Closing joint account question - Halifax

sammy115

Advice would be welcomed from anyone out there. My colleague had a joint (little used) bank account with her boyfriend. They have split up but he keeps using the account taking it overdrawn.

My colleague has tried to close the account but they won't let her unless he goes in and signs a form too. He won't. She has managed to get them to put a stop on the account for now and she is in possession of both the debit cards on the account.

What should she do. She does realise that she will have to probably pay the money back herself (its not an enourmous amount) and try to get it back of him, but she is getting frustrated at the banks 'inability' to help her get out of this situation.

grumbler

sammy115 wrote:

... She does realise that she will have to probably pay the money back herself (its not an enourmous amount)

Unfortunately, she is jointly responsible for his spending.

but she is getting frustrated at the banks 'inability' to help her get out of this situation.

Probably, it is worth referring them to

Bank of Scotland, Bank Accounts, June 2006, Special conditions :

22.2 If you have a joint account, we may choose to accept the
instructions or signature of either of you. For example, we may:
• take out of your account the amount of a withdrawal made
by either of you; or
• allow either of you to apply for an overdraft (if your account is a Bank of Scotland Current Account) or close your account.

regularsaver1

The problem is they can;t get involved in disputes as such - she shuold get legal advice though

sammy115

Thanks for the link, she has gone in after work to pay off the overdraft and try to close the account.

Will let you know how she gets on

jonesMUFCforever

She won't be able to close it just makes sure that the account is blocked (or frozen) so that no transactions can go through the account.
As long as the overdraft is paid off before this happens then no single party to the account can gain access and she can forget about it.

sammy115

She couldn't close it but armed with a little evidence of rights the bank manager waived all the charges. He wouldn't close the account but the balance was made up entirely of charges. She then got her ex to sign a form to close the account. Jobs a good un!

Thanks for all your help