To not want to pay this tradesman twice for the work.

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A tradesman came to my house and did some work for me.

When I received his invoice, I paid him using my online banking straight away as he was a saved recipient on my banking (from a year ago when he did previous work). A month or so later he emailed to say that he had not received payment.

It turns out that the banking details were different and the invoice did have the new details on there (therefore I do know it was my mistake). However, when I popped to the bank, they said they cannot recover my money as it has already gone through and that the beneficiary (my tradesman) has already received it. He says the account is closed and that he cannot access it. What should I do? It’s £150 and I really don’t want to pay it twice.

I’d provide him with proof from the bank that the account is still open and in his name. And offer to go back to the bank again to discuss if he can provide proof that the account is closed.

I wouldn't pay twice. If the bank says the account hasn't been closed (and it's in his name - ie you haven't made a mistake with the account number or sort code) then its for him to sort with his bank.

I suspect he might have an overdraft and therefore the funds have reduced that rather than giving him available cash.

She has paid him. It's gone into his account. Not the one he wanted, but still his account.
He's saying the account is closed so she has to pay again, the bank says its not closed and he has the money. I'd be trusting the bank on this one.

Agreed - I’m just grateful that the figure wasn’t any larger to be honest as I have had some bigger sums going around for this renovation.

I’ve paid him to the right account now.

Definitely will be checking the payment details in future - especially where they are saved in my previous recipients on online banking. In fact, I’m quite tempted to go and delete ALL my previous recipients so that I’m forced to type them in fresh each time.

YABU. Of course you need to pay him; this was your mistake.

Agreed @SunnySaturdayMorning and I’ve paid him this afternoon now (as a result of the sensible advice on this thread)

A stupid, expensive error on my part. Aargh.

There is a way you can sort this. Even if it’s gone into overdrawn funds, ask him to speak to his bank and say he has received the payment in error. I suggest getting together to do this so you know it’s been done. They will then transfer the money back to you as he’s acknowledged he shouldn’t have received it. Then you can pay him again to the correct details. I worked in a bank up until recently, we used to do two or three of these a month.

MN made you pay the fella twice. He'll be a happy man.

There isn't a central list of bank accounts listing all that are open and closed. One bank can't tell that an account held by another bank is definately open or shut. There are checks in place re whether it's a valid account number, but not necessarily whether the account is still active, especially if it's been closed recently.

How payments are handled to a closed account varies from bank to bank too. Some banks will just put the payment into a holding account, others will (eventually) bounce it back.

There are 2 things to do here.

First is to make the payment to the correct account as OP has done, and then OP should take steps to try to recover the other £150, but this will likely depend upon the tradesman being willing to chase this with his bank rather than anything OP's bank can do.

Thank you @Frabbits for your good advice.

Hopefully I’ve got him on side by paying into the correct account. You never know he might help me to get it back!

Always check invoice /bank details

But if his account is still open then sounds like the money has Been taken by bank

They may return it to you but unlikely

So yes you will have to pay it twice (which you have done)

That's not his fault as he put new details on invoice

I can't believe you've paid him twice 😮 It was an honest mistake, if he was an up front honest tradesperson he'd have helped you sort it out with the bank. The fact that he didn't would point me to think you will never see that extra £150 again

I’ve previously worked for a bank. I suggest the best way forward is to raise a complaint with your bank to let them know you are not satisfied with their help. They can try to reclaim it. £150 is not a small amount so don’t let it lie.

No way I would pay him again until I’d had confirmation it was a closed account and the money back,

Was just about to buy my daughter a Yoto player and now that money has gone… 😢

But she has paid him money which has gone into his account which apparently hasn't been closed. So she would be paying him twice, subject to checking that what the bank says is correct.

This. What are people not understanding???

Tradesman says his account with the £150 is closed.
The bank says it is not closed.

I wouldn’t pay another £150. He sounds like a scammer.

Ask him to call his bank, they should be able to tell him if the money was received into his old account. Sometimes the money will be bounced back and others it won't and he will have to request it from the bank. Happened to me last week when I was refunded for an item. Bank transferred it to my new account

You should speak to your bank, they can help you recover the funds. Its not guaranteed they will get it back but they will certainly try. Ring the call centre rather than the branch, they are more aware of processes etc.

OP did he tell you it was closed via written communication?

If he did, go down the fraud route if they're insistent his account wasn't closed.

Please have a read of this everyone saying ‘he can access the money’

https://www.bankruptcyadvice-online.co.uk/bankruptcy/bank-accounts-bankruptcy.shtml

Do not pay again!!!!!

I work in a bank - if the account is closed it will bounce back - if it’s open he will have received it. Tell him the bank said it’s open and ask him to look into it and check with his bank.
In the meantime you could ask your bank to put a trace on the funds or else try to recall the payment? (Ask him if he wants you to do this)
That might give you more clarity.

Honestly - don’t pay him again!! You have already paid him! See my post above re either a trace or recall that the bank can do. I wouldn’t be sending another 150 til you get the first 150 back!!

Are you sure this is the actual tradesman you are communicating with? This sounds like a really common scam.