Can I block a Standing Order payment into my account?

WineDarkSea

Our neighbours were paying us back for some building work in drips and drabs over 18 months. They finally paid off the balance when we started getting a regular £25 payment from them every week. We have over £150 so far which I'm keeping separate. We've emailed, mentioned it in passing and initially posted a note with cheque. But we've had no response and the payments keep coming. I mentioned it again in person and they are adamant they are not sending any payments and are refusing to take back the money.

Is there a way to block their standing order payment so we stop receiving these weekly payments? I presume there is no way to force them to take back the money - if not we could use it instead for general maintenance of the building such as clearing the gutters, this hasn't been done since we moved in six years ago and caused a leak into their property a while back.

mgdavid

how do you know this extra money is from your neighbours?
Does your statement show the origin sort code and account number?
If not, ask your bank to provide the details of it's origin.
When you have them, ask the neighbour if they are the same as his account.
If you think or know the money is not owed to you then don't spend it, keep it safe in an interest-bearing account until you find out who it belongs to and can return it.

colsten

Alternatively, tell your bank that you did not expect the payment, don't want the money, and they should return it to where it came from.

Better double-check beforehand it isn't your money after all

WineDarkSea

The payments come with their name, just the same as the legitimate payments, it isn't a particularly common name. There is no doubt they are sending the payments but they don't believe this is the case. I suspect they've set up a SO for someone else or another of their own accounts but used our account details accidentally. Apparently it doesn't matter if the name of the account to be paid is wrong, so they see the payment details as correct but if they checked the SO it would be our bank account numbers instead.

As stated the money is already kept separately. We aren't short of funds so no danger of spending it. I could pop it into my BoS for the 3% at best, it's in my poxy ISA currently.

Would the payments bounce back if we closed the account? I could always go for switching bonus.

molerat

Show them an edited print out of your bank statement.

alanq

WineDarkSea wrote: »

Would the payments bounce back if we closed the account? I could always go for switching bonus.

Closure should work but not switching using the Current Account Switch Service. For 36 months any payments into the old account would be forwarded to the new one.

Most (all?) switching bonuses deals require you to use the Current Account Switch Service

WineDarkSea

Oh no, no incentive at all. And I only have one DD left in this account if switching requires a minimum of two. Nevermind, I'll give the bank a try. Annoyingly I've already called once today to open a regular saver.

I never thought it would be such a stress to give someone money back.

bigadaj

If you have details of the account number and sort code you can simply set up a standing order to push the money back every month after receipt, or do it manually?

ChemistDude

Show them a copy of your statement blacking out anything you don't want them to see.

Super_Whiskey

I'd be surprised if the bank gave you the details of the originator. They MIGHT be able to tell you the bank which it is coming from. See if you can visit a branch and query it? Or do like others have suggested and show the probable senders a copy of your bank statement.

chuckley

I wish someone would drip feed my account on a regular like that.

sounds cushy.