Real Life MMD: Do I have a right to my niece's money back?

silkcutblue

Raise your concerns with the bank as you are the signatory.

dave2

Morally: clearly they should be refunding the money ASAP.

Legally: I'm not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure that either the account was in your name, in which case they literally stole from you. Or, it's in the niece's name in which case as legal guardians they control the money and you have no standing (though there may be a technical issue if the interest was being paid without tax deducted).

janread1

We have several accounts opened by family members for our daughter and some premium bonds ... and have been pretty skint due to the recession affecting my husbands business but would never dream of touching her savings. This is despicable behaviour. I would be very tempted to take the matter further.

puzzler100

Of course they should pay the money back and frankly, with interest. if you had generously given money into an account for their daughter, then it should stay safe for her and not be available to anyone else.