What is Ecomonic Abuse? 

If you are not able to withdraw money from your own accounts or have to ask for money to buy items/essentials for yourself or your children, this is a form of economic abuse. Does someone else have access to your banking app or online banking and restrict how you send your money? You should be able to freely buy what you need and control your own finances. Contact Refuge for advice and support.

Does your ex-partner/partner stop you from accessing your finances?

This can be a form of economic abuse, where you do not have access to your own finances or your ex-partner/partner has restricted your access. An example of this could be your partner/ex-partner taking your bank card or having access to or control of your online banking or other online financial accounts. If this is the case, contact Refuge for advice.

Do you have a joint bank account that you can’t access?

Joint bank accounts must be managed carefully. If the other account holder is taking action, such as making large purchases or taking out an overdraft on the joint account that you do not agree with, you can ask your bank for a joint account to be frozen if it is safe to do this. Speak to your bank about the different ways that they can support you. See the guide below for more information.
Contact Refuge for advice and support.

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

If you have debts or contracts in your name this means you are liable for them, even if your partner/ex-partner has said they will pay for them, so creditors are likely to be contacting or chasing you for payments. If you are not sure what debts are in your name, you can check your credit report online for free, with the three main credit reference agencies – see our Credit Reports guide for more information.

Credit Report Guide

If debts have been taken out in your name without your knowledge or consent, you can report this to Action Fraud. See our Fraud and Coerced debt guide for more information.

Fraud and Coerced Debt Guide

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

If you have debts in your name and need support with how to manage them, then you can contact PayPlan for free debt help and advice.

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

PayPlan – 0800 280 2816
PayPlan LiveChat

This is a form of control, where your ex-partner/partner wants to see what you have spent your money on and justify why and where you have spent it.

They may be doing this through online banking or banking apps. If you are concerned that someone else may have access to your online financial accounts, see our Securing your finances guide for more information.

Securing your online finances guide

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

If utility bills and other bills are in your sole name but are not paid, then the liability will lie with you, you will be chased for the outstanding arrears.

For support with utility arrears please contact your provider and explain the situation, as they will be able to discuss what options are available to you. Some utilities providers have associated grants and trusts that you might be able to apply for.

You can find more information about how to maximise your income and where to go for support with managing debts

Maximise your income

Support and Resources

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

They might use excuses or guilt to make you feel bad and manipulate you into being less independent or doing what you want to do. You have a right to attend work or college independently.

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

Sometimes an ex-partner/partner will put savings and other assets like a property or a car in their own name and try to remove your name from them so that you don’t have a legal right to them. The contract to pay for the item may still be in your name. It’s important to know what accounts are in your name, so it’s useful to check your credit report. See our guide for how to do this below. Contact Refuge for advice and support.

Credit reports 

Refuge contact number 0808 2000 247

This is a form of economic abuse. If you are worried that someone’s business may be connected to you in some way without your consent, you can check the Companies House website and search the company name or your own name.

Before Following a link:

If you think someone may be accessing your phone or computer, or you’re in a space where you could be disturbed, please do not follow this link: Websites we signpost you to may not have a quick exit button and will open in a new tab. Visit us again from a safe device or safe space at a later date. If you need immediate support please contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 

Find and update company information through Companies House.

They may try and control your finances, prevent you from buying what you want, or your ex-partner/partner could be using your bank cards to buy expensive items without getting permission from you first.

If you have any banking apps and online accounts, they also need to be secured.

It is advisable to contact your bank and request a new bank card and pin if it is safe.

You can reach out to Refuge for help with a safety plan.

You can also:

• Contact Refuge.
• Report to the police.
• Seek a Protection Order.