Incorrect payment into my account

TheBanker

I note you said you emailed them - I hope this wasn't to an email address you obtained from the letters, as if it is a scam you are now in contact with the scammers. If you do need to contact them, I suggest sending a letter to their registered address (obtain from Companies House) - do not use any contact details on any letters or emails they send you.

Even then, be very careful as there could be a corrupt employee involved if this is a scam.

TheBanker

A couple of further questions for your bank if you want:
1) What date did they actually receive the payment (the posts above say 28th but not clear if this is the date it was sent or the date it was received
2) Was it a BACS or Faster Payment?

Assuming the erroneous payment credited on the 28th (Friday), and they found out about the error on that day when the correct recipient contacted them, and you got the letter on the 1st (Tuesday), this all seems to have happened very quickly. It's possible but most companies don't move that quickly!

Look here - http://www.parseq.com/services/improve/payment-processing/making-payments/ - if they are the company involved and are an Accredited BACS Bureau they should know how to correct an error.

As they provide services for many companies - I wonder if they have provided a service for a company who legitimately hold your bank details, and that's how you've ended up in their system receiving an erroneous payment and they've known how to contact you.

bellrooster

Once again, thanks for your feedback


The e-mail address I used was from the website [EMAIL="info@parseq.com"]info@parseq.com[/EMAIL]


I have decided as most of you have advised, not to contact them directly again. For a company who's main objective seems to be to move money for other people, they surely are aware of the correct procedure for having money returned that was sent in error.


I'm still not satisfied that they obtained my details in a legitimate way so I will look into contacting the Information Commissions office and see what they say.

frugaldad

I agree - sounds like a scam. If the bank says it's not the correct procedure, I'd ignore for now.

RoonilWazlib_2

Parse have an awful lot of clients so could be related to any number of organisations.

They are legitimate but some of their admin procedures are horrendous. DPA breaches are not new to Parseq.

Follow the banks advice.

mt99

You may have already answered this but who did they say make the cheque payable to and where did they ask you to post it to?

bellrooster

Just a quick update on this as its still on going!


I downloaded complaint forms for the information commissions office, filled them in and sent them back just over 2 weeks ago but I haven't received a reply yet.


I've had another letter from parseq and a phone call to my husbands mobile phone!? asking for me.


The letter has said that if I don't sent a cheque or pay by credit card or direct debit they will start legal proceedings and threaten a county court judgment if I don't send the money back in a certain amount of time.


I e-mailed back reiterating the point I made in the first e-mail that they need to get their bank to request the payment to be reversed. I also made it clear that the funds remain in my account in full (I'm fairly sure they think I've spent them and /or plan on not returning them) I also stated that I would consent for the money to be sent back as soon as the bank asks me to.


I must confess this ongoing situation is starting to worry my somewhat.

xylophone

Have you written to Parseq (signed for) putting your points as above?

You might consider a telephone call to the Financial Ombudsman.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm

Fraud_Unmasked

I wouldn't engage in any further conversations with this company.

The way the payment comes into an account depends on how a company can recall it. If it's a BACS (Bank Giro Credit) payment then the remitting bank would issue a BACS recall request. That would go from their processing team to your banks processing team. Your bank should then contact you to advise a request has been raised and ask for your permission to send it back.

If it was a fraud payment then the sending bank would recall under indemnity.

It may be a genuine error, but it isn't your process to fix or be making direct payments back to anybody. It's a bank to bank process.

As for DPA they shouldn't be able to get your details, and must have been provided by the sending bank. As you have no relationship with the sender this is highly irresponsible, and you'd be well within your rights to complain. The main thing is you didn't spend the funds.

Shakin_Steve

BACS is Banks Automated Clearing Services, haven't heard of giro since.....well......since I got my last giro.:D