One parent is unsure what to do next after finding some unexplained cash in her bank account. Although her dilemma has divided the internet, solicitors suggest there is only one way forward
What would you do if you stumbled upon wads of random cash?
Of course, many of us would hand it over to the authorities, but a temptation to keep it may just be lingering at the back of our minds. And now, one parent claims they are thinking of doing just this, after hundreds of pounds randomly landed in their bank account.
The dilemma all started just yesterday when an anonymous Mumsnet user was confused to find £600 they just couldn’t account for. Looking at the transfer details, they claimed it came from a completely unrecognisable account with seemingly no connection to their friends or family.
Now, they know the ‘right thing to do’ is report this. But they confessed it wasn’t exactly the outcome they wanted. Taking to Mumsnet, they wrote: “I desperately need a plumber to come out and unblock some outside pipes and it’s been causing me a lot of stress as I can’t afford it.
“I’m off sick from work after a life-altering accident and I’m a single parent to three, including a disabled child, my savings have been eaten by this and there’s no telling when or even if I’ll be able to return to work.”
Ideally, the parent would love to use £150 of the cash for the work they need before paying it back through a setup plan. They continued: “I know I should report this money to my bank… is this awful? It’s awful isn’t it? And yet it’s just….there.”
Unsurprisingly, the post was quick to rack up various comments online, though it seemed there was no clear consensus on what to do next. “Honestly I’d spend it,” one advocate wrote. “You’re not responsible for making the mistake.
“Your priority is yourself, your children and your home. If someone can’t properly check bank details when sending a transaction, that’s on them. The bank will recover it eventually anyway so you’d better move it to another account or withdraw it quickly.”
However, another said: “Phone the bank. If it’s a mistake they’re going to work it out & take it back anyway. If on the other hand it’s a payment due to you you can call a plumber and have extra money left over to take the pressure off you.”
A third chimed in: “Please report it, you wouldn’t want to lose £600 if it was the other way around. I totally get that you’re in dire straits but you don’t know how the person at the other end of that bank transfer is doing either. Please do the right thing.”
According to Harding Evans Solicitors, if money is accidentally paid to your account and you know it doesn’t belong to you, reporting this is vital. Not doing so could land you in some serious legal trouble under the Theft Act 1968.
“No matter how tempting it is to say nothing and see if the mistake gets noticed, you should always inform your bank immediately,” experts at the firm say. “Even if the money is from your employer or from the taxman, you still need to let your bank know as you could get into trouble for just leaving the money in your account if you know it should not be there.
“Instead, you are expected to take reasonable steps to cancel the transfer or return it to the sender.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below
