Bank shortfall- help!

Balso69

I thought you people were supposed to be helpful!

TBagpuss

I think the difficulty you have is:
1. You didn't check the money at the time, so there is no evidence that the money was not removed after you left the bank.
2. 50 £20 is quite a lot - it would be difficult for a cashier to extract this without someone noticing, and it is surprising, particularly if you take out similar amounts regularly, that you didn't realise that the envelope was thinner than normal.
3. You didn't check the money for 2 days, during which time it was not in a secure place.
4. You didn't open the envelope, so you cannot say **from your own knowledge** that the full amount was not in it.
5. Banks have experience in avoiding theft by their clerks and other employees. while they may not have CCTV of their cashiers, it is likely that they do have other security measures which would make it difficult for a dishonest cashier to smuggle 50 £20 notes out.

From the perspective of the bank, they have no evidence at all that the money was ever missing.

Are you 100% sure that no one else could have had access to the envelope during the two days it was sitting o your mantelpiece?

Obviously you can complain to the bank, and to the ombudsman, but looked at objectively, the most likely explanation is that the money went missing after you left the bank, not at the counter, so I doubt that you will get very far.

Sadly, I think you will have to take this as an (expensive) reminder to check any cash withdrawal immediately, before you step away from the desk. Every time.

DCFC79

Balso69 wrote: »

I thought you people were supposed to be helpful!

What reply would you like ?

You should have been more observant.

I wouldnt start accusing the bank teller as you have no proof the teller took it, sounds like a simple error that could end up costing you alot.

You say you asked the bank about cctv and was told no but surely if they were to do a count of the money in the bank and cross check it with whats on the system surely there would be a £1000 difference.

Balso69

The problem is when you withdraw large amounts for cash your are told to put it straight in your bag so people don't see.
Looking back I remember thinking that the envelope shut which was unusual because if I have withdrawn is amount of money before the envelope is struggling to stay closed- but of course it didn't even cross my mind until we realised money was missing.
I think this rule that I left the bank therefore not their responsibility any more is outrageous! Even if I had noticed that the money was missing as soon as I got home, the banks shut at lunchtime and don't open again till Monday there was nothing else I could have done.
I have learned my lesson and unfortunately paid £1000 for it! I will still write to the ombudsmen and try everything I can but I will not be banking with halifax anymore and will check my money!

lee111s

If there was £20 or even £40 I could see there being a possible miscount. Not 50 £20 notes. Whenever I have withdrawn large sums of money (even 10k) the bank staff always offer to count it out for me. Did this not happen when you withdrew the money?

You really have no chance of redress I'm afraid.

Balso69

Yes she counted it out that's why I felt no need to check it.

Archi_Bald

Balso69 wrote: »

Yes she counted it out that's why I felt no need to check it.

What exactly happened between the cashier counting out the money in front of you and the counted money being put in the envelope? Did you see the cashier keeping a wad of notes back?

Balso69 wrote: »

Looking back I remember thinking that the envelope shut which was unusual because if I have withdrawn is amount of money before the envelope is struggling to stay closed

This suggests that the envelope was not sealed, correct? And was sitting un-sealed on your mantlepiece for 2 days. Who during these two days had access to your lounge?

karlie88

Archi_Bald wrote: »

This suggests that the envelope was not sealed, correct? And was sitting un-sealed on your mantlepiece for 2 days. Who during these two days had access to your lounge?

Balso69

No it was sealed. If only I had a cat!

Nebulous2

I've occasionally taken out large sums of cash, sometimes more than that. The teller has never asked me if I wanted them to count it out, they have always insisted on doing it on their own.

It has always been counted and folded in hundreds with ten of them being banded together to make a thousand.

I couldn't be sure it has never been put in an envelope for me, but my recollection is that the money is handed over and then I'm handed an envelope to put it in myself.

Bank tellers have to deal with a broad range of people and are dependent on their honesty for their job. It is worth them being scrupulously clear about what they are doing to make sure they don't land in situations such as you are describing.