trouble getting basic debit card account

sunshine76_2

hi any help would really be appreciated as I'm totally frustrated!..I've lived with my partner 10 years and we've always used his Halifax Debit card account(in his name only)...over the past year or so his health has really declined so much that I'm now his carer and i do all the shopping, paying bills etc etc...yesterday we went to the Halifax to apply to have a debit card in my name also linked to his account...however we filled in all the forms but because i don't have a passport or drivers licence they said it was iffy that they could put my name on the account!..i handed in a current Tax credits letter with both our names and addresses on,a DWP letter for my carers allowance and a bank statement from my Santander Basic atm account!....actually Santander was my first port of call as i though I'd be banking with them for 30 odd years they would be more lenient, but they actually said a flat no as i didn't have a passport!...

does anyone think i will be allowed to put my name on my partners account?

10pence

Sorry to hear about your partner's failing health, you really don't need this sort of hassle. I'll try my best to assist here, but I'm making some assumptions based on the information provided in your post, so if it's wrong just correct or ignore me.

1) When you say add you name is that to make the account a joint bank account or do you want to be able to help make decisions with his bank?

If making a joint account by completing Halifax's Additional Party form, it won't give you any access to manage partner's financial affairs due to Data Protection. You will see the money and banking transactions but you won't be able to deal with anything banking related in partners name. Also, Halifax could carry out a Credit Reference Check when making an account sole to joint, (see page 3 http://www.halifax.co.uk/savings/pdf/additional-party-form.pdf).

If you want to be able to act for your partner then you will need to get Third party access (free) or Power of Attorney (costly, but can be reduced if on means tested benefits).

As for the passport, according to Halifax's own website over ID what you have supplied should be more than sufficient (read page 4 of this .pdf http://www.halifax.co.uk/securityandprivacy/pdf/personal-information-and-identity.pdf)

Sorry for the long post.

sunshine76_2

hi yes i think thats the form i filled in!its to make the account a joint account and so i can get a debit card in my name linked to the account...after all half of the money that goes into the account is mine!