Wages paid to wrong account?

Holdening

Ok, so I need a little help from anyone who can offer it.

Last month or so I started a new job, only when it came to being paid it's gone into a different account. The sort code is one digit off and upon checking it on a payment validation site it's an account that exists and belongs to someone else (Just my luck!)

I spoke to them and they said they'd speak to the bank to get the money back, then send it over as soon as they got it. They said it'd take up to 14 days, only it's just over that and I still haven't been paid.

Are their numbers off with the days? If they don't get the money back am I going to have worked all those hours for nothing? I'll speak with them again soon, but any help first would be appreciated, I just want to know if I'll have any right to ask for the money after the error if it doesn't come back.

john1002

I would say your employer needs to pay you as contracted and they need to chase the money, this in the basis that it was their error in the sort code. If you gave then the wrong details then your at the hands of the other person that did get the money sending it back or allowing there bank to return it, there are numerous threads on wrong details and sending payments.

Good luck and let us know who was at fault.

John

Holdening

I had my banking app open in front of me when writing it down to make sure I didn't get it wrong, so unless they misread my handwriting everything should be correct that was given by me. Apparently it was only one digit wrong, but I'm not sure how a 2 would be confused for a 0 (My handwriting isn't quite that bad) I haven't heard anything on who it was paid to and if they have the money to return it, in fact I haven't heard anything since I first made the complaint.

In fact, I still haven't received a pay slip at all despite the wrong account. I only found out the sort code was wrong by phoning up HR.

Kim_13

Shouldn't banks check that the name on the account matches the name that the company has? The name on the account is always asked for in addition to the sort code and account number. These situations seem to crop up quite often and could be easily avoided.

grumbler

Well, I would expect from any reasonable employer to keep your written instructions where to pay your wages to. If it was your error and they can prove this, it's possible that you'll never see your money.

MSE article: What to do if you send money to wrong bank account

grumbler

Kim_13 wrote: »

Shouldn't banks check that the name on the account matches the name that the company has?

No, they shouldn't and, most likely, they are unable to do this.

Holdening

Would it be up to me to contact the bank further if the company refuse to follow it up again? And if it was their error would they be required to pay me or still use the 'waiting for it to hit [their] account'?

Is there anything I can do if the person with the other account refuses to pay it, and it turns out that it was my error?

Sorry for so many questions, I'm a little at loss with a situation like this!

YorkshireBoy

Kim_13 wrote: »

Shouldn't banks check that the name on the account matches the name that the company has?

John Smith
John Mark Smith
John M Smith
J Smith
J M Smith
JM Smith
Mr John Smith
Mr John Mark Smith
Mr John M Smith
Mr J Smith
Mr J M Smith
Mr JM Smith

=12 different permutations for one account holder!! Should the bank just check for "Smith"? Because checking for all possible permutations will mean new software has to be developed I'd guess.

Kim_13

Smith or contains J Smith. Even if it was just Smith, it would stop most incidences of this.

OP have you checked to see whether the account the money was paid to is held by your bank or another one?

Holdening

It's the same bank, just a different branch with someone that has the same account number as me.

masonic

Kim_13 wrote: »

Smith or contains J Smith. Even if it was just Smith, it would stop most incidences of this.

Are banks even allowed to confirm the name of the account holder when provided with an account number and possible name by a third party? They are not normally permitted to confirm or deny the existance of an account owned by an individual.