Make it a complaint, in writing
Say which of the three situations you are in, and put a complaint on the record so the bank has to answer it.
Whether money comes back depends almost entirely on which of three things happened, and people often argue the wrong one. One of the three has nothing behind it at all: if you sent the money yourself, nobody has to give it back.
The process does not change. Complain in writing, keep the date you sent it, and ask for their answer in writing. If you do not accept it, the free routes above the bank are the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and your state attorney general — neither can order the bank to pay you, but both get an answer on the record.
Key points
- Say which of the three situations you are in, because the rules differ
- Make a complaint in writing and keep the reference
- Know the sixty-day clock, and start writing before it runs out
What to remember
- A conversation is not a complaint. Writing obliges them to answer.
- Nobody who calls you offering recovery is part of the free route.
Try this
Find the Make a complaint page on your bank’s website and read what it promises about timescales.
Practice: Make it a complaint, in writing. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.