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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How easy is it to remove a name off a joint bank account?

66 replies

iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:08

Really want my name off my joint account with my husband.

I want to open a new account asap and leave that one. He will still use it just for him.

I'm with HSBC

Anyone know if I can just remove my name without getting him involved?

OP posts:
Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:38

@Hankunamatata

You need to go together and take your name off it. Or you just open your own account
I'm going to open a new account anyway, I'm just not keen on my name still being on our joint one. I suppose it's not something I need sorting asap
OP posts:
TotallySuper · 30/10/2021 21:39

*open your own one NOT joint one

TotallySuper · 30/10/2021 21:39

I would sort it ASAP OP as if he makes it overdrawn etc it'll impact you too and show as your debt.

Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:41

@TotallySuper

I would sort it ASAP OP as if he makes it overdrawn etc it'll impact you too and show as your debt.
Yes I realise this but it's not so easy when you have left an abuser.

Ill just have to prepare myself. I have absolutely zero chance of getting him to the bank though

OP posts:
RandomMess · 30/10/2021 21:41

You need to ensure that the joint account cannot go overdrawn.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 30/10/2021 21:43

Open your own account and get your salary paid into it and transfer your own bills. This is easy. I have done it with First Direct.

Then you tell them you’re splitting and want your name taken off. It then becomes his problem to get the account unfrozen and sort out his own bills.

Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:46

@RandomMess

You need to ensure that the joint account cannot go overdrawn.
It can't at the moment. There is no overdraft on it. We had a bad case of fraud a while ago and they made sure we could never go over drawn. We never have been overdrawn and the bank would contact me if it did.

However yes I do need to be very careful. I realise that.

I'll sort it, one step at a time.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 30/10/2021 21:48

Well that's the main thing sorted already then thankfully!

Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:48

@WiseUpJanetWeiss

Open your own account and get your salary paid into it and transfer your own bills. This is easy. I have done it with First Direct.

Then you tell them you’re splitting and want your name taken off. It then becomes his problem to get the account unfrozen and sort out his own bills.

Yep I'm going to set up a new account in the morning.

It's a scary process that's all - I shouldn't be so scared of him but I still am

OP posts:
Chocolatewheatos · 30/10/2021 21:51

DH recently took his off his exes, they told him if it was overdrawn he'd have to give half the money but otherwise they just took his name off. He explained she'd been abusive so it was vital she didn't get any info but they said she'd just get a letter saying he'd been removed with no further info.

TotallySuper · 30/10/2021 21:51

I appreciate what you're saying but to go to a random branch and close the account will take hardly any time or effort and yes it will inconvenience him but if he can't contact you then does it matter? You can do this x

BeyondMyWits · 30/10/2021 21:55

I had no problems at all. My complete arse of an ex left. We still had a joint account with some cash in. I asked my bank to remove my name, he could have it and whatever was in the account. I didn't have his address, but the bank obviously did. They sent me something to sign and sorted it all out really smoothly without me having to be in contact with him at all.

Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:56

@TotallySuper

I appreciate what you're saying but to go to a random branch and close the account will take hardly any time or effort and yes it will inconvenience him but if he can't contact you then does it matter? You can do this x
We have a child together so we still need to be in contact unfortunately.

And for him it will be a huge deal. He is an abuser and I've left him so doing something that I need him to do will be an absolute no.

OP posts:
Kanfuzed123 · 30/10/2021 21:57

You need to go into branch, you can convert a sole account to a joint account on the phone but I’m not sure if both parties would need to be present (not my area) it’s also quite long on the phone.

Go to a branch and explain the situation and they should be able to do it for you there and then. You can’t make appointments rn, it’s a walk in service. Do you have your own sole account? Bring ID and address verification with you just in case x

Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 21:59

@BeyondMyWits

I had no problems at all. My complete arse of an ex left. We still had a joint account with some cash in. I asked my bank to remove my name, he could have it and whatever was in the account. I didn't have his address, but the bank obviously did. They sent me something to sign and sorted it all out really smoothly without me having to be in contact with him at all.
That sounds so plain sailing and how it should be!

Getting an ex who has caused years of absolute hell to go and do something to enable me to be free of him....absolutely no chance

OP posts:
Original poster
iveleft40 · 30/10/2021 22:01

@Kanfuzed123

You need to go into branch, you can convert a sole account to a joint account on the phone but I’m not sure if both parties would need to be present (not my area) it’s also quite long on the phone.

Go to a branch and explain the situation and they should be able to do it for you there and then. You can’t make appointments rn, it’s a walk in service. Do you have your own sole account? Bring ID and address verification with you just in case x

Yes we had to go to the bank when setting it up with his own ID.

I am setting up my new account tomorrow. I'll obviously wait until that's all up and sorted, move my direct debits over and money in the account that's mine and then have a trip to the bank as soon as my new one is up and running.

I'll call my bank in the morning so I can see what I'm up against. I want to start a new account with the same bank too.

OP posts:
TotallySuper · 30/10/2021 22:12

Ideally you'll want to choose a different bank
Banks often confuse things if you have an account in one address and another in a different address etc. I'd start fresh with a new bank to avoid your ex finding out too much by mistake.

operatinginstructions · 30/10/2021 22:15

First Direct wouldn't remove a name off a current account, we had to close it and start again with individual accounts.

BabyofMine · 30/10/2021 22:52

I personally would first of all open a new account at a completely different bank. That prevents your account being linked in some way to the joint account. If your employer if you have one of your new account, benefits people if you gets benefits. Then change your own DDs to the new account. Make sure that is all in place then you are not without access to your money. Then go into the bank with the joint bank account with your ID and ask to remove yourself from the account, if it’s not as simple as just removing you and the account gets frozen at least your finances aren’t impacted.

BabyofMine · 30/10/2021 22:52

*inform your employer and the benefits people I meant to say

Doomscrolling · 30/10/2021 22:56

Worked at a bank for years.

You can’t be removed from the account exactly, they’ll freeze the account (so neither party can withdraw everything and scarper) and open individual accounts for you.

Kanfuzed123 · 30/10/2021 23:04

@iveleft40 call early to avoid traffic.

I don’t think you can cass switch from a joint to a sole account so, it’s a good shout to stay within hsbc, avoid delays in account opening as they already have ID.

Trying to think of the quickest way to do it for you. It’s quicker to open an account on line but youd have to wait for your account to be set up to swap your DDs over. Think it’s the same over the phone actually not 100% though. 7 day account opening time xx

frazzledasarock · 30/10/2021 23:11

HSBC are brilliant for this.

When I got divorced I went round asked if I could remove my name from the account as I was getting divorced and they just closed the account completely. It had a 40p overdraft on it.

I’d withdraw whatever money was mine into my own personal account and then walk into the bank with a passport to prove identification and ask to have your name removed from the joint account as you are getting divorced and no longer have joint finances.

Ex was also incredibly abusive. So I know how this feels.

Barclays Bank on the other hand we’re utter arseholes and refused to remove my name or close the joint account despite there being no money in the account. I ended up writing to the CEO of Barclays asking if he knew the procedure to remove my name from the bank account as none of the staff at the bank could. My name was removed from the account within two weeks of that email.

frazzledasarock · 30/10/2021 23:14

I would definitely open an account with a different bank though not the one with the joint account.

ChristmasPlanning · 31/10/2021 11:04

You will need him to agree to you coming off the joint account. A document needs to be signed, though completely normal to sign it separately to accommodate abuse/breakdown of relationship. There will be a maximum number of days both parties need to visit branches to sign the documents or the first signature will become invalid.

If both parties are not agreeable then the account needs to be frozen under dispute. That will freeze the balance and any payments.

Definitely important OP for you to either freeze the account or be removed especially incase of abuse. Otherwise the joint product will continue to link you as associates on your credit files. More importantly you would be liable for any debts incurred on the account ie he could add an overdraft & immediately withdraw all funds

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