4 ms·

I had the same problem with one of the biggest french bank. I saw an important withdrawal on my account in a city where I wasn't. I called my bank and I explain

by louhike 10y ago

I had the same problem with one of the biggest french bank. I saw an important withdrawal on my account in a city where I wasn't. I called my bank and I explained the situation. They told me I'll get the money back in one day. I asked if I should change my credit card in case it was hacked, they told me calmy it was just an error on their part because another client had the same last name. I just couldn't believe it.

nolok 10y ago
Ultimately, that's what happens when it's a human that gets the final sign off. You can put all the control and checks in place you need, either the human validates the case and events like this happens, or the computer has final authority and people complain about lacking human touch and comprehension and "they know me for decades but I can't get 20 euros out without several proof of identity". I'm not sure which way I would consider best. I guess as long as banks are stepping up to their errors and fixing them immediately as in your case, I prefer that.
brianwawok 10y ago
I got a bonus 5k in my account once because a deposit was off by one digit. The bank was very prompt in taking their money back :)
- mikeash 10y ago
  I had something like that happen with a closed credit card. I don't know what the mistake was, but I suddenly had a $6,000 statement credit due to a misapplied payment. When I called to tell them, they offered to send me a check! After I declined the misbegotten windfall, they put in a little effort and figured out where it was supposed to go.
  - Neliquat 10y ago
    In many contries, if they send you a check, even in error, you are allowed to cash it if you choose. I recommend consulting a lawyer, and keeping it in a seperate account for a while before spending. Local laws vary widely, some jurisdicitions will disagree. Consider local and national laws as they may appy. Ianal.
    - brianwawok 10y ago
      https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/24/bank-error-in-your-favor/#3ae7666e52a3 https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/24/bank-er... Every story I have ever heard, ended with the bank basically saying "You owe us money. Pay us it back in 3 days or we are going to the police" Seems not a good plan.
      - mikeash 10y ago
        Regardless, it wouldn't have been right to keep the money. Especially since doing so probably would have caused problems for the person who made the misrouted payment.
        RUG3Y 10y ago
        The bank generated that "money" out of thin air. The big scam is that it's all just ones and zeroes.
        mikeash 10y ago
        That's... not how money works.
        RUG3Y 10y ago
        http://positivemoney.org/how-money-works/how-banks-create-money/ http://positivemoney.org/how-money-works/how-banks-create-mo...
        mikeash 10y ago
        I'm aware of how fractional reserve banking works. It does not mean that the money is generated "out of thin air."
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
    - 10y ago
anonymousiam 10y ago
About 20 years ago on a Saturday I was shopping for a new washer and dryer for a new house. I gave the cashier my Visa card (from my credit union) and was subsequently told that I was over my credit limit. (At the time that card had a $20k limit and no balance.) I used a different card and waited until Monday to contact my CU. They told me I had requested a balance transfer, but when I pressed them they realized that it was a different customer with a similar name (who was overdrawn on all accounts). Somehow the CU clerk decided to use my account because it had enough credit available to complete the request. I closed all of my accounts at that CU shortly thereafter. (It was actually after a second fiasco where they failed to pay my property tax, but still withdrew the money from my account.) Somehow cash under the mattress seems safer...

by louhike 10y ago

nolok 10y ago

Ultimately, that's what happens when it's a human that gets the final sign off. You can put all the control and checks in place you need, either the human validates the case and events like this happens, or the computer has final authority and people complain about lacking human touch and comprehension and "they know me for decades but I can't get 20 euros out without several proof of identity". I'm not sure which way I would consider best. I guess as long as banks are stepping up to their errors and fixing them immediately as in your case, I prefer that.

brianwawok 10y ago

I got a bonus 5k in my account once because a deposit was off by one digit. The bank was very prompt in taking their money back :)

mikeash 10y ago
I had something like that happen with a closed credit card. I don't know what the mistake was, but I suddenly had a $6,000 statement credit due to a misapplied payment. When I called to tell them, they offered to send me a check! After I declined the misbegotten windfall, they put in a little effort and figured out where it was supposed to go.
- Neliquat 10y ago
  In many contries, if they send you a check, even in error, you are allowed to cash it if you choose. I recommend consulting a lawyer, and keeping it in a seperate account for a while before spending. Local laws vary widely, some jurisdicitions will disagree. Consider local and national laws as they may appy. Ianal.
  - brianwawok 10y ago
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/24/bank-error-in-your-favor/#3ae7666e52a3 https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/24/bank-er... Every story I have ever heard, ended with the bank basically saying "You owe us money. Pay us it back in 3 days or we are going to the police" Seems not a good plan.
    - mikeash 10y ago
      Regardless, it wouldn't have been right to keep the money. Especially since doing so probably would have caused problems for the person who made the misrouted payment.
      - RUG3Y 10y ago
        The bank generated that "money" out of thin air. The big scam is that it's all just ones and zeroes.
        mikeash 10y ago
        That's... not how money works.
        RUG3Y 10y ago
        http://positivemoney.org/how-money-works/how-banks-create-money/ http://positivemoney.org/how-money-works/how-banks-create-mo...
        mikeash 10y ago
        I'm aware of how fractional reserve banking works. It does not mean that the money is generated "out of thin air."
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
  - 10y ago

anonymousiam 10y ago

About 20 years ago on a Saturday I was shopping for a new washer and dryer for a new house. I gave the cashier my Visa card (from my credit union) and was subsequently told that I was over my credit limit. (At the time that card had a $20k limit and no balance.) I used a different card and waited until Monday to contact my CU. They told me I had requested a balance transfer, but when I pressed them they realized that it was a different customer with a similar name (who was overdrawn on all accounts). Somehow the CU clerk decided to use my account because it had enough credit available to complete the request. I closed all of my accounts at that CU shortly thereafter. (It was actually after a second fiasco where they failed to pay my property tax, but still withdrew the money from my account.) Somehow cash under the mattress seems safer...