Closing a joint hsbc account

lindsloo

Writing on behalf of someone else.

Had a joint current account with ex at HSBC, separated with ex a year ago. Ex will not meet to close together, and is being quite aggressive in response to polite attempts to resolve. Has to be on her terms which is never.

Have tried to resolve with HSBc who have been shocking. Did an online complaint and was phoned by someone at my home branch who told me if I get a letter signed by us both and took it to a branch it would be closed. Did this by leaving letter at a mutual friends, as I work asked a mate to drop letter off to their closest branch. That branch refused to help, telephone services are saying cant be done like this and can only be done in person.

Is there any way round this? Ex is receiving charges each month and going overdrawn on the account, I will happily pay for the account to be brought to zero to end the final connection.

bryanb

Tell HSBC to freeze the account! Note- Don't ask them.

jonesMUFCforever

2 things - is account in credit or overdrawn?
Is account still being used by ex?

If account is overdrawn they will not close it.
If it is still being used then get the bank to freeze it by raising a dispute on account. This way nobody will have access to funds until BOTH of you agree.

lindsloo

Spoken to friend who says it was her spare account which he was added to for bills on their rented home. He doesn't use it, she does. It is currently £90 overdrawn which friend has offered to pay himself just to get it closed/name taken off.

He has spoken to HSBC a lot and appreciates you mentioning about freezing the account though is annoyed HSBC never told him considering how many times he has contacted them.

He contacted ex today who is drunk on a weekend away and not being very civil, have advised him to leave contact until after she has returned and tell her to get herself down the bank by midweek or it will be frozen.

Thanks for your help, he has some leverage to get this sorted now.

jonesMUFCforever

So if account is overdrawn not only will the £90 be payable but interest and charges on top as well.
Ask HSBC how much these will be and pay that in as well then tell the bank to FREEZE the account.

You don't want black marks on your credit files if ex refuses to pay it off.

benjus

I think my immediate steps would be:

1. Transfer in enough money to bring the balance to zero (including any pending overdraft charges)
2. Immediately after doing this, instruct HSBC to freeze the account

This should get your friend to a situation where there is no overdrawn balance and the account cannot be used, and they have some breathing space to try and actually get the account closed. I'm no expert on this, but I believe that if the account only requires one signature on cheques, direct debits etc, it should be possible to close it with only one signature. I certainly managed to do this with a Nationwide joint account, although I had to visit a couple of different branches before I could find one that would co-operate.

lindsloo

I will pass your advice onto him, it's really appreciated.

Due to new credit report which displays more information would the fact she goes overdrawn every month, occurring charges, be leaving negative markers on his credit report?

Thanks again

IainHL

The standard situation of different advisors/branches saying different things!

The suggestions about getting the account frozen are good ones.

However, since your original post seems to suggest there is a letter signed by both parties in existence, I would get that down to the home branch who said that was an acceptable solution.