Are payments to bank accounts from bank accounts anonymous?

bankaccq

I have been wondering about this recently, does anyone know?

Example: I send £100 to my mother via my Santander bank account, on her statement it is listed using the reference I provide (eg: "Repayment"): I can't see my sort code, name, or account number anywhere on the statement.

Does this mean that the information is intentionally hidden (payments are anonymous) or the information just isn't included on the statement, but the bank do have it and would provide it on request?

jonesMUFCforever

They would only be able to find sort code and account number unless you put name in reference field.
The other side of the coin is she might ask where the money came from and worry if they could not confirm its origin - is this not a worry for you?

colsten

It would be very easy for the banks to figure out where the money came from.

They might try to convince us it wouldn't be but that would be a pack of lies.

There might be some Data Protection legislation they can use to be difficult and not tell you were a payment came from, but they will always know. And they will always have to tell you if you ask. It is, of course, a complete mystery why they don't all tell you automatically who paid you money, anyway. Some of them do tell you, though.

I have never had an unidentifiable payment in the last 60 years myself, despite always having had a very active bank account(s).Admittedly, sometimes it did take a while to figure out where a payment came from as some of the banks do use some quite unintelligible abbreviations

The lot boils down to the same though: Don't wait for others to help you. Help yourself.

grumbler

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

They would only be able to find sort code and account number unless you put name in reference field.

I never use my name as a reference, but recall receiving payments from myself with my name mentioned in the description.
Don't remember what banks these were.

colsten

grumbler wrote: »

I never use my name as a reference, but recall receiving payments from myself with my name mentioned in the description.
Don't remember what banks these were.

I agree, sometimes the incoming payment on transfers from my own accounts shows my name even though I have not specified my name in the reference field.

Will do some more fact finding tomorrow if I can remember. My fact finding won't help people tracing their mystery payments - it will simply add to experience reports.

thebritishbloke

I'm a bit confused here, all of my accounts that I do monthly transfers between show my name and the reference I put... Am I missing something?

YorkshireBoy

thebritishbloke wrote: »

I'm a bit confused here, all of my accounts that I do monthly transfers between show my name and the reference I put... Am I missing something?

Whilst some banks insist on a 'reference' field being completed (in addition to the requisite sort code and account number), in my experience they're by far in the minority.


What's being said here is that some banks, even if you leave the reference field blank, will still add your name to the transaction...so it shows up on the receiving banks list of transactions as:


Bank Giro 010203 12345678 JOE BLOGGS FPI

molerat

I have 3 transfers from my son, wife & daughter into my 123 account, two from Santander accounts and one from RBS. All give the name of the sender and their chosen reference, Santander give full title & name and RBS gives initial and surname.

Aquamania

bankaccq wrote: »

I have been wondering about this recently, does anyone know?

Example: I send £100 to my mother via my Santander bank account, on her statement it is listed using the reference I provide (eg: "Repayment"): I can't see my sort code, name, or account number anywhere on the statement.

Does this mean that the information is intentionally hidden (payments are anonymous) or the information just isn't included on the statement, but the bank do have it and would provide it on request?

Welcome bankaccq :hello:

I need some clarification from you to give you any advice, but noticed you logged out as soon as you posted.

e.g.What type of transaction are you talking about?
Which bank does your mother bank with?

If you need more advice, please log back in and hopefully if you hang around, somewill will be able to assist you.

colsten

Here's a list of some accounts and what the recipient can see:




Not done any list of payments within the same bank

thebritishbloke

Another way to put money in someones account anonymously, is to just walk into a branch and deposit money into it, all you need is the sort code and acct number. Anyone can do that.