Theft From Bank Accounts

[aneray]

My stepdaughter who has just turned sixteen returned home to live with her mother and me after thinking the grass was greener and spending a year living with her father sixty miles away. Her father made it very difficult for her and refused to return to her any form of id, bank account books and cash card. Today she realised that she had forgot to change her account details back to our address (since feb this year) and visited our local bank with her mother to do it. She knew she had about £300 in her account, but after checking it was down to thirty. Several withdrawals have been made by her father including using her card to visit a local restaurant. Even though it is her father that has used it, is it still theft and where do we stand in getting the money back. Thanks all

[ummmm]

Yes...it's still theft. Did she give him her pin?

[aneray]

Thanks for getting back to me, it appreciated.

Her pin was left with her personal belongings which he refused to give her back.

[ummmm]

Ohhh!! Is she on speaking terms with him? Can she not just ask him to pay it back? Or threaten to go to the police..

[vallaw]

Pity we don't have Judge Judy here. She'd sort him out.

[ubasses]

Yes it is, but the bank will be asking how he got her pin number enabling him to use the card and they may refuse to reimburse under the negligence clause. The fact that she did not inform them of her change of address for 7 months so that confidential information was being sent to his address may be enough to make her liable. That does not stop her reporting him to the police though and the threat could make him think about what he has done and reimburse her.

[SeaJayPea]

I suspect the bank won't reimburse given the fact that he had her PIN. May be worth a try, though. If unsuccessful, why doesn't she just write to him saying that she will give him two weeks to return her personal effects and refund the money or she'll contact the police?

Families! Who'd have them?

[jackthehat]

Her age may be a factor in this.
She was obviously 14/15 when she was living with her father.....the bank may have particular rules about accounts for 'youngsters' which differ from those of an adult.

[bednobs]

how did he use her card at a restaurant?

[joko]

he had her pin through theft though really hasnt he? its not like she gave it to him....he stole her belongings along with the pin

refusing to return something that he should not ever have really had is theft...