Joint Account frozen by Bank

aylesby

My inlaws have 50 years of marriage then split up by dementia. One has continuing care in a security home the other not so bad but left home alone.
Receipts have exceeded paymemts in their bank account for years and a big balance has built up in an account that pays no interest.
I arrange a meeting with their bank to get them some interest and the bank freeze all the account but offer to pay the standing orders for upto six weeks while I clear the court of protection.
I think six weeks is unrealistic but I have enough to pay their bills. I am very angry at the bank and their money will be on the move asap. I have downloaded the forms and I will have applied by the end of the week. This sort of form filling comes easy to me.
Is the bank right in freezing all the money. Cheques were signed by either party, the account is ten years old and both pensions go in and household bills come out.

mountainofdebt

I really don't knwo the answer to your question but the nice side of me hopes that this was done to protect your in laws from being taken advantage of (espeically the in law suffering from dementia).

Dora_the_Explorer_5

If you have explained to the bank that the affairs of one of the account holders will shortly be under the control of the court of protection I don't think the bank would have any choice other than to freeze the account until the court of protection appoint a guardian to look after their financial affairs. If the in law who is still living in their own home is not faring so well intellectually, you might want to consider whether enduring power of attorney for them needs to be arranged. Hope this helps.