To complain about this?

[Daisby]

Doing a financial spring clean. Called British Gas to cancel an agreement that's now been taken over by a home insurance policy.

Bloke at BG tells me that he can only speak to my DH, as he's the one named on the policy. I have categorically NEVER set up ANY household stuff with DH's name only as he is never here to speak and give me the "authority" to speak on his behalf.

I tell BG that there's no way that our account is set up in his name only. BG tell me that yes, my name is on the payment details (as in joint direct debit) but it's his name on the account and they need his permission what the actual fuck? for them to speak to me. Despite me calling and setting up the agreement. Apparently what's happened is that they have switched databases and his name has been put as the default name on the account because it was joint names on the payment mandate. Even so, they need his permission because the account is now in his name.

AIBU to find this really annoying and want to complain about the bloody unfairness of it? Why should someone get DH's permission for me to speak to them? It's 20 fucking 14.

They need your DH's permission (no matter what year it is) because it's his account.

How it became is sole account, is what you need to complain about.

Annoying, but they have to be careful you're not a spiteful ex / weird person trying to hack his account & arrange things he doesn't want.

Worra's right that the issue is they failed to set up or transfer the account properly in the first place.

Yeah I know the issue is that the account has been transferred to a sole account. Wouldn't have been an issue if the account had been transferred into my name :). As it is now I have to call back when DH is here - which is a PITA as it takes ages on the phone due to "high call volumes". I've already spent a fair amount of time on the phone this afternoon as it is.

Looking at it from the other side, what if we HAD split up and he was the spiteful ex, and I couldn't access my own gas account due to their mistake?

To be clear, we haven't split up and no one is a spiteful ex :D

I'm glad you haven't split up

I agree, it's bloody annoying and telephone calls do tend to take forever just to get through.

When you signed up, one of you had to be the primary for purely legal purposes (like when you file taxes). He must have been primary and you secondary, and your name got bumped off.

If you were the primary, they'd be doing the same thing to your DH if he tried calling. :)

So the real question is, why is your DH primary when it's "20 fucking 14"?

I can only assume that they've taken him as the "primary" from the direct debit - our joint account is Mr X Daisby and Mrs X X Daisby. That's the only time joint names have been mentioned.

Phone again and speak in a deep voice. Be Mr Daisby. And while you are on authorise them to speak to Ms Daisby in future.

Haha I might just do that, it'd appeal to my childish sense of humour. I;d be hooting while doing it though, like a child making a prank call :)

Can you not just have a male friend with you when you call to pretend to be DH not that I've ever done that

I'd just cancel the direct debit!!

I don't understand why this sort of thing can't be joint, like a bank account.

Both members of a couple should be able to talk to these companies and it all seems very outdated.

Our BG account has my name as primary, they won't speak to Mr Lily. It's about securing your personal info nothing more sinister than that. You can get it changed over.

Daisby - I know someone who pretended to be his wife on the phone to an energy company. Not sure if they humoured him or admired his brass neck but they did what he wanted.

I'm not joking - DW and I have both done it as needed. I can go from sedond tenor to first alto, no problem.

Had that happen at uni - just say "one moment please" cover phone and shout "darling, come to the phone and all to the gas companyyyyy". Then uncover phone, do a deep voice and give your authority :-)

Oh, totally beaten to it!

i complained to EDF they had DH name on the account but they sent me the bills they emailed me (all in my name) so when i rang to deal with an issue and they told me get your husband i kicked off a wee bit it was along the lines of how dare you make me pay for something then refuse to speak to me about it! they finally allowed me to deal with the issue

i think the problem is you wish to CANCEL!

Don't even bother to change your voice unless you speak to the same person. I used to take customer calls, and the amount of times you would get a female sounding voice belonging to a man and vice versa was unreal. As long as you answer the security questions correctly, no-one will dare to call you on your surprisingly high voice Mr Daisby.