Joint bank accounts that don't address letters only to the man...

[Thecazelets]

Can't think where else to post this for advice, but can anyone recommend a bank that will address letters to both joint account holders? DH and I have both held individual First Direct bank accounts for over 20 years, and we also have a shared joint account in both our names for household expenses. They insist on sending all correspondence on the joint account ( and new bank cards) only to DH. His name is after mine in the alphabet and on the cheque books, so it's not a 'computer says no' situation. He never even uses the account as I'm the one who organises all our bill payments etc. Recently they even sent a cheque back to him which was made out to my name and paid in by me to the account.

It's really getting me down, and I have complained to no avail. I've only asked them to put both our names on letters etc so that I can at least legally open post about our shared money, but they've refused. The letter I got back was distinctly sneery and implied I was making a fuss about nothing, but surely this leaves the non-addressed partner open to financial abuse?

So - can anyone recommend a bank that doesn't do this? All I want is a bank that'll put both of our names on correspondence. I don't need a separate statement, or my bank card arriving in a separate envelope, just an acknowledgement that it's my money too...

We were with FD for years and statements and correspondence for joint accounts was always addressed to both, sole accounts individually, and cards for both sole and joint accounts to the individual card holder.

Have you turned paper comms off while your DH still has his switched on, maybe?

Thanks to everyone for the responses and advice. It does seem to be an outlier, especially as other people don't seem to have the same problem with First Direct.

I have just been into online banking and unticked anything that I was down as paperless for, in case that's the reason. But obviously you can't be paperless for new cards and returned cheques, and anyway DH is also paperless for the same things as me.

Whatever the reason, the unhelpful responses I've had from the bank have really turned me off them, so I'm looking at Santander and a few others.

It's actually reassuring to know no-one else has had this experience as it was all starting to feel a bit Handmaid's Tale!

FD are usually very good with this sort of thing. IME. I wonder if there is some sort of technical hitch?

Customer service has definitely got worse with FD.
It used to be amazing (the phone would never ring more than twice even at peak times before I was put through to a human!)
Now it is OK. Not terrible, and much better than many companies, but not as great as it used to be.

@Thecazelets

You're not supposed to open post not addressed to you Bloose. DH and I don't open each other's letters. So yes, I am being serious. But thanks for your helpful contribution.

It is not illegal to open post that is posted to your house unless you are opening it with the intention to commit fraud.

It is not illegal to open mail addresses to your DH… presuming you are not intending to defraud him…

I had the same with FD when we opened a new joint account. I think general correspondence is addressed to us both but the cards definitely came in an envelope addressed only to DP, despite me being alphabetically first and listing myself first in the application.

It's was really annoying as DP never opens his post so I waited ages and thought mine was missing, and was about to cancel it.

And despite your sarcasm, clearly my post was helpful as now you know it isn’t illegal to open mail that is only addressed to your DH!

Are you sure it is actually set up as a joint account? That sounds really odd.

Thanks Bloose, but just like First Direct, you are missing the point. I shouldn't have to open someone else's post to find out about my own money, legally or otherwise.

Thanks all. Yes, definitely a joint account, eurochick and has been for 20 years, although this problem has only been happening for the last couple of years, so it might be a new IT system or something.

I'm with Lloyds and we have two separate letters for the joint account - not many as we jave opted for paperless and we can get everything online

I have had joint accounts with almost all the major UK banks and never had this. I love FD so I am really surprised they do this, but yes do move. I can tell you that HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest all manage this.

Nationwide address post to both of us. Joint account letters will be to mr&mrs surname, but bank cards will go to either mr or Mrs depending upon whose card it is.

If this is the only thing in your life getting you down then you are a very lucky person.

I agree about FD's customer service going downhill too Squishy. Can never get through on the phone any more. I've been putting that down to the business model moving online, something that didn't exist in the 90s when I opened the accounts.

My bank put my name first on joint accounts. Then DHs name fell off (we both have long names) so he grumbles about not being able to use our bank account as ‘proof of residency’ when we apply for parking permits...

Santander are good for this, letters are always to both names and personal emails etc.

I had the same issue some years ago with Bank of Scotland/Halifax so ditched and switched!

Are you sure it's a joint account and you're not an additional cardholder? Seems strange to me...

Ditching and switching does seem to be the only answer given that I've tried to get them to sort it out and they've refused.

Just a bit of a pain as all our utility bills etc come out of it.

Very sure Cruella. It's been a joint account for over 20 years and this is a recent problem. Never used to happen, but started last year. No changes on our side.

This is definitely some sort of computer mistake, as an ex-employee it’s definitely not right that it’s only addressed to one party.

But if you want an actual ‘modern’ bank, move to monzo. Pretty much all done online anyway.

No, I’m not missing the point; I didn’t say I agree with what the bank is doing.

I merely pointed out its not illegal to open the mail.

That's weird, our joint First Direct account addresses everything to both of us.

Op do you have the app and full visibility that way?

It is weird. I just can't believe they haven't just apologised and fixed it. But the reply was very patronising indeed. Basically said they address joint bank account letters to one of the joint parties and have no plans to change this.

On the one hand I get that if you trust someone enough to have a joint bank account with them then this should all be fine - bank cards arrive in an envelope addressed only to DH and he opens the envelope and gives me mine. But on the other hand - why the hell isn't my name on the sodding envelope too? I'm not the 'junior partner' in our marriage, financially or otherwise.