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...

I would get on Twitter and publicly shame them. See if you can get a campaign going. I've never had a joint account but I'm really shocked that this happens.

@JulesRimetStillGleaming

I would get on Twitter and publicly shame them. See if you can get a campaign going. I've never had a joint account but I'm really shocked that this happens.

It’s clearly not their standard operating process. OP has been treated poorly and the issue remains unrectified which is unacceptable however it’s obviously just a mistake in the information stored not a patriarchal slight.

Lloyds send duplicate letters separately to us both.

DH and I have a joint account with Cumberland building society. They put both names on all correspondence, mine is first because I put myself first when I/we opened the account.

I've just had this response from them ( I sent another email clarifying that I didn't object to our cards etc being sent in the same envelope as long as both our names were on it).

'I appreciate your concern that the envelope containing yours and the joint party's debit cards arrived addressed to the joint party only. However, when debit cards are due for renewal at the same time on a joint account, they are sent in the lead name of either party, depending on how this is held on our internal systems.

Whilst our procedures cannot be changed, please be assured your comments and strength of feeling regarding this matter have been noted for future consideration'.

I am still astonished that this is their policy, and that they don't seem to think there's anything wrong with that. Also the patronising comments about my 'strength of feeling'.

Anyway it seems correspondence will continue to go only to DH if we stay with First Direct, so we're just going to change banks and have done with it.

Go back and ask why is Mr Cazelets the lead name on the account?

That should be a bit of entertainment.

Yes, I wondered how it just so happens that DH is the lead name every time! If it was just a one-off I could live with it but it keeps happening. I assume it's just 'computer says no' fuckwittery rather than a patriarchal conspiracy, but I feel I've given them enough of my time and energy.

Which name did was put in the first space on the application form when the account was opened?

That's the name that'll be either first, or the only listed depending on how their computer handles the data.

To be honest, you sound as though even if they managed to completely re-write their IT systems to allow both names to appear on the correspondence, you'd complain that they didn't alternate it so one person was always first.

In answer to your question, myself and my wife are with Natwest, and all the correspondance is addressed to 'Smith, B & A'.

Lloyds do this to me too. It really annoys me. When we sent up the account I was the high earner and he wasn’t working but still his name is what they write to. Bankers are not very into respect for women it seems.

When you go into the app and pull up the pdf copy of the statement who is it addressed to?

I've just pulled mine up it's addressed to Mrs Bear, no mention of Mr Bear, I'm thinking his must say Mr Bear, are you sure you aren't paperless and he is paper?

There is an old long standing banking law that allows banks to only send documents to the first named account holder if the second party dispenses with their right to receive statements/correspondence. I forget the exact terminology but it predates way before online banking and when all statements were sent by post only. Usually on the account opening form all parties are asked to sign every box except for one tiny last box which all parties should sign bar the first named party. This is all the second parties dispensing with their right to receive individual statements.
It basically saves the bank paying for duplicate statements to the same address. Given that in the past most men were first named on the account it followed thru that the woman wife or partner didn’t get a statement.

NatWest used to address to both of us (though we are mainly paperless now). They even use both our initials, as being called by husband's initial is annoying.

...And Lloyds send us a letter each, which is perhaps a bit excessive.