Barclays Duplicating Account numbers

Jamleigh

To cut a very long and protracted story short: I got paid from a job I did and there was an error with the sort code, My current account number was used but the sort code was that of my Business account. Both are Barclays Branches within Bristol.
When no money turned up in my account I contacted Barclays who said that as the account number and sort code didn't match the money would go to a holding account and then be returned to the paying bank. I contacted the paying bank and was told the money had been paid into a Barclays account matching the account number and sort code given.
Barclays then tell me that the money has been paid into an account which has the same current account number as me but is in a Branch 2 miles away from my current account branch. Barclays are insistent that they have done nothing wrong and that the fault lies with the paying Bank. Fundamentally if barclays hadn't duplicated my account number I would have my money back.
The ombudsman say I have a good case, the difference between what I am owed and what the Ombudsman would charge Barclays is £150. I explained this to Barclays and hoped that 20 years of custom as both a regular and business banker would be worth the money I am owed. I was told that they would rather take the loss from the Ombudsman!!!
has any body experienced this before?
I can't believe it is common practice to duplicate account numbers.
I can't talk to anyone in a position of power at barclays as any letters/phone calls just get diverted to Barclays complaints who are rude and useless.
Any help greatly appreciated......

CardinalWolsey

Barclays haven't duplicated account numbers though. In the UK, your account number is formed of a six digit sort code and [typically] an eight digit account code. The two together form your account number, and will be unique within the UK. On a wider basis, your account will also have an IBAN, which will be globally unique.

You specified a valid account number - it just didn't happen to be yours.

You would have had a higher chance of the credit failing and being returned to the remitting bank if you had got one of the last eight digits incorrect. rather than the first six, as the eighth digit is typically a check digit (MOD11, for example), and reduces the risk of error on that element.

The problem within UK banking is the rise of people making mistakes in specifying account numbers, as we move more and more to electronic banking (and away from sending cheques). Some countries also validate the account name (but typically only via online banking), but that in itself can present data protection issues. A unique UK-wide bank account number, incorporating a check digit, might be the answer.

To answer your question though, my understanding is that when a customer makes a mistake, the bank will attempt to recover money, but with no guarantee. Further, it should be the person/company that sent money to you that would need to follow up with their bank - they remitted the payment.

ComicGeek

So did you provide the wrong account details to your client, or did they enter the details you gave them incorrectly? If the former then I can't see that you have any argument - if the latter, then your client still owes you the money.

Either way, I can't understand why it would be your case to raise with the ombudsman - it would be your client who would need to follow this up. Surely the ombudsman knows that account numbers aren't unique so I can't see you winning that case.

LilElvis

CardinalWolsey wrote: »

Further, it should be the person/company that sent money to you that would need to follow up with their bank - they remitted the payment.

But not if the OP gave them the incorrect details, in which case they made the payment as requested.

DoaM

Jamleigh wrote: »

My current account number was used but the sort code was that of my Business account.

As per others ... did YOU give the payer those details? (i.e. did you mix up your accounts and give them the incorrect details?)

martinsurrey

Jamleigh wrote: »

To cut a very long and protracted story short: I got paid from a job I did and there was an error with the sort code, My current account number was used but the sort code was that of my Business account. Both are Barclays Branches within Bristol.
When no money turned up in my account I contacted Barclays who said that as the account number and sort code didn't match the money would go to a holding account and then be returned to the paying bank. I contacted the paying bank and was told the money had been paid into a Barclays account matching the account number and sort code given.
Barclays then tell me that the money has been paid into an account which has the same current account number as me but is in a Branch 2 miles away from my current account branch. Barclays are insistent that they have done nothing wrong and that the fault lies with the paying Bank. Fundamentally if barclays hadn't duplicated my account number I would have my money back.
The ombudsman say I have a good case, the difference between what I am owed and what the Ombudsman would charge Barclays is £150. I explained this to Barclays and hoped that 20 years of custom as both a regular and business banker would be worth the money I am owed. I was told that they would rather take the loss from the Ombudsman!!!
has any body experienced this before?
I can't believe it is common practice to duplicate account numbers.
I can't talk to anyone in a position of power at barclays as any letters/phone calls just get diverted to Barclays complaints who are rude and useless.
Any help greatly appreciated......

There are 100's of London roads in the UK, don't blame the postman if you ask for your post to be sent to 100 London road Guildford, when you actually wanted it delivered to 100 London Road Bristol.

Greta_Sharbo

Jamleigh wrote: »

I can't talk to anyone in a position of power at barclays as any letters/phone calls just get diverted to Barclays complaints who are rude and useless.
Any help greatly appreciated......

I assume from how you worded it, the ombudsman are not directly involved and you've just discussed it 'off the record' in which case just follow the standard complaints process and then refer it to the ombudsman when this has been exhausted

If they are involved they get them to enforce the decision they have made as is their remit.

lammy82

Of course the same account number can exist within different bank sort codes (aka branch identifiers). If not then there would only be 100 million account numbers available for the whole country: Personal, Savings, Business accounts etc. Not enough.