Help Please ...Santander taken all my wages

solojedi2013

Hi All,

I hope someone can help me any advice will be most welcome. Really worried as I have no money and unable pay the mortgage, electric gas bills, I have a young family to support and really struggling.

I have recently had a employer pay my wages into an old account by mistake. This particular account has been closed recently by Santander as it was in arrears and passed to Moorcroft's, I have yet to setup an arrangement with Moorcrofts.

I called the bank and was advised that the money would be returned back to my employer as the account is deemed to be closed, after waiting 5 days for the funds to be released.

I have now been advised the money has gone into the old closed account which was over £1300 in arrears wiping the debt clean and leaving £500 as overpaid. I have been told the balance of £500 can be returned to me but will take 10 working days or I can opt for a cheque which will take 5 workings days.

I can not believe the bank can do this as the account has been closed and I assumed debt sold to Moorcroft. Is this correct?

I really need all the money to pay my mortgage and bills, food etc and can setup a payment arrangement with moorcrofts.

I don't know what to do please can anyone help. I have no other funds and unable to get through to the bank they are not willing to help in way.

ponbeam

Ask your works payroll department to put a trace on the funds and get it recalled.

solojedi2013

Thankyou for your reply Ponbeam

I have been advised by the payroll company that they are unable to put a trace on it due it being a fast payment.

They have also said they are unable to reclaim it as it has been accepted.

Is there anything else I can do?

BugsyBrowne

At the end of the day I can't see that Santander taking back what is rightfully theirs can be anyone's fault but the OP's.

If someone owed you money and they stopped paying and it accidentally fell into your account I'm sure you'd do the same.

As for your mortgage have you got a current overdraft set up for emergencies?

WestonDave

When you say it was paid into that account by mistake what exactly do you mean - was it that the employer had the new correct bank account details in plenty of time but didn't act on it, or your mistake in not telling the employer in time?

If it was down to the employer not acting on reasonable instructions you might be able to negotiate with them an arrangement where they advance you say £1000 (which would leave you £300) short, with a view to repaying that over the next 3 months wages. They don't have to do that but if they have contributed to the problem they may be willing to help out.

solojedi2013

Fair point BugsyBrowne - but I have been in dispute regarding the amount due as over £600 have been charges applied by the bank.

Also why can they not return the overpayment quicker or do you think i am being unreasonable because i owed them money in the first place?

solojedi2013

Thanks WestonDave

It was my fault - I am a contractor and use a umbrella company , I have been out of work for a few months and forgot they held the old bank account details

WestonDave

Your best hope then is to try to push them into sending the £500 back via faster payments which should be instant, but they will probably say it takes time to carry out the admin etc.

I can't see any creditor who has their hands on what they are owed giving it back and saying you can pay it back again over a few months. From their perspective - job done. I realise you dispute the charges but in most cases that is what happens - you go overdrawn, incur charges and if you don't sort it pdq, end up spiraling up charges on charges.

solojedi2013

Hi

I will speak to the bank again and see if they are prepared to offer a faster payment of the balance due back to me. Is it common practice to take 10 working days for the money to be paid back in this type of case?

Also would the debt have been sold to Moorcroft or do they just collect on Santanders behalf?

Thanks for all the advice so far