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?

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

You count as wealthy if you have the value of a home in savings. No wonder you didn't notice the odd £10k...

What did the bank say op?

Did you ever claim back PPI? Maybe that’s what the payments in were and these are charges by a PPI claim company?

It’s the value of a deposit for a home.

My ADHD means I have extreme avoidance issues.

You're not wealthy but you didn't notice you had an extra TEN THOUSAND POUNDS in your bank?

I agree it sounds like the Covid grants. In which case presumably it’s an account number error and you’ll need to pay them back.

Unless it’s something to do with your soon to be exH? Or is the account just in your name?

Post the company name and someone may know?

Ok thread is going sideways.

I’m 99% sure it’s the council.

I will call them on Monday.

a proper mystery

The payments predate Covid. I will call the council.

What did the bank say?

Going forward what might help is setting up an automated text message from the bank that will tell you the current balance of your account and the last few transactions. Mine arrives every Sunday and you can loosely see whether everything is as it should be.

Whilst I wouldn't of course be able to tell a very small amount appearing or disappearing by mistake I would notice the sorts of sums you mentioned!

Ah sorry no that would probably be a terrible idea if you are trying to save money without your partner knowing.

what did the bank say

Log into your online banking account, look uo the direct debits and cancel anything you don’t recognise.

Anything legitimate (eg council) will soon be in touch with you to ask for money. This is a much faster and better way to work out what it is than ringing round.

The bank said I should speak with the council as they agreed that sounds like the most likely possibility. If no luck, they said to call back.

Did you get through to the bank.

I'd cancel the standing order/direct debit

Great idea, thank you.

what happened to the £16k?

FWIW OP not noticing 16k going into an account is absolutely something I could do myself. Not because I am particularly wealthy, but because I only properly check one a year, and usually I check for unexpected going out (by using a filter on the transactions.

e.g. I’ve been caught out before thinking my work expenses claim was still due to be paid, only to find it had already been paid the month before.

The bank said it would 'most likely' be the council?! Surely they know whether it is?!

Who are you going to ask to speak to at the council?!

I can I understand that they may not know about payments in

But the payments out are different! They can't take money without your permission -be it direct debit you have signed or payment by standing order or debit card. How were they made?

To the pp who do not understand how the OP missed that amount being credited to her account, it’s avoidance /anxiety linked to ADHD. I haven’t checked my mail in a month, I just forget until an inappropriate time (like now when I’m unable to get to the post!) and then panic about what bills etc might be there. Then avoid it for a bit due to anxiety!!! This is how I manage to be late with payments (although sometimes I panic and pay in advance and end up hundreds in credit 😖😫). Brains wired differently 🤷‍♀️

*hundreds in credit as I’ve usually already paid but forgot!!