"You're not the main person on the account" grrrr

Triggles

I'm a SAHM, DH works full time plus some extra hours. Because he works long hours, I now take care of the finances and household things. I am running into a brick wall. We've made decisions to do things (such as cancelling PPI's) and changing direct debit amounts and such, plus we've moved recently and I'm trying to make sure everyone is updated.

Sooooo many companies will not give me the time of day because my husband's name is primary on the account! I tried to change the address over the phone of our Barclay card, and I was told only DH could do that - even though I have a card - my name is on the account! I said, well, look, if DH calls you and tells you that I am authorised by him to make any decisions on the account, can I then do so? He said no. He said we could get a form sent to us (only if DH calls and personally requests it) and DH can sign it saying I'm authorised, but it still won't let me do things like update our address or change anything on the account. Then what's the point??

I understand the whole data protection thing, I really do - but god, what if something happened to my husband (obviously I'm hoping nothing does, but you know what I mean!) and he was in hospital for an extended period of time - how would I get any changes through or do anything like that I may want or need to do? How can I get around this? It's driving both me and DH nuts - as I'm happy to take care of things as I have the time to do so and DH really doesn't - not to mention he's not the soul of discretion and gets really frustrated dealing with these things over the phone and would rather that I do it. :rotfl:

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moo2moo

Do it all in writing and post the letters. That way you can type out all the info and get OH to sign them, that way its done when its most conveninet to you for the cost of a stamp which is probably a lot less than the cost of a phone call.

Triggles

But how can I get them to allow me to deal with the accounts without constantly having him talk to them and "approve" it? I've been told by a number of companies that even if he sends something in writing, they won't do it. Isn't this wrong???

moo2moo

No not at all. Look at it from the banks point of view.....

1990 Mr Newley Wed gives Mrs Newly Web verbal control over his bank accounts

2000 Mrs NW has an affair and extends Mr NWs overdraft to cover a holiday for her and boyfriend. Mr NW didn't agree to that but is stuffed anyway. The bank has no way of proving whether or not you are acting on your own or with your OHs permission hence refusing to accept anylong term instruction from you.

How many times will you need to make major changes with the banks anyway?

MrsPorridge

Triggles - I know just where you are coming from! Its so frustrating. I deal with all our finances and because DH earns more than me the credit cards are in his name. Its so annoying.

MyLastFiver

I used to work for Barclaycard, and this used to come up again and again. People think that they have a "joint" account, but there is no such thing under the Consumer Credit Act. The main cardholder, whose signature is on the credit agreedment, is responsible for repayments regardless of whether himself or one of his Authorized Users (such as you) have run up the balance.

We used to get it all the time - wives running off with other men and maxing out the card leaving their husbands responsible for the debt; alcoholics spending a fortune on drink and keeping it a secret until the bill came and the Main Cardholder was left to pick up the pieces.

It is right and proper that only the person whose signature is on the Credit Agreement can make changes to the account.

MrsPorridge

I agree about the security etc., but I only have to get my DH to speak on the phone and say that I am authorised to act on his behalf - having said that I could ask any male to do this couldn't I?

MyLastFiver

MrsPorridge wrote: »

I agree about the security etc., but I only have to get my DH to speak on the phone and say that I am authorised to act on his behalf - having said that I could ask any male to do this couldn't I?

Any male who knew your husband's mother's maiden name and the fourth digit of his security number, I expect.

dancingfairy

Can you not write all the letters etc -requesting the changes and then just shove them under your OH's nose to sign them? A lot of things may need to be done in writing.
I must admit it does sound irrating though not being able to organise things.

MrsPorridge

I wanted to cancel a credit card the other day, they wouldn't accept a letter or email - I had to telephone. After half an hour "arguing" the guy at the other end finally got the message and I was able to cancel the card.

aliasojo

I feel for you. I handle all our finances just because I'm better at it than my OH. As he's the one who works though, the cards etc are all in his name with me as an extra card holder.

Egg recently blocked an online transaction going through and phoned our home to see if it was legit. I explained I had just made the transaction with my card, what it was for, how much it was, even the exact time it was done (I had taken a screenshot which had the clock in the pic) etc and that it was genuine but that was still not enough. They asked me some security questions and even when I provided the correct answers they still said they couldn't accept this and had to speak to my OH. As he was in the middle of nowhere with no phone at the time, they obviously couldn't and ended up freezing the card until they could speak to him. I asked them not to do this as I knew he didn't have any other card on him apart from the Egg card and I also knew he needed to put petrol in the car to get back home. I explained that we lived in the back of beyond and he wasn't just able to hop on a bus to get home but it made no difference. The card was frozen.

I managed to phone all the places he'd been to try to work out where he might be next and thankfully a really kind woman got a message to him to phone me and she even lent him her mobile to do it. He got in touch with Egg and the bar on the card was lifted so all was well in the end thankfully. It could easily have had a much worse ending though. The hills in the Highlands of Scotland aren't a good place to be stuck in.

I'm glad they are so careful but surely in this day and age they has to be some system put in place to cater for this kind of problem. The reason we carry cards is for ease of use after all.

We have dealings with several other financial companies who have arranged a special password that I must quote should I need to discuss things on an account in my OH's name, if some can do it...why not all? That's the bit that bugs me.