Joint account - Impossible to close?

JuicyJesus

KMI wrote: »

"Before you can disassociate yourself from former financial associates, you must ensure any joint accounts have been closed and transferred to a single name."

So in this case the notice of disassociation doesn't work....

Then you need to get the bank to contact your ex-partner. Write them a letter (as in on paper) to their complaints team explaining that the ex-partner is being uncooperative, that the balance is nil, that the account hasn't been used in umpteen years and you want it closed - and that they have exactly no reason to keep it open as given the partner is uncooperative it will never be unblocked. Ask if they will contact your ex-partner; supply contact details if necessary; stress that you have tried your utmost and they are refusing.

This probably won't work, and they have every right to refuse, but it might and it is worth a chance. If it doesn't work then you are basically left with the option of telling your ex to stop being such a stupid child.

KMI

Yesterday he spent an hour on the phone to the bank. Finally he got the permission to close the account, after months of struggling and trying really everything.
Today he went to the bank to close the account, and back to the basic issue - need the second signature. Not possible to close it.
Texted to the ex. She sent a nice answer, that she refusing to close it. 8 years after the divorce.

Next step is the financial ombudsman. This is the last hope to close the account.

And a recommendation : Never ever open a joint account at the Natwest. Never.

JuicyJesus

You don't need to go to FOS yet. You need to write a letter as above. Your partner has been told one thing by the phone people and another by the branch, that is a ground for complaint in itself.

Write this in the letter. I doubt FOS will get involved yet.

grumbler

Before going to the ombudsman he has to exhaust the formal complaining procedure.

http://personal.natwest.com/personal/support-centre/how-to-complain.html

And I don't think that Natwest is different from other banks in this respect. Your OH has to blame himself for not thinking enough when getting the account frozen. He could have easily close it instead at that point.

xylophone

He could have easily close it instead at that point.

It would seem not.

https://supportcentre.natwest.com/?q=How+do+we+close+our+joint+account


If you wish to close your joint account, then both parties need to agree. If there are any regular payments on the account, or any debt to be paid off, you need to decide how these will be settled.

If there is a dispute between you then you can cancel the joint account mandate. Neither of you will be able to use the account until the dispute has been settled. Each of you will be held liable for any debt on the account.

If you would like to close your joint account, please call us or visit us in a branch.

grumbler

I stand corrected.
Indeed, Natwest is different.

xylophone

What puzzles me is that the bank doesn't choose to close it and advise both account holders that this is what will happen.

The bank does have the power to take a unilateral decision to close an account, as has been only too clear from many,many posts...:eek:

grumbler

I think it's just different department/people that have powers to unilaterally close accounts - for their own reasons.

JuicyJesus

Which is why I think he needs to write a formal complaint, get a final response and then go to FOS. And stop going to branches.

lincoln-potter

Wow glad my joint was with halifax, in order to close the joint there only one party needed to go in and request it. I went in and ten minutes later I was free.