My ex husband is withholding my sons child trust fund login in details now he's turned 18.

[whamette]

I have no contact with my ex due to the acrimonious split 5 years ago. My son turned 18, 6 weeks ago and up until 6 months ago had contact with his dad. My son now has no contact and has moved in with me full time. When we split, my ex changed the passwords on the CTF and changed addresses for correspondence. I contacted HMRC and they can't trace the CTF. Their helpline is useless you can't get through. My ex loves moving money about and I have no idea where he will be holding these funds. What he's doing is wrong and knowing him, this is a tool for bribing my son back in contact with him (which my son won't btw) Has any one else had this experience and what's everyone takes on this? I have emailed ex to provide the details to my son but as always, no response. Going the legal route its just ridiculous but I will if I have to. I just feel that this must happen alot and there doesn't seems to be a robust way to make sure that our children get their CTF's on time and in good faith from their parents. Give me some useful views everyone. Thanks

If your son is legally entitled to the money from his 18th birthday, this constitutes theft.

I don't suggest you actually contact the police (except by email, if you're inclined) but you can certainly tell your ex that you will do if he doesn't hand these login details over within 24 hours.

Thank you. Yes it is theft. I have given ex 7 days in my email.

If it is a proper child trust fund rather than just a savings account, no one except your child can withdraw the funds. So your ex won’t have been able to move the money anywhere. Have you been through your old paperwork? It’s likely you will have kept correspondence of some sort from the ctf as they send letters out periodically.

There used to be something to search for bank accounts in your name. I did it for my dd.

Have a Google.

Good luck.

Do you have any idea of the provider ? they have to give you son details on how to get his money

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/reclaim-child-trust-fund/

does this help?

If HMRC can’t trace it are you sure he opened one?

try mylostaccount or Gretel.co.uk. Both free. I found gretel easier.

once you find it your son just has to contact them to get the details changed.

if there was one your ex can not access it, so the money will still be there. I think my ds needed proof of I’d, and couldn’t send the money anywhere but an account in his own name.

If you wanted a firm but not full guns approach you could ask Citizens Advice Bureau for help. They will send a letter on your behalf laying out his obligations to let you son have his money.

I’d ask your MP to intervene and raise this with HMRC direct.

Yes its a proper CTF. I have the old number. He will have moved it several times in the last few years. I have old paperwork from the divorce but it was a full on court case with loads of files. I did raise this at the time in court of my concern that he might withhold funds. The judge told him to handover details which he didn't sounds silly now typing this but he didn't do it. I have no doubt that the fund is now transferred to an ISA in my sons name. He would have moved form investment to savings etc. He wont have taken the money per say, just withholding access which is just as bad in my opinion.

The CTF could have been moved to a different provider than where it started off. It would have to stay in the name of your child. Did you try the link a PP posted?

So it could be a junior ISA by now?

Could your son not just request his fund? I know they are not talking but if he wants the money then he will have to make contact.

Hi All. Done the Money Saving Expert route, refers to HMRC. Done my lost account - your account has to be completely "lost" and this situations doesn't fit the criteria. No idea of the provider. I haven't gone CAB route, this will be something I'll follow up. HMRC have asked for a birth certificate so I've sent with a letter explaining the situation. I just think that this takes up so much time and I don't think I'm alone in this situation.

Your ds is going to have to talk to him to get the details if your ex won't take to you. He can then drop contact again once he's got the info

Son has messaged to ask his dad weeks ago for the login. he just ignored it. That;s why I'm on the case now

If you think he switched it to an isa try my lost account.org.uk.

I suspect its in a junior ISA somewhere in some investment company online. Not our standard banks

I really appreciate all the advise. I just find it ridiculous that its so easy for parents to do this. We have a daughter who's 20. Dad gave her her money straight away when she turned 18 because she's in dad's camp. Funny that

Have you tried:

https://findctf.sharefound.org/

Your son’s NI number might help - my DC’s NI number was shown on the original CTF paperwork as a Unique Reference Number long before it was officially sent to him.

Would your ex have put your son’s CTF with the same provider as your daughter’s CTF?

The more involvement you have the more stubborn and evasive he will be.

Your son is an adult and needs to take the bull by the horns and speak to his dad in person.

Well it is lost, isn't it? You've no idea where it is!

I'm sure your son simply gives HMRC his NI number and they find where his funds are invested.

I agree that your son needs to liaise with HMRC himself. You getting involved will just confuse things further. Help him to do it but it needs to be him seeking his money, not you.

As i understand it, no one but the child can access the HMRC Trust fund? This was the case when my daughter had hers 2 years ago