Letter template for bank - So I can speak on someone elses behalf

andynwide

Hi
Am helping a family friend, who is being bullied by a bank and needs some help. This is not power of attorny and purely helping on one matter. Is there some kind of letter (which bank requires) that I can send them, so I can speak on his behalf (he will sign it)

This is not to have permission to touch, move, have anything to with account/his money, ONLY to speak to customer services on his behalf . He lives miles away, otherwise we could do it in same room.

From reading these forums I can help him, but cant speak to anyone on his behalf.

Thanks

FireWyrm

My guess is that even if there were such a letter, there would be no way to flag it to your average call centre worker. The best option would be for your friend to add you as a 'named' person on their account temporarily and then you could deal with it as though you were the account holder. There are downsides though. If you are linked to their debt, however briefly and however tenuously, it's possible they could start chasing you. More to the point, it depends how good a friend you are...I have a few I consider to be almost family but I wouldnt give them unfettered access to any of my accounts. You could get professional advice about a true power to act on their behalf I suppose, but this wouldnt be free.

The best option would be to offer help and advice where you can. So, you coach your friend in what to say, you write letters and send them on his behalf, but in his name, you advise where you can etc.

Tixy

If your friend has specific issues why he needs your help and cannot manage himself (for example if he has mental health issues) then he/you may be able to set up a mandate that allows you to do certain things with his account (and you can restrict other items).

Extract from the MSE mental health guide
Finally, together, you could consider a third party mandate. This lets a bank give someone access
to another’s account. The account holder specifies what the other person can and can’t do with
the account. The application procedure varies according to bank; call and ask how to apply.