Bank can't trace sender of money erroneously paid into my bank account

alanq

FenFatale wrote: »

My bank are adamant that they cannot trace where the money came from (something about "data protection" - that old fob-off).

You are only asking for the money to be returned to whence it came not to know any details of the sender. A Nationwide BS branch was able to tell me the town of the sender's account (in case it reminded me of someone who may have intended to deposit in my account). At my request the money was returned to sender.

The-Truth

Caladan wrote: »

I'd put in a formal complaint. If that fails, I'd refer to the Ombudsman.

Either they will kick into action and remove the money from your account into some form of holding account (an okay solution) or they wont, and you get to keep the funds (having made clear that your desire is to return the funds to sender, but your bank is failing to do so).

I cannot even believe your post has been thanked!

Seriously make a formal complaint?

Surely a more normal reasonable person would either let it sit there or just put it into a savings account until they ask for it back.

But a formal complaint then refer to the Ombudsman? Seriously, find yourself a hobby!

ChiefGrasscutter

The money might have come from a dodgy source
The money might be part of some money laundering scam erroneously put into the OP's account by mistake.
The OP needs documentary evidence all on file that they proactively said this money is not mine right at the beginning....before the possibilities even arises to get accused of being part of it.

Indeed the fact that no-one seems too interested in reclaiming it actually suggests that the real owners do not want too much attention paid to them.......which is equally worrying.

The OP is quite right to pursue this.

Vortigern

The-Truth wrote: »

Seriously make a formal complaint?

What if the money turned out to be the proceeds of some crime? By making a formal complaint the OP reduces the chance of a CIFAS (fraud) marker being attached to the account.

ETA: Grass cutter beat me to it!

molerat

The-Truth wrote: »

I cannot even believe your post has been thanked!

Seriously make a formal complaint?

Surely a more normal reasonable person would either let it sit there or just put it into a savings account until they ask for it back.

But a formal complaint then refer to the Ombudsman? Seriously, find yourself a hobby!

A complaint is justified if only for the total bu11sh1t excuse the bank gave because they could not be arsed to help out their customer.

Herbalus

I wouldn't bother with a formal complaint. By all means write a letter telling them that the money isn't yours and that you're still waiting for them to find out where to return the money to, but I wouldn't force their hand. If it goes into a holding account for a few years and isn't reclaimed, the bank will benefit from it. But if you put it in your "holding/savings account" for the next six years, with it on record that you want to return if they'll tell you where to, then you could benefit from it in the future.

Archi_Bald

I would not touch any money in my account that I have not expected. This includes moving it to a 'holding' account. Any form of touching could be construed as you being part of any scam that might be going on.

Instead insist, in writing, that the bank remove the money from your account without delay. If they don't act without a complaint, raise a complaint.

brewerdave

A few years ago now, I had slightly less than £100 paid into my account in error -my bank (NatWest) showed absolutely no interest and after a few visits to branch and phone calls,I gave up!
For a couple of years I ensured that my account always had enuf to cover a sudden "readjustment" -but I no longer bother !!:rotfl:

FenFatale

Thanks for all the replies. My initial thought was that it was some sort of scam, which is why I contacted my bank straight away (Santander Bank). They assured me it was probably just someone mis-keying the number and that, when they realised the money was missing, they would contact their own bank to trace the money. I assumed that Santander were just being lazy because they thought the sender would miss the money fairly quickly and didn't want to bother to trace it. Now that 7 months has passed, I really think Santander should agree to my request to trace the sender, particularly as it's possible that the money is from a dodgy source. As suggested by many posters I now intend to write to Santander, not necessarily as a formal complaint, but insisting that something is done to trace this money back to the sender.

Paul_1977

Why are you so bothered, the bank does not care, so neither should you. Put it into premium bonds. Then its not easily accessible but there if they ask for it back.

Forget about it for five years and then go on a spending spree.