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Original poster

Help changing PTA bank account mandate

23 replies

slfk3 · 20/10/2021 19:45

I took on the treasurer roll for my children’s pta account in May. The account is with Barclays and it’s supposed to be myself and the secretary as signatories.
I have had to go into the branch 5/6 times with the requested ID for myself before it was processed correctly(staff weren’t passing it on or stamping correctly). The other signer has gone in twice, and it’s been three weeks since he last went in and they still aren’t satisfied.
In the meantime we are locked out of the account as the treasurer who is still on the mandate binned all her online banking things thinking it was sorted and they won’t issue me any till the other signatory does his bit. He is computer illiterate and very slow and I’m concerned we won’t ever get this sorted. Any suggestions? Can we change the mandate to a different person without the current mandate change being completed?

I nor the other guy can afford for to waste more time with them but need to resolve this.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 20/10/2021 20:04

Has the existing treasurer signed to say they are being removed from the account?
We had to fill in a completely new mandate with the new signatories to be added and the old signatories to be removed and everyone had to sign it. They new signatories had to go in with their proof of ID too.

Is it the bank that's causing issues by not doing their bit?

lljkk · 20/10/2021 20:15

It just takes months & months. Banks don't charge for charity accounts & they make little effort to facilitate new signatories.

I feel your pain.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2021 20:18

It took us ages to sort ours out too although we ended up with all 3 new signatories attending the bank together to sort it out. Depends which staff member you deal with too

oviraptor21 · 20/10/2021 20:33

Same experience as above. Took ages.

Can you open a completely new account with a different bank to tide you over?

Original poster

slfk3 · 21/10/2021 06:30

Ugh! I supposed at least we aren’t alone! I have been working on opening a NatWest account and that’s been better, not perfect but at least you can chat online and keep things moving. It’s just difficult cause I can only nudge the other parent to do his bit so much without being a pain. Thanks for the help!

OP posts:

Glwysen · 21/10/2021 06:32

Nothing new to add, just want to say that I share your pain!!

Orangesandlemons82 · 21/10/2021 06:33

We had the same problem with Barclays and our PTA account. We went into the bank so many times with different documents etc. It took about 3 months in the end.

happystory · 21/10/2021 06:36

I feel your pain, we had the same problem with NW. Sometimes you only just get it sorted before someone else is taking over .....(unhelpful but sympathetic!)

BikeRunSki · 21/10/2021 06:42

Same experience setting up a new account. Took about 2 years…

helpthewhos · 21/10/2021 17:46

Yes! I had the same problem with Barclays, would not recommend them at all.

senua · 21/10/2021 17:52

@helpthewhos

Yes! I had the same problem with Barclays, would not recommend them at all.

And I've had similar with NW. Wouldn't recommend them either.

For next time, add the new people before the old ones leave!
And see if you can add another signature; Chairperson, maybe?

Gladioli23 · 21/10/2021 17:55

We ended up switching the rules when I was a charity trustee so the treasurer was elected 2 months before the started so we had time to get the mandates changed. Always a nightmare I'm afraid.

lljkk · 22/10/2021 06:29

Think last change was 6 months, Barclays.

Original poster

slfk3 · 22/10/2021 07:54

Ugh, its been over six months for us and we are now starting again with me and another parent as I think it doesn't help the other signatory at the moment has a 9-5 job, including occasional Saturdays so hasn't lots of time to chase and ensure his bit is done. Hoping the new parent will be better and ensuring her side is completed. Thank goodness we haven't had any events needing access to the account!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 22/10/2021 08:00

We are with Royal Bank of Scotland and got there eventually. It depends who you deal with at the branch too as not everyone knows about those types of accounts. We had to fill in new mandates, get old signatories to sign to be removed and new signatories to be added. Also had to provide minutes of the meeting where the new treasurer was elected. Plus we needed ID for the new signatories. It was a massive hassle

Gladioli23 · 22/10/2021 22:43

Would there be any way you could add e.g. the deputy head of the school or someone else as a signatory while you're at it? They wouldn't have to change every year and it might make signing off mandate changes easier?

The other thing I did, which isn't best practice but we weren't dealing with huge sums and frankly if you can't trust your committee it's impossible anyway, was switch to single signatories for everything possible.

It's a right faff to do it all but it will be better for everyone forever once it's done.

Bouncebacker · 22/10/2021 22:48

Same experience- took two years to get a signatory added - treasurer was no longer treasurer by the time she got full access - other signatory has kids in the 3rd year of high school. It's a disaster- but the bank compensated us when we complained (£120 x 3) so worth complaining. We also staged a sit in at the bank with about 7 kids which at last got the branch to take us seriously!

mafted · 22/10/2021 22:49

I had to kick up a massive fuss to get it sorted with HDBC. They ended up making a large donation to the PTA as an apology.

LaBelleEpoque · 22/10/2021 22:58

Not much help but just to say we too had similar problems (we were with HSBC) and as soon as I could we changed to Lloyds - they've been amazing!

Trickleg · 22/10/2021 23:00

We are with CAF bank. It usually takes months and at least three attempts.

CityDweller · 22/10/2021 23:16

I feel your pain. I inherited this issue as treasurer of a similar type organisation (not PTA). The previous two treasurers had tried and failed to change signatories and the problem had been going on for over two years. I eventually sorted it, but it was a massive, massive headache to do (not least becuase none of the existing signatories had anything to do with the organisation anymore). You just need to be doggedly persistent.

Original poster

slfk3 · 23/10/2021 07:01

I tried to suggest changing to a single mandate but was ignored. If it were down to my getting my ID processed then the mandate change would be done, but I can't drag people in and can only check on their progress to a degree. Love the idea of complaining in the aim of getting. donation. My biggest worry at the moment is we haven't access to the funds in the account. I suppose we can deposit but if I need to pay or reimburse anyone we are stuck. How do you manage the funds in the account if its taken two years to change?!

OP posts:

Droppingdown · 23/10/2021 07:06

We had this a few years ago-for scouts not PTA but similar set up. Moved to Lloyds and they’ve been absolutely perfect. So much better.
As far as I’m aware they can’t do single signatory for the likes of PTA

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