Elderly uncle had a stroke - aunt cannot find internet bank details

Zebuddy

Hi, does anyone know where I can get some support for my 80+ year old aunt who does not know any of the details of her husband`s internet bank account. He has had a very bad stroke is in hospital and unable to speak. We cannot find any paperwork. The credit card company have written a default letter as he has not paid his last statement, and when she has rung to try and sort out they have quoted the Data Protection Act to her and until she gets a letter from his doctor is unable to discuss with her. I do get that and we will try and sort that out. Is there a website with any rules and regulations on how these matters should be handled by the banks? Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

jonesMUFCforever

She needs to get a Power of attorney through the court of Protection.
The bank are right that they cannot discuss the account with a 3rd party.

Can the family not make a minimum payment on the card until things are a bit clearer?
Does Auntie not have an account herself?

opinions4u

Typically a bank cannot act unless there is Power of Attorney or a Court of Protection Order in place.

If you don't already have the POA you will need the latter.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/courts-and-tribunals/courts/court-of-protection/

jambosans

The interim solution to the missed credit card payment would be just to pay using the attached Giro that comes with the statement.

Medium to long term would be, as others have suggested, PoA or such like, so your aunt can act on her husband's behalf.

At which point a formal "complaint" letter outlining the mitigating circumstances that caused the missed/ late payment can be sent in by your aunt. Provided the credit card company has a half decent complaints handling team, I'd imagine they will reverse some* of the negative effects of the late payment.

*They may not go as far as removing the late payment from your uncle's credit history, as regardless of circumstance, it is an accurate reflection of the payment status. That said, I believe the file can be noted, so future creditors can see the mitigating circumstances - I'm really not sure about this, someone more clued up on credit histories will no doubt pick me up on where I'm wrong.

oscarward

jambosans wrote: »

The interim solution to the missed credit card payment would be just to pay using the attached Giro that comes with the statement.

Snag is it's an internet bank so there may not be a paper statement , OP says they can't find any paperwork. If it doesn't have a bricks and mortar presence on the high street may be difficult to pay. If I lost a statement I used to pay a Lloyds TSB card by going in to a branch and saying I wanted to make a payment to the account and putting the card down. Counter staff didn't like it 'cos they had extra work to do :rotfl:.

Suggest they talk to bank again and without the bank divulging any personal information ask what account and sort no to pay to and will the card no. on the reference be sufficent to get a payment through?

Worth a try.

YorkshireBoy

jambosans wrote: »

*They may not go as far as removing the late payment from your uncle's credit history, as regardless of circumstance, it is an accurate reflection of the payment status. That said, I believe the file can be noted, so future creditors can see the mitigating circumstances - I'm really not sure about this, someone more clued up on credit histories will no doubt pick me up on where I'm wrong.

You're quite correct, it's called a 'notice of correction'...

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/faq/AR5.html