Yes, it does. A bank transfer credits the account of the recipient. In this case, is it a "wrongful credit"? Arguably, yes — it's theft per S1(1) of the Theft

Yes, it does. A bank transfer credits the account of the recipient. In this case, is it a "wrongful credit"? Arguably, yes — it's theft per S1(1) of the Theft Act 1968 since the recipient intends to keep it and appropriates the rights of the owner in doing so. The closest Act I can find regarding returning stuff sent to you by mistake is the Consumer Rights Act 2015, specifically S25 which says that if the trader sends you a quantity of goods greater than you were expecting, you may accept them but you must pay for them at the contract price—you cannot keep them for free: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/25 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/25 The original Act was the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971 but the section on the right of recipients to keep unsolicited goods has been repealed accordingly.