Banks and Power of Attorney

Beenie

I have finally obtained POA for my elderly mother. She only has a state pension and top-up benefits, which I manage via a DWP appointeeship account.

The problem is with TSB and her current account. She lives alone with the help of carers, but I have been somewhat alarmed to see that her credit card, cheque book and passport have gone AWOL.

She has dementia, and it could be that she has hidden or misplaced these items, however it would be good to be able to view her account or see copy statements to see if monies are being withdrawn. If this is the case, it isn't her as she is housebound and hasn't been to the bank herself since October last year when I took her into town.

I have written to the branch and enclosed a copy of the POA but have not had a reply. I am unable to get through on the phone (the last time I tried they were still dealing with the IT fallout and irate customers). We don't live near each other and it is impossible to get an appointment at her branch without telephoning first (but this is almost impossible as described earlier).

What should I do for the best?

Vortigern

If you make an appointment with your local branch of TSB they may be able to deal with your POA and arrange access to your mother's account.

You'll probably need to take proofs of name and address for both yourself and your mother, together with the POA.

Alternatively use the POA to open an account with a bank of your choice, local to you, then use the current account switch service to move your mother's account from TSB to there. Again, you'll need to make an appointment both for the account opening and for the switch.

I operate a Halifax account with POA. They allow me a chequebook, a debit card and full online access.

Probably best to cancel that credit card. Write to the CC company and get your mum to sign the letter.

Zanderman

To get access to her bank via PoA you'll need to visit the bank - by appointment (don't just turn up unannounced as you'll need to see someone who understands PoA) - in person, with id and the PoA (original or certified copy). I'm not sure writing to them will do.

Your local TSB branch may be happy to do this, as Vortigern suggests. But otherwise you'd need to visit your mother's branch. And, if that's the only way, that's the only way!

Get card, online and phone access etc for yourself. Cancel the existing cards and cheque book. Check all is well on the account - cancel anything that isn't ok - and proceed from there.

I have PoA access for my mother at Lloyds and at NatWest - each had a differing process so I imagine TSB may have their own way too.

msallen

When I was registering a POA with banks etc for my mother I found that it was usually a lot easier to open a new account with the POA than get it applied to an account she already had, so as advised above I would do that and then switch the TSB account to wherever you open one.