HSBC - Removing husband from account. Please advise.

mrstodd3172004

Without getting into it too much, I had my own account with HSBC, some years ago added my husband's name to it - this didn't 'change' the account - but now he has left, and I want his name off it. He never uses/used the account, only my money goes in and out. Is it do-able, or am I looking at shutting down and starting again? Don't want to go and speak to bank until I know what I'm doing, as I've heard a lot about banks freezing accounts if they believe there is trouble! I've got enough going on without that too!!

YorkshireBoy

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/PA_esf-ca-app-content/content/pws/content/personal/pdfs/general-tcs.pdf (See Part D, condition 22.8)

The account will have to be closed. Although the good news is that you alone can do it (condition 22.1, 3rd bullet details).

henm2

Your best bet is to open a separate account for yourself at HSBC. If asked say it is for household expenses.
A little later again go into HSBC and transfer the balance and direct debits/standing orders to that account leaving joint account with a nil balance.
Get your salary/wage redirected to the new account.
HSBC will eventually close the joint account as a dormant account

tiger_eyes

henm2 wrote: »

Your best bet is to open a separate account for yourself at HSBC. If asked say it is for household expenses.
A little later again go into HSBC and transfer the balance and direct debits/standing orders to that account leaving joint account with a nil balance.
Get your salary/wage redirected to the new account.
HSBC will eventually close the joint account as a dormant account

Not to sound paranoid, but as long as the joint account is open, the OP is jointly liable if the husband racks up a massive overdraft on that account, right?

Archi_Bald

henm2 wrote: »

Your best bet is to open a separate account for yourself at HSBC.

Or at an entirely different bank. Transfer of funds can probably be done online, and any DDs and SOs as well as incoming payments can also be transferred by the OP herself. No need to go anywhere near a HSBC Branch if she has online access.

When everything has been transferred, she should close the account.

YorkshireBoy

Archi_Bald wrote: »

...any DDs...can also be transferred by the OP herself.

OP, this is an important point.


You won't be able to use any new bank's 7-day CASS (current account switch service) to switch a joint account into a new sole account, and this is why you will have to contact the DD originators yourself. You should do these one-by-one the day after they take their respective payments.

antrobus

tiger_eyes wrote: »

Not to sound paranoid, but as long as the joint account is open, the OP is jointly liable if the husband racks up a massive overdraft on that account, right?

Well yes. However, given that the husband "never uses/used the account" and now "want his name off it", I suspect that it's the paranoid husband who is concerned that he would be jointly liable if the OP racks up a massive overdraft on the account.

Joint and several works both ways you know.:)

Archi_Bald

She said she wants his name off.

Mishomeister

OP, if you open one more account with HSBC you can just transfer direct debits on their self service machines in the branch without having to contact anyone except people who pay to you