Paid Cheque Into Closed Account

Chalky87

Hi everyone,

Hoping this is the right place on the forum for this. Halifax took too much money from my account for a credit card bill, and as a result sent me a cheque out as way of a refund.

I paid this into my HSBC account (using the automated machines) and it gave me a receipt, which I still have. However, I then tried to use the HSBC debit card for the account a couple of days later and it was swallowed by the cash machine.

I called HSBC, who said the account had been closed, I believe because it has been dormant for a while and I would have to go into branch. I then got in touch with Halifax to see if they could cancel the cheque and send me a new one, apparently they can't do that? They have to wait for it to come back from HSBC?

Can anyone advise as to who I should be 'going after' with this? Is it HSBC who accepted the cheque (admittedly through an automated service) or Halifax who seem to be unable to cancel the cheque?

Thanks

Loughton_Monkey

Given that you tried to pay a cheque into a 'closed' account, the BACS system will eventually return it from whence it came (Halifax). If Halifax give you a valid cheque, they will take the attitude that it is up to you to pay it into a valid account.

The fact that you thought this was a valid account - but apparently isn't - is a deperate matter between you and HSBC. They have recently had a campaing of trying to close dormant accounts, and will have written to you.

rb10

If the account is closed, then the cheque should still be at the HSBC branch where you paid it in, and they should be able to post it back to you. Might be worth giving the branch a ring to see.