£26,000 gone missing!

oxfordrocks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/feb/09/26000-banking-error
:eek:

Feel really sorry for this lady.

I wonder how many MSE users would have noticed?

innovate

Sounds it wasn't just her who never checked their bank account in 2 years, her husband didn't either. Not even when they went overdrawn. I am almost lost for words. Can't feel sorry for so much stupidity.

The Guardian's apparent conclusion that paperless statements are to blame is ridiculous. Firstly, it's people's own decision to go paperless, and secondly, with nearly everyone "living" online these days and great mobile banking apps, what's the big issue?

That woman who pocketed the grand every month and spent it but now can't pay it back (yeah) should be taken to Court and made to pay it back, if necessary in instalments, and with interest, for the rest of her life. A nice CCJ on the thief's CRA file would also be deeply satisfying, and may be she should serve some time for her crime.

opinions4u

Not many savings statements get issued monthly.

That £1 test transaction is so important.

rb10

There's clearly more to this story than the Guardian have reported.

It's impossible to key one digit of an account number incorrectly and for the system to accept it - and that's the whole premise of the article.

Secondly, what about the quote near the end that "In November 2012, RBS/NatWest became the first bank to stop posting monthly statements, instead opting for statements every three months"? I've been getting paper-free statements on my (non-RBS) accounts for years. There's nothing new about that.

innovate

Aside from statements, you can see a detailed list of all your most recent transactions online 24x7. So no need to wait until a statement arrives.

Really totally ridiculous to suggest paperless statements would have prevented this situation. Who says people in general will open their post any more than they log into their bank accounts?

oxfordrocks

Pretty much all my bills are paperless.

I would notice a grand going missing every month.

FireWyrm

I dont know about everyone else, but I would certainly miss £1000 a month from my accounts. Also, I check my bank accounts at least weekly, and my running account (day to day stuff) almost daily. How she missed this for two years is bordering on unimaginable.

As a side note, she should bring a court case against the bank and force them to disclose the name and address of the recipient and then bring criminal charges against them. There is nothing in DPA that would prohibit her initiating civil proceedings against the thief in question. It would also be an open and shut case.

Caroline_a

Many years ago a company I was working for paid my salary into the wrong account. I discovered it on the day it was due to be in the bank as I had no money! The company accountant told me that it had gone to someone in Liverpool... but it came back immediately and although I had to wait a few days there was no problem with getting it back from the bank.

Can't believe that someone wouldn't notice it though! Stupid woman!!

lolavix

How with an income of £50k between them did they not notice £12k a year going missing?

Madness, but let's blame the banks for people's stupidity as usual...

Hmm71

I've read the comments on the news article and, not surprisingly, there's little sympathy for Sally. A one-off error yes but she didn't notice £1000 a month missing for two years? Are they really that well off? She didn't check her bank account in all that time? Come off it!

oxfordrocks

Hmm71 wrote: »

I've read the comments on the news article and, not surprisingly, there's little sympathy for Sally.....

Yes, the comments are definitely worth a read.