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Original poster

Strange transaction into my bank, bank don’t understand either please help?

52 replies

StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:14

I have anxiety and ptsd, I am also a single parent to a 7yo.

I check my bank everyday and keep track of all transaction, I do work but this is a hangup from being on only benefits and struggling so I knew where every penny went. I would also round up on my own lists so that I always had enough.

I transfer all money out of my account into a different account. The money is then moved around from my savings either back to my current account, into my Lifetime ISA or stays in my short term savings. I use the savings to buy food and everyday things (I can access them at anytime in branch or through online banking, transferring the money to my current account to withdraw if using online/the app)

This morning I’ve checked my bank as usual expecting my current account to have around £70 in and my savings to have around £200. Savings are there as expected but current account has an extra £350 in.

I check my statement just to see if someones paid me unexpectedly (my pay days are set for wages and CM but CB or UC can sometimes change due to where in the month payday falls) but can’t see the extra £350 on my account.

I’ve gone back through my statement but all the figures add up to the £70 in my current account and £200 in savings everything has been paid as it should at the right time and has a name next to it. I’ve checked all my accounts with people like amazon and next where I’ve been ordering Christmas presents in case I’ve been given a refund for something and just missed an email but can’t see anything.

I’ve called the bank and they couldn’t understand what I was saying and actually seemed offended when I asked why there was an unexpected £350 in my account, they’ve said I must have done something or been given it by someone, but admit if I had it would appear on my statement.

I was worried it was some sort of scam so that’s why I called but they said those would appear on my statement under a random name and their systems would pick it up (which is true, I’ve paid for something on a random website before and they’ve called me to check it was me and similarly when someone’s put money in my account, they’ve called me if it’s a large amount to check I was expecting it).

I just don’t get it, the bank where unhelpful and I’m terrified I’ve got an extra £350 right before Christmas that I don’t know where has come from. It will also affect my UC so I’m worried someone will come demanding it back.

I’m always really careful where I put my bank details and if I’ve used a bank account I will only transfer the exact amount I need into a 3rd account I use for buying online.

Any ideas what it could be? I’m really scared of having more money than I should. It sounds like a ridiculous dilemma written down.

OP posts:
furbabymama87 · 04/12/2021 14:19

Do you get any benefits? Sometimes they pay you a bit earlier this time of year or give refunds where they have underpaid you. Whatever it is would show up on your recent transactions.

AudTheDeepMinded · 04/12/2021 14:20

No idea what it could be. I would not spend it and have a paper trail with the bank to prove to anyone that might doubt you that you have queried its origins (sorry to sound thick but how would UC know it is there?). I would go into branch (if you have one) and ask them to help you check it on Monday.

furbabymama87 · 04/12/2021 14:20

Just saw that you get Universal Credit. A one off payment would go unnoticed by them.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:21

@furbabymama87

Do you get any benefits? Sometimes they pay you a bit earlier this time of year or give refunds where they have underpaid you. Whatever it is would show up on your recent transactions.
I get Universal Credit and Child Benefit but they both appear on my bank statements as DWP-(my NI number)-UC or HMRC-CHB(Number).

This transaction just doesn't appear at all on my statement, it was just there.

OP posts:
AudTheDeepMinded · 04/12/2021 14:21

Our local council don't take council tax for a coupe of months after Christmas. Is there a similar arrangement where you live?

Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:22

@AudTheDeepMinded

Our local council don't take council tax for a coupe of months after Christmas. Is there a similar arrangement where you live?
Council Tax appears on my statement as (Council Name) Council Tax, this transaction doesn't appear on my statement at all, the money was just in my account.

Thats whats worrying me.

OP posts:
Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:23

@AudTheDeepMinded

No idea what it could be. I would not spend it and have a paper trail with the bank to prove to anyone that might doubt you that you have queried its origins (sorry to sound thick but how would UC know it is there?). I would go into branch (if you have one) and ask them to help you check it on Monday.
Universal Credit have all of my bank accounts including my LISA on record so can see where my money goes.
OP posts:
Marmite27 · 04/12/2021 14:24

Do you have an overdraft? If so is it an available balance?

From what you’re saying, there’s no credit to your account and what’s gone out is usual and you’d expect the balance to be around £70, but it’s £420.

The only way I can think of for more to show on your account without an actual credit showing is by the overdraft topping up the actual balance with the available limit. Which incidentally I didn’t think banks were supposed to do any more 🤔

PriamFarrl · 04/12/2021 14:24

So there isn’t a single random payment for £350 but you are better off by £350?

Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:25

@Marmite27

Do you have an overdraft? If so is it an available balance?

From what you’re saying, there’s no credit to your account and what’s gone out is usual and you’d expect the balance to be around £70, but it’s £420.

The only way I can think of for more to show on your account without an actual credit showing is by the overdraft topping up the actual balance with the available limit. Which incidentally I didn’t think banks were supposed to do any more 🤔

No overdraft.
OP posts:
Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:25

@PriamFarrl

So there isn’t a single random payment for £350 but you are better off by £350?
Yes basically.
OP posts:
Sunseed · 04/12/2021 14:26

So it's not that there's been a credit transaction, but it's a discrepancy in your accounting? Have you got any payments pending g that haven't gone out yet but you've already allowed for in your expected balance totals?

Marmite27 · 04/12/2021 14:27

Can you refine your statement just to show credits? So you can see if one has gone in you’re not expecting.

Can you find a point where your balance was what you expected (zero ideally) and write down all the incomings/outgoings then add with a calculator (or spreadsheet) to see what the balance is at the end?

Marmite27 · 04/12/2021 14:28

Have you returned anything and received a credit?

dementedpixie · 04/12/2021 14:28

You say you normally transfer money out. Has one if those transfers been missed? Sounds like an accounting error rather than extra money being paid in

furbabymama87 · 04/12/2021 14:28

I don't understand why the bank don't know. They will have access to all your transactions and would tell you where it came from and when. With my bank I can check account balance and recent transactions through an automated service.

3WildOnes · 04/12/2021 14:30

It could possibly be a payment in that just isn’t showing up yet? I would check again tomorrow.

dementedpixie · 04/12/2021 14:30

But OP says there isn't a transaction of that amount so how could they have any more information.

uhtredsonofuhtred1 · 04/12/2021 14:30

This happened to me a few months ago. Normally my "available balance" and "balance" on my banking app is super accurate but something got delayed and I ended up going over my non-existent overdraft by around £70. So I was in deficit by £70.

Original poster
StrangeMoney · 04/12/2021 14:30

@Sunseed

So it's not that there's been a credit transaction, but it's a discrepancy in your accounting? Have you got any payments pending g that haven't gone out yet but you've already allowed for in your expected balance totals?
But when I checked my accounts yesterday they were as they should be, there was the money in my current account for bills which went out yesterday and the money in my savings as I was expecting for upcoming bills.

This £350 has just appeared, with no explanation.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/12/2021 14:31

Look at all your credits and what has come out to see if a payment out has been missed.

Smartiesandhugs · 04/12/2021 14:33

Could be something that will show on Monday. Saturdays aren’t a working day so any transactions over the weekend show on Mondays date

BleuJay · 04/12/2021 14:35

If there is no specific entry for £350.00 or smaller entries that add up to this sum and you cannot attribute it to a source of payment then it must be an accounting error or a direct debit or standing order has not been taken.

Have you had something on finance and it’s now paid off?

PriamFarrl · 04/12/2021 14:35

I think you are going to need to back track through all your payments and movements.
Start on the last date when your balance was what you would expect. Then track through all the transfers.
Something has been missed somewhere.

burnoutbabe · 04/12/2021 14:37

It's really not clear what you are saying

Is the maths wrong?

If you start on say 1st November balance and take off payments and take off credits do you get your balance?

As that's what you are affectively telling the bank? That the balance is £350 more than the reported transactions show. Else it's just you have overlooked something or maybe it shows payments out on Monday but the balance is still end Friday. But I'd expect a statement showing a running balance to not have that issue.

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