Untouchable account, mother taking my money,please help.

stalkingsissi

My mother created an account for me when in was younger. Despite being now allmost 19,she still has control of it using a passbook. I had an accident a year ago and was awarded compensation, and it went straight into this mystery account i have no control over. She regually takes money from my account,money which is mine. I know i am with Halifax and i know she uses a passbook. I have had the account for years,since i was small.
This is my money,but i know nothing about it and so walking into a branch will look rediculous. She is refusing to let me have any money,despite wanting to go to university.
Is there an age limit on these accounts,i know i cannot tell you much but i really need help.
Surely this is illegal with my age?

castle96

I assume it is in HER name ?
If so, How did a compo cheque in your name get paid in ??
Consult Halifax surely for more info

sdooley

If the account is in your name, with your mother as a signatory, you can go into the Halifax and give them your ID (including proof of address) and they have to tell you about any accounts in your name.

If the account is in your mother's name (even if in trust for you) you won't get any joy from the bank, but query why your compensation monies were able to be paid into an account which wasn't in your name?

There's no harm in going into the branch and asking...

alanq

Has the money that your mother has been taking from your account been used for your benefit? If your mother has been incurring expenses for you and you have a large pot of money it would not have been unreasonable to draw it for this purpose. If she has been spending it on other things then you have cause for complaint.

Now that you are 18, I see no reason why you shouldn't take control of the account. There is also now no obligation on your mother to support you with any of her own money.

duchy

If the account is in your name-simply go to the Halifax with proper ID-close the account. Open a new one with a card so even if she finds the card she doesn't have the pin number. Most banks will arrange for you to collect the card from branch if you tell them your postbox is "insecure". If Halifax don't do this then open the new account with a bank that does and ask Halifax to issue you with a cheque to pay in as the first deposit.
Plenty of people have accounts they have forgotten about or don't know the account number of. They will look you up by name and post-code.

pineapple123

Hi you may find this website useful
www.mylostaccount.org.uk
anyone with lost bank ,building society, national savings/investments can search for free using this website.

Pineapple.

ray123

The account may have been open in your name, with your mother as the guardian. Now you are over 18, as mentioned, go into the branch, open a new account (tick the box on the application - yes - do you have a shared letterbox - even if you dont). This will allow you to collect the debit card and pin from the branch.

While you are in the process of doing this, you should try to freeze this account. Tell them that you have lost the passbook, this should prevent mumsy taking anymore of your money.

Once you do get control of it, try not to spend it at uni!

pattycake

I am intrigued when you say your mother "created an account" for you. Is she the person who has deposited the money over the years (apart from your compensation). If she is, then surely if she is now in need of cash she has every right to draw from the account.

Just a thought.

malik999

More information needed to adequately answer this thread.

OP - 3 Questions below:

1) "My mother created an account for me when in was younger. Despite being now allmost 19,she still has control of it using a passbook."

Is the account in her name alone or is your name also on the account?.

2) " I had an accident a year ago and was awarded compensation, and it went straight into this mystery account i have no control over."

How did the money get into this account?. Was the compensation paid as a cheque made out in your name?

rb10

I would guess, given what has been said, that the account is a Halifax Save4It with the mother as trustee for the OP.

That way, the compensation cheque, paid to the OP, could still be paid into that account, but only the mother is able to withdraw.

If my assumptions are correct, then I wouldn't expect that there's any way to get hold of that money, unless the OP's mother closes the account and lets the OP open up his own account, in his own name.

You might like to open up an account of your own anyway (if you don't already have one) so that any money you do get can go in there, and you will have access to it.

taliesin

From the Halifax website: "save4it accounts cannot be held once the child is aged 17. Shortly before the child reaches 17 we will write advising of the other accounts available ...." and continues to say that unless instructed otherwise the account will be converted into either an Instant Saver or a Saver Reward on the child's 17th birthday. This account doesn't quite seem to fit the description given either.