adding an extra debit card to current acc.

Jovin123

Hi All
I recently went to Barclays to ask about getting an extra debit card for my partner on my current account. They have said it will take an hours appoinmet to sort this and she will have to be a joint account holder. It seems a simple enough request to me should it really take that long?

colsten

They will want to make sure that

1. your partner is creditworthy
2. you both understand and agree to your rights and duties

Here is a guide to joint accounts: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/joint-accounts

meer53

If you get out in less than an hour you'll be lucky. They'll need to ID your partner and do a credit check. You're not adding another debit card, you're adding another person.

grumbler

meer53 wrote: »

If you get out in less than an hour you'll be lucky. They'll need to ID your partner and do a credit check. You're not adding another debit card, you're adding another person.

Generally, opening a joint account online takes just a few minutes. I don't see why converting a sole account to a joint one has to take a whole hour - unless, of course, they simply cannot work effectively in branches.

Paul_1977

Its not a joint account, its your account, you are asking for the bank to give someone else to your money and also issue a debit card.

With all the rules and regulations, I'm not surprised it takes this long.

Im also glad, its not easy for someone to be added to a current account.

colsten

grumbler wrote: »

Generally, opening a joint account online takes just a few minutes. I don't see why converting a sole account to a joint one has to take a whole hour - unless, of course, they simply cannot work effectively in branches.

Opening a new joint account can also be done online at Barclays and shouldn't take much more than 10 minutes if all the information is to hand, and the information can be verified online. http://www.help.barclays.co.uk/faq/accounts/opening/open_joint.html

Adding someone to an existing account is a somewhat different matter, and it seems Barclays have decided not to automate that process. Presumably it isn't a mainstream requirement. Other banks seem to have a similar approach, e.g. Natwest https://supportcentre.natwest.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1039/~/how-do-i-make-my-sole-account-into-a-joint-account%3F and Nationwide http://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/support-articles/apply-activate/joint-current-account

OP, if you and your partner can't afford to visit a Branch, you could try opening a new joint account online, with Barclays or another bank. You should then be able to switch your sole account to the joint account though worth asking the bank beforehand whether they'd actually do that.

Personally, I would never bother with a joint account as they can be more hassle than they are worth. They also create a financial association between the two parties which may lead to difficulties.

Ben8282

It is not necessary for it to become a joint account. Tell them that you want to authorise a third party mandate.

grumbler

Ben8282 wrote: »

It is not necessary for it to become a joint account. Tell them that you want to authorise a third party mandate.

Jovin123 wrote: »

I recently went to Barclays to ask about getting an extra debit card for my partner on my current account.

Third parties acting under a Third Party Mandate or Power of Attorney cannot hold a debit card

This is for HSBC - first result of googling for "third party mandate". Don't know about other banks.

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/PA_esf-ca-app-content/content/pws/content/personal/pdfs/40363-Third-Party-Mandate.pdf

Paul_1977 wrote: »

Its not a joint account, its your account, you are asking for the bank to give someone else to your money and also issue a debit card.

With all the rules and regulations, I'm not surprised it takes this long.

It's converting a sole account to a joint one. I don't think that there are special regulations for this and, compared to opening a joint account, the only extra action required is to make sure that the original account holder is willing to add a second account holder. I still don't see what exactly can take a whole hour if both parties are present (and why the new account holder must present at all if his/her identity can be verified remotely).

SuperHan

grumbler wrote: »

(and why the new account holder must present at all if his/her identity can be verified remotely).

Because how will you know the new account holder gives their permission to be added to the account? If their not present, they could be made jointly and severally liable to an overdraft that they know nothing about but are responsible for.

This is why when you open a joint account over the phone they ask to speak to both parties. I assume online somewhere both parties are required to tick a box to say they agree to opening the account.