Money mix up when remitting. WWYD

[root2]

I have n/c here as I am rather worried, but may well out myself when I ask for advice.

Every summer we remit a fairly large (to us) sum back to the UK from the UAE, we then go back for our hols and decide how we are going to invest it.

Last summer we did as usual, however a few months later the amount was re-credited back into our UAE account with the note that there was some error.

But, our UK account says it had arrived and was sitting nicely.

This was some months ago, we were hoping it might sort itself out. But it hasn't. We do not want to spend the money that is not ours, but equally we know that if we go into the branch to try to sort things out it is going to take hours, if not days as no one will want to accept responsibility.

WWYD

Gee hard one! Are the payee details in the uk account yours? If they are I fear there's nothing you can do! I'd leave it as a balance in the uk account for 12 months. Failing any change or bank intervention.. You can do what you want!

Unfortunately these things have a nasty habit of catching up with you. For example, DH's grandmother died 9 years ago and when her estate was settled a few months later DH inherited a reasonable amount of money.

Two weeks ago he had a letter from his aunt with a cheque for £50 odd quid enclosed. Apparently there was an error made in the calculations all that time ago. I'm fascinated to know how this was picked up now, 9 years after the event, and it's not like this second payment was a huge amount of money so it wouldn't have been a glaring mistake!

I guess if you do move the money it'll be harder to feign ignorance when/if they catch on and ask for it back?

I think the fact that you live in the UAE I would tell the bank. I know when I lived there the facts as me and you know it can count for little if you get on the wrong side of the wrong person and I just wouldn't take the risk of any accusation of fraud or theft .I do sympathise though as I also know the long painful process that is UAE banking