Doubtful debt
Question
I have a joint account with my ex-boyfriend that I haven't used for over four years. I've written to the bank so many times to have my name removed from the account, but as my ex has taken the account into debt, they've refused to do this.
They keep writing to me asking me to pay off the debt but I haven't used the account for years. What can I do?
Answer
Unfortunately, because this is still a joint account the bank are holding you 'jointly and severally' liable for the debts owed on this account. What this means is that if the bank can't get any of the money from your ex, they can come to you for the full amount.
You may want to make an appointment to see a senior manager in the branch where this account is held and ask the bank, as a goodwill gesture, to write off your ex's debts. You will probably need to take evidence that nothing paid in or taken from the account had been in your name.
If this informal approach fails you can try the bank's complaints procedure and see if this can resolve the issue.
If this fails you may find that you have no option but to pay these debts off even though they aren't yours. The first thing you should do is try talking to your ex and explain the situation to him. If you still don't reach an agreement, you could then try and reclaim the money from your ex through the small claims court. As this is purely a money issue, you can fill in your claim online at the Court Service website.
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Question answered by CAB
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