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

Louling06

I took over dealing with my partners finances about 4 years ago when we moved in together as he works long hours and I was at home with our new born baby.
At first no-one would deal with me only with him. So I typed out a letter on the computer which read something like... Dear Sir/ Madam, I give permission for you to discuss any part of my agreement with my fiance Miss ....... I also give Miss ......... full authorisation to deal with any matter concerning my account withyou.
I then got him to sign them and sent one to each finance company that he had agreements with. Whenever I telephone to discuss anything now I just have to tell them when the letter was sent and answer security questions and then I can do what needs to be done.
Not sure how this would work with credit cards though.

OliveOyl_2

my OH works abroad at the mo, so it is only me who is able to speak to anyone. I can understand the credit card agreements, but utility suppliers? I struggled so much last year to get NPower to let me deal with a DD query, that came out of my account, but paid "his" bill. In the end I phoned up and said I was him, (my voice is not high pitched), I know the answers to all his "security" questions (I probably set them up :rotfl: ) and that worked.

ladybez

I can understand the point with credit cards but agree with OliveOyl bout utilities. When my dad dies, as his next of kin and executor I phoned United utilities to explain the situation and was told they would have to speak to my Dad direct!! I wishedthem all the best with that one. Eventually I got hold of one of the managers, who was very apologetic and the matter was resolved

Katie-Kat-Kins

Yes this sort of thing is a nightmare, I have had problems dealing with banks and utility companies on behalf of my OH who doesn't use the phone. They are unable to comprehend this. Many won't accept letters or emails and demand to speak with someone. Marks and Spencer Credit Cards suggested that the only way for them to be able to speak with me was for me to have power of attorney over his affairs.

I suggested that they note their file to only deal with him in writing and they couldn't even do that. They said it would be a breach of the data protection act to put a query in writing to him in his name to his own address.

I know that the Data Protection Act says nothing of the sort.

It was only after having a huge row with a supervisor and threatening them with the DDA that I was eventually able to speak to a manager who was brilliant giving us a separate phone number and email address to use but it was so much hassle all because some companies refuse to deal with customers in any way other than over the phone.

peb

The Data Protection Act is a bit like the Money Laundering Act - people glibly say can't do x, y z because of it and I'm sorry but in most instances this is a load of tosh!

A letter of authority should be sufficient; otherwise look at getting a Power of Attorney...

mesb210776

I have had the same problems with Sky. Account is in Hubby's name, but DD has always come out of my account. 1 month there was a problem with DD so I called them to pay with my card, but was ld I couldn't pay! Told them hubby doesn't like cards so only has a cash card on his account, but was told he had to do it. Finally was able to get hubby to speak to them andset up a password for me to use. It was really frustrating as it was always me that paid!!

Jooly_2

I've always had this problem too. Sometimes I've put my hubbie on the phone then he feels stupid as he has to ask me his security details as It's me who sets everything up!

I've often thought that if I could get some sort of voice changer microphone that enabled me to have a nice deep voice then it would be problem solved! :T

sheenaf

I am also regularly incensed by this modern phenomenon. I have always done all our financial stuff since we were married (1966) and never had any problems until recent years. We always had joint accounts, a joint mortgage, etc. and I also did all the accounts and banking for my husbands firm. It was just accepted, I believe in fact it was the law, that a married woman could make purchases for the household and the husband was liable if she had no income of her own, although in our case, apart from some time out at home with small children, I was the bigger earner.

Now I cannot get a credit card of my own because I have no credit rating! The mortgage I paid from my earnings is attributed to my DH as he is the 'firstnamed'. Same thing happened with our joint savings account - when the bank was taken over my DH got the bonus shares. I had the same problem as poster above when I paid for our holiday on-line using our (sorry HIS) credit card. The payment failed and the card company froze the account because of an 'unusual payment' then phoned and would not speak to me about it. I had to wait for DH to come home and get him to phone although he was virtually stone deaf at the time and there followed a complete pantomime as I listened in and wrote down the answers to the security questions for him to read out. We nearly lost our bargain holiday with all the faffing about.

Funnily enough, my DH was twice asked to impersonate someone's husband on the phone when he was working as a tradesman at their house. All he had to do was say 'I am Mr **** please allow Mrs **** to complete this transaction' - job done. I always thought that the neccessary attribute to be able to do business was 3 extra 'bits' in your pants but now it seems that a gruff voice will suffice.

fluffycheeseball

I do everything online. That way I can handle all finances no matter whose name they are in

Regards

Smileysunflower

ladybez wrote: »

I can understand the point with credit cards but agree with OliveOyl bout utilities. When my dad dies, as his next of kin and executor I phoned United utilities to explain the situation and was told they would have to speak to my Dad direct!! I wishedthem all the best with that one. Eventually I got hold of one of the managers, who was very apologetic and the matter was resolved

When my dad died, I handled all the paperwork, probate, dealing with banks etc as, even though my dad had left a will, he had named my mum as Executor (not a good move really, considering she is in her 70s). Every organisation I spoke to, with the exception of Barclaycard, were extremely helpful. Their bank, Lloyds TSB, couldn't have done more, but some idiot at Barclaycard said they needed to speak to the account holder (my dad) before they could access the account. I pointed out that I was calling to freeze the account prior to my sending them the death certificate, but they insisted .....
it wasn't until I got (understandably) very upset and demanded to speak to their manager that they relented .................... data protection at it's worst!