To spend money when I don’t have any idea where it’s come from?

[NobodyLivesHere]

On checking my bank account this morning there is £600 in there that I can’t account for. The only info is an account number I don’t recognise.
I desperately need a plumber to come out and unblock some outside pipes and it’s been causing me a lot of stress as I can’t afford it. I’m off sick from work after a life altering accident and I’m a single parent to 3 including a disabled child, my savings have been eaten by this and there’s no telling when or even if I’ll be able to return to work.

I know I should report this money to my bank. But part of me wants to use £150 of it to do the work needed. And then if I have to pay it back set up a payment plan.

is this awful? It’s awful isn’t it? And yet it’s just….there.

If the time has lapsed of 6 weeks or over as he hasn’t sorted the problem you can get the problem fixed and he owes you the money …. So
you take it off your rent . Deduct the amount you paid of next months rent .

He can threaten all he wants but get your self clued up on the rights and wrongs and talk like you know what’s right and wrong.

I had a rogue landlord 5 years back and I stood uP to him and his threats and made it clear and the legal implications to him .
He had to back down as I was right and had the law , environmental health on my side .

I also know if a landlord taken to court by shelter Scotland for illegally evicting a tenant

Things may have changed in the last few years, but having reported a disrepair issue to environmental health used to be a defence against a possession order.

That prevented landlords evicting tenants who'd reported repair issues from being evicted.

Thank you! This is really helpful. I think I need to get some proper advice. He’s just managed to hit me when I’m down so to speak and I’ve been so down. I’ll get my ex-husband to change the locks tomorrow (he’s there with my son at the moment) and then got through emails and texts to see what he’s said exactly in writing. I can’t remember if he said it person first, but he referred to it in a text for sure.
I’ll ring and speak to housing again Tuesday.

That’s what the bank said when I rang them. They are going to investigate it, but they seem to think someone sent it to me. I’m baffled as to who though!

Thank you. I’ll ring housing Tuesday.

I would go back to the water company and keep banging on at them until you get through to someone helpful. Tell them that as they've resolved it on previous occasions they've already admitted responsibility for it and have a past record of agreeing it was their problem to resolve. They can't just change their mind now because they feel like it. Say you'll take it to the local press if you have to, sewage is a hot topic at the moment.

I’d email them today and follow up with a call on Tuesday - water services and the council and environmental health

This happened to my mum a few years ago. It was around 1500 pounds.

She is TERRIBLE with money. But she didn't touch it. She called the bank and tried to get it back to the sender but the bank wasn't able to find out who sent it because of confidentiality reasons. For the same reasons, the bank told her the sender wouldn't be able to find out who had his/her money. The bank basically said there's nothing we can do.

My mum still has the money there, untouched and it's probably been around 5 years.

Except you have to give permission or you end up in a heap of shite. They wont let it go just cos someone says ah no i dont think so.

PPs have covered that this is likely a mistaken transfer, so agree you’re best not to touch it but instead contact your bank.

Other things to consider are:

it being some kind of money laundering scam - income linked to crime is put in your account, you are contacted and asked to transfer to another account to rectify the mistake. By transferring, the money is “cleaned” but you become implicated in some serious criminal activity.

any implications on benefits eligibility or tax liability for declaring/failing to declare the additional “income”.

Save yourself the stress and the moral dilemma and notify your bank so they can reverse the transaction. Then your very next call should be to CAB or Shelter for some advice on dealing with your dodgy landlord.

A quick Google took me to the cab website, your landlord will be aware of the rules they must adhere to.

I've just had a thought, when I was in hospital at the start of the year , I was asked questions about my "home set up" if I lived with anyone else, would they help me, how many floors, how accessable the loo was etc, I wonder if you tell someone there , if there's some sort of safeguarding team? I could be on completely the wrong track but if you told them that there was raw sewage and you have children surely they would forward that on to a relevant department (I've no idea how this works!)

No the bank won't give out their details

If you do it expect karma....

Are you sure it wasn't the children's dad or a kind relative?

It’s definitely not my ex 😂 that I am sure of. I’ve asked around but no one seems to know anything. The bank are investigating now.

I don’t think karma is a thing. But I haven’t done anything as of yet and I’ve phoned the bank who are investigating.

I have been speaking to an OT team about home adaptations. I will bring it up when I see them. They may be able to help, thank you!

I’m more than sure he knows he should. But that’s not the same as what he will do, unfortunately. He’s quite intimidating and scary to be honest.

Thank you, I did point that out previously, but they said something about the break worsening so it’s on ‘my’ side now? But surely that’s because they haven’t fixed it?

only if the person is a known contact to me. At least with my bank.

Thank you. I really appreciate the advice. I’ve drafted an email to send to shelter and some other people tomorrow. Im on. Lot of medication so it’s slow going trying to think. But I will try and be a big girl about this. Im not generally this wet, but I’m feeling pretty vulnerable and useless at dealing with life at the moment.

I don’t know if it was a business. Just that it’s a bank transfer.

I have no idea. Literally not a clue. When I said I didn’t know how I was going to manage it, I meant it. Selling something like my laptop maybe. Or trying to get a loan via my credit union, but I can’t get there to sign the agreement so I don’t know if i can. I don’t know how people manage life from hospital tbh, I’ve never had to be here for weeks/months before so I’m winging it as best I can.
I suppose I was trying to justify it, because it would massively reduce my worry when I have so much else to worry about at this moment. But you’ll be glad to know I’ve informed the bank who are looking into it.

This happened to me when I was young . Me and my bf spent it. Bank called said they needed it back. They explained they would take it the day our wages were paid in.