Mint being awkward!

coffersnemesis1972

I have discovered I have a Mint Credit card I am positive I asked to close over ten years ago. It is in my maiden name and registered to an address I sold over ten years ago.
I rang to find out how to close it and was told it would have to go into my current name and be registered to my new address. The account is also ten pounds in credit. They want a certified copy oy my wedding certificate - but not certified in the usual way (Dr's/policeman etc) They will only accept a certified copy from a solicitor which will cost a fiver. However if I was a RBS customer which I am not they would let someone in branch do it.
I am a tad annoyed as it should have been closed ten years ago - and the staff memeber I spoke to was so dismissive and said "it's only a tenner" which is true but I am sure had I owed them a tenner for ten years ago they wouldn't have just written it off so breezily.

Is there no other way I can get this sorted out as I feel it is purely a cynical way to keep hold of dribs and drabs in peoples accounts! Plus if I can't prove I'm "me" to get my money back how can I prove I'm "me" in order to close this account. I don't want this account forever which it looks like I will have unless I pay £5!!!

g6jns_2

Whilst I can understand your frustration Mint have an obligation to check that you really are you. I can see no solution but to provide the proof they require. You could make a formal comaplint and when they refuse it go to their Financial Regulator who will charge them around £300 to adjudicate it. If you point this out and they are pragmatic they might just pay up and reimburse your costs just to save themselves money.

coffersnemesis1972

Hi, thanks for the response. I appreciate they have a duty to check I am who I say I am. I can provide my marriage certificate. I can provide a certified copy that is acceptable to other organisations (by a listed professional) I can even provide my current valid passport which is still in my maiden name and has my photograph on but these are not good enough for Mint.
The annoying thing is they actually want me to pay at least £5 to close an account which should have been closed over ten years ago. I know a request was sent as the closure of all accounts was overseen by solicitors during an acrimonious relationship breakdown at the time.
I think I will go through the rigmarole of a their complaints and then take it to the ombudsman purely to be as inflexible as they are.

growler834

coffersnemesis1972 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the response. I appreciate they have a duty to check I am who I say I am. I can provide my marriage certificate. I can provide a certified copy that is acceptable to other organisations (by a listed professional) I can even provide my current valid passport which is still in my maiden name and has my photograph on but these are not good enough for Mint.
The annoying thing is they actually want me to pay at least £5 to close an account which should have been closed over ten years ago. I know a request was sent as the closure of all accounts was overseen by solicitors during an acrimonious relationship breakdown at the time.
I think I will go through the rigmarole of a their complaints and then take it to the ombudsman purely to be as inflexible as they are.

Could you not approach the solicitors &, as they were involved in closing the account, ask them to do the certification free of charge?

fuzzything

It does seem unfair that they would not check the certificate for free in an RBS / Natwest branch, even though you are a customer of the bank's parent company because you still have a Mint Card account.

But if they require you to have an account at the bank you could open a basic bank account, and then get the certificate checked for free. This would get you all your money back, and be at no expense to you. Whilst costing the bank a fair amount of money in administration, postage, and paperwork.

And then you can close the account, and resolve not to bank with them again.

jonesMUFCforever

For a tenner is it worth it at ALL?? Tell them to close the account by giving to their charity of the year.

Thrugelmir

coffersnemesis1972 wrote: »

I think I will go through the rigmarole of a their complaints and then take it to the ombudsman purely to be as inflexible as they are.

Who is is being inflexible?

coffersnemesis1972

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Who is is being inflexible?

I don't see how being prepared to provide my actual marriage certificate or a certified copy by a profession accepted by other major organisations as well as a current valid passport which shows that I am the person on the account is being particularly inflexible.
Their whole attitude is it's only a tenner - and I may well have taken that approach if the person on the other end of the phone hadn't tutted at me and said those very words. Yes it's just ten pounds. My ten pounds. I'm sure if I owed Mint ten pounds they wouldn't take the approach naahh don't bother paying it back it's just a tenner. Not a very money saving approach!
Re the earlier suggestion of using the previous solicitors - I doubt after ten years they would remember me or feel inclined to do a small favour. I hopefully will never be a repeat customer! My experience of solicitors is that their cup does not runneth over with the milk of human kindness.