Is giving out ur sort code and account number okay for a bank transfer?

[ashley_fae_greenock2001]

Hi. So someone was selling something on Facebook, which i was purchasing. I did a bank transfer (dont start with all the "should have done it with Paypal!" blah blah), but its not quite worked out but he is about to refund me, so hes asked me for my sort code and account number so he can transfer it back into MY account. I was just wondering is this the safest way to do it, or can u refund it through Paypal? If u do refund through paypal, would i still have to give out my soft/account number? Just need a bit of advice)

[massivepoison866]

Careful. You are giving a stranger access to your account. Scammers know how to take money out with very little information. Do this, and expect your account to be wiped out. No money now? He can wait months, even years.

[Clive]

There's nothing wrong with doing that. Companies do it all the time. The payment slip on the bottom of a gas, electricity or credit card bill contains their sort code and account number so you can pay the bill by taking it into your bank with the money - it doubles up as a paying in slip. You need more details than that to take money out of your account, such as your signature or the password to your online banking. Just the numbers is enough to pay money in, but not to take it out.

He could pay you through PayPal if he has an account, and then he only needs to know your PayPal ID.

[Piran]

Not a problem. The money will go straight into your bank account. As said, he would have to know more details than this for fraud.
UK

[Christopher]

It is the only way to do a bank transfer - you must have had that information about his account in order to make the first transfer, and he must have that information about your account to make one back.