bank wont give us details of a debt!

atypicalblonde

Hi everyone
I have posted this over on the bank accounts board as well but thought there was no harm putting it on here to... hope no-one minds.....

My OH has an old joint account with an ex, and despite our best efforts the HSBC has never let him remove his name from it without her consent (she is completely estranged from us and even her family have no idea where she is now).

We have had a letter for a final demand for £500 from the bank, which she has run up in debt, and between us OH has decided to cut his losses (and the financial association) and pay it off, even though it will be a huge financial struggle for us. However, the problem is this... OH has no details on the account at all as the dreaded ex had them all - he has never even had a card for it. We have tried to call the HSBC about this but you need your sort code etc to even be able to get through to speak to someone. He took some photo ID into a branch but they refuse to give him the details either which I find strange, and the letter demanding repayment has no account details on it either, no details of what the debt actually is or anything. To top it all, the lady at the branch said that even if he does pay the money off there is still no way of removing his name from it without her consent, even if the account is in credit.

Please can someone advise me on this, we want to take steps forward to deal with the matter and put it behind us, and despite our willingness to pay just seem to be banging our head against brick walls. Thanks for reading x

prudryden

You may want to insist on going into the bank and speaking to the senior manager of the bank. He may be able to help and suggest some ideas.

You

Storm

He can ask for a copy of the original credit agreement from the bank by writing & enclosing £1 postal order - this is under the Freedom of Information Act (there's template letters somewhere on the site!)

I think he needs to speak to someone senior though, especially as there's no way of him getting in touch with his ex. If you get no joy from the bank it may be worth taking legal advice through the CAB

atypicalblonde

thanks, will try and arrange this... OH works 12 hour days so it is hard for him to get into a branch.. wish you could call them direct to book appointments... impossible to do with HSBC....

atypicalblonde

Storm wrote:

He can ask for a copy of the original credit agreement from the bank by writing & enclosing £1 postal order - this is under the Freedom of Information Act (there's template letters somewhere on the site!)

I think he needs to speak to someone senior though, especially as there's no way of him getting in touch with his ex. If you get no joy from the bank it may be worth taking legal advice through the CAB

Thanks Storm, will there be a credit agreement for an overdraft facility (probably a daft question, please dont laugh) x

Optimist

You will have great difficulty getting the bank to amend the joint account to single account without both account holders agreeing. What you can possibly do is get the bank to make the account "both to sign" so that your OH ex can not use it without his signature.

atypicalblonde

Optimist wrote:

You will have great difficulty getting the bank to amend the joint account to single account without both account holders agreeing. What you can possibly do is get the bank to make the account "both to sign" so that your OH ex can not use it without his signature.

Thanks Optimist, is a 'both to sign' requirement something that can be authorised by 1 party only?

Anyone know where the template is for asking for a copy of the credit agreement.... cant find it? xx

prudryden

You can also get a lawyer to put an official notice in the papers stating substantially "that you are not liable for ex-wife's debts." Also, same letter to the bank. Lawyer would probably charge a flat fee, but have no idea what.

atypicalblonde

prudryden wrote:

You can also get a lawyer to put an official notice in the papers stating substantially "that you are not liable for ex-wife's debts." Also, same letter to the bank. Lawyer would probably charge a flat fee, but have no idea what.

thank you, will look into this too. Really wish it could be easier to deal with but you live and you learn.

regularsaver1

sounds like the reason they want her sig is so that she is applying for the account in her sole name, which may not happen due to the debt

i am suprised that they have his address details? - and that the letter had no account numbers or ref numbers on there