Speaking on thai wife's behalf on phone to banks in US

[meand]

i am in the process of opening accounts here for my wife. They are not joint accounts. I am wondering when I need to talk with the representatives on the phone, are they going to ask to speak to my wife (who probably won't understand)? Or can I inform them I am speaking on her behalf and proceed with the security questions and talk away?

[NancyL]

This is probably going to be similar to the situation my husband and I encounter. He has problems understanding phone conversations due to hearing problems. We are both U.S. citizens living in Thailand. When he has to do banking business on the phone, I place the phone calls, talk to the customer service reps, turn the phone over to him for a few moments so he can verify that yes I have authority to speak for him and then he hands it back to me. They do ask a few security questions that I tell him about and he responds into the phone, so they can hear his voice. Then I finish the conversation on his behalf.

Don't know if this would work for you. We've been married for decades and it probably isn't the first time a bank call center has encountered an elderly customer with hearing problems. In your situation, it probably isn't the first time they've encountered a customer with limited grasp of the English language.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Hmmmm, whatever works.

I just have my sister back in Oregon as a joint account holder so I pass on any Qs and problems to her, done deal.

Meand, "i am in the process of opening accounts here for my wife."

Where is "here?" Thailand? U.S.?

Mac

[curtklay]

My experience is similar to NancyL's. Some banks, insurance companies, and Social Security are pretty fussy about this. I've even had some tell me that I can't use a speaker phone with both of us in the room. I politely explain that my wife's English is good, but not to the point she feels comfortable talking in business or financial terms. I then turn the phone over to her, and she tells them that she authorizes me to speak on her behalf. I will use the speaker phone, and let her do the talking until we hit an obstacle. This usually works without a problem. I have had a few snotty customer service reps who refused. I guess they thought I had a gun to her head, when I was only trying to help clarify the conversation. Requesting a Supervisor or Manager resolved the issue.