Help Needed

Archi_Bald

AlexMetz wrote: »

Well, I didnt steal it. The person who transferred put it into the wrong account.

Not returning the money amounts to stealing it.

Anthorn

I can best illustrate by recounting an actual event which happened to me personally a few years ago:

I signed on at the job centre in the morning. Then in the afternoon I checked my bank account and JSA was there and I thought that was quick and so I spent the biggest part of it. Then a few days later on the day my JSA was normally due it had been credited again and I contacted my bank and arranged for the credit to be returned. All sorted out and no harm done.

But the job centre could have claimed that I stole the first amount which was essentially true but my defence would have been that to the best of my knowledge and belief that money was mine to spend.

But if I had also spent the second amount I would have clearly committed theft which is a criminal offence and if I did not or could not return that money then in due course I would have been brought before the beak in a court of law.

Nick_C

As others have said, this money belongs to someone else and if you refuse to give it back the you are stealing it. The person the money belongs to can, in theory, take you to court to recover it. However, in practice, the bank will refuse to give them your details because of client confidentiality. The Police aren't interested in dealing with crime any more, so if you are intrinsically dishonest and have no sympathy for the person you want to steal this money from then you will almost certainly get away with it.

typistretired

You need to contact the bank and tell them you have spent the funds and if they can come to some arrangement to help you sort it out. But you definitely need to pay the money back. Where did you think the money had come from??

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

It's amazing how often people in here get money they are not due.....

BUT why does it never happen to the regulars .....

innovate

Even more amazing that some people think or say that you can get away with it.

The OP has already one bank account closed on him, if his previous post are anything to go by. Perhaps he is now trying to get a second one closed.

Anthorn

I've been thinking about this and I think the only way around it is to not spend it in which case the account would always be in credit by at least that amount. Then you can claim that you didn't know about it but the funds are always available to pay back when claimed.

Otherwise it's a case of you spent it so you must have known about it.

Wilkins

Anthorn wrote: »

Otherwise it's a case of you spent it so you must have known about it.

I'm not sure why that follows. Plenty of people don't know what they have in their accounts and/or can't manage their money.

However, OP clearly does know about it now, so there's no excuse.

Goldiegirl

Everyone is agreed on the action needed here

So, OP, are you going to do as suggested and pay the money back immediately or in instalments?

You know it's the right thing to do

wiseshark

AlexMetz wrote: »

I have just received a letter from my bank saying that someone has accidently paid money into my account. They asked if I can sign a debit authority form or something like that so that they can get the money back to that person. They also say that if I dont have enough money in my account that they will pass my details over to him so he/she can contact me directly.

The bank cannot pass your details over to the person who accidently paid into your account so that they can contact you direct, not without your permission.

Do as the others have said and arrange to pay back this few hundred quid. It is the honourable thing to do.