Problems Opening a Probate Account

TheFizzer

Hi,

I think I've posted in the right place. Apologies if not.

I'm looking for some advice regarding opening a probate account with Barclays please. It's a bit of a long post. Sorry!

My uncle died a few months ago and I am the sole executor of his estate. Having recently been granted propbate I made an appointment with a personal banker who took my details, photcopied passport etc and verified that I already have an account with Barclays. I was told it would take five days to open the account and the relevant documents would be sent to me.

After five days, nothing arrived. When I enquired as to why, I was told that it was due to a discrepancy on the forms submitted. On the Grant of Probate it has my christian and surname only. However, the documentation she took from me in order to open the account contains my middle name too and therefore the Probate & Trust department refused to open the account. She stated she would correct the paperwork and re-submit. Another five day wait.

Today, the fifth day, the paper work still never arrived and when I enquired again, she claimed it was for the same reason as before but would find out what was going on. When she phoned back she stated that I had to go back into the branch and start the application over again because her district supervisor wanted proof of documentation. I pointed out that she already had my details but it made no difference. This she admitted, would now probably take best part of a fortnight (That's if I'm lucky. I can't see a director moving himself too fast).

I'm a bit surprised at all this to be honest. I already have an account, have been on the voters list for the last 20+ years, a court sealed copy of the grant, provided more than enough paperwork to prove my identity and can't quite understand why Barclay's are being so finicky about my middle name. Am I being unreasonable in thinking this is somewhat over the top?

Would anyone know if there's a way to move things along here please? Can anyone tell me who else does Probate Accounts and might be a bit more amenable?

Thanks for your time.

Mikeyorks

You're probably best pandering to the whims of Barclays .... as Exor accounts are fairly hard to come by. Unless you or the deceased have an existing relationship with a Bank, you're likely to be turned down. So telling you that Halifax etc do such accounts - probably isn't useful.

I suspect that a Probate recently granted to me equally is devoid of my middle name .... but fortunately the deceased + myself had accounts in the same place so it didn't turn into an issue.

If your relative banked elsewhere, you could try them. But as you're part way down the track with Barclays - possibly best to persevere? It won't be the worst problem you experience .... dealing with someone's Estate brings out the worst in most UK institutions .... you will find!

TheFizzer

Thanks for your reply. I suspected that might be the case and I'd have to bite the bullet. Doesn't give me a lot of faith in Barclays though. If they manage to get this wrong....

Cheers

Biggles

LTSB opened one for me on the spot. Of course, it helped that I and my late mother both banked with LTSB, but the account was open on presentation of the death certificate, the only thing they needed probate for was to release the funds from her old account.

Sounds like you got a jobsworth rather than Barclays at fault....

jonesMUFCforever

Biggles wrote: »

LTSB opened one for me on the spot. Of course, it helped that I and my late mother both banked with LTSB, but the account was open on presentation of the death certificate, the only thing they needed probate for was to release the funds from her old account.

Sounds like you got a jobsworth rather than Barclays at fault....

Are you sure you got an Executor account or a Personal Reps account?
To get an Executor account you need probate.

Biggles

Executor account.

jonesMUFCforever

So a bank opened an account for you without you having the legal authority to run it?

Mikeyorks

Biggles wrote: »

Executor account.

That is odd. As jones... (wish he hadn't changed his name!) says - the norm is that an Exor account will be denied until you furnish proof of Probate. I got quite ratty with Halifax as I was trying to get ahead a bit .... but they were adamant they were not able to open the Exor account until they'd seen the Grant.
And as I was dealing with the dedicated Bereavement Centre .... I stopped arguing, after the first couple of shots missed the mark.

Biggles

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

So a bank opened an account for you without you having the legal authority to run it?

Sure, they opened the account easily enough. That seemed to be quite normal.

What they didn't do, till I got probate, was transfer the funds from the deceased's accounts (as I mentioned) and order a cheque book. So it wasn't as though I could 'run it' as such. But it probably saved a bit of time for me.

looby-loo_2

MIL had been a customer at the same branch for over 50 years and DH for 32 years. To cut a very long story very short it took 14 weeks.

jonesMUFCforever

Biggles wrote: »

Sure, they opened the account easily enough. That seemed to be quite normal.

What they didn't do, till I got probate, was transfer the funds from the deceased's accounts (as I mentioned) and order a cheque book. So it wasn't as though I could 'run it' as such. But it probably saved a bit of time for me.

So what you had in effect then was a personal reps account which was converted to Executors when you gave them a copy of the grant of probate?