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Hello everyone,
Does anyone have any advice regarding what to do once you’ve left, to help protect yourself from further financial abuse?
Will utility companies just take your word for it that you’ve moved out and need your name removing from the bills?
Just to clarify, I don’t have a joint bank account with him and I’m not involved in a mortgage or tenancy agreement with him either. It’s (detail removed by moderator) that my name features on (along with his name).The things I’ve thought about doing so far:
– Cancelling my card and asking the bank for a new card and account (just in case my details are saved anywhere on his phone/computer).
– Changing all passwords on everything.I’ve heard of a feature that allows the abuser’s email bombardments to still be sent to you but to end up in some sort of junk folder in your emails. So as not to trigger you every time you open your inbox and their name is there. Also with the idea that in-person stalking may be less likely if they’re still able to email you (although the idea is to not have to see them if you don’t want to as they’ll automatically go to a junk folder).
Can anyone recommend anything else to keep you safe from their financial abuse once you’ve left?
Thank you x -
Dear gettingtired,
It sounds like you’re thinking carefully about how to protect yourself and being this proactive will help you a lot.
We have found that if you feel able to explain your situation to a utility company they should be able to assist you; you don’t have to go into detail but explain you are having to leave due to domestic abuse.Have a look through the Money Issues section of the Survivor’s Handbook, which should provide some guidance.
Also, the organisation Surviving Economic Abuse has a lot of useful information on their website and a phone line run in conjunction with Money Advice Plus, called the Financial Support Line for victims of Domestic Abuse. Anyone who has experienced domestic abuse can call for one-off advice regarding debts, benefits and budgeting or self-refer for ongoing casework on 0808 196 8845 (Mon-Thurs 9am- 5pm)
Money Helper provides free and impartial advice around money. They can be contacted on 0800 138 7777 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) or live chat (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm).
I’m sure other forum users will be along with advice too,
Keep posting,
Lisa
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Hi Gettingtired
Yes, the utility companies will take your word for it. If you tell them that you’ve left due to domestic abuse, my experience is that they are very good. They’ll simply close the account then contact your partner to open a new account directly with them.
Banks are also much better now. I contacted a bank recently to help an elderly relative who has recently left an abusive partner and I was really impressed. I asked if they had a specialist department dealing with financial abuse. My relatives partner has recently stolen thousands of pounds from a joint account. They offered an option whereby the abuser could only complete transactions in branch and in the presence of the victim. It effectively locks the abuser out of the account because the victim will not attend in branch with the abuser. When the victim wants to close the account they can do it remotely without having to face their abuser.
I suspect different banks will have differing strategies. If you phone and ask for the banks financial abuse dept, hopefully they’ll be able to help you. xx
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