UK company has paid me £110 by mistake and want it back

barnabee

I know something like this has happened to another MSE member but I can't find the thread with the advice he/she was kindly given.

I had a letter today from Abbey stating one of their business customers had paid £110 into my account by mistake. They have asked me to post a cheque made payable to the company within 14 days and enclosed an envelope (though I have to put the stamp on).

Of course I thought it was a scam and spent around 45 minutes on an 0845 number being passed from department to department within Abbey. I had checked out the company name on the internet and there was no record of them so I was feeling very suspicious. The letter also gave no mention of which of my accounts was involved.

A very long story and a trip to my own bank (not Abbey by the way) as they couldn't discuss the matter over the phone. It appears that £110 has been paid into an account that I keep for holiday/emergencies and the letter is indeed genuine.

I am quite happy to repay the money but should I deduct an amount to cover about 2 hours of my time, telephone costs, petrol, car parking and inconvenience?

PS - any Abbey customers I really feel sorry for you. Their telephone banking system is terrible with endless waiting to speak to someone.

rharper83

I have no idea if this is right or wrong, but the way I see it is that it is THEIR fault (the other businesses and Abbey's), so why should you be out of pocket for it? I would agree with billing them for your time and any expenses, although you may need to provide receipts. How you would bill them, I do not know, other than sending an invoice to them perhaps?

mountainofdebt

I think I would repay them the whole amount and be done with it.....but I suppose the obvious think to have done was to check your own accounts first and see if the amount had been credited as they said and then you wouldn't have to have rung Abbey at all.

barnabee

I think in hindsight I should've gone into a local Abbey Branch with the letter and asked them for advice first. I think I got blinkered into thinking this was a scam and panicked a bit. Thanks both for your help, I'll refund the full amount but will take it into an Abbey branch to get some sort of receipt.

moonrakerz

Legally, you have to return the money.

However Abbey seem to have made a right pig's ear out of it's request.
Why should you pay for the stamp ? Why should you spend ages on a "pseudo" premium rate number at you expense ? Why should you go out of your way to return the money ?

I would write back to the and say that you are happy to return the money but there will be a £30 "admin" fee (payable in advance) to cover the expenses and inconvenience caused by their ham-fisted request.

They wouldn't think twice about stinging you for 30 quid !

Compound_2

You are not obliged to write a cheque, but you should order Abbey to cancel the wrongful credit. You could also lodge a formal complaint about their handling of the matter; about £30 compensation seems reasonable here.