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Original poster

Transferred money to wrong account

45 replies

ellyfish · 16/02/2021 16:54

Hi!
So, my boyfriends, Dad transferred money into my boyfriends ex-girlfriends account by accident (used to be their account pre-split). They have tried contacting her numerous times and she is completely ignoring everyone. We have tried contacting the bank but they said it's a tricky and lengthy process to get it back and there is no guarantee of even getting the money back at the end of it. I apologise if this isn't your bog-standard post on here, I'm just pretty angry and at a loss at what to do! Does anyone have any advice on ways to deal with this?
Many thanks!

OP posts:
Wonkydonkey44 · 16/02/2021 17:46

I work for a bank, please contact them and they will go through the right channels to get your money back

Mammyloveswine · 16/02/2021 17:46

How much was it and how long ago was it transferred? How soon after the transfer did you contact her?

CurlyReds · 16/02/2021 17:49

you can't tell me if the bank actually put £4000 in my account by error and I spent it nothing would be done
It wasn’t transferred in error though. The customer transferred it to that account on purpose. He entered the account details and pressed the button.

They have informed her it was in error, therefore its theft
That’s not how the law works. If you give me something and then ask for it back, I don’t have to give it to you. It’s not theft if I refuse to give it back. You saying that you didn’t intend to give it to me doesn’t change the fact that you did. I have every sympathy for OP but technically it’s not theft.

Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 17:56

@Sadandsadder

How much was transferred?
£300! My partner was doing work for his parents and he works so hard. He didn't want anything for it and his parents insisted and here we are! They're all just lovely people and treated her well from what I hear. Just doesn't sit right with me that they should lose their money.
OP posts:
Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 17:57

@Wonkydonkey44

I work for a bank, please contact them and they will go through the right channels to get your money back
Thank you so much! I will pass this on. x
OP posts:
Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 18:00

@Mammyloveswine

How much was it and how long ago was it transferred? How soon after the transfer did you contact her?
£300, transferred about a week ago now and she was contacted the same day he transferred the money. More contact attempts have been made since then too.
OP posts:
Same4Walls · 16/02/2021 18:03

When you say contact attempts just out of curiosity how are they getting in touch? Is it perfectly possible she isn't ignoring them but instead isn't getting their messgaes?

JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 16/02/2021 18:06

We have tried contacting the bank but they said it's a tricky and lengthy process to get it back and there is no guarantee of even getting the money back at the end of it.

He needs to do this. Regardless of how length or guaranteed it is- this is the process. Consider it the price of stupidity.

Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 18:06

@CurlyReds

If she has spent it after we have asked for it back, that is theft It isn’t though. Because she didn’t steal it. You gave it to her.
If you read any one of the links that people have shared you will find otherwise. Here is a quote from a link someone kindly shared- "If the person who received the cash does not play ball, then you are going to have to explore your legal options.

It’s worth remembering that if they spend it, they are effectively committing a crime, so you should get the police involved too."

OP posts:
Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 18:08

@Same4Walls

When you say contact attempts just out of curiosity how are they getting in touch? Is it perfectly possible she isn't ignoring them but instead isn't getting their messgaes?
Whatsapp, where you can see the recipient has read it and been online. Also phone calls.
OP posts:
JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 16/02/2021 18:10

@Wonkydonkey44

I work for a bank, please contact them and they will go through the right channels to get your money back
They’ve already contacted the bank but for some reason don’t want to go through the correct process of getting it back because it will take too long. Confused
MinecraftMother · 16/02/2021 18:14

The police and the bank should take this seriously. I'd be making waves with both.

Original poster
ellyfish · 16/02/2021 18:14

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

We have tried contacting the bank but they said it's a tricky and lengthy process to get it back and there is no guarantee of even getting the money back at the end of it.

He needs to do this. Regardless of how length or guaranteed it is- this is the process. Consider it the price of stupidity.

Is it really that hard to comment on something without being mean? It was a mistake everyone makes them...
OP posts:
JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 16/02/2021 18:16

Is it really that hard to comment on something without being mean? It was a mistake everyone makes them.

Of course we do. That doesn’t mean they aren’t stupid mistakes! I bet your boyfriends dad would say it was a stupid mistake. When I make stupid mistakes- that’s what I call them.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 16/02/2021 18:22

@curlyreds your wrong on all accounts and clearly it was an error he paid it to the wrong account still an error.
My company paid me twice in error and I had to return it , look at the link provided by others about spending money that is not yours even if put in your account .

girlofnow · 16/02/2021 18:43

@CurlyReds

you can't tell me if the bank actually put £4000 in my account by error and I spent it nothing would be done It wasn’t transferred in error though. The customer transferred it to that account on purpose. He entered the account details and pressed the button.

They have informed her it was in error, therefore its theft
That’s not how the law works. If you give me something and then ask for it back, I don’t have to give it to you. It’s not theft if I refuse to give it back. You saying that you didn’t intend to give it to me doesn’t change the fact that you did. I have every sympathy for OP but technically it’s not theft.

People have been prosecuted for spending money that was accidentally transferred to them knowing it wasn't for them.
BarbaraofSeville · 17/02/2021 08:33

If she isn't playing ball and just thinks she will get to keep the £300, then the next step is to tell her that if she doesn't return the money within 7 days you will go to the small claims court to retrieve the money and she will be liable for the costs, because you have a clear case here.

Livelovebehappy · 17/02/2021 23:03

I work for a bank. What you have to do firstly is report it to the bank. They can’t just remove the money, but will write out to the recipient to advise money has gone into their account in error and they need her permission to retrieve it. They then have to give them time to respond, which is why it may take time. If the bank don’t receive a response or the person refuses to return the money then the bank will let you know and you would then have to go down the legal route. The problem is that she may have spent it, and if she says she was expecting money into her account so spent it on that basis, then going down the legal route isn’t as clear cut as it seems.

BarbaraofSeville · 18/02/2021 07:29

It's ridiculous that the recipient has to give permission like that.

It would be far more sensible if the bank was able to say 'money has gone into your account in error, it will be removed after 7 days unless you can prove to us that the money is yours' which they can't because it isn't.

It would be an enormous and very unlikely coincidence that a person could genuinely believe that surprise money was really their's because they'd have to be expecting the same amount at the same time to arrive but then didn't or else they'd have two payments in their account.

ruthieness · 18/02/2021 07:45

www.money.co.uk/guides/can-you-keep-money-accidentally-paid-into-your-bank-account.htm

It is interesting to see the advice you get if you are in her position

And yes it may be a crime
“Retaining wrongful credit” under the Theft Act
But hard to prove unless a very large sum

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