Child's An Post Account doesn't Exist?

Hostmum73

Hi All,
Anyone every have a problem with An Post saying your child's savings account doesn't exist even though you were issued a book and made two lodgements? Unfortunately the savings book was destroyed and when I asked for a replacement book they said the account didn't exist? I've been in touch with the local post master, who has verbally remembered the account and lodgements and head office but both have said there is nothing they can do and it's my problem. I have no lodgement receipts with the account number on it. There is over 1000 Euro lodged into this account! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

HostMum

coylemj

How was the savings book 'destroyed'? This sounds like an inside (family) job.

Hostmum73

lol... totally my fault.. picked up the wrong bundle of paperwork to bin

dartboardio

Hostmum73 wrote: »

lol... totally my fault.. picked up the wrong bundle of paperwork to bin

Who else has access to the account and could have cleared and closed it?

johndoe99

someone could have found the book in the bin, chanced there arm in a post office and withdrew the cash and closed the account.

But if this was the case, surely an post would have a record of the account, a closed account would not mean delete all records surely.

How did you lodge the payments, was it by cash or did you pay by a bank card?

corks finest

Hostmum73 wrote: »

Hi All,
Anyone every have a problem with An Post saying your child's savings account doesn't exist even though you were issued a book and made two lodgements? Unfortunately the savings book was destroyed and when I asked for a replacement book they said the account didn't exist? I've been in touch with the local post master, who has verbally remembered the account and lodgements and head office but both have said there is nothing they can do and it's my problem. I have no lodgement receipts with the account number on it. There is over 1000 Euro lodged into this account! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

HostMum

That doesn't sound right,it's either incompetence,fraud or robbery,I'd contact the head office,and a solicitor after I went to the Gardai

antoinolachtnai

The savings accounts in An Post are pretty chaotic in my experience when something slightly unusual happens.

Making a dormant account claim is another possibility. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/personal_finance/banking/dormant_bank_accounts_in_ireland.html (I realise the account is not yet officially dormant, but the dormant accounts process might root it out.)

You could also potentially make a GDPR request in your child's name or in your own namer to try to get their attention.

If you got a printed lodgement docket, there must be a trace. Your or your child's Date of Birth or PPSN must be recorded against the account as well as (obviously) the name. They should be able to trace this.

Shelflife

How long ago did you open the book or put money into it ?

Was the account in your name or the childs ? What age is the child ?

Hostmum73

Only me and my hubby so nobody else had access. Kids to young to withdraw money without an adult

the_pen_turner

are the saying it never existed or is closed

Hostmum73

the account belongs to a 3 year old so definitely not him. lol

Hostmum73

the account belongs to a 2 yea old so definitely not him lol

Hostmum73

cash lodgments and yes you're right about a withdrawal or closed account. they have no record of the account ever existing...

Hostmum73

never existed...

Sunny Dayz

Perhaps check if your child's account is actually in your name (or the name of the adult who opened it). When I opened a bank account for my child (probably over 10 years ago) the name on the account was "My Name for Child's Name minor"

corks finest

corks finest wrote: »

That doesn't sound right,it's either incompetence,fraud or robbery,I'd contact the head office,and a solicitor after I went to the Gardai

Jesus wept.

Gardai? Maybe take a chill pill for a second first because the Gardai went entertain you.

Solicitor? Well that will be the end of the 1000 in the account then just in fees.

Hostmum73

Hostmum73 wrote: »

cash lodgments and yes you're right about a withdrawal or closed account. they have no record of the account ever existing...

Can they track accounts using the address?

Skid X

Someone is on the fiddle here

Follow the money

ohnonotgmail

They just seem to be incompetent when it comes to finding accounts if you dont know the account number. Unless you can tell them the exact name and address they wont find it. I had the same issue with my mothers post office account and hers had a lot more than a grand in it.

Hostmum73

The account was in my child's name. I haven't been able to put money into it for more than 12 months as I was advised by the post master to wait and see if they sent out an annual statement. I lodged money into this account on two different occasions when I still had the book. The post master remembers me opening the account and making the lodgements.

Hostmum73

The account was in my child's name. I haven't been able to put money into it for more than 12 months as I was advised by the post master to wait and see if they sent out an annual statement. I lodged money into this account on two different occasions when I still had the book. The post master remembers me opening the account and making the lodgements. we've checked every possibility... my name, his name, my ppsn and his ppsn... I don't understand how they can't trace it through his ppsn as it's a unique identify number...

Hostmum73

they have the exact name and address and we haven't lived anywhere else in 23 years... still nothing came up in their searches. The account simply doesn't exist. I think GDPR is probably the way to go as the original paperwork has been archived but when I did work similar to this with registrations we always wrote the identifying numbers on the hard copy of documentation that was sent to us.

Hostmum73

I tried that to. even searched under my maiden name although I've been married for more than 20 years...

rubberdungeon

https://www.statesavings.ie/help-support/help-articles/customer-complaints-process

If its a state savings account, make a complaint

corks finest

Niner leprauchan wrote: »

Jesus wept.

Gardai? Maybe take a chill pill for a second first because the Gardai went entertain you.

Solicitor? Well that will be the end of the 1000 in the account then just in fees.

Actually if you think about it , gardai cost nothing, solicitor letter e40 citing client has been to gardai etc,then the wheels will roll.
ATM he/she is stuck getting nowhere
P.S. no such thing as a chill pill

What exactly does the OP say to the guards?
I can't remember the account details and they won't help me.

SteM

corks finest wrote: »

Actually if you think about it , gardai cost nothing, solicitor letter e40 citing client has been to gardai etc,then the wheels will roll.
ATM he/she is stuck getting nowhere
P.S. no such thing as a chill pill

Gardai cost nothing. Ffs.

Sure they have nothing better to be doing with their time than dealing with the OP that threw out the wrong papers and an obvious clerical error by an post.

the_pen_turner

Deleted User wrote: »

What exactly does the OP say to the guards?
I can't remember the account details and they won't help me.

I had 1000 euro until these shower stole it

the_pen_turner

have you tried to get the postmaster to ring up about it. its a lot harder to tell them it never existed when they an say for a fact that they open it and lodged money

the_pen_turner

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I had 1000 euro until these shower stole it

That's some nice slander but not accurate

corks finest

corks finest wrote: »

Actually if you think about it , gardai cost nothing, solicitor letter e40 citing client has been to gardai etc,then the wheels will roll.
ATM he/she is stuck getting nowhere
P.S. no such thing as a chill pill

Actually if you think about it, the cost of Gardai is irrelevant. They are police, they investigate actual crimes. Not grievances, not customer service complaints but crimes. Unless the op wants someone arrested and charged with an actual crime that requires proof of an actual act, don't waste their time. They have better things to do.

Dunno where you get your figures for a solicitor but it's not that simple. First off, so what if it's a solicitor writing? That supposed to scare someone? So what if she went to the Gardai, an post will think the same thing I do, that was a waste of time and the Gardai won't be going busting down doors and slapping postie about.

Atm the op is indeed stuck but giving her silly wasteful advise to go speak to the wrong people and spend money she doesn't need to is only going to get her more stuck.

If no chill pill, try a reality pill

Op, at this stage maybe try a freedom of information request? See what a fresh channel achieves? Or the complaint as someone else suggested.

snoopboggybog

corks finest wrote: »

That doesn't sound right,it's either incompetence,fraud or robbery,I'd contact the head office,and a solicitor after I went to the Gardai

The Gardai won't entertain you or even a solicitor.
This is probably the worst advice I've ever seen on boards and I've been reading here a long time.

1) Contact their head office number which can be got from a quick google.
2) If you get no-where with the head office lodge an official complaint.
3) Still get no-where lodge and official complaint with statesavings.ie or lodge one with fspo.ie


Contact the Gardai and Solicitor is just ridiculous advice.

the_pen_turner

Niner leprauchan wrote: »

That's some nice slander but not accurate

Not sure why you think its slander. The facts are that the op had 1000 euro in an account . Now the account vanished along with the money.
It seems a fairly clear cut case of fraud and theft to me

ohnonotgmail

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Not sure why you think its slander. The facts are that the op had 1000 euro in an account . Now the account vanished along with the money.
It seems a fairly clear cut case of fraud and theft to me

in order for it to be fraud and theft an An Post employee would have to have taken the money. at the moment there is nothing to suggest the money has been taken. An post simply cannot locate the account. Most likely that is down to either simple incompotence on the part of An Post or the OP doesn't know the exact name and address on the account.

Who in An Post have you been talking to and what is the complaints process for this?

Who is the regulator for this product if the complaints process doesn't solve it?

the_pen_turner

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

in order for it to be fraud and theft an An Post employee would have to have taken the money. at the moment there is nothing to suggest the money has been taken. An post simply cannot locate the account. Most likely that is down to either simple incompotence on the part of An Post or the OP doesn't know the exact name and address on the account.

I see your point but you are only asking for it to be investigated. I don't see any accusation that mary or john blogs have taken it but rather my money is missing and those in charge of it cannot account for it. .

Theft also includes denying someone access to their property not just permanently keeping it.

ohnonotgmail

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I see your point but you are only asking for it to be investigated. I don't see any accusation that mary or john blogs have taken it but rather my money is missing and those in charge of it cannot account for it. .

Theft also includes denying someone access to their property not just permanently keeping it.

an post are not denying them access to their property. An Post are telling them they dont have it. getting the gardai involved at this stage is nonsense. they wont be interested at all because there is no evidence of a crime.

cnocbui

How about lodging a complaint with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. https://www.fspo.ie/make-a-complaint/

ohnonotgmail

cnocbui wrote: »

How about lodging a complaint with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. https://www.fspo.ie/make-a-complaint/

they need to exhaust the complaints process with An Post before the FSPO will look at it.

the_pen_turner

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

an post are not denying them access to their property. An Post are telling them they dont have it. getting the gardai involved at this stage is nonsense. they wont be interested at all because there is no evidence of a crime.

Of course they are denying access. .
They don't have it but should. They are being paid to look after it. I'm not suggesting ringing the guards yet. There are other avenues to go down first but it is an option later when needed. . I agree there is very little evidence. That's why you investigate and get evidence. Either there is incompetence or a crime has taken place.

Shelflife

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Of course they are denying access. .
They don't have it but should. They are being paid to look after it. I'm not suggesting ringing the guards yet. There are other avenues to go down first but it is an option later when needed. . I agree there is very little evidence. That's why you investigate and get evidence. Either there is incompetence or a crime has taken place.

Or maybe theres an error on the OPs part, Ive had people swear on their mothers life that they bought something in my shop that Ive never stocked !

It could be that the a/c was opened in the mothers/fathers name , that it was bonds or certs that were got and not a savings book , could be something as mad as it was a credit union a/c that was opened and not a posb.

Dont aways assume that the customer is right, in the OPs case im sure that its a simple error and it will be sorted with a bit of digging.

the_pen_turner

Shelflife wrote: »

Or maybe theres an error on the OPs part, Ive had people swear on their mothers life that they bought something in my shop that Ive never stocked !

It could be that the a/c was opened in the mothers/fathers name , that it was bonds or certs that were got and not a savings book , could be something as mad as it was a credit union a/c that was opened and not a posb.

Dont aways assume that the customer is right, in the OPs case im sure that its a simple error and it will be sorted with a bit of digging.

I agree 100 %. But all that should be checked out by the op and the post office and other places well in advance of causing anyone.

Trust me I know that the customer is often wrong. I'm self employed. Some customers would test anyones sanity

Ronney

Any Chance it was an AIB account? They allow lodgements and provide lodgement books that can be used in An Post

corks finest

Niner leprauchan wrote: »

Actually if you think about it, the cost of Gardai is irrelevant. They are police, they investigate actual crimes. Not grievances, not customer service complaints but crimes. Unless the op wants someone arrested and charged with an actual crime that requires proof of an actual act, don't waste their time. They have better things to do.

Dunno where you get your figures for a solicitor but it's not that simple. First off, so what if it's a solicitor writing? That supposed to scare someone? So what if she went to the Gardai, an post will think the same thing I do, that was a waste of time and the Gardai won't be going busting down doors and slapping postie about.

Atm the op is indeed stuck but giving her silly wasteful advise to go speak to the wrong people and spend money she doesn't need to is only going to get her more stuck.

If no chill pill, try a reality pill

Op, at this stage maybe try a freedom of information request? See what a fresh channel achieves? Or the complaint as someone else suggested.

So missing money possibly fraud is not a crime? The person who put it into a government body didn't spend it,it's his not the post offices end of,and if it can't be found it obviously was stolen or lost and any monies stolen or lost have to be reported,or maybe in your area this is all ok?
FFS what do you want him to do ? forget about it?

snoopboggybog

corks finest wrote: »

So missing money possibly fraud is not a crime? The person who put it into a government body didn't spend it,it's his not the post offices end of,and if it can't be found it obviously was stolen or lost and any monies stolen or lost have to be reported,or maybe in your area this is all ok?
FFS what do you want him to do ? forget about it?

Use your head, you have to go down the proper channels. Gaurds or Solicitors will not be interested in this whatsoever and are just wasting their time. Even if a account is closed the post office will still have the information about the account. It's not magically wiped once an account is closed.

As previously mentioned ring head office and if get no-where make an official complaint.
If the situation isn't rectified with official complaint then contact state savings or financial ombudsman and they will deal with the matter.

Why would you go the guards or even get a solicitor, that is not the correct course of action.

Imagine going to the gaurds and saying that the post office cannot find my account, you would be laughed out of the building. You do realize its a central system they use. Someone in a post office can't just delete an account and make it look like it never existed.

It mightn't even be a savings account they setup! The amount if misinformation is this thread is quite scary.

Mrs OBumble

snoopboggybog wrote: »

Imagine going to the gaurds and saying that the post office cannot find my account, ....


It mightn't even be a savings account they setup!

Especially when you get to the point about not having ANY proof that the account ever existed.

corks finest

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Especially when you get to the point about not having ANY proof that the account ever existed.

It's "guards" and I'm not getting into a pissing competition, that was my honest opinion , nothing else,OP hope you get sorted and don't give up.

snoopboggybog

corks finest wrote: »

It's "guards" and I'm not getting into a pissing competition, that was my honest opinion , nothing else,OP hope you get sorted and don't give up.

My spelling is about as bad as your advice.

the_pen_turner

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Not sure why you think its slander. The facts are that the op had 1000 euro in an account . Now the account vanished along with the money.
It seems a fairly clear cut case of fraud and theft to me

You are making an accusation of a criminal act and there's no evidence of mens rea or actus reus. Theses certain requirements for a criminal act of fraud. You have met 1 of 3 so far.

Sheep Shagger

cnocbui wrote: »

How about lodging a complaint with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. https://www.fspo.ie/make-a-complaint/

This....

Why is this thread so long? Log a complaint formally.

Their decision is legally binding.