Carers refused debit cards by Nationwide

NATIONWIDE is refusing to give families where two people look after a relative’s finances more than one debit card and cheque book.

This means customers with Britain’s biggest building society are unable to share the burden of helping loved ones do their shopping or pay bills — even with their sibling.

Last month, Money Mail revealed how our power of attorney system is failing people trying to help ageing relatives manage their money. Power of attorney allows you to specify who you want to manage your financial affairs should you need help later in life.

Most people appoint more than one attorney — particularly those with more than one child or sibling — so the responsibility does not fall to one person. It also means that should something happen to one attorney, there is another person able to take over. But readers have contacted Money Mail after Nationwide told them only one attorney can have a debit card and cheque book.

One woman from Northampton told us how this restriction meant that even though she and her sister live near their father, only one of them can help him pay the bills, get cash out and go shopping.

Nationwide said if she shared the debit card PIN with her sister she would be breaking the rules — so if someone stole the card her father wouldn’t be covered by the building society. In the end she had to switch to a different bank that allowed them to have two cards.

Other major High Street names have assured Money Mail they allow multiple attorneys to have cards.

Nationwide says the issue is down to a ‘system limitation’, adding: ‘We are reviewing our power of attorney process and this is being assessed as part of that.’