insurance sent cheque in error in my favour

loady

I received a cheque for £2400 with no explanation, I was expecting some money coming my way but not this much, I banked it and stowed it away. Morally I know the money is not mine which is why it's not been touched,just over a month later I have received a special delivery letter from the underwriting company it was sent from and I guessed what it was about before I opened it, they were meant to send the cheque to the body work shop that repaired the car. I am separated from my wife and not currently residing at the address it was sent to. I found the letter to be quite rude, threatening proceedings if they do not receive a cheque for the amount received in 14 days, had the letter been polite' apologetic and asked if I would return money I would have done. I'm curious to know where I stand to withhold this money or charge them administration for my inconvenience ?

McKneff

Where you stand is that you have to pay the money back, full stop.


If you keep it you risk being taken to court, receiving CCJ and having your credit trashed for the next 6 years. They have 6 years to chase you for the money.


You cant charge them for anything.


Apart from the time banking the cheque, what inconvenience have you suffered.


Of course morally it isn't yours, legally it isn't either. I would just send a cheque back to them and move on.

TonyMMM

Best outcome if you keep the money - a CCJ, bailiffs, credit problems etc.

Worst outcome, conviction for theft (unlikely, but possible).

You chose to bank it - you could have made one phone call and then ripped the cheque up. Can't see any inconvenience there.

matttye

You can't keep the money but you can complaint about the tone of their letter if you wish.

Of course, charging them would not make sense either because the inconvenience is of your own doing. You could have sent the cheque back with a note "sent to me in error."

neilmcl

loady wrote: »

Morally I know the money is not mine which is why it's not been touched

Knowing the money wasn't yours the "moral" thing to do would be to contact the insurance underwriter, not just stow it away on the off chance they'd not notice.

Exactly how have you been inconvenienced?

rs65

loady wrote: »

........

I banked it and stowed it away

...........


I found the letter to be quite rude, threatening proceedings if they do not receive a cheque for the amount received in 14 days

...........

If you hadn't banked the cheque, the letter would've been in a different tone.

straighttalker

So just because of the tone of the letter, you think you're within your rights to with hold the money? Come off it. Send the money back before proceedings are issued.

Avoriaz

loady wrote: »

.. I found the letter to be quite rude, threatening proceedings if they do not receive a cheque for the amount received in 14 days, had the letter been polite' apologetic and asked if I would return money I would have done....

What is an acceptable tone to use when writing a letter to a thief asking for your money back?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

think you've caused yourself more inconvenience by banking the cheque.

GwylimT

I think I would struggle to be polite if someone had stolen £2400 from me, if you couldn't be bothered to send the cheque back you should have ripped it up.

arcon5

lol the morale high ground