PPI Joint Account

fryster

Hi all. Had a successful claim for PPI from Natwest Bank on a joint account with my wife. Didn't realise that we had to both do a separate claim, so I have received my half of the amount but she hasn't. We phoned them up at the time and asked for her half to be paid and were pointed in the direction of making another complaint. This was after the cut off point. Did as they said and have today received a letter stating that they do not feel that there was an exceptional circumstance that prevented her from submitting a complaint before the deadline. Our main argument was that as it was a joint account, and I was the lead account holder, and the fact that we are still happily married that we didn't realise that we needed to make separate claims. Is it worth complaining to the ombudsman? The complaint was upheld. 

dunstonh

Go to the FOS.   On a current account, it is normal for either party to create transactions with the bank.   So, unless you are "both to sign", then just one of you should be able to raise a complaint and have it considered on a joint basis.  The only expection to this is if it is no longer a joint account or has closed.

fryster

dunstonh said:

Go to the FOS.   On a current account, it is normal for either party to create transactions with the bank.   So, unless you are "both to sign", then just one of you should be able to raise a complaint and have it considered on a joint basis.  The only expection to this is if it is no longer a joint account or has closed.

That's the issue. We switched the account so it's now closed. But it was a joint account at the time of the switch. Any recourse for this? Would it be acceptable that an everyday 'Joe Bloggs' like myself wouldn't realise that we both have to make a claim?

jonesMUFCforever

Something for you to check before you take further action.
Back in the day when PPI was applied on a joint loan some bank's policy was that only the first name on the loan was covered.
So it might be that she would not have been covered in any case?

Redredrobin

we he had a joint account and made a claim just before the cut off , the claim was only in my hubby’s name as he was always the main name on any loan . We are getting an amount back each .

brettcta

There was no deadline for claims. I presume you mean a complaint?

jonesMUFCforever

Redredrobin said:

we he had a joint account and made a claim just before the cut off , the claim was only in my hubby’s name as he was always the main name on any loan . We are getting an amount back each .

Great - your lender must have been one where both of you were covered by PPI,  OR you indicated on your claim that any payout would be made on a 50-50 basis.

fryster

The key point in the letter I received confirming that Natwest had upheld my complaint was "Please note, as this was a joint loan, this offer represents 50% of the premiums paid, plus statutory interest, because the other account holder is not party to the PPI complaint."
Is there anyway of my wife getting her half? Would it be reasonable for me to assume that as the main account holder who opened the account and then added my wife onto the account, and the fact that we are still married living together that the complaint should cover both of us, or should I give up on this. 

brettcta

She’d just need to call/write to them quoting the complaint reference and they should send her a cheque for her share