joint accounts after a split.

[souldriver]

hello. I recently split with my girlfreind, who I was engaged to. The problem is we had joint bank accounts and i have asked for us to get them closed, but she keeps making excuses and putting it off. its now 3 months and i'm getting a bit miffed about it. Is there any thing i can do about it as I can't get them closed without her say so. There is nothing in the account but I still want to get them colsed so I can move on as it's like she has a hold over me while they are open.

thank you.

[stevie21]

I've a joint account and *either* of us can close it, even without the consent of the other.

If she's making excuses and you do need her consent, why not get any forms that you need, take them to her to sign and if the bank need to see her ID as well, borrow her passport for a day. That way you can go to the branch with everything that you need that'll cover you both.

[themas]

I think what you can do depends on the terms of the mandate you signed when you opened the account. This covers things like whether both of you have to sign each cheque, as well as how the account can be closed. It may also say something about whether the mandate can be varied by just one of you. You should ask the bank to show it to you so you can see exactly what it does say. Even if you can't close the account, you should alter the mandate to insist on both signatures being on each cheque if you are able to, as otherwise your ex could run up an overdraft on the account and you could be liable for it.

I've heard of people in your situation putting in writing to the bank that they will not accept any liability for any further transactions on the account and that no further payments should be made from it, but I don't know what the legal effect of this is. If you do it, keep a copy of what you write and either hand deliver it and get a signed receipt on your copy or send it by recorded delivery.

[mxyzptlk]

In a similar situation myself a few years ago. My wage was the only credit to the account. I opened a new account transferred my business to the new one then removed myself from the old account leaving the ex with the useless account. This was all conceived with the help of a freindly bank manager (remember them).

[souldriver]

thanks for all your help.