Gave employer the wrong account details - unpaid for this month

waqasahmed

Hi,


I started work at a new company, and provided them with the wrong account details (ie: I mistyped my account number). As such, my monthly salary has been credited to someone else's account (my fault, not HR's)


HR in fairness have been quite helpful and they have contacted the "other bank" ie: my own bank and own branch, even if that branch is one I signed up for online (I know it's my bank as I messed up the account number and not the sort code)


They have said that in a worst case scenario (ie: the person who it's credited to disputes the transaction), they can give me money and then I can pay them back in installments or I wait it out, and see what happens.


I'm wondering, let's consider a worst case scenario, say the unintended recipient disputes this, and doesn't return it, what can I legally do? I know that I have around 20 days or so, before it's returned to me, should the recipient not dispute the error. I've read online that you can go down the small claims route, but how would this even work when my employer sent the cash from their bank account, not myself?


Thanks in advance.

Joe_Bloggs

How can anyone pay somebody who gives incorrect details.
I suggest that there must be a check on the information that a potential recipient provides before the transaction takes place. Perhaps a small experimental payment is worth the risk of failure.

Some would term this due diligence. To do otherwise could be considered folly. Were I A TV judge then I would say joint negligence.
Thankfully I am not.

Consider food banking if you are hungry:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/08/uk-food-bank-usage-rises-again-with-benefit-delays-the-most-comm/
Its growth is rocketing.

J_B.

joeblags

so when you written out your bank details, you didn't think to check to make sure they are correct? I shouldnt be but im laughing my pods of right now.

MyOnlyPost

If you have simply mistyped the numbers, there is no guarantee the number you have accidentally given your employer is a valid account number and so may just bounce back to them after a few days.

If it is a valid account number then your employers bank should contact the recipients bank with the details and ask for it back. The receiving bank should ask the recipient if they can rclaim the money from their bank account and refund it. If the recipient refuses either the money received or the whole account should be frozen pending an investigation.

It could be a while before you see it

pelirocco

How would the employer know the account details were wrong ? Do you send trial payments to people to check you have the right details

JuicyJesus

I'm a bit more sympathetic than the above people are, but there is still practically not much that you can do. HR have offered you a fair way of getting your wages quickly, which I would take.

Legally your claim would be against the unintended recipient of the money, however this is all a bit cart before horse. Leave it to your HR to deal with for a bit.

For the future: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS triple-check things. I changed my bank details with my employer recently and it scared me half to death, hence my checking it fifteen thousand times!

Bean_Counter

You'd be surprised at the number of people we have at work who give us the wrong bank details, we get quite a few at work every year.

As mentioned above there is a good chance that the sort code and account number you have given doesn't actually exist, in which case BACS (if using BACS) will return the money to the employers bank account in a couple of days. This has been the case in every instance I have come across and have never had to pursue a third party for a refund.

unforeseen

JuicyJesus wrote: »

I'm a bit more sympathetic than the above people are, but there is still practically not much that you can do. HR have offered you a fair way of getting your wages quickly, which I would take.

Legally your claim would be against the unintended recipient of the money, however this is all a bit cart before horse. Leave it to your HR to deal with for a bit.

For the future: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS triple-check things. I changed my bank details with my employer recently and it scared me half to death, hence my checking it fifteen thousand times!

I don't see the OP having any claim against the unintended recipient. The company has though.

JuicyJesus

unforeseen wrote: »

I don't see the OP having any claim against the unintended recipient. The company has though.

The money belongs to the OP. Whether the OP has a valid claim that will stand up in court is another thing.

But as I say, we're well ahead of things now. OP needs to let HR deal with it for now.

waqasahmed

" How can anyone pay somebody who gives incorrect details.
I suggest that there must be a check on the information that a potential recipient provides before the transaction takes place. Perhaps a small experimental payment is worth the risk of failure.

Some would term this due diligence. To do otherwise could be considered folly. Were I A TV judge then I would say joint negligence.
Thankfully I am not.

Consider food banking if you are hungry:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/08/uk-food-bank-usage-rises-again-with-benefit-delays-the-most-comm/
Its growth is rocketing.

J_B."

Thanks... I didn't come here to be criticised. I came here for advice. For the record, on the first day I was fairly ill and tired, so I wasn't able to really concentrate properly

" so when you written out your bank details, you didn't think to check to make sure they are correct? I shouldnt be but im laughing my pods of right now."

Yeah. Sure, you've never done any thing stupid....ever

"How would the employer know the account details were wrong ? Do you send trial payments to people to check you have the right details"

They phoned their bank and the other bank (ie: my bank as the sort code matches) confirmed that it is in the account of the beneficiary.

" I'm a bit more sympathetic than the above people are, but there is still practically not much that you can do. HR have offered you a fair way of getting your wages quickly, which I would take.

Legally your claim would be against the unintended recipient of the money, however this is all a bit cart before horse. Leave it to your HR to deal with for a bit.

For the future: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS triple-check things. I changed my bank details with my employer recently and it scared me half to death, hence my checking it fifteen thousand times!"

Thank you for that. Yeah, HR have been fairly decent tbh. THanks for the advice too

"You'd be surprised at the number of people we have at work who give us the wrong bank details, we get quite a few at work every year.

As mentioned above there is a good chance that the sort code and account number you have given doesn't actually exist, in which case BACS (if using BACS) will return the money to the employers bank account in a couple of days. This has been the case in every instance I have come across and have never had to pursue a third party for a refund."

Unfortunately over at

"https://www.sortcodes.co.uk/"

the account exists, but thanks nonetheless


"The money belongs to the OP. Whether the OP has a valid claim that will stand up in court is another thing.

But as I say, we're well ahead of things now. OP needs to let HR deal with it for now."

Thanks. I guess I'm working from a worst case scenario POV. i've worked in a high risk environment before, so I kinda take that approach..now too

badger09

waqasahmed wrote: »

Hi,


I started work at a new company, and provided them with the wrong account details (ie: I mistyped my account number). As such, my monthly salary has been credited to someone else's account (my fault, not HR's)


HR in fairness have been quite helpful and they have contacted the "other bank" ie: my own bank and own branch, even if that branch is one I signed up for online (I know it's my bank as I messed up the account number and not the sort code)


They have said that in a worst case scenario (ie: the person who it's credited to disputes the transaction), they can give me money and then I can pay them back in installments or I wait it out, and see what happens.


I'm wondering, let's consider a worst case scenario, say the unintended recipient disputes this, and doesn't return it, what can I legally do? I know that I have around 20 days or so, before it's returned to me, should the recipient not dispute the error. I've read online that you can go down the small claims route, but how would this even work when my employer sent the cash from their bank account, not myself?


Thanks in advance.

Caveat: I'm not recommending this site but it worked on my account and told me the account with the number following mine is
not valid

https://www.sortcodes.co.uk/

This should at least tell you whether the 'incorrect account' exists or not. If it doesn't, your salary should bounce back to your employer. If it is a valid account your employer will have to persue through their bank, on your behalf.

Good luck and remember to double/triple check in future.

EDIT - your post re the account existing wasn't there when I posted.