Unexplained cheques in my account

dixirab

Hi
I've just joined the forum. I have to explain to the DWP (dept of work & pensions) how I haven't earned £1037.36 more than they say I have. To do this, I have gone through my bank statements and have solved that problem (in my head anyway).

My problem is that I can't understand or account for 3 cheques that someone has put into my account. The amounts are quite big (from my student perspective) - £140, £65 & £130! Someone told me that because of the code from the sender, it must be someone who sends out a lot of cheques. I don't remember anyone owing me such huge amounts.

I've got to account for these on tuesday afternoon (2 days) and tomorrow am going into the bank to ask where these payments came from. I worry that the money has been put into my account by accident and that the bank is gonna want it all back if this is the case. I can't afford to pay that back.

I was just wondering if anyone might be able to help me explain it? What do I do if it was put there by accident? My mum says that the bank will demand it all back, but that I should say since I thought it was "mine" that I should be entitled to it.

What do you think?:huh:
From a worried dixirab

PBA

If they are cheques, the bank can get copies of each of them for you to check where it came from, and who it was payable to. If they were standing orders then they should be able to get the details straight away. Either way, if the money was paid in to the account in error it's not your money, so you shouldn't have spent it in the first place.

Stephen_Leak

True, and whilst "ignorance is no defence", the original error was the bank's. If repayment in full would cause genuine hardship, they would have to accept repayment in instalments.

dixirab

I went to the bank today (unfortunately can't have a meeting with someone till tomorrow lunchtime). The woman I did briefly see said that she could only go back 6 months on the system (so I have to take my statements in tomorrow). She said that someone probably paid in CASH of £130 last month. It wasn't me! I had thought that someone paid in a cheque.

Hopefully tomorrow will give me the proper detailed answers. If I have been given someone elses money, I will pay it back in instalments.

dixirab

I had my meeting with the bank today. The £140 and £65 apparently come from my dad, though he says he hasn't paid me since last July!

I'm worried about the other one though. The lady I saw said that it was cash and that someone did pay it in at my branch. I have not put in £130 in cash. Nobody has come forward to claim it back and its been nearly 2 months.

I've asked my dad to check his records again. Maybe he sent me the money by accident? How do I explain the £130 to DWP though?

Has anyone had a situation like this before?