Mysterious bank account swap???

skywatching

My 15yr old son had an old bank account with a book which hasn't been used for a few years. Recently I decided to put some money in the account for his christmas and the plan was just to hand him the book so he could spend as he wished at the new year sales. I put £250 into the account at the bank and when I was leaving I glanced at the reciept as saw it was in my older son's name. He's 20.

The bank book belongs to my 15 yr old in the name D D *****. The receipt, with the same account number was in the name R L *****. The bank had no explanation for the "error" and I had to get my older son to request a keycard and password for the account, (apparently the book method is now obsolete and they wouldn't let me take the money out again), then get him to take the money out, then get my younger son to open an account so I can secret the money away again behind his back.

How can this have happened? The account changed name in 2004 when my older son was 17. He denies all knowledge of it, there was no money in it anyway, and the bank has no idea either. Besides all that, I don't think any bank would allow a 17yr old boy to hijack his brother's account anyway. We're all very puzzled.

It's a good job they aren't adults with one a lot richer than the other or we'd really have had a problem, lol.

skywatching

Well I guess this was a one-off mistake by the bank. As I said, it's a good job the account was empty, (barring 44p) and that it was between siblings. Imagine if it was someone else - going to the bank to draw money out and finding you no longer have that bank account because it now belongs to someone else, and you can't do anything about it..
I'll keep a hold of the bank book and the reciept as proof that this kind of thing happens though. So, if you ever hear of anyone whose bank account has mysteriously turned into someone else's and the bank says "that doesn't happen", you can ask me and I'll prove it does, lol.

Danni-R

Hey, I had something similar happen to me. I found my old Barcleys bank book that I had when I was younger and went it to see how much was in it to start a saving account. I was told £1700. Bonus! Left feeling very happy. Went back to get some money out and was told that they had re-assigned my account. I'd already spent £300 of my new money :mad:. I actually felt sick as I'd already started to spend it in my head, as you do, on much need decorating.

I went back and complained as was told that there was nothing that they could do. I wasnt informed that I had lost my bank account or anything!

Banks seem to like their own rules. And the really stupid thing is that they didnt even ask for my bank book back. And what if I had taken out the £300 from that account? grrrr. I'm keeping my money under the mattress from now on!