Joint account closure help please

sativa_2

Hi,I have a halifax joint account with my estranged spouse.It appears this is my only financial tie to her on my credit expert report.I need to close the joint account or remove myself from it.Halifax say she must sign to allolw my removal, or close it.My wife is vexatious and refusing to sign. quel surprise.There is no joint debt on this account and in fact, it is in credit by about 10 quid. Indeed i am not in debt, however she has numerous personal debts for which i am not responsible, guarantor or any such connection. Her debts are on store cards and her own personal credit cards and she has missed many payments and received numerous debt collection letters and so on.There must be away i can terminate my agreement with Halifax? please help.My credit score is low, for no apparent reason. the only thing i can think of is that due to her connection to me through this account, my credit score is being dragged down hence i am refused for credit.Thanks in anticipation.S

thumshie

The first thing to do is to put the account into dispute so your ex can't run up a huge OD which your both liable for. This thread hopefully explains a bit more:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1877223

Bu tto close it does look like you need both signatures. as you've asked your ex to sign I'd freeze the account quick to ensure she doesn't put it overdrawn!

BenL

If the account is "either signature to operate" you should be able to close it on just your say so.

Removal of a customer usually will take 2 signatures as both have to agree to handover/takeover the running of the account.

Write a closure letter to the head office/administration centre with minimal details and hopefully they will just action it.

They are probably understaffed and overstretched as well so it should help.

jonesMUFCforever

BenL wrote: »

If the account is "either signature to operate" you should be able to close it on just your say so.

Removal of a customer usually will take 2 signatures as both have to agree to handover/takeover the running of the account.

Write a closure letter to the head office/administration centre with minimal details and hopefully they will just action it.

They are probably understaffed and overstretched as well so it should help.

No they won't and even if an account is either to sign both parties have to sign to close an account.

inca_2

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

No they won't and even if an account is either to sign both parties have to sign to close an account.

You can close an account if it is either to sign on just the one signature.

rb10

Phone up Halifax now, and inform them that there is a dispute between the account holders, and that you do not wish for any further transactions to take place on the account. They should freeze the account on your request.

Your credit record will now be linked with hers, through having the joint account. To prevent this from having a negative impact on any applications that you make in the future, contact the three credit reference agencies (Equifax, Experian and Call Credit) and request a disassociation between you and her.

jonesMUFCforever

inca wrote: »

You can close an account if it is either to sign on just the one signature.

I beg to differ.

jambosans

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

I beg to differ.

23.2 If you have a joint account you can only operate your account on an either to sign basis. This means we will accept the instructions or signature of any one of you. For example, we may:
[...]
• allow any of you to apply for an overdraft or close your account.

Taken from the Halifax Current Account Terms & Conditions (Pg. 24).

jonesMUFCforever

jambosans wrote: »

Taken from the Halifax Current Account Terms & Conditions (Pg. 24).

I stand corrected then with Halifax - other banks operate differently.

never-in-doubt

Weird as it is when my wife and I wanted to close our joint account they told me that we'd both have to sign, I refused gave the cards back and walked. I think to this day it may still be open but I don't care, the hassle for us both to go into branch is too much and not worth it...

I wonder if these terms have been recently updated? I'm speaking last year they refused to close my account so still recent(ish)...?

never-in-doubt

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

I stand corrected then with Halifax - .

I don't know mate, i've just posted about HBOS - me thinks it is quite recent cos I had the exact same problem only last year. Maybe they have changed, but I do know last year they definitely wanted us both there to close the account, even though it was an either/or signatory set-up. :mad: