Can't close bank account

chiefdave

Bit of a strange problem.

I have a joint account with my now ex-wife. Its a Metro bank account and was only opened (by a mortgage broker) as our mortgage was with Metro and they would only accept payments from a Metro account.

It had no other use, I had a standing order to pay the mortgage amount into it every month and they took the payment from the account.

After selling the house and repaying the mortgage, due to divorce, I have been trying to close the account with little success.

I have been told that we both have to attend a branch. However there are no branches anywhere near my location and my ex-wife now lives in America.

They are refusing to do it any other way but it is now impacting my credit rating.

What are my options, if any, here?

boo_star

You could have the account suspended but they wouldn't be able to close the account without both people agreeing to it. Agreeing may require both to sign a document but in this case they want both to be present to do it.

Have you asked if they could just remove your name from the joint account?

If the account isn't overdrawn they should be able to do it, although you may have to visit a branch to do it.

[Deleted User]

Could you try a letter (not email) to their principal address, signed by you both, requiring closure of account. I don't see how they can refuse to act.

Is the account overdrawn? If not, how is it affecting your credit rating?

xylophone

https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/Global/Metro%20Bank%20Online%20-%20January%202013/Our%20service%20relationship%20with%20Personal%20Customers.pdf

See Section 12 of above.

As you have run into difficulties with the branch, you might write to the chief executive and ask how the problem can be overcome.

boo_star

xylophone wrote: »

https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/Global/Metro%20Bank%20Online%20-%20January%202013/Our%20service%20relationship%20with%20Personal%20Customers.pdf

See Section 12 of above.

As you have run into difficulties with the branch, you might write to the chief executive and ask how the problem can be overcome.

That link doesn't work for me, but maybe it's because I'm on mobile.

grumbler

>> Our Service Relationship with Personal Customers

alexadams88

hey write a letter to your bank and address the problem. Bank must close account's of holders if they ordered them to do so.

colsten

Deleted_User wrote: »

.

Is the account overdrawn? If not, how is it affecting your credit rating?

It might be because of the financial association with someone living abroad.

If there is any negative balance, it obviously needs to be settled before the account can be closed.

A formal written complaint should get the problem solved.

grumbler

alexadams88 wrote: »

Bank must close account's of holders if they ordered them to do so.

What if the account is in debit?
And who exactly are 'they'? In this case it's just one account holder out of two.
Generally, for joint accounts this depends on the T&C, but Metro's T&C keep silence about this.

That said, I agree that a letter/complaint is the the only way to go ATM.

Aquamania

chiefdave wrote: »

Bit of a strange problem.

I have a joint account with my now ex-wife. Its a Metro bank account and was only opened (by a mortgage broker) as our mortgage was with Metro and they would only accept payments from a Metro account.

It had no other use, I had a standing order to pay the mortgage amount into it every month and they took the payment from the account.

After selling the house and repaying the mortgage, due to divorce, I have been trying to close the account with little success.

I have been told that we both have to attend a branch. However there are no branches anywhere near my location and my ex-wife now lives in America.

They are refusing to do it any other way but it is now impacting my credit rating.

What are my options, if any, here?

I would have thought all this should have been resolved as part of the divorce proceedings

As the property was also presumably in both names, then that presumably needed both your consents to sell it (unless divorce/court orders stated otherwise)

Speak to your solicitor ...

grumbler

Aquamania wrote: »

I would have thought all this should have been resolved as part of the divorce proceedings

Including closing joint account(s)?

As the property was also presumably in both names, then that presumably needed both your consents to sell it (unless divorce/court orders stated otherwise)

And? The property had been sold already without problems.