Joint account- who gets the mail?

Beenie

I paid a cheque in my name into our joint account.

The cheque was returned by mail, but addressed to my husband.

On enquiry at the bank, I was told that he was the first name on the joint account and so all mail went out in his name.

I think that is really poor. What if I hadn't opened the letter because he was away or something, and I was waiting for him to return and deal with his mail.

Was I being fobbed off by the bank, or is this normal practice?

jonesMUFCforever

It is normal.

Mojisola

We!!!8217;ve got a joint account with Lloyds and all letters are addressed to both of us.

McKneff

HALIFAX current joint account is always addressed to both of us

Beenie

We both have our own current accounts, and this joint account.

My concern is that mail addressed to one account holder is theirs to open; my husband used to work away a lot, and this returned cheque would have lingered until his return.

Luckily it didn't happen in this case, but I would have thought that all mail in a joint account should be addressed 'Mr A and Mrs B Smith' for example, and not simply to Mr Smith on his own.

JuicyJesus

It depends on the bank, is the answer.

The concept of there being a "first name" on the account is an archaic - and arguably sexist - one dating back decades, but some banks still have it due to systems limitations. More modern ones address correspondence to both parties or only one party, or at least have the capability to do so. (I remember upsetting one customer who was indignant I'd spoken to his wife about their joint account when he was "first named" - we didn't actually have that concept any more and I directly told him so.)

If this upsets you (and I don't blame you if it does, the concept is a ridiculous one as in law both account holders have equal liability for any debts on, ability to instruct regarding and rights to the money in the account) then your only real option is to switch to a bank that doesn't do this. Nationwide, Halifax and HSBC have always addressed joint account correspondence to both me and my partner.

molerat

With Santander all our joint account correspondence is addressed jointly. In internet banking the joint account PDF statements in my account are addressed to both of us and in MrsM's account are addressed to her.

Beenie

Our bank is Santander.

We have three accounts (his, hers, ours) to take advantage of the £20,000 balance on which interest is paid.

My cheque was definitely paid into MY account, but it looks like the bank has made a muck-up as the cheque had a cross at the side of my name as payee, and the letter saying 'Please re-present' was sent to my husband (as though a cheque with someone else's name on it couldn't be paid into HIS account).

If other Santandr customers don't have this problem, is it something that I should raise with the bank?

Shakin_Steve

JuicyJesus wrote: »

It depends on the bank, is the answer.

The concept of there being a "first name" on the account is an archaic - and arguably sexist - one dating back decades, but some banks still have it due to systems limitations. More modern ones address correspondence to both parties or only one party, or at least have the capability to do so. (I remember upsetting one customer who was indignant I'd spoken to his wife about their joint account when he was "first named" - we didn't actually have that concept any more and I directly told him so.)

If this upsets you (and I don't blame you if it does, the concept is a ridiculous one as in law both account holders have equal liability for any debts on, ability to instruct regarding and rights to the money in the account) then your only real option is to switch to a bank that doesn't do this. Nationwide, Halifax and HSBC have always addressed joint account correspondence to both me and my partner.

How's this for sexist: My wife has had a bank account for almost thirty years, since she was at uni. Two years ago, we had reason to make it a joint account.....and guess who gets all the mail? Yes, me.

JuicyJesus

Beenie wrote: »

If other Santandr customers don't have this problem, is it something that I should raise with the bank?

Yes. It sounds like for whatever reason they tried to pay the cheque into your husband's account. And for all they know the cheque was meant for your sole account.

You should complain anyway but I can't exclude that possibility I just mentioned.

enthusiasticsaver

When we did have correspondence from Santander (we are paperless now) it was addressed to us jointly.