Order of our names changed on joint bank account

[Maresmaid]

Many years ago my husband and I opened 2 joint bank accounts. One was set up in joint names with his name first and the other in joint names with my name first so that we could easily identify which account was which. The account with his name first received our salaries and transferred a regular amount to the account with my name first which then paid out all the various household dd’s. I recently needed to set up a new standing order to the account with my name first and discovered that the names have been switched round by the bank without our knowledge so both accounts now show my husbands name first.

I am fully aware that this makes no difference to my legal claim to the money in the account and it’s just really an admin issue, but it’s made me feel like making a fuss and insisting they change it back. I deal with the family finances, I use the mobile and banking app, when something needs paying husband asks me to log on and do it, so technically I am the primary user and i feel like making a stand about the sexism of automatically showing husbands name before wife’s.

Am I being unreasonable if I complain to the bank?

it is probably the alphabetical thing. But best to check there is no ‘lead’ assigned to him I think

On our first mortgage renewal I was surprised the bank manager didn't speak or seem to be interested in talking through with me the new rates. He then invited my spouse into his office to sign paperwork. I asked don't you need me as well. He said no your name isn't on the mortgage! It was and I soon put him right.

A few years later and with the same bank my name was erroneously added to my spouse's solo bank account. I tried numerous times to have it removed explaining I'd never signed to have it added in the first place. I was told only my spouse could do that.

I moved banks!

Not really sure why you've directed your response to me. It's totally irrelevant to my post.

Still have to get the hang of these computer thingies, it seems ...

😎
^

I wasn't trying to suggest in any way that you are a nutter!!!

I agree that the 'all in capitals' is annoying, even just from an aesthetic pov if nothing else.

Yes! Mr comes before Mrs in the alphabet, so a Mr often appears before a Mrs or Ms, but after a Dr or Miss.

Ah, sorry for misreading.

As with most things, it's a time and place thing, really. I totally get block capitals on official forms.

I think what is worse than enforced capitals, is when "clever" people fix something which wasn't broken. Like input validation which insists that all names in a name have to have a capital letter. Or that insists that a postcode is really a "zip" code. And the really gold standard ones which not only insist on "state" but which only let you select from a list of US states ...

At my work when creating joint contacts we HAVE to put the man’s name first or it gets rejected.

Out of interest, how does it know the difference ?

And what happens when there is no man?

Could be a prototype system for when women can't own property again ?

I would have closed account. Pulling that stunt after all this time is just made up bull rules. Even if i had to do same with new account to show old account there were consequences for their no need rules

I find that hard to believe

I set the account up.... It was all in my name until they changed the names around without me noticing at some point in the last 8-12 months. The insurance issue was what brought it to the fore.

DH is deployed for months at a time and is frequently unable to make contact with the UK from the ship. Hence why I'm primary contact on every single account we have for the house. I'm named as a secondary contact on his personal accounts as well.

Or indeed when there are two men?

Whoever told PP that sounds like the MILs we read about on here who insist that it is illegal for their new DIL not to take their DS's surname.

Do you mean that the computer won't accept it, or that a higher-up will make you go back and change it to the 'correct' way?

Not helpful, but amuses me; our joint account was originally just my account and my then BF-now-husband was added on. Some 15 years passed until we realise the account name is just my name so Mrs X Surname! His wages are therefore paid into Mrs X Surname’s account. 🤣

This is even more amusing as many people say my husband is a brave man being married to me, so it actually looks quite bad. 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

That's not true at all

It makes no difference, if they have changed it is probably so that all accounts have the same heading for statements, it's random who come first.
I've heard of men complain in the bank that their partner was first and they were just told to suck it up too. UABU - nickname them on your app or learn the last few digits of each account so you can tell them apart but in the grand scheme of things it seems a non issue.

No, but the Indian men programming the computers definitely do. HTH

I do have to say, I was impressed with Anglian Water recently. I had been the only one named on our water bill as husband moved in with me (years ago). But we hadn't got round to changing it until recently.
I rang up to ask to add my husband and the bill now reads as Ms First name D-B and Mr First Name D-B.
All good.

I have a female relative who is Dr Blah Blah, and she has been asked twice in the last year when paying for something over the phone if she has “permission to use her husband’s credit card”…

Weirdly both times the call handlers were young sounding males and UK based companies (so presumably no age or culture bias). Both times she replied, “I really hope these calls ARE monitored for training and management purposes because I think this is one for the team meeting on Monday don’t you think?!?” 😅

@AuntieLemonade I've had "Are you still residing in the same property?" when I've provided details as Ms and Mr D-B 😄

I live in france, we opened an account and it was listed as Mr Hisname and Ms Myname. Then we got married and got a mortgage, and bank changed the names on the account without either of us requesting it to Mr and Mrs Himself Hisname.

I didn't even change my last name! (never mind first).

If it’s a joint account there is no primary or secondary … you are BOTH equal account holders regardless of order of names. The order of names would make no difference as to who can deal with what … there is something else going on here!