Can a bank account be transferred to another person so it doesn't mess up my credit?

Anoneemoose

solentsusie wrote: »

I may be being a bit dumb here but I am going to assume, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the account is still registered at the OP's current/recent address if it is showing up on their current credit record? Otherwise surely there would also be a linked address to the ex's current abode or wherever they have registered the account to receive cards, statements, online details etc.?

How long have they been split up? Even if all statements are online only, accounts get a new card every so often, so if they have been separated quite a while then any new cards issued must be going somewhere? Looking at the cards in my purse expirations vary between 2 and 5 years.

I would also assume that basic factual information, like the OP's date of birth, gender, past addresses etc. could not be changed by the ex as this would have been recorded when the account was first opened at the age of 11. I would also do as previously suggested and check I had not set up the details of this account on another one, or perhaps check whether the OP's parents have the details hanging around anywhere as the OP was 11 years old when the account was opened - my mother keeps loads of strange stuff so this wouldn't be unheard of.

If the OP wants to stop immediate access by the ex they need to contact the bank and say their details have been compromised, they can be honest and say that the ex has access to the account and they are now separated, banks deal with this sort of thing all of the time, and as it isn't a joint account the named account holder is the person they are responsible to. The OP doesn't have to go into all the nitty gritty details if they do not want to just that the account has been compromised. In the end the bank doesn't care who pays the money back as long as they get it. The OP can then request that a new card, PIN, online details etc. are to be sent to their home address, which they need to confirm. Alternatively a number of banks will allow you to pick them up from a branch. What bank is the account with?

Essentially whether the ex has committed fraud or not, they have stolen from the OP, as this is their account and the ex has racked up an unauthorised debt on it for which ultimately the OP will be liable. Perhaps the OP needs to try and speak to the ex again and see if they can come to a resolution as to how the ex will repay the 4K? If not then the OP needs to take action, which may mean contacting the police and reporting the theft/fraud, unless they are prepared to pay the debt back themselves. If the OP or the ex needs to set up an arrangement to pay this debt off then that is when it will start to harm the OP's credit record.

This is kind of what I thought.

Candyapple

solentsusie wrote: »

I may be being a bit dumb here but I am going to assume, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the account is still registered at the OP's current/recent address if it is showing up on their current credit record? Otherwise surely there would also be a linked address to the ex's current abode or wherever they have registered the account to receive cards, statements, online details etc.?

How long have they been split up? Even if all statements are online only, accounts get a new card every so often, so if they have been separated quite a while then any new cards issued must be going somewhere? Looking at the cards in my purse expirations vary between 2 and 5 years.

Post #3

He has obviously changed a lot of details as I no longer get any mail

Good point about the address link on credit reference files, the OP could use this.

solentsusie wrote: »

I would also assume that basic factual information, like the OP's date of birth, gender, past addresses etc. could not be changed by the ex as this would have been recorded when the account was first opened at the age of 11. I would also do as previously suggested and check I had not set up the details of this account on another one, or perhaps check whether the OP's parents have the details hanging around anywhere as the OP was 11 years old when the account was opened - my mother keeps loads of strange stuff so this wouldn't be unheard of.

Yes the ex wouldn't have been able to change the "main" details so to speak. Good point re asking parents if they held onto any old paperwork for account details, may also be useful to the OP if she can't get through to the ex.

solentsusie wrote: »

If the OP wants to stop immediate access by the ex they need to contact the bank and say their details have been compromised, they can be honest and say that the ex has access to the account and they are now separated, banks deal with this sort of thing all of the time, and as it isn't a joint account the named account holder is the person they are responsible to. The OP doesn't have to go into all the nitty gritty details if they do not want to just that the account has been compromised. In the end the bank doesn't care who pays the money back as long as they get it. The OP can then request that a new card, PIN, online details etc. are to be sent to their home address, which they need to confirm. Alternatively a number of banks will allow you to pick them up from a branch. What bank is the account with?

I agree with your sentiment and do agree that the bank doesn't care who pays the money back as long as they get it back - however - the elephant in the room here is the one hurdle the OP will find difficult - avoiding getting a CIFAS marker. The moment she mentions about account being compromised and they take further details off her, their computer system will flag up and the account will most likely be suspended. Once an internal investigation has taken place and the account has been sent to the fraud department, they will then decide whether the OP has broken the T&C's of their bank account and will go ahead and report to CIFAS and send a letter out closing the bank account. The OP may not even realise they have been given a CIFAS marker as the bank is not obliged to tell them - most people find out once they apply for something and get rejected. Or their other accounts and credit cards start being closed by those providers. In which case the OP would need to send a SAR to CIFAS to find out the full details.

It's not as easy as going into the bank and saying 'Hi, my account has been compromised. I don't know any of my account details as my ex has used the account as his own for the last few years, hence why I can't show you the debit card attached to it - but can search your systems for any accounts I have by using my surname? Why does the address not match? Oh that's right, he changed it to his address. We have have split up and he has full access to the account including the online passwords. Can you cancel the debit card on the account which he has, I need to change the address to this one, I'll need a new PIN re-sent out as well and oh can I reset the online access details too? Thanks'.

solentsusie wrote: »

Essentially whether the ex has committed fraud or not, they have stolen from the OP, as this is their account and the ex has racked up an unauthorised debt on it for which ultimately the OP will be liable. Perhaps the OP needs to try and speak to the ex again and see if they can come to a resolution as to how the ex will repay the 4K? If not then the OP needs to take action, which may mean contacting the police and reporting the theft/fraud, unless they are prepared to pay the debt back themselves. If the OP or the ex needs to set up an arrangement to pay this debt off then that is when it will start to harm the OP's credit record.

The OP has no leg to stand on if the ex refuses to pay. Police won't take any action as it's a civil matter. The OP will need to come to a private arrangement with the ex for him to pay her a set monthly amount (if he can't pay the £4k as a lump sum) and if he refuses, there is nothing she can do about it. The OP should have rescinded the card and bank account from the ex when they split up, rather than allow the situation to exacerbate further. Sadly hindsight is 20/20.