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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call her tonight

30 replies

Accidentaltransfer · 04/12/2020 19:28

Accidentally transferred almost £200 to the lady that used to clean for me. We ended the arrangement on good terms - her choice as the travel was too much. Been about a year since she cleaned here. I messaged her about an hour ago to let her know and ask if she would return the money but she's not replied. WIBU to call her tonight? Should I wait till morning? It's 6am too early? (Last one is a joke).

YABU - wait till tomorrow morning
YANBU - call tonight

OP posts:
orangejuicer · 04/12/2020 19:29

Ring her now!

Givemeabreak88 · 04/12/2020 19:31

I would call my bank

baubled · 04/12/2020 19:32

I would give it another half hour incase she's just been busy with tea and possibly kids bed time then ring

joystir59 · 04/12/2020 19:33

How did you manage to accidentally transfer money to her? She isn't obliged to do anything and neither is your bank.

Original poster
Accidentaltransfer · 04/12/2020 19:34

Can't get through to the bank. Was on hold for 20 mins but had to do bedtime so hard to hang up. Googled and the advice is to contact the person directly if you can first.

OP posts:
Kittykat93 · 04/12/2020 19:36

It's only been an hour I'd give her a bit longer

Original poster
Accidentaltransfer · 04/12/2020 19:38

I was on my banking app, went to my payees to transfer to my own account, fat thumb tapped the wrong person, my name came up automatically in the reference as I used to write it there when I was paying her, so it looked like it was going to me. Checked the transactions page straight away and saw it was wrong. Tummy fell out my bum and got straight onto my bank but they just didn't answer. Texted her while on hold. Gave up to do bedtime.

OP posts:
DrManhattan · 04/12/2020 19:48

The bank won't be be able to do anything. You will have to rely on her being nice enough to pay it back. Good luck x

OverTheRainbow88 · 04/12/2020 19:52

I would wait until tomo Late morning now, then call and explain

PleasantVille · 04/12/2020 19:54

@Givemeabreak88

I would call my bank
Banks can't do anything about transaction you initiate even if you make a mistake
drtyminded · 04/12/2020 20:03

hopefully she will be decent enough to return it. Banks are rubbish at this, you make a mistake and it's tough, they make the mistake and they just remove it straight from your account.

Givemeabreak88 · 04/12/2020 20:15

They did with my sister, when she sent money into the wrong account.

Original poster
Accidentaltransfer · 04/12/2020 20:16

Yeah I had a feeling that the bank couldn't/wouldn't do much as there was basically no information on the website.

She was lovely and we chatted while she cleaned, her mum came too and they played with my little girl. I'll keep my fingers crossed and give her a bell in the morning once everyone's had a chance to digest breakfast.

She runs a company so I expect she'd feel it would be bad for business to not return a mispayment to a previous customer as I could easily leave a removing mentioning it (not that I would but she may think that way).

OP posts:
Unsure33 · 04/12/2020 20:17

I did this on a business account and the bank recalled it for me - they did suggest contacting the person first but I could not get hold of them . It did take a while to get the money back though.

smoqpuas · 04/12/2020 20:18

I once transferred £1200 to the wrong person when I was drunk.

How you get the money back!

smoqpuas · 04/12/2020 20:18

Hope.

Ugh

SnackSizeRaisin · 04/12/2020 20:20

She's legally obliged to give it back. Same as if your employer accidentally overpays you. I would phone her now.

triceratops12 · 04/12/2020 20:21

Maybe leave her until morning then ring. Are
You sure you've got an up to date number?

vanillandhoney · 04/12/2020 20:27

@SnackSizeRaisin

She's legally obliged to give it back. Same as if your employer accidentally overpays you. I would phone her now.
But this isn't a work-related overpayment. She hasn't worked for OP in over a year and OP voluntarily (in a legal sense) sent her the money.

I don't think it falls under the same category as when an employer overpays you in your monthly pay packet.

DrManhattan · 04/12/2020 20:48

Shes not obliged to give it back

baubled · 04/12/2020 20:51

Have you heard from her OP

AJ1425 · 04/12/2020 21:06

Contact the bank, they will try and get the money back but it isn't guaranteed. It can take upto four weeks as well as they have to wait for the other bank. They usually tell you it may be quicker to contact the person directly but if you cant/won't they will still put the claim in.

freezedriedromance · 04/12/2020 21:07

She is obliged to give it back once she's notified its from you. The reason people mistakenly think you can keep money sent to you in error is because usually this happens when someone sends money to an incorrect account number and the person is therefore a stranger.

Keeping money you know doesn't belong to you is illegal.

From money.co.uk:

"Keeping any money wrongly credited to your account could lead to you being charged with retaining wrongful credit' under the Theft Act 1968.
You could be guilty of an offence if a wrongful credit is made to your account and:

You know the credit has been made incorrectly

You don't take steps to to cancel the credit

You will be liable to pay it back, even once the funds are gone, if:

A bank or individual accidentally paying money into your account

You are overpaid by your employer"

A woman in Blackburn was jailed for 10 months for spending 135k accidentally sent to her. This is obviously very extreme but the message is the same, you cannot knowingly keep money that isn't yours. Especially in this case when you know the rightful owner.

Brighterthansunflowers · 04/12/2020 21:09

YABU to call her after an hour to chase her to correct your mistake.

Do you know if she has internet banking? If not she’ll need to check she’s actually had the payment and then either meet you with cash or post you a cheque.

I would wait until early evening tomorrow to call if you haven’t heard and be very apologetic both for the error and for chasing her about it.

Groovinpeanut · 04/12/2020 21:17

My MIL had this problem... She went onto the app. Transferred the funds. It then gives you a further opportunity to check the payee and amount. It then asks you to confirm.
My MIL never got the money back. The bank told her that she should remove any old payees from her payment/ transferred list.
The bank were unable to intervene as the payment may be valid, and chances to confirm were given.
I hope the lady pays you back. They said that's the only option of refund in my MIL's case. The other party ignored calls and texts.
We'd like to think people would do the decent thing, but many won't.