unknown payment into bank account

Legacy_user

My bank account has recently been credited with a reasonable sum of money, I have no idea where the money came from, or what it is for, I have told my bank but they say there is nothing they can do as it was paid in by a different bank...
Is there any way I can just return/refund the money? the bank said they can't give me details because of the data protection act?!

stclair

the_r_sole wrote: »

My bank account has recently been credited with a reasonable sum of money, I have no idea where the money came from, or what it is for, I have told my bank but they say there is nothing they can do as it was paid in by a different bank...
Is there any way I can just return/refund the money? the bank said they can't give me details because of the data protection act?!

I would just put it in a saving accounts until the funds are claimed.

Hominu

The sender will claim for it after a time so the important thing is to not spend it. Just leave it where it is.

If after 6 full years no one has claimed it, you are then free to spend it.

TheBanker

the_r_sole wrote: »

Is there any way I can just return/refund the money? the bank said they can't give me details because of the data protection act?!

You can't return the money because you don't have the details of the account it came from, but your bank do. Although they won't give those details to you, they should be able to return the payment at your request.

Out of interest does it have the name of the remitter? Is this anyone you know?

I wouldn't suggest moving the money at this stage.

Tinks32

I have just experienced the same situation except the amount was only £57.50! It was paid in by Bacs and just has 2 letters and then numbers. I called my bank NatWest and the call center does not recognize who the payment is from (the lady I spoke to said she had not come across the ref num before). She has passed it onto the fraud team, 3 days ago and so far I have heard nothing. Bit worrying!

TheBanker

I wouldn't worry about it Tinks32, although I doubt the Fraud team would be able to help.

All NatWest need to do is reject the payment i.e. send it back to where ever it came from. Highly unlikely the call centre operator will recognise the name unless it's a well known company! You could try googling the company name and seeing what comes up.

Tinks32

TheBanker wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about it Tinks32, although I doubt the Fraud team would be able to help.

All NatWest need to do is reject the payment i.e. send it back to where ever it came from. Highly unlikely the call centre operator will recognise the name unless it's a well known company! You could try googling the company name and seeing what comes up.

I have already done that and had no luck the only ref is SPE005. Any idea on who it may be? I think I will go into the bank and request that it is sent back tomorrow.

DreamerV

I've had a problem where over £1k came in, and the bank point blank said nothing could be done - went on for over a year, then money was suddenly taken. I'd leave it where it is if they can't return it immediately, just in case one day it suddenly goes and leaves you in unauthorised overdraft! (Although, presumably if this happened, the bank would refund any charges).

System

cheers all,
I did ask the bank to return it but they said they can't as it was paid to them by a different bank?!
tbh it's quite handy as it's keeping me out my overdraft! so as long as i don't touch it till it comes out it will actually save me a few quid!

DreamerV

Hehe that's brilliant the_r_sole. You tried to do the right thing, and while you wait, the money is in a way making you money (or stopping you losing money).

pqrdef

I don't really believe that nothing can be done. An unwanted payment could be incriminating or have other unfortunate consequences. It's ludicrous that there would be no way of simply rejecting it and having it returned where it came from.

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