This is tricky. Halifax says that, normally, customers who go to prison write to the bank with their new address, the bank writes back to them in prison to make ID checks, after which they can continue to use their bank accounts. Even then, the bank cannot send cheques on their behalf to someone else, although they could transfer money through the governor. But your son did not want to receive the bank's letters or phone calls because he had no privacy. When I posed this problem to Halifax, it was sympathetic and agreed to look for a commonsense solution. It has found a way round the blockage and your son's cheque arrived in time for his brother's 19th birthday.
• Email Margaret Dibben at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Margaret Dibben, Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU and include a telephone number. Do not enclose SAEs or original documents. Letters are selected for publication and we cannot give personal replies. The newspaper accepts no legal responsibility for advice.
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