Real-life MMD: Whose glitch is it anyway?

[MSE Debs]

Money Moral Dilemma: Whose glitch is it anyway?


My friend agreed to get me some currency for our holiday, so I transferred him the £200. When we got back, he found he had £200 extra in his account as the bureau mistakenly didn't charg him for my euros. I asked him for the cash back, but he said it was rightfully his. Should I ask for it back, confess to the foreign exchange or let him keep it?

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Note: Please remember that these are real-life Money Moral Dilemmas and while we want you to have your say, please remember to be nice when you respond.


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[barginpleasure]

50:50 surely.

[lvm]

I agree...halfers seems fair!

[mayling03]

Go halves!

[Torry Quine]

I would be telling the currency exchange as I couldn't relax and enjoy spending money that I hadn't paid for.

[giltbrook]

If the bank realise the mistake, the person whose bank account was used for the purchase will be liable to repay the money, so the friend should be 'holding' the money ready to pay the bank back when they request it, even if that takes several years

[scotsbob]

You got the Euros for the agreed price. What happens between him and the bureau is his concern.

[scoobydoobydoo]

Go halves but agree to repay your half if they charge him at a later date, providing he gives your proof.

[alone103]

Many years ago I paid for a jumper in a well known store who debited by card at the time and then 48hrs later the money was back in my account, some 3 months later it was debited out of my account. That money has been earmarked and whether it has been collected or not it will be at some point.

[cazpost]

It certainly isn't your money,you've got the Euros you paid for.It certainly isn't his money either,as there has obviously been a glitch.At some point the bank will ask for it back,so I suggest you either have half each on the understanding you will pay it back when the bank ask for it,or more sensibly your friend goes to the bank now and tries to sort out the mistake.

[ripongrammargirl]

Seems to me that you do not need a thief as a friend. He is stealing from you and the exchange bureau. Sooner or later they will catch up with him and retrieve this cash. Makes me wonder what other laws he breaks and the trust in this friendship should be seriously questioned. Why can't people just be honest and then the world would be a much better and safer place. Unbelievable

[Spatton]

Something similar happened to me and the money wasn't taken at the time (it was a payment by cheque which they didn't cash). Cheques expire after 6 months, but I still owe them the money and nearly two years later they have come to ask for it. I don't really have a choice but to pay as I've had use of the goods for all this time. It would be surprising if the exchange didn't work out where they were missing their money from eventually and they've got every right to ask for it back. At least in the meantime you / your friend get to earn interest (at a paltry rate - granted!).

[qetu1357]

Be honest, repay the bureau.

But then check the weekly MSE email.

Tesco have mispriced catherdral city cheese at a £1 and the weekly email from MSE is telling us to exploit it.

Surely it is wrong to exploit this when it was not Tesco's intention to sell the cheese for a £1?

[Ebenezer_Screwj]

So, you’ve paid for your euros, presumably spent them on holiday and now you want your money back ? This is not on, is it ? It’s a matter between your friend, his conscience and the bureau de change who supplied the euros. It's your friend's moral dilemma, here is a clue as to what he should do : He has got some money in his bank account which doesn't belong to him . . .

[georgim]

He doesn't sound like a very nice friend. As everyone has said the travel bureau will most likely debit the cash another day, so let him deal with it, and you can basque in the glory of being morally correct.

[weebit]

Your friend should keep hold of the money because sooner or later, the BDC will take the £200 from him!

[Fatabelly]

It's his money.... It's his account and he did you a favour.
Why didn't you do it yourself? You're only jealous because he was lucky to get the glitch.... Get over it!!

[Sneezy]

Ring the exchange and tell them.

When they notice (and potentially maybe unable to see where there was a shortfall) it could be someone's job on the line and/or deduction of wages

[Inverness]

This "glitch" is an honest mistake. Keeping the bureau's money, mistakenly left in the friend's account, is a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968. Conviction offers your friend the opportunity to enjoy up to 10 years imprisonment.

[Cimscate]

I'd ask for the money back and get a new friend!!