to ask whats the maximum sum you would be prepared to write off in this situation

[user09090909E]

if you paid someone some money by mistake, they offered to refund it if you sent them your bank account details but you didn't want to give them your bank account details because you didn't trust them, what's the maximum sum you could live with as the cost of your mistake?

am in exactly this situation and am just thinking of writing it off. but unsure becauase of the amount.

I wouldn’t be in this situation because I know that there is absolutely zero risk in giving someone the paying in details of my bank account.

What is it you think they can do?

Edited to say sorry, that was unnecessarily harsh. You should be fine to give them account number and sort code. Just don’t give them card number or PIN code. Sorry you are in this situation with someone you can’t trust.

As above I would give them my bank account details. You made a mistake and the other party is being honest and trying to return the money.

If you won’t give them the details to pay you then you have to be prepared to write off all of it. I wouldn’t fanny around trying to get cash back to somebody who had made an error and then wanted me to put in all the legwork to sort it out for them. There’s nothing nefarious they can do with your bank details.

Why would you not give bank details? That’s how it works!

I'd give them my paypal details

You’re the one who made a mistake. The other person is happy to pay it back. Apart from taking out direct debits in your name, they can’t do anything with your bank account details.

Is there a reason you’re being so difficult?

Could you request it through PayPal?

If I wasn't prepared to give them my bank details then I'd expect to have to write the lot off.

Unless the person in question also knows your passwords and PIN numbers there is no risk to handing over your account details.

Account details are printed on every cheque ever written.

They can only be used to either pay in money or to set up a direct debit. The direct debit guarantee exists to absolutely guarantee that if a direct debit ever does something you didn't want, they will refund it. So there is zero risk.

You are being unreasonable. The maximum I would write off in these circumstances is £1.

With your bank account details they can do two things:

Pay money into it, which is what they want them to do
Fraudulently set up a direct debit.

If they did the latter, you'd have redress via your bank, if the direct debit was actually set up (security checks for the account/service they were trying to pay for are likely to flag it up, eg if names and addresses don't match).

Therefore, I'd have no concerns about giving anyone my bank details.

It depends on individual circumstances. Can you afford to write it off? If not then the question is answered. It just comes down to an assessment of risk versus reward, the sum of money versus your interpretation of what they might do with your details (like signing you up to a load of direct debits).

The bank details don’t place you at risk. But it is also very easy to set up a Revolut account for this and use it only for this transaction before transferring the money yourself to your usual current account if you’re really worried.

Send them your PayPal details instead.

What do you think they are going to do with your bank details OP?

There’s very little someone can do with just your sort code and account number. How else would they refund the money?

Why don’t you trust them? By what you’ve put, you have made a mistake, rather than falling victim to a scam. If there is a wider context, then it’s that which is driving the “how much would you write off” decision.

In the circumstances you describe, £0. What on earth do you think is the risk of giving them your bank details? They are already offering to transfer the money back, help them do that!

What is it you think they can do with your bank details?

If you feel that strongly give them your account details and then close your account. Otherwise open a new one and give them those details.

Can you set up an online account, maybe Monzo or something like that or a saving account. Get the money, transfer it, close the account.

If you are that worried then ask for a cheque. Or cash if a smallish amount.

Sorry cross post, I think you posted while I was typing (and listening to election news.)

Do they have your passwords? If so reset them, if not then I don’t understand the worry?

If you paid money to them would they not have your details anyway?

How did you pay them? The amount needs to go back to you to the same account to comply with anti money laundering rules.

If you paid by cash, ii don’t know what are you afraid of. Just give them the details.

Can they not give you it as cash, cheque or PayPal?
If not, how untrustworthy are they? Like been done for complex financial fraud before? I don’t see how most people would be able to defraud you from your bank details.

Giving someone your sort code and account number doesn't do anything other than allow them to pay into it.

What do you believe would be a problem by doing this basic thing?