Marital Breakup and Bank REFUSED to freeze joint account

MPH80

hotlioness wrote: »

No, no legally, but the majority of banks follow this procedure. The point is the devastating consequences there decision had on my whole life.

I've done a scan of their personal banking terms and conditions - they don't mention divorce or breakup in there at all.

I think you should be asking for quite a bit in compensation personally given the direct consequence it had.

However, you also need to be aware that you, yourself, point out that your ex-partner took 2.5 years to clean you out. You could have, during that time, opened new accounts - changed payments options, moved your business accounts etc. Left both the personal and business accounts at 0 and walked away. All of those options were open to you.

So I think if you manage to get some of it back - you'll be doing well.

M.

haras_nosirrah

The ex must have thought all his Christmas' had come at once. Op why didn't you open a new account in just your name and have all money and payments going to and from the new account? If you knew he was taking the money why keep putting money in there for 2 and a half years? I think you also have to take responsibility for this as you knew he was taking the money and kept putting more money in there. As it was a joint account he has as much right to the money as you

POPPYOSCAR

This happened to me (a long time ago now).

Bank refused to close a joint account so I just withdrew all the money.

innovate

Seems a lot of people don't understand the difference between suspending/freezing a joint account and closing it.

PeacefulWaters

It's almost a face palm moment this one.

There is a difference between freezing and closing. There is a difference between law, regulation and the internal procedure of the bank.

I'd also missed the "over 2.5 years" part when skimming the original post. You sat there, in all seriousness, and didn't withdraw any funds for yourself while somebody else milked the account dry bit by bit?

I know relationship issues can cloud judgement and thinking. My assumption is that there are numerous other things that gave been going on in the background around finances too.

The complaints process is clear. Follow it. But the bank may defend itself by suggesting you've made the problem infinitely worse by doing nothing in the past 30 months and the FOS may support that view (if, after such a period, they will take the case on).

Gromitt

Drained the account over 2.5 years? Wow, that's being kind. When I left the missus, she drained the account the same DAY! Refused to give me any money whatsoever despite the thousands I've spent. I don't really care though, my names still on the property and she can't afford it herself, so she'll either have to sell it or let it get repossessed. Either way, I'll get a lot more than I requested to remove my name from everything. Females are strange creatures.

sax11

Gromitt wrote: »

my names still on the property and she can't afford it herself, so she'll either have to sell it or let it get repossessed.

If it gets repossed there are surely going to be implications for you, best sell it.

Gromitt wrote: »

Females are strange creatures.

They certainly are.

Gromitt

sax11 wrote: »

If it gets repossed there are surely going to be implications for you, best sell it.

If I could, I would. I've no problem throwing her out on the street the way she's acted, but her name is also on the property and she's refusing to sell it. The alternative is legal action, but I'm hoping she'll see sense and agree the sale rather than wasting money on solicitors and court costs (or killing both our credit reports). No such luck so far though!

pooch

hotlioness wrote: »

I have put in a complaint to First Trust Bank. During a marital breakdown, my partner left. I requested to the bank to have the joint account frozen but they refused saying they needed both signatures. My partner drained the account, rent for properties that I owned were going in to pay the mortgage company, and over a 2.5 year period my partner cleaned me out. I pleaded with the bank to freeze the account but they said NO. The result was a day in court for attempted house repossession. My partner cleaned the business account for £70,000, my business went bust plus lots of bank charges. Only after the day in court and no money left in the account did they close the account. I have searched the internet and found that the bank should have froze the account! I have written to First Trust with a complaint and threatened to report them to the ICO. My question is, what should I be requesting to happen in my complaint? Compensation and bank charges refunded? Would they compensate?

Perhaps you should have got in first, whilst you had the opportunity?

Still, I'm sure they will compensate you for allowing your estranged partner to beat you to it.

:cool: