Making independent financial decisions and spotting abuse

Everyone has the right to make independent financial decisions. 

If your partner, family member, carer, or anybody else is controlling your financial affairs, then this is financial abuse. Always remember you are not alone. There are places to go for help and support and things you can do.

Spotting the signs of financial abuse:

Sometimes it can take a long time to realise you are being financially abused or for you to label what is happening as 'abuse'. But if you feel uncomfortable about the way that someone you know is behaving with your money, they may be financially abusing you. Our list can help you identify if that is what's happening.

Financial abuse can be when someone:

• forces you to take out money or get credit in your name
• makes you hand over control of your accounts - this could include changing your login details
• cashes in your pension or other cheques without your permission
• adds their name to your account
• pressures you to change your will in a way you're not comfortable with
• has offered to buy shopping or pay bills with your money, but takes it, and doesn't use the money how you agreed
• asks you prove what you've spent your money on
• stops you accessing your bank, loan or credit card accounts
• controls what you can and can't spend your money on
• sets up Direct Debits from your account to pay bills which aren't yours or pay for goods and services which you haven't bought
• pressures you to arrange for your benefits to be paid into a bank account you don't have access to
• pressures you to draw down, transfer or stop making pension payments
• makes you take out new insurance policies or stops you paying your existing ones.

See things you can do and where to find help and support.

This information has been circulated by Law Express and provided by the Money & Pensions Service.