Removal of a joint account holder

Mark_t

My (ex) partner has not used our joint account since we split up about 14 years ago. I still use the account. Because of the account my partner is still listed as a 'connection' on my credit reports. I would like to remove her name and she would have no objection. However - I do not want to / cannot contact her. Online information from my bank (Nationwide) indicates that I cannot remove her name without her consent. I intend to speak to the bank but would be interested if anyone had achieved a solution to a similar problem. Thank you.

elsien

I would suggest  transferring everything to a different account in your sole name. Then freeze the account so that the partner can’t start using it again and run up an overdraft. Which would seem very unlikely after this length of time, but best to be safe. 

It won’t remove the connection, but it’s not very sensible to have a joint account still running with a ex-partner because legally they can still access the account and any money in it. 

If there is no money in it, and it’s no longer being used, would they then allow it to be closed with only one signature?

xylophone

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/current-accounts/help/get-joint-current-account/

Make sure that you remove all funds/DDs/SOs etc before freezing the account.

But since

 I would like to remove her name and she would have no objection.

surely it is worth the attempt to contact her (perhaps through a third party)?

mab3000

You won’t be able to remove her from a joint account yourself as she would need to be in agreement to do this and inform Nationwide herself. Even if you did manage to get her to ask Nationwide to remove her from the joint account, it might not be as simple as you think. For example with my experience from another bank, if there is an overdraft facility on the account, then the person on the account would have to be re assessed for the affordability to have the overdraft facility on their own, which might cause delays and issues. 

To be honest, if I was in your situation, I would move everything that goes on in that account to another account in your name only. Then close the account, which in most cases only requires 1 account holder to action. 

Bear in mind if you go down the route of freezing the account or put the account into dispute, that would then require joint agreement on most things that you may want to do with the account. Including closing it 

born_again

Mark_t said:

My (ex) partner has not used our joint account since we split up about 14 years ago. I still use the account. Because of the account my partner is still listed as a 'connection' on my credit reports. I would like to remove her name and she would have no objection. However - I do not want to / cannot contact her. Online information from my bank (Nationwide) indicates that I cannot remove her name without her consent. I intend to speak to the bank but would be interested if anyone had achieved a solution to a similar problem. Thank you.

Best bet open a sole account, & stop using the joint.

In reality you have been lucky. At any point, she could have emptied the account & left you high & dry...

If you have had no contact, how do you know that there will be no objection?

xylophone

Then close the account, which in most cases only requires 1 account holder to action. 

There is a link to closing the account in the NW web page referenced in my post above.

35har1old

xylophone said:

Then close the account, which in most cases only requires 1 account holder to action. 

There is a link to closing the account in the NW web page referenced in my post above.

You fill out a paper request all the ex partner has to do is sign it you then take to branch and then after roughly seven days it converted to a sole account.
You are the only one required  to be present.
So you could just post the application to her to sign 
.

elsien

Have you missed the bit where the OP said they didn’t know where the ex is anymore? 

Shakin_Steve

elsien said:

Have you missed the bit where the OP said they didn’t know where the ex is anymore? 

Read previous posts before commenting? It'll never happen.

Mark_t

Thank you everyone - I think there is enough information here to help me make a decision.

SiliconChip

I've never had a joint account so I'm unsure what is and isn't permitted, but might the OP be able to remove the money as described previously and then remove their own name from the joint account, thereby breaking the association with the ex?