Is there anyway to confirm bank account number

AJ84

Hi all,
I have no idea where to put this - maybe a general query area?

In short, I took a loan out for a car purchase and while I am buying from a main dealer, the loan is a down payment which has to be put into a bank account via CHAPS/BACS.

The problem is while they have sent me an official letter with bank account details, how do I know the bank account belongs to the company/dealership in question?

I asked Natwest and despite knowing the sort code/account number and in this this case the potential name of the business, for data protection, they cannot say yes or no. I dont even need them to tell me what it should be..only that it matches the name at the top of the letter head or not.

Is this really how it should be? I'm trying to prudent here in pre-checks but the bank themselves are unhelpful. Fully aware of data protection laws etc but in this case I do not think it applies...or does it?

smithers1981

Phone said dealer and ask them for account details if they match up with details you have then all would seem fine.

AJ84

I made first contact with someone a little higher than the dealer who had no idea so I thought I'd find out my options here

The group is large (Inchcape) but I recently read an article where someone handed over a large sum via bank transfer, employee ran off with it. They later realised the employee changed the details before sending the official letter headed email/letter to the customer.

[Deleted User]

Send them a pound and ask them if they got it.

smithers1981

cant you pay via chip and pin?

AJ84

Just asked Barclays and yes that is an option....if I was there. I'm 200 miles away. I did the trip last week to see it and test drive but it was hanging off a chap buying mine which is finalising tomorrow so I could not pay on premises.

Oakdene

Either phone the dealer & ask to speak to the accounts payable receivable & ask them to confirm the account number or call them up & pay over the phone using your card

Gambler101

Yes accounts payable will have the bank account number, and they will always answer the phone lol

molerat

When I bought my car I paid £500 over the phone on my credit card and the remaining £14.5K by debit card when I picked it up. Too simple I suppose

AJ84

molerat: Other way round for me -deposit in person, main whack over the internet as it's 200 miles away

Thanks all for your replies.

I spoke to Barclays first (my bank) just about security etc and put simply, there is none.

I then spoke to Natwest (I have an account but was going to use Barclays). Natwest is what the sort-code validates to. They refused to budge and hung onto the fact it's against data protection to say yes/no if I gave them the 3 bits of info.

I then phoned Inchcape main office and got them to tell me. It seems each dealership has their own bank account so to speak. I got them to ring the dealership in question to simply ask for the sort code/account number and it was indeed the same the one issued.

I have since paid that account £1.00 - to be confirmed receipt tomorrow however the risk here was that if the salesman changed the account details and I ask him to confirm the £1.00... I will however give the accounts payable idea a go but again it will be at the dealership in question.

I think the fact Inchcape validated it, It should be ok? I don't think paying via card is an issue but was not sure if security would then delay things although a bit of delay for security is worth it obviously.

journeymanpro

Jesus Christ just man up and pay the money.