Removing One Account Holder from Joint Account

Ms_Chocaholic

I'm reluctant to open a joint account with my mum at the present time and would rather just leave it in her sole name for the time being as there's soooooooo much to sort and I can do without this as well. Once everything else is sorted and Christmas is over I'll get round to sorting that too.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

IoweIoweitsofftoworkIgo

out of date

jonesMUFCforever

That's right - joint accounts where the mandate is either to sign goes to the survivor.
They are then free to add whoever they want to the account.
It matters not one jot whether the deceased was penniless or a millionaire.

rome_2

My mum passed away last week and I have tried to have her name taken off her joint account with my dad at the Halifax today with no luck. The first branch we went to my dad was told he had to go to a main branch as that was only a sub branch and couldn't deal with it. We went to a main branch (15 miles away) only to be told they wouldn't do it as he didn't have an appointment. The two members of staff at the so called help desk couldn't have been ruder and more unhelpful.

Do we need to have a meeting with someone to take a name from a joint account when we have a death certificate? I'm thinking of withdrawing all the money and just leaving the account with nothing in it if it will be easier.

regularsaver1

Yes rome - the reason being yours would have been a specialised appointment, to register deceased to an account - not everyone can do this, therefore an appointment avoids problems.

As said before, the branch register, but all the rest is then done at a business centre.

rome_2

I'd have no problem with an appointment if the local branch 5 minutes away where they have banked with all their lives would do it. However, making another 15 mile journey to the other branch isn't the most convenient thing to do at the moment. Other banks will accept the death certificate to be posted to them for a joint account.

regularsaver1

There are things to sign for the other account holder

when you say sub-branch - you either mean an agency or a very small branch where they would not be able to do it

oldwiring

rome, my condolencesto you. What happeed tp ypu at the main branch showed a complete lack of feeling. It come from tha scaling down of staff and de-skilling IMO. In the old days someone would have been equipped to take the details and give basic help. If the joint account mandate was either to dignm then the matter of removing tour mum's name is not the urgentest, as your dad can still operate the account.

It may seem hard, but do not act in haste to have your dad do anything. When he and you are griving is not the best time for considered decisions. Let it cool for now, but I would write a letter of complaint in due course.

rome_2

regularsaver - they called it a sub branch but I suppose it is just a very small branch. I can understand why they might not have the staff to deal with it but they should know their own company policy of needing an appointment elsewhere!

oldwiring - I completely agree with you on lack of staff and de-skilling. The two woman at the help desk (I'm not sure who they are there to help) just didn't care, they were more concerned about us interupting their conversation. I know its not urgent to remove the name but my dad just wanted to sort as much out as possible and he could have done without Halifax's unhelpful attitude.

In the future I'll be gradually changing all of my dad's accounts and other things to companies who actually have a decent level of customer service as Halifax isn't the first I've encountered this week who don't seem to care about its customers.

oldwiring

Rome. may I just say this? Help your dad, but let any decision be his, when things have settled. This is another oldum speaking.