Can a bank take money from your account without permission

The collection of debt is a stressful event. Phone calls, nasty letters and constant threats of legal action are often enough to drive you crazy. Creditors have a trick up their sleeve that most people don’t know about, and when it happens it’s even more disastrous then an irritating bill collector phone call.

The person in debt to the bank often calls it stealing money. The creditor calls it a right of offset. And it’s perfectly legal. A right of offset can be described as: a banks legal right to seize funds that a debtor may have on deposit to cover a loan in default.

It happens quite often, and people in debt to their bank are frequently left wondering how they are going to account for this money and get it back. Having money offset from your bank account when your rent or mortgage payment is due can be extremely stressful.

Creditors can take money out of your bank account, and usually without asking your permission if you are sufficiently delinquent in your payments on a credit card or loan to them. Most of the big banks in Canada have the concept of a right of offset written into their credit card and loan agreements. It’s a level of protection you usually give them when you sign for and borrow unsecured money from your bank in the form of a credit card or loan.

Most people are oblivious to this fact and when a regular paycheque goes into your account, it can disappear as quickly as it arrived. Remember your bank can view your cycle of deposits and withdrawals, so they know when to go in and get their money back.

Can you get the money back? Rarely if it’s an oversight, the bank will work with you and return it if you can talk to the right person. Your branch manager or the banks Ombudsman can help. But they usually don’t have to. There are also in some cases certain restrictions on the types of deposits that can be offset from your account.

You should also be aware that if you owe bank “A” a balance on a credit card, they cannot offset money out of an account from bank “B”. The account has to be with the same financial institution.

The best protection is not exposing yourself to having money offset from your bank account by paying off your debts or at least staying up to date in loan and credit card payments. But for some people this is not a reality. Bad things do happen to good people and that most folks who end up in debt did not intend for it to happen.

There are further steps you can take to protect your personal and business finances; not depositing new money into a bank account you owe credit card or loan debt to is a start. But this is not a solution to debt. Seek help from a reputable debt settlement company if you are drowning in debt, and not able to deal with it. If you feel it’s time to do something about your debt, and want a free debt settlement consultation then please visit our home page and request a no obligation quote.


Can a debt collector withdraw funds from your bank account without your approval? This answer is a big fat NO!

Debt collectors can ONLY withdraw funds from your bank account with YOUR permission. That permission often comes in the form of authorization for the creditor to complete automatic withdrawals from your bank account. You have every right to notify the creditor that you no longer authorize withdrawals from your bank account if you’re in a pinch. If the creditor keeps withdrawing funds from your bank account after you tell them that they no longer have your permission to make withdrawals, you may have the right to sue that debt collector for violation of your consumer rights. Unauthorized funds withdrawals by a debt collector can be a blatant violation of your consumer rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) or its statutory friend, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (“EFTA”). A violation of your consumer rights turns the tables against the debt collector—YOU can sue THEM for their violation!

An FDCPA violation can require the debt collector to pay you a maximum of $1,000.00 in statutory damages. In some situations, debt collectors in violation of the FDCPA may also waive the underlying debt, or even delete negative credit reporting. An EFTA violation also entitles you to in-pocket statutory damages, plus recovery of any withdrawn amounts that weren’t previously refunded to you.

Our office can represent you in an FDCPA/EFTA claim against a debt collector on a contingency basis. This means that we only get paid if we win and you get paid! With little to no risk to you, let us help you turn the tables against a debt collector for violation of your consumer rights.

Can a bank take money from your account without permission

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Can money be debited from my account without permission?

The regulations state you must be refunded immediately if you've had money taken from your account without your permission. You must report the loss of your debit card, or any unauthorised payments, as soon as possible.

Can bank transfer funds without permission?

Unless the bank has an approval from the beneficiary, it cannot reverse your transferred amount as the bank only acts as a facilitator. For example, Karnataka Bank IFSC Code should have its respective code as mentioned on the chequebook or passbook.

How do I get my money back from unauthorized transactions?

Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.