STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
THE HSBC account I share with my wife has been closed after a disagreement with staff. Is the bank allowed to do this? M. C., Essex. YES. In its terms, HSBC states it can close an account immediately if a customer’s behaviour is ‘improper’, including acting in a ‘threatening or violent manner’ towards staff. HSBC will not tell me exactly what you did, but insists that the case is closed.
May I suggest you take care to maintain a sense of decorum — whatever provocation you face — as you move your custom. LAST week’s Money Mail said that Hodge Lifetime was launching a mortgage for pensioners that you could take to the grave. When will the deal be introduced? B. J., Suffolk. HODGE’S new, interest-only deal will be available from June 11. You will have to apply through a mortgage broker. To find an independent broker near you, visit thisismoney.co.uk/find-an-adviser. I’VE been an Aviva customer for years, but decided to switch to another home insurer for a better deal. I called on May 15, two days before my renewal date, but was told that the £222 premium had already come out of my account. G. L., Wickford, Essex. AVIVA says no money is taken from your account until the day of renewal. But its direct debit process is initiated three days before that — and you have to get in touch before this cut-off to stop the payment. As your policy was set up to renew automatically, Aviva is happy to cancel it and provide a full refund. Your £222 should be in your account, along with £30 for the inconvenience. I TOOK out an annuity with our savings, to provide a retirement income for me and my wife. We decided to take lower upfront payments in exchange for a guaranteed income for my wife if I passed away before her. If my wife dies first, will my payments be increased? P. L., Kent. You have a so-called joint life annuity and, unfortunately, your income will not rise if your wife dies before you.
You have been sensible, though, in ensuring she is catered for should you die first, as many annuitants tell me they now regret not taking their spouse into account.