ITC Legal Services - Avoid Them

lifesabeach1111

nl1enrique wrote: »

Having emailed The Law Society on the 10th Feb, through the link kindly provided by Fuzzy Dunlop, I am still awaiting a reply from them, almost two weeks later. Has anyone had any success?

I never got any reply either:(

NervexProf

angrygirlie wrote: »

ITC probably stepped down without a fight down due to bad publicity on this website. Thank goodness Nervexprof did'nt have to go through any more hassle. I was advised by a solicitor that if I wanted to 'sack' them, i would have to go through court so that was definately not an option

The clear reason that itc renounced here was because they saw that there was no (financial) mileage in refusing to renounce. A simple estate, essentially cash would not merit a lengthy dispute, much less their costs in taken this to 'High Court' level in defending their objection to an invitation to 'renounce' - note the words 'invitation to renounce'

Having taking legal opinion I discovered that most, if not all commercial will writers will, if asked, renounce!

A side note: if the appointment is 'joint' then you have lots to lose if you defer in favour of itc, i.e huge, unknown costs, and delays.

Calamity37

If one only had a crystal ball! I too have appointed TLC to handle the Probate of my sister's will for which I am the executor. After reading the forum I am now desperate for someone to help me. I only appointed TLC on the 19 January 2010, to date I have only received two letters and most of my correspondence has gone astray. I have spent the last week continually phoning them but keep getting passed from one member of staff to the other. They have been sending my documentation to the wrong place and then requesting me to send further copies. What I have read about this company on the Forum is nothing short of a horror story, and now I have joined the ranks. Does anyone know if I can get out of this contract, if so, by what means? They haven't done any work for me as such except to appoint an RICS surveyor to value my sister's property because the valuation was not acceptable. I have written to Trading Standards but do not hold out much hope as they are rather long winded in replying. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

lifesabeach1111

Calamity37 wrote: »

If one only had a crystal ball! I too have appointed TLC to handle the Probate of my sister's will for which I am the executor. After reading the forum I am now desperate for someone to help me. I only appointed TLC on the 19 January 2010, to date I have only received two letters and most of my correspondence has gone astray. I have spent the last week continually phoning them but keep getting passed from one member of staff to the other. They have been sending my documentation to the wrong place and then requesting me to send further copies. What I have read about this company on the Forum is nothing short of a horror story, and now I have joined the ranks. Does anyone know if I can get out of this contract, if so, by what means? They haven't done any work for me as such except to appoint an RICS surveyor to value my sister's property because the valuation was not acceptable. I have written to Trading Standards but do not hold out much hope as they are rather long winded in replying. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am sorry to hear that you found the forum to late. You will have well over a year of phone calls and getting nowhere.

nl1enrique

I was under the understanding, i may be wrong, that you can change the executor providing that the executor has not applied for probate and the probate court has not issued letters recognizing an executor of a will. In my case I was too late but ITC still took 4/5 months to obtain probate, so the chances are that you may be able to if you act quickly. There may be a cost involved but it would probably be worth it.

Calamity37

Thank you for replying. I have emailed the Law Society today for advice, I feel I must do something.

jackportd

Hi guy

I definitely say that its about time an undercover journo got on the inside and revealed to the tv watching nation how unregulated probate companies like ITC can use the word 'lawyers' but the customer does not realise that they will be in a position of complete vulnerability.

What you think?

portlandboy

nl1enrique wrote: »

I was under the understanding, i may be wrong, that you can change the executor providing that the executor has not applied for probate and the probate court has not issued letters recognizing an executor of a will. In my case I was too late but ITC still took 4/5 months to obtain probate, so the chances are that you may be able to if you act quickly. There may be a cost involved but it would probably be worth it.

Yes I think that you are right, on ALL points. Until ITC have been issued with the grant of probate they have no right to do any work (except to apply for the grant, of course) on the case.
And yes, they may be able to charge for that "sevice" but, without any doubt whatsoever, Calamity37, you would be well advised to pay up and get shot of them RIGHT NOW.
If ITC do try to charge you for applying for the grant of probate it is well worth just paying up and putting that down to experience. But mention this website, as they do read the posts, you might find they won't charge you at all. ITC's charges will be far more expensive by the time they've finished with you than ANY real solicitor. At least if you get out now you'll still have something left at the end of it, even if it's just your sanity!
To be 100% sure that ITC get the message you will need to call the freephone number (0800 013 2024), write to them (recorded delivery) and then re-call them to make sure they have acted. Don't leave anything to chance and don't delay doing it.

motherofstudents

I know it's not much help to you but maybe other people reading this might consider doing the probate themselves. I have done it three times and it really is easy (maybe there are very complex cases, I can't comment on those) The last one I did was not straightforward at all in relation to the other two but even so it took weeks and cost around £90 I think. It's terrible that these places can rip you off at the most vulnerable and upsetting time.

angrygirlie

Calamity37 wrote: »

If one only had a crystal ball! I too have appointed TLC to handle the Probate of my sister's will for which I am the executor. After reading the forum I am now desperate for someone to help me. I only appointed TLC on the 19 January 2010, to date I have only received two letters and most of my correspondence has gone astray. I have spent the last week continually phoning them but keep getting passed from one member of staff to the other. They have been sending my documentation to the wrong place and then requesting me to send further copies. What I have read about this company on the Forum is nothing short of a horror story, and now I have joined the ranks. Does anyone know if I can get out of this contract, if so, by what means? They haven't done any work for me as such except to appoint an RICS surveyor to value my sister's property because the valuation was not acceptable. I have written to Trading Standards but do not hold out much hope as they are rather long winded in replying. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I too am sorry that these people have got a hold. I am sure, as the others have said after your post, if you can get out at a cost,then get out as itc will emotionally and spiritually drain you. I am still in dispute with them after 2 years of appointing them.