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Help with financial abuse

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse (also referred to as economic abuse) can take a variety of different forms; it might be financial control, exploitation or sabotage. It can happen in a range of different relationships including partners, family members or carers. Financial abuse could happen to anyone.

If you're affected by financial abuse, we can offer support to help you regain control of your finances. The most important thing is that you talk to someone - there is always help available to you.

What could financial abuse look like?

You or someone you know may be affected by financial abuse. Here are some questions which might help you recognise if this is the case.

Has your partner/family member/carer or friend:

  • Asked you to account for everything you spend?
  • Insisted you give them your income from salary or benefit payments?
  • Stopped you from having access to your bank account or insisted their name be added to your accounts?
  • Forced you to take out credit agreements for products that they then use for example car finance or mobile phone contracts?
  • Forced you to put all the household bills in your name?
  • Stopped you from going to work/college or university?
  • Stopped you from spending on essentials?

How we can help

If you're affected by financial abuse, we can offer support to help you. Our specialist team are trained to help in these kind of situations and will be respectful and confidential. Where appropriate, they will tailor solutions to your individual circumstances and work with you to make your banking safe and secure, including areas such as:

  1. 01

    Mail

    We understand that your circumstances may make it difficult to have mail received at your home address. We can help you access online statements or update your bank statement address to deliver your bank mail to a secure location.

  2. 02

    Opening a new account

    We can help you set up a new bank account that is unconnected to any existing joint accounts you may have.

  3. 03

    Cards, PINs and passwords

    We can work with you to make sure that only you have access to your online and telephone banking. We can help you change your PINs and passwords and understand other steps you need to take to make sure your banking is secure.

  4. 04

    Joint accounts

    We can help you deal with joint accounts, for example suspending a joint account to make sure no transactions are made or closing a joint account.

  5. 05

    How we can help

    We can provide dedicated one to one support from our Domestic Abuse specialist team, just ask to be referred to our specialist domestic abuse team or use the online form at the top of your screen to request direct contact.

How to get in touch

There are three simple ways to get in touch, so we can arrange for to you speak to a member of our specialist team.

Online

Complete our simple online form, with your contact details and the days and times we can get in touch
Complete our online form Open in new window

In branch

Find your nearest Royal Bank of Scotland branch and speak to a member of our team
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By phone

You can contact our customer support centre, 8am -8pm, 7 days a week on 03457 24 24 24 (Minicom: 0800 404 6160)
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Worried about a family member or friend?

If you are concerned about the way a family member or friend is being treated and want advice or guidance about the best way to help them, then the organisations below can provide you with support and information.

If you are worried that your friend or family member is in immediate danger, then call the police on 999.

It's your money

Check out this leaflet to find out more about how financial services firms can help if you are a victim of financial abuse.