Money paid to wrong sort code

Stoneygirl

Hello to all, this is my very first post, though have been browsing this site for some time. There's probably already an answer to my question somewhere on this board, but here goes...
I work for my husband and do all his bookwork and last weekend, I used online banking to pay a new subcontractor. To set this up and get it authorised I have to use a card reader, which via my computer, issues an authorisation number. I made an error with the sort code, which was not picked up by the bank and this was only bought to light today when the subcon called to say he hadn't had his money. Then I found my error.
I called the bank straight away and told them what I'd done. The bank said the sort code wasn't relevant and they'd have to mark it 'as a concern' and try to track the money. They admitted that when I set up the account, there should have been an error message to say the account and sort code did not match, but I told them there was no error message received. The bank said it may take a while to track the money. So now I'm worried about where the money might be and wondered if anyone out there might have come across a similar situation? _pale_

Thanks in advance!

Extant

Different sort codes will have the same account numbers. There's only so many different combinations of account numbers that you can have, because they're typically in a special format and not issued sequentially. It's very likely that you, by sheer coincidence, managed to match two up.

As for where the money is, it's very likely in someone's account or (less likely) a bank holding account. If it was in a bank holding account, it would probably have been bounced back by now.

If it's in someone's account, then what happens depends on the bank that it went to and what their procedures are. Some will ask the customer if they can send it back, some will just return it.

What bank did you send it to? Just post the sort code if you don't know. Did it go to the same bank as your own?

rb10

The money is unlikely to have gone into a real account. The most likely scenario is that it has been placed in a 'holding' account at the bank whose sort code you entered - as they don't have an account number that matches up with that sort code.

Natwest will be able to contact the receiving bank, to try to reclaim the money. Make sure you keep on at Natwest though, to try to ensure they do this reasonably quickly. You should have a reference for your complaint, and a name of the person who is dealing with it, so keep chasing them.

Stoneygirl

We use Natwest, the subcontractor uses the same bank. My sister checked out the sort code and she thinks it might be Lloyds TSB. Will sweat on it over the weekend and see if Natwest ring me back as promised on Monday.
Thanks for the quick reply!

Lokolo

Stoneygirl wrote: »

We use Natwest, the subcontractor uses the same bank. My sister checked out the sort code and she thinks it might be Lloyds TSB. Will sweat on it over the weekend and see if Natwest ring me back as promised on Monday.
Thanks for the quick reply!

If you post it here we can find out for you.

Old_Git

I has a similar problem with Abbey .I entered the wrong bank details I didnt realise until the payment bounced about a week later

Stoneygirl

the sort code is 30-03-30

Baldur

Stoneygirl wrote: »

the sort code is 30-03-30

According to http://www.postcodeanywhere.co.uk/demos/bankvalidator.aspx

BANK LEUMI (UK) PLC
Bank Leumi (Uk) Plc London
WIC 1BG

Lokolo

Baldur wrote: »

According to http://www.postcodeanywhere.co.uk/demos/bankvalidator.aspx

BANK LEUMI (UK) PLC
Bank Leumi (Uk) Plc London
WIC 1BG

Damnit I just did that and you beat me to it! :mad::mad::mad:

Extant

Leumi has no account book, any account number is valid under IASD.

You might want to just call them and ask if it has been returned yet, etc.

Stoneygirl

Thanks - never heard of Bank Leumi.
Will make some enquiries.

Thanks to all for taking the time out to help and reply. Very much appreciated. Will post outcome on here (hopefully it will be a good result!).
:wave: