Page 2 | Ex has forged my signature to close joint account

ArcticSkewer · 09/02/2023 08:26

So you'd rather keep the account open and let him run up an overdraft that you are jointly responsible for? OK

Happygone · 09/02/2023 08:26

I don't think the bank will like that much

littlegingerone · 09/02/2023 08:32

I had a joint account with an ex partner and it was not possible to close it or remove myself without his signature. It's definitely wrong of him to falsify your signature but ultimately, you'd have wanted to be off that account anyway so, I'd just leave it. You can easily get another bank account

LoveMAFS · 09/02/2023 08:33

windinthetree · 08/02/2023 23:02

My ex boyfriend closed out joint account without my permission and the bank transferred him the balance that was in there!

They didn't care

This. It also happened to me. Nothing I could do about it.

Chersfrozenface · 09/02/2023 11:19

I think you're right to check with the bank, OP.

It doesn't matter that you won't have sustained a loss in this case.

If your ex has forged your signature on a letter, he has done so thinking it doesn't matter - his opinion alone, you weren't consulted. So he's capable of doing the same thing in other cases which might well impact on you, where he thinks it doesn't matter, without consulting you, meaning that you are unable to decide whether it matters or not.

BetterFuture1985 · 09/02/2023 18:15

Hosenla · 08/02/2023 22:17

Found out today my ex husband has written a letter to a bank we have a joint account with (nothing in the account but I’ve never been bothered to close it) and asked them to close the account and signed it from him and me! Not even asked me if I want it closing… and I only know because the bank wrote to me to check address because the letter my ex sent had a different address! Why couldn’t he just ask bank to take him off the account?
can I/ should I report to the police??

So, you report this to the police. How likely do you think it is that they are going to investigate the closure of an empty bank account on the basis of a signature that you say is forged but which he could claim otherwise? And what do you think the CPS are going to do with a file like that even if they do investigate it?

Get over it and get a new account!

CrescentMoons · 09/02/2023 18:19

ICanHideButICantRun · 08/02/2023 22:28

I would definitely take this further. You don't know what else he's done.

Write back to the bank saying it is not your signature and contact the police. It’s fraud.

prh47bridge · 09/02/2023 21:58

CrescentMoons · 09/02/2023 18:19

Write back to the bank saying it is not your signature and contact the police. It’s fraud.

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No, it is not fraud and the police are unlikely to be interested. It is only fraud if he or someone else made a gain by forging OP's signature, or it cause her or the bank to suffer a loss. Since there was nothing in the account, he hasn't gained anything and no-one has lost anything, so no crime has been committed. Indeed, most banks allow either account holder to close a joint account on their own, so it is quite possible that forging OP's signature had no effect at all.

Pseudonamed · 09/02/2023 22:37

I would be more concerned how many other times he has forged your signature. Get your credit rating checked.

frazzledasarock · 10/02/2023 08:16

prh47bridge · 09/02/2023 21:58

No, it is not fraud and the police are unlikely to be interested. It is only fraud if he or someone else made a gain by forging OP's signature, or it cause her or the bank to suffer a loss. Since there was nothing in the account, he hasn't gained anything and no-one has lost anything, so no crime has been committed. Indeed, most banks allow either account holder to close a joint account on their own, so it is quite possible that forging OP's signature had no effect at all.

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That’s really interesting. I didn’t know that.

OP I know it feels like a violation that he’s forged your signature and caused the bank to action something you did not authorise. And you do need to rightly inform them that you have not authorised or signed anything.

But what outcome do you want ultimately?

Original poster

Hosenla · 10/02/2023 11:54

I don’t care about the account, I’m happy to close it.
what I’m not happy about is that he thinks it’s fine to just forge my signature!
and there was absolutely no need because had he told me he wants the account closed I’d have closed it no problems!
just makes me feel uneasy.. that someone who knows all my personal details that banks use for security questions thinks it’s acceptable to forge my signature. If the bank hadn’t contacted me to check the address I wouldn’t have even known and I don’t trust him so now I’m wondering what else could he possibly do with my forged signature?? Probably nothing but I’d never forge his signature!!

OP posts:

cestlavielife · 10/02/2023 12:19

Did he forge your signature or use your initials etc?

cestlavielife · 10/02/2023 12:20

Do you have a copy where you see he actually wrote your usual signature?

Shitfather · 10/02/2023 13:28

I’m shocked at the “get over it” comments.
You must inform the bank and make a subject access request for all communications re the account. This is not acceptable, regardless of the zero balance. If you have been the victim of financial abuse, banks now take this into account. HSBC are very clued up on this.

BetterFuture1985 · 10/02/2023 13:38

To be honest I've heard of ex wives getting away with borrowing on a joint mortgage in breach of a court order and getting away with it because they were technically still married at the point they did it (you can't commit fraud against a spouse - think about it). Whether you like it or not, you will have to get over this.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/02/2023 13:44

If he had decided at some point to take out a loan in your name, the fact that you confirmed this was not your signature puts the onus back on others to check for legitimate signatures.

After all, wouldn't it be argued 'well, she confirmed it was her signature when x account was closed in 2022 so this mortgage/diamond ring/credit card must have been her as well' ?

The ex will quite rightly be flagged up as somebody who has fraudulently signed a financial document, too. Best nip any future 'I'll put it in her name, she won't know' ideas in the bud.

LemonTT · 11/02/2023 10:09

Hosenla · 10/02/2023 11:54

I don’t care about the account, I’m happy to close it.
what I’m not happy about is that he thinks it’s fine to just forge my signature!
and there was absolutely no need because had he told me he wants the account closed I’d have closed it no problems!
just makes me feel uneasy.. that someone who knows all my personal details that banks use for security questions thinks it’s acceptable to forge my signature. If the bank hadn’t contacted me to check the address I wouldn’t have even known and I don’t trust him so now I’m wondering what else could he possibly do with my forged signature?? Probably nothing but I’d never forge his signature!!

The best thing to do is to write to him and confirm that all financial links are now severed. That he did not and does not have permission to use your name and signature. Keep the letter and be mindful of your finances and credit ratings as you would anyway.

In terms of risk, lots of people can forge your signature and are willing to do it. They are willing to commit all sorts of fraud against you. The banks take action to mitigate this. There isn’t that much more that you can do.

You have a choice to continue to expend mental energy on this or to put it to bed.