Payment transactions have long since become routine. You don’t have to go anywhere and fill out deposit slips. You simply enter the account number and amount in a few clicks and you’re done. However, a moment’s inattention is all it takes for a different amount to go into the account, or worse, for the right amount to go into the wrong account. And sometimes it’s even the fraudster’s intention to get you to send the money where he wants it. What can be done in such a situation?
To err is human and mistakes happen in any field, not excluding bank transfers. What to do if your intended banking transaction turns out differently than you planned?
This is unfortunately more often the case. Tired, you go to pay invoices and bills in the evening, misspell your account number or bank number, and the money goes to a completely different account than you intended. There can be several solutions. If you’re a child of luck, then you chose an account number that doesn’t exist when you clicked over and the payment doesn’t go through at all. The money will then be returned to you within two to three working days at the latest. Fortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence as the account numbers are deliberately different.
If the money did go out, we recommend contacting your bank, who will advise you on how to proceed and help you get your money back. You will be given a form to complete to request a refund of the money you have received. If the money was sent to a customer of the same bank, the bank may notify the customer of the incorrect transaction (or contact the recipient’s bank). But one thing is certain, the money is in the possession of a stranger at that moment and the bank cannot arbitrarily withdraw it. Of course, the person in question must not keep the money, as this would be unjust enrichment, but they should return the money themselves, and this may not always be easy.
If the money does not arrive within four weeks of your request to the bank, contact the bank again to ask for the recipient’s identification details. Again, you can fill in the request with your own bank, which will then pass it on. The counterparty bank must comply with your request and will give you the recipient’s contact details, namely name, date of birth and permanent address. You can then contact him again, this time directly.
If even this route is not effective, a writ of summons or an action for unjust enrichment may be the last resort.
Does anyone owe you money?
We can help you get what’s owed to you with a pre-action notice. In our experience, a pre-suit notice is the most effective and least expensive way to protect your rights. It can be done without the need to file a lawsuit, pay court fees and risk paying the other side’s litigation costs.
Tip: If the error was only related to a wrong variable symbol, then there is no need to return the payment, but contact the recipient’s accountant who will find the payment and pair it correctly.
Alternatively, if you have not made an immediate payment but the payment is set to be paid on a future date, then you can usually still cancel it in e-banking.
Although these are rather exceptions, a technical fault can also occur on the bank’s side, which can result in money being sent to a different destination than it should be, or not being sent at all when it should be. Sometimes your bank may also block your payments unjustifiably.
If you are not sure that the bank has carried out the transaction correctly, your bank should confirm that the transaction has not suffered from any fault or error. If you have suffered a loss as a result of your bank’s actions, you may be able to claim compensation. If it is clear that there has been a mistake on the part of the bank, banks are usually accommodating and will offer you compensation. However, if the bank has no solution, it is advisable to urge them to take action by issuing a pre-action notice.
This blunder is much more joyful. Did ten grand show up in your account that you didn’t quite count on? Before you head out to buy a new handbag or a new PlayStation, take a look at the origin of the payment. If the sender is someone you know (employer, business partner, family member), it’s best to ask what the payment is for. You may have just forgotten about an old debt, credit note, bonus or something similar and the money is rightfully yours. If this is the case, then feel free to head to the store.
Of course, you must not keep any payments that you are not entitled to, as this would again be unjust enrichment or even the crime of concealment. It is therefore easiest to return them to the same account number from which they came.
Tip: Don’t confuse “contact payments” with so-called “bank identity“. Bank Identity is a service that is available now and, if you use it, will make it easier to communicate with the authorities and some private entities (energy providers, telecom operators). You don’t have to remember dozens of login details or go to prove yourself in person. With your bank login details, you can verify your identity remotely when communicating with the authorities or any company.
A mistake in entering your account number may seem trivial compared to bank fraud. Experts say the number of such scams is soaring and fraudsters are devising ever more sophisticated ways to extort money from victims. What may appear to be communication with your own bank may actually be a subtle way in which a fraudster is luring card or account passwords out of you.
If you are a victim of fraud, then the first place to consult is an attorney. He or she will then prepare and file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office. On the basis of this, the police will initiate criminal proceedings in which you, as a victim of fraud, are also involved. This position gives you a number of rights (to consult the file, to propose additional evidence, to attend the main hearing, etc.).
It is also a very important right to ask the court to order the defendant to compensate the victim in money for the damage caused by the crime. This is done in the so-called adhesion proceedings. However, this is actually part of the main trial.
As an injured party, you can also have a lawyer represent you, which is highly recommended in these cases, as this will not curtail your rights and will help you to obtain a remedy.
If, even after consulting with a lawyer, it seems obvious and demonstrable that fraud has been committed, the aforementioned route of recovery may therefore be recommended instead of initiating civil proceedings, in which you have to show much more activity and effort. And also pay a court fee. However, it may be that the court proceedings end in acquittal or otherwise and the judge will still refer the victim to civil proceedings to recover compensation. Similarly, the judge may refer the victim to civil proceedings if, for example, further detailed evidence is required which is not necessary for the purposes of the criminal proceedings.
If you have been tricked out of money that you have sent to someone else’s account and you want to find out the identity of the account holder, then the official solution is through the Czech Police (or the court), who have the right to demand the identity of the account holder from the bank if they suspect a crime has been committed. Sometimes the name of the account holder may appear in the transaction history, but it is not advisable to proceed on your own in such a case.
We will stand up for you if someone violates your rights. We’ll complete a pre-suit notice and make sure you get back what’s owed to you. We will handle the matter quickly, flawlessly and professionally. You can only pay after the service has been provided.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
In person and online. Just choose the appropriate service or opt for an independent consultation when you are unsure.
