What would you do in this situation?
A New Zealand couple went to their bank, and requested, and were approved for a $10,000 business overdraft. However, the bank screwed up and deposited $10,000,000 in their account. So, what did they do?
Well it seems, cleared out the account and did the bolt to somewhere unknown, although it is suspected they are now in China. The unnamed couple, believed to be Asian man "Leo" Gao, perhaps in his 30s, and his Kiwi girlfriend Kara (or Cara) Young, have not been seen since $NZ10 million was mistakenly deposited into their account on or about May 5. The couple reportedly left the country after abandoning Mr Gao’s service station in Rotorua – in fact, it closed so suddenly that motorists were still driving in to fill up thinking it was open. It seems also that other members of Mr Gao’s family are missing.
Now I know banks are generally scum sucking bottom feeders, happy to extract every dollar out of their customers for just about everything you have to do with them, but what would you do if you found yourself in this situation? Serves the bank for its screwup? Or do the right thing and give the money back? Or something else?
My usual response when I’ve had some money I didn’t think was correct is to set it aside in my account and wait for the loser of it to claim it back. Its never been anything remotely like $10m though. Hmmm, the interest on that for a few days would be quite a nice little earner. Is it my job to tell them they screwed up?
I would like to have been a fly on the wall when the employee was getting a roasting.With all the whizz-bang banking technology,can’t they trace it?I suppose it will be yet enother reason to increase bank fees.Being brung up proper,like,my guilt would set in after 30 seconds.(..er.Ithink)
I know I’d be pretty upset if they lost my $10mill (hypothetically of course – as if I HAVE $10mill) so I guess it goes both ways. Personally, I think karma will bite them on the bum one day.