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?

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.

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

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.