Giving bank details out for a refund

It depends exactly which details they are asking for!

As others have said, your account number and sort code is generally fine as they don't enable anyone to make purchases.

It is the long number on the front of the card and the 3 digit security code on the back that you should be careful with.

When I rang up Specsavers the other week to order some replacement glasses the sales advisor wanted me to provide both of those details to pay for my order over the phone! I politely declined and asked to pay when I collected them

Well, even when people send cheques, there is often an address either enclosed or actually written on the back of the cheque, or if you give a cheque to a tradesman, garage etc he probably knows your address anyway. Giving your bank account number online along with your address isn't any riskier.

Thanks, I'm only giving account nu. And sort code so it's sounds as though it should be fine. I was worried about them having my address but doesn't seem to be a problem with that.

If it’s only sort code and account number they need, then every time you give someone a cheque,you give them those details.

Your bank account number and sort code don't allow other people to do anything except put money in. The numbers you should be more careful with are your credit or debit card numbers, but it's quite safe to give a company your account details.

I think if it is sort code and account number they can only pay in but if in doubt ring the bank yourself and ask them. Anything I consider odd I ring them straight away and they will look at your account and deal with it.

I had another scam email this week appearing to come from Apple about a payment for £39 forNetflix I supposedly had ordered - I had ordered nothing - but looking at it carefully Netflix was spelt incorrectly.

All depends on the company do you trust them and have you bought from them before.

How did you pay originally?
If it was by card, they should be able to refund to there.
If it was by cheque, you have already given them your bank details (on the cheque) quite happily, so why not give them again now?

Ask them to send you a cheque