Closing a joint account ?

theshed

My Daughter split from her partner some time ago. We recently paid to have the mortgage transferred into her sole name. Now I just find out that they had a joint bank account which my daughter is now using as her own. Ex' was asked to close but will not go bank, bank won't close without both parties ? 
I originally suggested she did a switch to take advantage of any incentive, now with the added problem of being joint account holder we just want a way out.
How can we do this ?
Thanks all.

Thrugelmir

Zero the balance and then ask the bank to freeze the account. 

born_again

Can only switch it if both parties agree.
It is not possible to use the service to switch a joint account to a sole account

MovingForwards

Open a new sole account, move all direct debit / standing orders to new account. Advise employer or whoever pays the income of new account details.
Remove name from joint account, if there's any overdraft in use this will have to be cleared before the name can be removed.

colsten

She must get her name removed from the joint account (and any other joint accounts/contracts she might have) if she does not want to retain a financial link with her ex. She should check all her credit files for the links.

jonesMUFCforever

Provided the bank has not noted a dispute (unlikely if the daughter is able to use it) then one signature should be sufficient as authority to close the account - either to sign?
If the branch won't do it - write a letter (better if the balance is brought to near zero) and send it to whatever address they have on their website.
If they still refuse start a complaint.

theshed

Thanks all. We will make appointment with bank on Monday. Meanwhile I have suggested she open another account and start transferring all payments so if they still won't close then she can at least have no 'interest' in it.
Just to the confirm, the ex partner has not paid anything in since leaving and this only came to my attention when my daughter highlighted a payment to 'Xbox' which was not hers. That is something else we are dealing with.
Cheers

MovingForwards

As the ex is using it, she needs her name off it.

She can open up an account today, online, and then start changing all direct debits, standing orders and also let her employer (DWP or whoever pays her) have the new account details (it's probably too late for this month's income).

colsten

theshed said:

Thanks all. We will make appointment with bank on Monday. Meanwhile I have suggested she open another account and start transferring all payments so if they still won't close then she can at least have no 'interest' in it.
Just to the confirm, the ex partner has not paid anything in since leaving and this only came to my attention when my daughter highlighted a payment to 'Xbox' which was not hers. That is something else we are dealing with.
Cheers

You need the T&Cs of the account. Someone will look them up quickly if you tell us which bank it is.

jonesMUFCforever

theshed said:

Thanks all. We will make appointment with bank on Monday. Meanwhile I have suggested she open another account and start transferring all payments so if they still won't close then she can at least have no 'interest' in it.
Just to the confirm, the ex partner has not paid anything in since leaving and this only came to my attention when my daughter highlighted a payment to 'Xbox' which was not hers. That is something else we are dealing with.
Cheers

An appointment in today's climate will be a waste of time IMO. (That's if you could get one this year!)
She can apply online right now to open a new bank account either with her present bank or a new one.
My previous post deals with how to close the joint account off.
If the Xbox membership was done by debit card then that CPA needs to be cancelled.

md258

Your question suggests that your daughter is using this as her 'real' account. If so, there is nothing stopping the ex logging in and removing all the money. As far as the bank are concerned it is just as much his(/her?) money as your daughters. I'd sort this as soon as possible.

Once you have put the balance to zero and payments to/from chamged, follow the steps above to freeze /close/remove your daughter's name from the account