Bank error in your favor
I've just discovered that three days ago, I was erroneously credited nearly $2,500 in my bank account. With the features my bank's online services afford me, I found that not only did some guy named Chris scribble in his account number on the deposit slip such that multiple digits are ambiguous in ways that coincide with my account number, but the slip's printed digits on the bottom are actually my account number. I have no idea how that would happen, and it kind of freaks me out. (For what it's worth, it looks like Chris got the money too, judging by the printout on the back of the slip.)
Obviously I'm not going for the strategy that other people have done in my situation, namely, "I get to keep my windfall of my bank's mistakes, but just to make sure they can't take it back, I'm going to spend it all!" Besides the fact that they find themselves with a negative balance and no liquid assets when the error is corrected, it's just not my money and I'd rather be rid of it (the honest way) as soon as possible. But customer service won't be available for another hour and a half, and I need to go to bed.
I'd rather limit my ill-gotten gains to the payphone near my workplace that inexplicably returns all your change a few seconds after you hang up. (I occasionally benefit from the people who don't know this, and leave their money in the coin return.)
Obviously I'm not going for the strategy that other people have done in my situation, namely, "I get to keep my windfall of my bank's mistakes, but just to make sure they can't take it back, I'm going to spend it all!" Besides the fact that they find themselves with a negative balance and no liquid assets when the error is corrected, it's just not my money and I'd rather be rid of it (the honest way) as soon as possible. But customer service won't be available for another hour and a half, and I need to go to bed.
I'd rather limit my ill-gotten gains to the payphone near my workplace that inexplicably returns all your change a few seconds after you hang up. (I occasionally benefit from the people who don't know this, and leave their money in the coin return.)