I reluctantly dedicated this week to Sadmin. After yesterday’s problems I was hoping the next task would be more straightforward.
Fat chance!
There is no local branch of the bank where the account is held. Their Bereavement Team told me that as NatWest is part of the same group I could close the account there. So I spent an hour on the phone, trying to make an appointment, pressing 1 for this, 3 for that, etc. I was on hold for 15 minutes. When I actually got through to a human they immediately said that they cannot close this type of account.
I went back to the original bank, only to be assured that NatWest can definitely deal with it. It is quite simple, she said “All I have to do is go to a branch, taking my son and his driving licence (because he is the second Executor), the Grant of Probate, Death certificate, and marriage certificate”. I have already sent all these things, well, the documents, not my son. She also said that if they turn me away I should tell them to ring her. I asked her if she could just ring them in advance so they would not turn me away? Apparently, she can’t do that.
Looks like I am going to have to go and punch another W/B anker.
They don’t make things easy, do they?
I did all my dealings with Lloyds bank on the phone. They were very good and I just had to send in his death certificate and a certified copy of the Will. I didn’t need probate as all assets were joint (I had a free call with a probate advisor!)
I worked in banking for 35 years, so know the value of having joint assets, as they automatically go to the other party (depending on the mandate on the account) Just to make you smile, with my late mums account, we got probate but Lloyds just transfered the money to an account in my name - she died the first week of covid lockdown!
Im also certain that those in the bank branches are not very experienced or skilled at dealing with bereavement cases., which is why separate departments deal with it over the phone. I do hope you get it all sorted, I relished the opportunity to lose myself in the “sadmin “ and it’s mostly sorted now, except for our fibre broadband provider who want so many details (why?) I am lucky to have 2 accountant daughters, plus a great financial advisor who dealt with the only thing that wasn’t joint which was (a very small) ISA.
Good luck x
Well I guess if they tried to turn you away,the very last thing you would say is ring…….
Oh dear yellow jumpsuit time or at best some ankle jewels.
Everything but ISAs and Premium Bonds is in joint names.
It is the Bereavement Departments that I am dealing with. I am sorry to say it, but many of those I have dealt with do not seem to have the qualifications to be human beings. Often on the phone I start to wonder if I am speaking to a robot, I don’t want sympathy but a little empathy wouldn’t go amiss. I would settle for humanity. Besides which, some of them don’t even seem to know their own rules.
That is what really annoys me. Every financial institution has its own rule about when Probate is required.
It’s driving me insane!
Hah! Ankle jewels and chains were banned by my dad. Apparently it was the secret sign of being a lady of the night. Wearing black was also forbidden, as well as whistling and chewing gum.
Needless to say, as soon as I was 16 I dyed my hair black, had my ears pierced and bought an anklet. He was furious!
I never could whistle, though! I still try now and then, still can’t master it.
Xx
They seem too get rid of the more experienced staff and replace them with younger people who don’t have a clue., or life experience to support empathy, or even sympathy.
Sending a hug x
I got my solicitors to deal with the banks. Probably easier as I wasn’t closing accounts just putting them into my sole name as all were joint. But met this we can’t do it yes you can situation.
The worst one was where we both had ISAs. I asked them to change his to one of their ‘Inheritance’ ISAs (which is what they call APS ISAs) in my name. Simple?
First they closed his account and sent a cheque to my solicitor, who paid it into my current account. Then I had to visit the APS provider, with (their own) closure form, death and marriage certificates, photo ID, Grant of Probate and utility bill. I then had to write a cheque to myself with the new APS account number on the back, whilst in branch.
Wait for 10 days until my shiny new account came through the post!
Tell me that is not madness. If it is not, then I am.
Xx
It is indeed. Admin for admin sakes. No idea. Only had one ISA each. My financial advisor and his team just dealt with everything. I could contact them any time but didn’t have to deal with the companies thank god. Shutting down the annuities we had just started and setting up new ones was the worst. It rarely happens. Even my advisor had never had to do it but under these circumstances it was the best for me. They even got me compensation from the original annuity provider as they had really screwed up the process of getting them before we then cancelled them.
I have just been to another bank to close another account. My husband liked to muck about with bank accounts and was forever switching ISAs. He opened an account with Ulster. There are no branches near me, but they told me NatWest is part of the same group and I could do it there.
So, off I went with all the things they said I needed to take, i.e., my son (because he is co-executor), his photo ID, and the Grant of Probate. I was immediately unimpressed when the bank clerk asked me which Ulster Bank was used. I pointed to the address on the paperwork which clearly said “Belfast”. To my amazement, she said, “I am sorry, I’m not very good at geography, is Belfast part of Northern or Southern Ireland?”. I assured her it is in Northern Ireland. She said that all seemed satisfactory. I said that I think she needed to photocopy of Grant of Probate, which she then did. She handed it back to me. I asked if she wanted to copy my son’s ID, so she did that and said goodbye. I reminded her that we needed the ID and Probate back. Oh, yes, she said.
I am not very optimistic that this will go smoothly!
Xx
And I thought my geography was bad. When I had to go to Prague on business I had to look on a map where it was. I think the best one for ignorance is a story Norman’s godmother had. She and her husband had a winter home in Florida. She was at a checkout at a supermarket and the girl asked where she was from. She said England. The checkout girl actually asked what language they spoke in England. Now that is dumb.
Pudding, thanks for the laugh! X
When I went back to my car I went to the pay station, there was a lady getting into a state. She said she had parked at 10 past 10 and now it was 12, did she need the ‘up to 2 hours’ ticket?
And I thought I was confused! Still, who knows, perhaps she has a good reason for having brain fog.
Either that, or she is a bank employee !
Xx