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Lucky or not? (bank error)

OK so my girlfriend wrote a cheque out the other day for £4.95. We were shocked to see that £495 was taken out of our account.

So we obviously phoned them and they stopped the cheque which was fine.

But then today a credit of £490.05 was PAID IN to the account.

So they obviously think the cheque wasn't stopped and now they have let £4.95 go through and deposited the rest into our account. But NO money ever left our account because of the cheque as it was stopped.

Should we phone the bank and tell them of their error? Or can we keep the money?
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Comments

  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    You cannot keep the money, the bank will likely take the money in the future when their systems correct the mistake.

    If you spend the money, the bank will still take the money and you can end up having bank charges put on the account.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Of course you cant keep the money, its not yours, either ring them up or risk them taking it when they have an audit, when you least expect it.

    I'm surprised you even asked.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    You cannot keep the money. Chances are they will find it and correct it within the next month or so, its possible they won't find it soon but they would be able to correct the transaction at any point for years, suddenly deducting the money from her account.

    Don't take the money out or spend any of it. If they haven't corrected it within a week or 2 I would suggest you tell them, its all too easy to spend it by accident and then get in to difficulties when they try to remove the money and you end up being charged for being overdraft etc.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • bendix
    bendix Posts: 5,499 Forumite
    kris147 wrote: »
    OK so my girlfriend wrote a cheque out the other day for £4.95. We were shocked to see that £495 was taken out of our account.

    So we obviously phoned them and they stopped the cheque which was fine.

    But then today a credit of £490.05 was PAID IN to the account.

    So they obviously think the cheque wasn't stopped and now they have let £4.95 go through and deposited the rest into our account. But NO money ever left our account because of the cheque as it was stopped.

    Should we phone the bank and tell them of their error? Or can we keep the money?

    With the greatest of respect, that's a stupid dumbass question and you know the answer to it already.

    It's not your money. You didn't 'win' it.

    For the love of god . . .
  • kris147
    kris147 Posts: 33 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    OK but if they know the cheque has been cancelled why did they then send a letter telling us they are depositing £490.05 lol. Seems a bit dull that they wouldn't already know that the issue was sorted over the phone. Anyway thanks for the advice and we will phone them now :)
  • kris147
    kris147 Posts: 33 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    bendix wrote: »
    With the greatest of respect, that's a stupid dumbass question and you know the answer to it already.

    It's not your money. You didn't 'win' it.

    For the love of god . . .

    OK maybe I should of worded it like this Mr. Smart-!!!.

    Has anyone got away with a bank error before. BETTER?
  • pcombo
    pcombo Posts: 3,429 Forumite
    Sounds like a party to me lol.

    Get the vodka bought.
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    kris147 wrote: »
    Has anyone got away with a bank error before. BETTER?

    Only in monopoly....
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • kris147
    kris147 Posts: 33 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Tixy wrote: »
    Only in monopoly....

    HAHA great answer :P Thanks. Sucks though, would of been nice :)
  • kris147 wrote: »
    We were shocked to see that £495 was taken out of our account.

    ...

    But NO money ever left our account because of the cheque as it was stopped.

    So did money go out of your account or not?
This discussion has been closed.
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