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Letter of authority for someone to deal with an organisation for you (UK)
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales · in English
€2.00Fill it in online free — pay only to download
15 questions · about 6 min
Made for use in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
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Your answers stay on this device for 7 days, or until you clear them.
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For anyone who wants a relative, friend or carer to speak to their bank, energy or phone company, council or landlord for them: a signed letter naming the person, the accounts or matter, and whether they may only discuss it and receive information or also give instructions. It lets the organisation share your personal data with them, and you can withdraw it at any time. Many organisations have their own free form; use that if they ask.
- Made for use in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
- Last updated October 28, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Published byDocMuse
When to use this document
- You want your daughter to speak to your energy supplier in England for you.
- Your bank will not discuss your account with your partner without written permission.
- An elderly relative in Scotland or Northern Ireland needs someone to sort out their bills over the phone.
- You want to authorise a friend to deal with your landlord or council in the UK.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Sender
- Sender's address
- Town or city
- Sender's postcode
- Date
- Recipient
- Recipient's address
- Recipient's postcode
- Account number
- Person you authorise
- Address of the person you authorise
- Their relationship to you (e.g. son, friend; blank to leave out)
- Accounts or matters the authority covers
- What the person may do
- Valid until
Common questions
- Will a bank or HMRC accept a letter of authority?
- Many organisations accept a signed letter, but several prefer their own free route: a bank’s third-party mandate form, HMRC’s service for authorising a friend or relative, an energy or phone company’s ‘nominated person’ or password. Ask the organisation first; if it has a form, use it, and send this letter only if it accepts one. A letter of authority lets someone talk and act for you; it does not let them sign deeds or contracts in your name.
- How do I withdraw a letter of authority?
- Write to the organisation saying that from the date of your letter the person named no longer has authority to deal with your account or matter, and ask for written confirmation. Tell the person too. Your consent to sharing your personal data can be withdrawn at any time (UK GDPR, art 7). Send it by email if the organisation accepts that, or first class with a free certificate of posting, and keep a copy.
- Is a letter of authority the same as a power of attorney?
- No. A letter of authority asks one organisation to deal with the person you name, and the organisation decides whether to accept it. A power of attorney lets the attorney act and sign in your name: in England and Wales a deed under the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, in Northern Ireland one under the Powers of Attorney Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, in Scotland a document signed before a witness. Neither works once you lack mental capacity; for that you need a lasting power of attorney (England and Wales), a continuing or welfare power registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland), or an enduring power of attorney (Northern Ireland).
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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