Bank transfer delay while selling car.

[Carlososos]

Selling a car for a few thousand I can 100% see the lass has transferred the cash but it just isn’t showing in mine yet. Been a few hours and feel rotten not letting them just take it away but that won’t happen, it’s not worth the risk.

Even though they’ve never asked to go without the money showing in my account the pressure to let them as they are “nice people” is quite strong.

Anyone ever fallen foul being the nice guy in situations like this?

[sherman]

Try phoning your bank. See if they can see the transaction.

[ncjones]

Nationwide? They've been having transfer issues on and off for weeks

As awkward as it is, wait until you've got the money.

[Moos3h]

Get them to ring their bank - likely held for fraud checks, had this exact thing happen to me when buying a car once.

[CarCrazyDad]

Carlososos said:

Selling a car for a few thousand I can 100% see the lass has transferred the cash but it just isn’t showing in mine yet. Been a few hours and feel rotten not letting them just take it away but that won’t happen, it’s not worth the risk.

Even though they’ve never asked to go without the money showing in my account the pressure to let them as they are “nice people” is quite strong.

Anyone ever fallen foul being the nice guy in situations like this?

Don't ever let them take the car, without money arriving in your account

Sometimes it can take a long time, sometimes, it can be instant

Call the bank - to check if they can see it

If not, sorry, come back when funds are cleared, or maybe suggest they go to the local cafe for an hour

[Correvor]

Same thing happened to us, talked to the bank's but not much they could do, took a few hours to resolve.

We waited before handing over the keys to be safe. Not worth betting a few k on.

[shtu]

Yep, don't let the car go until you can see the money in your account - no matter what screenshots, etc you are shown by the buyer.

Any honest person will understand, even if it's a nuisance..

[Rockets7]

Is it showing as pending?

[Royal Jelly]

I experienced a delay when I was purchasing my last car.. It required 2 online transfers, because the limit was 25k. I made them, and waited a while, and got a call from the fraud people. The issue was, that pertained to just the first 25k!

Eventually (4 hours or so, I think) the first payment landed. The seller was kind enough to let me take the car then. He was with me when the transfers were made and when the fraud folks called, which probably helped. Plus, by that stage he knew where I lived!

I had a long drive up north, and when I arrived home he emailed me to ask if I could chase the bank up for the remainder.. I felt dreadful, I’m sure he was only anticipating another hour or so delay (as was I). I called the bank, and they couldn’t help.

Eventually the second payment landed late that night, some 12+ hours after the transfer was made.

Faster Payment System, my arse.

[p4cks]

Takes ages, probably even longer on a weekend (I'll never buy another car on a weekend again) so sadly you'll have to sit there and make small talk until it appears.

Don't waste your time or theirs by ringing your bank, they won't see anything until you do.

[shake n bake]

Likely to be her bank blocking it for fraud prevention. We see it now and again at work, a call usually resolves it.

[twing]

shake n bake said:

Likely to be her bank blocking it for fraud prevention. We see it now and again at work, a call usually resolves it.

This exactly, one phone call to her bank and a million security questions and will be sorted

[Red9zero]

Happened to me buying a car in the middle of a wood (I know ). Just couldn't get a decent signal. Seller was a nice chap though, and it was local, so he kept a set of keys and the log book until the next day, by which time the money had appeared in his account.

[AKA PABS]

I had this happen when buying the wife’s cars. Took 3 hours to clear. We took the log book (address showing as the property they lived in and where the car was at) and both sets of keys. We went and had a meal, but we would never dream of ever taking the car without the cash clearing. Was horrible waiting. The annoying thing is that we did a test payment of a £1 first, suppose it was held back for fraud checks, despite a note on the account to say we were expected to buy a car privately.

[tertius]

Same thing happened to me buying my last car: due to the various limits I made three separate payments from two different banks - one arrived immediately but the other two (same bank) no sign of them. Rang my bank, they knew nothing couldn’t see any reason for the delay, no fraud queries, just said “It can take up to N hours, you’ll need to wait” (can’t remember what N was exactly but 3 or 4).

Hung up to them … waited some more … ten minutes later the fraud team from the same bank rings up, “Got a question about a payment from your account …”. AAARGH.

Anyway, was sorted eventually.

[RoVoFob]

ncjones said:

Nationwide? They've been having transfer issues on and off for weeks

As awkward as it is, wait until you've got the money.

We sold my wife’s car a month back for £6,000 on a Sunday evening. The buyer made a trial payment to my wife and there was no sign of it in her account hours later, then the buyer transferred half the balance to me and her partner transferred the other half. All four of us had accounts with different banks.

Before I could even walk from the car to our porch the money had gone into my account.

The problem account was Nationwide, the one that received money promptly was Barclays…

[Carlososos]

All sorted in the end. Trial payment of 10 was made and showed instantly. The large amount didn’t show at all. Went away there bank was called and advised it’s on its way it can just take time. 5 mins later fraud department called to check its ok! Job jobbed.

[Skyedriver]

Bought/sold a three or four cars but a couple of years ago, i had an 11 hour train journey to pay and collect a Merc from someone east of London.
Viewed and agreed that the car was as advertised (chap was very pleasant and helpful) and did the BACS transfer. This was about 4.30pm IIRC.
We waited and waited for the money to appear in his account, the web site said it shouldn't take more than 2 hours.
And we waited
And we waited
We discussed that he was flying off on holiday the next day
And we waited.
Eventually I phoned the bank, short discussion and was told "well it could take up to 24 hours".
Fortunately about 15 minutes it went through and I was on my way home, 550 miles, and a traffic jam on the Dartford Crossing.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Carlososos said:

All sorted in the end. Trial payment of 10 was made and showed instantly. The large amount didn’t show at all. Went away there bank was called and advised it’s on its way it can just take time. 5 mins later fraud department called to check its ok! Job jobbed.

Result