Voting rights on joint accounts

Hungerdunger

My wife and I hold several Building Society accounts in joint names.

Over the last few weeks I have received six notifications of AGMs and invitations to attend the meeting or register a vote on the various motions.

However, all the correspondence has been addressed to me personally, and none to my wife, meaning that we have just one vote between us. I would have thought that each holder of a savings account should be able to have their say in the running of the business, but it appears not.

I know that usually these meetings are a formality, just to receive reports and re-elect directors, but as one of our accounts is with the Britannia, we have a chance to vote on the merger with The Co-Operative.

Can anyone tell me what the legal position is?

opinions4u

The first named on an account is the voting member, as laid down by the Building Societies Act 1986.

No idea if that legislation has been superceded, but I doubt very much that this element would change.

Where societies demutualised, the first named was always the one allocated the shares.