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

wildesavings

:beer: Fenfatale - I want to say I admire your honesty and moral stance.

chambta

I see no reason why 'data protection' won't allow them to tell you the sort code and account number so it can simply be sent back from whence it came by FP.

jonesMUFCforever

The most worrying part of this tale is that nobody seems to have missed the money!
It could be that a family member has gifted money to somebody as a surprise but is probably fuming now because the intended beneficiary hasn't thanked them.
Or if it is cash over the counter we will never know - until a claim is made I don't think the bank will be too bothered.

Caladan

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!

Thank you for your balanced, thoughtful response to my post. It is always a pleasure to interact with people who look at all aspects of a situation and respond in the sensible manner that you have.

Now allow me to tear your comments apart.

By making a formal complaint at the banks inaction, the OP makes their intentions clear - They wish to return the funds to sender as they acknowledge they are not expecting them and do not want them.

If the bank still fails to act after the complaint, OP can complain to the Ombudsman, still explaining they want the funds returned or at least removed from their account. By doing so, they put the onus on the bank to sort it out. If the bank fails to do anything then OP at least has cause to require a 'distress and inconvenience' payment as they have chased this matter in their own time without success. The fact OP has gone to the MSE forum about this is inconvenience in itself.

By doing the above, OP puts liability on the bank itself, rather than OP, for the fate of the money (not 100% sure on this, I'm no legal expert).

Notwithstanding the above - If I had somebodies money in my account I would not want to be hanging on to it for an indefinite period of time. Why on earth would I want to have to deduct those funds from my balance every time I look at my account to see how I stand financially?

As to putting the funds into another account (interest bearing or otherwise) that's just more inconvenience and still something weighing on my mind constantly, for an unspecified period of time (if it ever gets claimed back at all).

Wishing you all the best,
Cal

FenFatale

Update on mystery money: after getting my local Santander branch involved, they managed to trace the payment back to Skipton Building Society. I'd had a maturing bond paid into Santander the day before the mystery money appeared, and both amounts had come from the same source. Upon contacting Skipton, they could shed light on the problem. I was told that it was Skipton's error that the money had been paid into my Santander account; the missing money had been traced to my account and the loser had written to Santander asking for the money back. According to Skipton, Santander had written to the loser saying there was nothing they could do - the money could only be returned by the account holder (i.e. me). This letter was sent to the loser 3 weeks after I had reported this money and asked Santander to trace where it had come from so that it could be returned. Santander never contacted me to let me know that the loser had asked for the return of his money. They had not only fobbed me off, they had also fobbed off the poor man whose money it was - and worse, implied that I would not return his money! In the end, Skipton had to give the loser his money back and bear the loss themselves. I have now paid the money back to Skipton, and they were very grateful. But I am appalled and furious with Santander for the way they handled this. How many other people are getting fobbed off in this way and being made out to be greedy, wanting to keep money that doesn't belong to them? All because someone at Santander couldn't be bothered. There is a very big complaint coming Santander's way.

nidO

Sounds like a failure at both ends through not enough giving a crap.
If it was Skipton's error (as you've said and as implied by them repaying the sender) the sender shouldn't have even had to contact Santander in the first place, the whole issue should have been sorted out directly between Skipton and Santander, without involving either the sender at Skipton's end, or you.

The only experience i've had with this was having a 3-figure sum I didn't recognise land in my account, I phoned natwest and told them that it wasn't expected and as far as I could tell wasn't mine, they thanked me and said they'd look into it, and the money was gone the next day. Hopefully back to the sender.

colsten

FenFatale wrote: »

There is a very big complaint coming Santander's way.

And quite rightly so. It sounds appalling how they handled this issue. I would send the complaint straight to the CEO as he needs to either enact a fundamental change to their policy, or, if a relevant policy already exists, make sure it is adhered to by everyone.

Well done to you for getting to the bottom of the issue, and for making the effort to return the money that didn't belong to you. It's good to know there are honest people out there.

xylophone

You have received scandalously poor service as has the unfortunate victim of Skipton's mistake.

When he realised his money was missing and asked Skipton for an explanation, it is utterly incomprehensible that having discovered their error, they did not immediately reimburse their customer and contact Santander on their own behalf.

I hope that he has complained in the strongest possible terms as should you.