Money coming out of my bank account

[Whatsmyusername1235]

Hi, I’m just looking to see if anyone here has been through something similar and can give me some advise?

I was paid yesterday so I checked my online banking app and I saw that all the money I had been paid from work was gone and £650 was pending out of my account.
I looked through my transactions and saw that work had paid me but I was now in an overdraft of -£170.
I don’t have any expensive direct debits as I pay everything online so I rang the bank straight away to see what was going on.
I saw that transactions had been coming out of my account for bolt, which after searching I realised was an Uber company which I have never used before, this transaction was coming out of my account everyday sometimes 3 times a day for the past week.
The bank also mentioned that 3 lots of £99 is pending as it shows I’ve purchased something from apple but this 100% wasn’t me. The bank went through a lot of transactions to try and understand what was me and what wasn’t. They are investigating it but as it’s the weekend I won’t know anything until Monday. Is it likely I will get it back? I have absolutely no money now and need it to get to work and I have two young children. I have absolutely no idea how this could have happened but the bank has now blocked the card too. I feel so rubbish 😭

This happened to my MIL, she had to wait about 2 weeks but got £3000 ish back. We could prove she hadn't made any of the payments though as she had been in hospital without Internet access.

You're very likely to get it back. They will be able to see where the payment was made and possibly by which device. Sorry this has happened. They should go through securing your account with you, but you need to order a new card and change your online banking pin numbers and passwords.

Happened to me with a credit card . The first person I spoke to said they had used my PIN number to make withdrawals so I would not be reimbursed as I must have allowed access to my number!!
Then I was put through to the fraud team who said that wa not true and they could see what had happened and they did reimburse me very quickly.
I now check every evening just to check stuff isn't coming out!
Good luck it's really upsetting and worrying

I’m just scared they will say we can’t prove anything any I won’t get it back. I’m hoping I will but it’s made me not want to pay for anything with my card again

You'll likely get the money back unless you've been grossly negligent and if they refuse the first time, don't give up, use your bank's complaints procedure then the financial ombudsman if necessary.

Is this your only account? If so, definitely open another account or even better get a credit card so you're not stuck like this again. It's more secure to do all your day to day spending on a credit card so if something like this happens your main bills account is not compromised.

Have you paid over the phone or given you card details to secure a booking or similar?
Paid anywhere where staff could have cloned your card? Unfortunately criminals sometimes take advantage of being able to access cards at their (shop, restaurant, petrol station etc) workplace to steal card details. This has happened to us a couple of times over the years.

My bank (First Direct) contacted me to say they had noticed odd amounts going out of our joint account. They wanted to know if we recognised the amounts and, if not, if dh and I both had our cards in our possession. As we had our cards they said it was likely that one of them had been cloned or we'd bought something on an unsecure website.
They were, however, very reassuring in that initial phone call and said we would almost certainly get the money refunded, which we did. I can't remember how long it took I'm afraid as this was about 15 years ago.

Sorry this has happened to you - very alarming I know. Worth changing to First Direct once you get this sorted - sounds like their response was better than your bank's. Plus they have 24/7 telephone banking so you can always get to speak to someone.

Sounds like your debit card has been cloned.

You will likely get the money back as long as they are happy you haven’t been negligent or complicit but it may take a while (not weeks but a few days).

Is there anyone that can lend you money in the interim? The bank will have a vulnerable customers team, so you can get on to them and see if they can offer some help
eg temporary overdraft.

Similar happened to me about a year ago.
Seemingly I went on a spending spree in the US, whilst I was in E Yorks! The bank didn't block any of those transactions, but did block one when I tried to spend money in the town where I work! £2000 sieve fraudulently. I got it all back 2-3 days later.

I’m glad to hear you all got it back. I have a Monzo card so will start using that when paying for bills and general spending it also tells you instantly when money has come out

Rang Apple earlier today and they confirmed that someone has been buying stuff with my card and they will issue a refund but can’t guarantee I’ll get it. Hopefully the bank can refund me

Had the same, and Monzo sorted it within 24 hours, including a new card. Uber in the US, when I live in Derbyshire.

@Mabelface I live in Derbyshire too 😂

Just checked my banking app and I’ve been refunded soo happy 😃

glad you got it sorted OP!

unfortunately this sort of thing is depressingly common these days...

I'd some weirdo order about 1000 quid of deliveroo using my card! crazy times