Unknown company debiting my current account by over £2,000

[pishkashante]

Hi, I’m going to call my bank first thing tomorrow but thought I’d ask MN too.

A company has been withdrawing between £70 - 300 from my account, about 8 times in the past 2 years. I’ve only noticed (I have ADHD and procrastinate over things like checking my account). They have taken over £2,000 out of my account.

I have racked my brains over what this could be for but the amounts are so random I know I haven’t made these transactions.

What’s more, the name of the company is my town and then City (e.g. Wandsworth City).

So I thought this might be council tax but that’s taken by (for example) London Borough of Wandsworth not Wandsworth City.

Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Parking permit?

Call the bank.

Google the account number

Contact your bank.

Parking fines?

Have you tried just giggling the name in your statement plus charge on credit card (is it a direct debit or five via your debit card or standing order?)

Cancel direct debit if no idea what it is for.

Search your emails for same term

Is it a direct debit or being debited through your debit card number?

Call them asap! An American ‘company’ was debiting 12-13$ monthly from my account for 8 months. It turned out to be fraud.
Some fraudsters steal your details and set up regular direct debits so you don’t properly notice.
If you’re certain you don’t know them, then I feel this is fraud!

What is the actual company name?

If you say what the actual company is I'm very good at figuring out what they are/who they are. I work for a bank and regularly get these kind of issues and usually with a good bit of googling I can find out who/what it is and quite often the customer says "ooooh yeah! I remember now!" Etc. I have ADHD too so I understand how you've missed this if you're not someone that has to budget fiercely to get by, I am similar.

Thanks all.

@CluelessAtClothing I will PM you the name of the company. I have googled with no luck. No account number showing on the transactions.

I have just searched my bank account for more transactions and they have also MADE payments into my account of £10,000 and £6000 a few years ago. There’s no doubt that those transactions are errors, we receive no dividends, benefits, or any other kind of payments. Our salaries are our only income. Those transactions haven’t been reversed.

I’m in the queue to my bank’s customer service.

What on earth could this be?

I went to my mum’s last night, who receives PIP, and they also debited £2000 of her account, which makes me think it must be the council.

Sounds like the council. Are you on benefits?

Hang on, you didn't notice 10k and 6k going INTO your account?

This! Either you are incredibly wealthy or something isn’t adding up as most people would notice 10000 going into their account unexpectedly! Have you just spent that money?

How do you not notice you have an extra 10k in your account?

Placemaking to see how this works out...

So really you're up by 14 grand 😏.

I hope you remember what it is OP, but seems like the large amount must be a clue - what did you do for those amounts? Some kind of rebate, did you have any incentivised work done on your home?

Hmm spooky

Are they slowly trying to recoup the money that went into your account? How did you not notice 16k going into your account? Are your alison Hammond?

Could it be some sort of loan?

The £10K and £6 K payments to you sound like the business support grants during Covid - do you have a small business/holiday let etc?

All I can say is that I have savings in 3 different accounts as I am leaving my husband and I lose track of what is in what.

I’m not wealthy it’s my life savings to buy a home when I leave DH.

No, not on benefits, we have never received any benefits.

@OhMrDarcy no, we have never had a business, I’ve worked for the same company for 13 years and my salary is my only income.

Unless you earn 100s of thousands then how can you not notice 16k going into your account??!!!