Joint Account Direct Debits

ben35mw

Hi everyone,

Me & my partner have just moved into our first home and are in the process of setting up direct debits for utilities, council tax etc - fun!!

We've had a joint account for a couple of years for saving purposes and we want to use this to pay our bills via direct debits. When trying to do this for the utilities there is a request to confirm that "you are the account holder and that you are the only person required to authorise debits from this account". How does this work for joint accounts? Is it possible to use a joint account and the account holder name from one of our cards, or is using a joint account a no go as technically there are two people that could authorise debits? 

Thanks for any help!

eskbanker

If that's the exact phrasing used then it does seem cumbersome - my understanding is that what it's getting at is that you're being asked to declare that one person's authorisation is enough, as opposed to 'both to sign' accounts where multiple authorisations are needed for all transactions.  I suspect that most joint current accounts will have direct debits taken from them for bills, so using a joint account for this purpose isn't an issue....

pbartlett

I assume it is the normal joint account where you are 'jointly and severally' liable on the account.

That being so, you are the only person required ... ( as apposed to the only person able)

NSG666

My now wife and I have had a joint account for years set up so either of us can solely authorise payments rather than needing both of us to sign an agreement (or rare now cheque). The wording is just to confirm this is your arrangement with your joint account otherwise you would both need to agree to the DD