giving my bank details to someone i don't entirely trust...safe?

snow patrol

snow patrol

snow patrol

Soldato
Joined
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London
hi all, a while ago i lent a couple of grand to someone i considered to be a very good friend. To cut a long story short, they screwed me over and lied A LOT about various things, and i've yet to receive a penny back. This person recently contacted me (he's no longer in this country, which makes hounding him rather difficult) and said that he needs my bank details to start paying a little bit of money at a time back to me.

I take it it's safe if i just give him my full name / 8 digit account number / sort code , right? I don't think he would do anything stupid, but past experience has taught me that it's better to be safe than sorry. thanks.
 
There was that case when Jeremy Clarkson put his bank details in the paper saying nothing could be done. Someone set up a direct debit to a charity from them. Not sure it's still possible now.
I'd speak to your bank and at least let them know what's going on so they can stop any suspicious activity.

Here's the link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7174760.stm
 
People give account numbers and sort codes every day on forums when they buy/sell items to complete a bank transfer
 
If he does manage to set up anything under direct debit, the agreement says it will be reversible.
JC didn't because it was to charity and to admit that he had been proven wrong.

Give the details to him, if you're that worried just set up a new stand alone account with no money in it just for him to deposit into?
 
I can view all my direct debits via my online banking. So if somebody were to set up a direct debit then I could see it and cancel it.

Fresh account sounds like a good option, with a 'deposit only' if that's an option?
 
thepeganator said:
If he does manage to set up anything under direct debit, the agreement says it will be reversible.
JC didn't because it was to charity and to admit that he had been proven wrong.

Give the details to him, if you're that worried just set up a new stand alone account with no money in it just for him to deposit into?
Click to expand...

how can you set up a direct debit without a signature?

also, the fact that the account has no money in it doesn't mean anything. If your "friend" knows all your other details (first/last name, dob, current address etc) he could get access to the online account and set up an overdraft, get a new debit card by pretending he was you, couldn't he?

EDIT: In short, ask him to use paypal, western union or another service (cheques perhaps?) to pay you back. easier and safer.
 
kgi said:
how can you set up a direct debit without a signature?

also, the fact that the account has no money in it doesn't mean anything. If your "friend" knows all your other details (first/last name, dob, current address etc) he could get access to the online account and set up an overdraft, get a new debit card by pretending he was you, couldn't he?

EDIT: In short, ask him to use paypal, western union or another service (cheques perhaps?) to pay you back. easier and safer.
Click to expand...

Umm, no he couldn't.

All that info is easily gathered online anyway, you need a lot more than that to get access to an account.

Usually the card number (16 digit number not the AC/SC numbers), and you will also be sent out an online one use code to your home address to set up a password.

Natwest also use a card reader too to make payments.
 
I always keep an account with a zero or very small balance which I accept funds into (or pay from) - that way if my details are used without my knowledge they can't get away with much or anything.

Oh, and ensure the account is not able to go below zero.


kgi said:
how can you set up a direct debit without a signature?
Click to expand...

Yes you can indeed. Not very common and banks shouldn't really accept it.
 
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