an awful lot of cash and have it insured...I know I’ve done it. You just have to do special delivery and pay for extra guarantee.

personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/91/~/sending-valuables%2C-money-%26-jewellery-in-the-uk

Thanks for all the suggestions. The phone number is interesting; but I don't think the prat has a PayPal account of their own, however they do have people with PayPal accounts who do things for them - but I don't know THEIR phone numbers, so I'm stuck again.

The gift card is an idea.

I knew mumsnet would have some answers. Love you.

Would you get the same effect by telling them you've given it to charity? One they would support if you want the moral high ground or one they wouldn't if you want to point out their prattery?

No, I don't know their email & don't want them to know mine (just realised that counts out PayPal).

Yes, when they got angry when I tried to refund the money & told me to (a) keep it & (b) off (spelt correctly), I said I'd give it to charity. But I feel bad about it. It's not my money & I want them to have it back. I just can't think of a way of doing it without visiting shops & Post Offices or without giving them more of my personal data.

I could do a supermarket voucher but that means getting their email & possibly giving out mine, so that's a no-go.

I think it may have to be the charity.

(b) off had 4 asterisks before off, obviously

If you send them a cheque, the only personal data they can get is your account number which is used to pay money in. Nobody can take money out of your account with the details on a cheque. Unless you're worried they might try and pay money back into your account again?

Do bankers drafts still exist, sometimes known as counter cheques? You'd have to go into your bank to get one addressed in this person's name - you can pay for it in cash and they'll give you a receipt which will say the amount. Then send it to this person by recorded delivery which can be tracked online.

Bankers draft or CHAPS There will be a fee for it but might be worth it for the distancing between details

A gift card is exactly the same as sending cash in the post. Can you put it through their letterbox?

You can still send postal orders ( i get one off my dear aunt on my birthday every year )
Do you know which supermarkets / shop they use? Tesvo , wolkos and others do gift cards gor their own shop as well as places like Not On The High Street and send it by recorded delivery
But to be quite honest if they are putting up so many barriers as to why you can not pay them I am not sure I would keep persisting .
Just give it to a local charity or one you think they would support .

If they posted the money to you just post it back to them. It isn't your problem if something happens to it.
In future just write return to sender on the envelope and repost it.

Do you have a bank account? You should be able to do a bacs transfer using telephone banking proving you have the recipients account number and sort code.

*Providing not proving

If they sent you cash in the post, can't you just post it back to them?

If you know this person well enough to know their general beliefs and likes and dislikes, donate it to a charity or political party that you are happy to support, but know would irritate them.

If the matter comes up again, tell them you gave the money to overseas aid, a charity for animals that they hate or the Labour Party.

I don't know how much we're talking but this sounds like a situation to preferably wash your hands of completely rather than send them vouchers or donate the money.

I would, however, say that vouchers would be a good last resort if you know where they shop and it's a fairly small amount.

Personally, my first choice would be to post them the cash or a postal order (i know it involves a trip to the PO) special delivery, insured, signed for. That way they have the money back, they haven't given you anything and you can just move on.

Can you get someone to do this for you who is less vulnerable?