Editing or removing bank reference

actuallylike

Hey guys,

Asking on behalf of my friend. My friends and I needed to pay a friend through internet banking for a football thing. He asked us don't put anything weird for the reference because he was going in soon looking for a mortgage.

Now obviously, one of my mates, not me, didn't taste that seriously and put something stupid like Child Porn or Drugs or something like that as his reference. My mate who's account it is is livid. Is there anyway to edit or delete a reference on your account? I'm not sure what bank he is, just want to get a feeler if it's possible first before I ask him.

amdublin

What an idiot. I very much doubt there is any way of changing it.

I'd suggest a) the idiot changes the reference now so that the next payments go through with normal reference
b) how bad is the wording?? Part of me thinks black it out before putting the mortgage applicstion through but that might draw attention to it.
Chances are they looking for returned/failed direct debit. Or large amounts of money going in and out. Not small amounts for football. Any chance a few of you all lodged the same amount in or around same time - if he is questioned he can point that.

Seriously I cannot believe someone did that.

Peregrinus

No, you won't be able to get this changed. Banks don't like retrospectively altering records of transactions, for obvious reasons. Plus, the customer whose account this is is not the person who created the record, and they especially don't like attempts to alter records created by someone else.

Your mate who did this is a gobsh!te, to put it charitably. For the future, anytime he wants someone else to lay out money on his behalf, let him pay that person in advance, in cash, so that he doesn't get to bugger up the banking records of any actual grownups.

For the present situation, what amdublin said. Be prepared to explain this reference if asked, but I think the explanation will be accepted. There is no harm in asking the bank to change it; you won't succeed, but you will have a paper trail of correspondence with the bank explaining the reference which you can point to if you need to explain it to another bank when applying for a mortgage.

actuallylike

Thanks guys, thought as much but appreciate the confirmation. The writing wasn't as bad as child porn in the end, nothing illegal but very embarrassing. I'll relay this thread to him and see what he wants to do. Thanks.

actuallylike

Hey guys, thought I'd give an update on this, mainly for anyone who thinks it's all a bit of a laugh. My mate was having his accounts scrutinised for a mortgage and and the offending entry did not go down well at all.

Had to explain it to three separate people who claimed 'he wasn't taking his finances seriously'. He smoothed it all out so no issues anymore but just saying, that although you may think the bank overreacted, you may be right, but it is they that hold the keys. Don't fcuk about with this stuff, they take it seriously and don't laugh it off.

Thanks again previous posters for your advice.

galwayjohn89

That's a bit strange. I'd have a few joke references on my statement stuff like rent a man, viagra, penis enlargements from transfers made by mates. Applied for a loan, guy mentioned it I explained and he just laughed. Presume he had the cop on to realise I shouldn't be penalised for other peoples actions that I have no control over.

actuallylike

Vuzuggu wrote:

That's a bit strange. I'd have a few joke references on my statement stuff like rent a man, viagra, penis enlargements from transfers made by mates. Applied for a loan, guy mentioned it I explained and he just laughed. Presume he had the cop on to realise I shouldn't be penalised for other peoples actions that I have no control over.

I agree, it was completely out of his control so shouldn't be his problem but nonetheless they didn't like it. It was 3 women by the way, not that that could possibly mean anything ;-)

amdublin

I can see why there was an issue. At the time I said the friend was an idiot for doing it.
The other poster said they have not had any issues and that's fine (I'm glad! ), but definitely would not recommend anyone let's people put stupid references on your account.

Glad it worked out ok for your friend op (in the end).