Bank Lied to Prevent Me Closing Account - What Rules or Legislation Does This Breach?

eskbanker

peskydaisydoodle said:
I'd also like to know why it is they can't transfer the money directly to me or write a cheque in my name only - when for the past 20-odd years I was the only person making transactions on the account. 

Because it's not your money, it's your son's....

warby68

Conspiracy and some complex set of fibs to mess you about is the least likely description of what happened.
One mistake which was probably to do with not completing the required formalities when your son came of age was then compounded because an 'exceptional' situation had been created. It is far more likely that the staff member was trying to work around the problem and get you what you wanted because she knows you. That proved impossible. 
For the purposes of your complaint you need to be sure which of these so-called lies were recorded and which were face to face as you mention both calls and face to face meetings and most of your dealings seem to have been in branch.
You probably have grounds for a complaint based on inconvenience and incorrect information. You almost certainly don't have grounds for one of deliberate conspiracy and complicated deception for unknown purposes. Its possible also that the closing branch staff no longer had a job so perhaps the level of interest when you went in the near the end was not what it might have been, especially as seems likely you persisted with refusing to obtain ID. That action looks more and more suspicious when you are operating a third party account. Yes, if you triggered security concerns, staff would not be able to tell you this.
You cannot have it every way - you do not want to take formal control of your son's affairs yet you do want a bank account you can operate - its a little contradictory. It would protect you in the long run if you did things one way or the other. You say your son has no interest in ID and not bothered about a bank - you defend the first but think the second should be no problem on your say so.
You may not have meant to and I'm sure this is all above board and just a mutual lack of understanding but you probably did appear suspicious, especially when it became clear your aim was to continue operate bank accounts on behalf of your son but without ID or apparent authority, if that's what happened.

Apodemus

eskbanker said:

peskydaisydoodle said:
I'd also like to know why it is they can't transfer the money directly to me or write a cheque in my name only - when for the past 20-odd years I was the only person making transactions on the account. 

Because it's not your money, it's your son's....

Yes, just to expand on that, the bank may (quite reasonably) be concerned about the legal distinction between you acting as a trustee for assets owned by a minor and you acting as trustee for assets owned by an adult.

barnstar2077

I apologise as I haven't read all of the above posts, but you can get an ID from here reasonably easily.

https://www.citizencard.com/

I used them myself recently.  I paid for the faster version, it arrived earlier than expected.

From reading your original post it just sounds like a misunderstanding to me.  You are assuming someone has lied, when they could just be incompetent.

elsien

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity or incompetence. 

colsten

barnstar2077 said:

I apologise as I haven't read all of the above posts, but you can get an ID from here reasonably easily.

https://www.citizencard.com/

I used them myself recently.  I paid for the faster version, it arrived earlier than expected.

AFAIK, banks require a government issued document for proof of ID. Citizencard is not a government agency but a private company. Are you saying you used your citizencard to open a bank account, and if so, with which bank?

barnstar2077

colsten said:

barnstar2077 said:

I apologise as I haven't read all of the above posts, but you can get an ID from here reasonably easily.

https://www.citizencard.com/

I used them myself recently.  I paid for the faster version, it arrived earlier than expected.

AFAIK, banks require a government issued document for proof of ID. Citizencard is not a government agency but a private company. Are you saying you used your citizencard to open a bank account, and if so, with which bank?

No, I haven't needed to open a new bank account for some time.  You can use them as proof of ID to fly anywhere inside the UK though, like a limited passport.  The smart thing would seem to be to check what the bank will accept first I guess.  It has been useful for me, but best to check if it will definitely work in this instance.