Guardian: Bounced into a nightmare

kuacou241 · 2005-02-05T23:36:34+00:00

Bounced into a nightmare Drawing a considerable sum against a bad cheque - an HSBC customer recounts her misery to Miles Brignall Saturday February 5, 2005 The Guardian Most people would expect a bank that advised a customer it was safe to withdraw a sum against a cheque which later bounced would assume financial responsibility for the error - but they'd be wrong. As Jobs & Money can reveal this week, some banks will pursue their customers through the courts and cripple them financially as a result of errors made during the clearing process. An example of how the cheque clearing process can go terribly wrong for bank customers is graphically illustrated by the case of Marilyn Sulley. The Epsom-based single mother of three now faces having to sell her house to repay a debt of £17,000 after her bank HSBC allowed her to draw against a cheque which then bounced. Ms Sulley's battle with the bank started in July 2002 when she was approached by one of her then boyfriend's relatives, who said she was going through a difficult divorce. She asked whether Ms Sulley would mind if her boyfriend paid a cheque into her account and to pass on the cash when the cheque cleared. Although initially sceptical, the secretary, who works at Epsom Business Centre, agreed to do it after being told that the money would be used to help a single mother. "Looking back on it, I realise that I was the subject of a sting. I was concerned about helping this person, but thought that as long as I waited for the cheque to clear, there was no risk to myself. How wrong I was," she says. On Tuesday (July 2), her boyfriends' relative paid a cheque for £12,886 in to an HSBC branch in Walsall in the West Midlands. They had asked to be given £10,000 in cash and a cheque for the rest once the cheque had cleared. The next day she contacted her branch in Epsom to say that she would be withdrawing the cash once the cheque had cleared, and asked when that would be. She was advised that would happen on Thursday...

Feb 05, 2005 21 Replies

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tim 21 years ago

Tax evasion is an ML offence.

tim

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Ronald Raygun 21 years ago

I would imagine so. When Interpol agents start deploying the old angle-poise lamps fitted with reflector spots, muttering "vee heff vays", you'll soon confess to whatever they want.

Where do I sign? Who do I sign as? Three bags full, Herr Kommissar.

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