ITC Legal Services - Avoid Them

datostar

Just an update on the Barclays Bank/ITC tie-up. My father died recently and as he banked with Barclays I visited my local branch along with Will, Death Certificate, Bank Statements, my ID etc. The estate is small and straightforward so I'm applying for probate myself. His account was 'frozen' during my visit and I was told I couldn't have any details of the account until Grant of Probate. Odd, as the probate application requires details of assets. I'll be back at them about this.
The Barclays operative then made a phone call, muttered away for a bit then handed the phone to me saying it was their Bereavement Department wanting to speak to me. After a bit of wittering about deepest sympathy and whatnot, the woman on the other end said she understood I was applying for probate myself. I confirmed this. I was then treated as if I was some kind of imbecile, warned of the extreme difficulties of such a course, told it would take at least 6-9 months and that there could be all kinds of problems. But, then came the 'good' part. I could be referred to ITC who could expertly handle this onerous task, taking all the stress away from me. I said I wasn't interested then she gave the ITC number in case I changed my mind.
After reading this thread, which I hadn't seen before my visit to the bank, I suspect that my conversation may have been with ITC themselves.
Lucky escape, I think.

John_Pierpoint

Good luck - you might need it.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2204561

Presumably you will be submitting a final tax return on behalf of the deceased?
(Because, unless he died in April, there is a good chance that he had a whole year's personal tax allowance and has received tax paid income?)
You might need good luck with the Income Tax return too - HMRC is nearing melt down as a result of two computer system implementations in one year, against a background of job cuts.

Provided you are not into Inheritance Tax, the job can be done in weeks to gain probate on an estate with "tidy" records. .
I don't know who the idiot at Barclays was, when you were told that no details of the account can be released before probate/grant of letters of administration; as you correctly point out; you have to provide details of the deceased's wealth in order to get probate. You are expected to include "accrued income" that is the interest earned by the savings, but not yet paid or taxed, though this may be off set in your estates figures by outstanding debts (milk & newspaper bills?)
I had some idiot in Liverpool tell me I was not allowed to make an official complaint about Barclays.

If you get a problem with the procedures, there are plenty of people on this forum who can help. I have found the Which? books helpful.

Is the gross value of the estate below the IHT 325K nil rate band?

datostar

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Good luck - you might need it.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2204561

Presumably you will be submitting a final tax return on behalf of the deceased?
(Because, unless he died in April, there is a good chance that he had a whole year's personal tax allowance and has received tax paid income?)
You might need good luck with the Income Tax return too - HMRC is nearing melt down as a result of two computer system implementations in one year, against a background of job cuts.

Provided you are not into Inheritance Tax, the job can be done in weeks to gain probate on an estate with "tidy" records. .
I don't know who the idiot at Barclays was, when you were told that no details of the account can be released before probate/grant of letters of administration; as you correctly point out; you have to provide details of the deceased's wealth in order to get probate. You are expected to include "accrued income" that is the interest earned by the savings, but not yet paid or taxed, though this may be off set in your estates figures by outstanding debts (milk & newspaper bills?)
I had some idiot in Liverpool tell me I was not allowed to make an official complaint about Barclays.

If you get a problem with the procedures, there are plenty of people on this forum who can help. I have found the Which? books helpful.

Is the gross value of the estate below the IHT 325K nil rate band?

It's well below the IHT threshold and, fortunately, his only account with Barclays is a non-interest paying current account. Apart from a few share dividends his main income was from a public sector pension with PAYE deductions, so HMRC and tax returns shouldn't be too much of a problem. I can contrast the Barclays experience with my visit to a Halifax Branch (most of his savings are with them). I was immediately given a printout of all the account details and balances and there wasn't even the slightest attempt to sell any kind of probate/executor service.
Thanks for the info and I'll certainly be keeping an eye on these threads. It does look as if Barclays have offloaded all their responsibilities for deceased clients to ITC and the whole operation seems to be angled towards using their 'services'. That's terrible.

portlandboy

portlandboy wrote: »

Watching...as ever!

Strange thing happened after I posted this comment...Suddenly I've had no notifications that posts are being added, so I've NOT been watching.
I have,however, re-contacted the BBC's Watchdog over ITC's conduct but had no reply. Now that the current series has ended, I wonder if we could all post our stories to them via this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/

then click on "Your Story".

If we can get a large amount of complaints, all within a short time, then maybe we stand a chance of being noticed. Here's hoping...

John_Pierpoint

datostar wrote: »

Apart from a few share dividends his main income was from a public sector pension with PAYE deductions, so HMRC and tax returns shouldn't be too much of a problem. I can contrast the Barclays experience with my visit to a Halifax Branch (most of his savings are with them). I was immediately given a printout of all the account details and balances and there wasn't even the slightest attempt to sell any kind of probate/executor service.
It does look as if Barclays have offloaded all their responsibilities for deceased clients to ITC and the whole operation seems to be angled towards using their 'services'. That's terrible.

Might be a bit to come back from HMRC - my mum died in April and I got a refund of about 10 GBP:rotfl:
(but I also got about 400 GBP on the previous year as she had not bothered to do her tax return, to get at her 10% band, [her income did not get her up into the pensioner's 30% band]; while in hospital:eek:!).
Good luck you might have a tax office that has a massive, multi month back log.

On the bank front HSBC were good and had someone in the local branch who knew her stuff like: "keep the account open and we will continue to accept dividends".

Remember if the dividend has been declared (but not yet paid) it counts as part of you late father's wealth, the share have gone down in value because they are "ex dividend".

http://commission.bnbb.org/banking/

portlandboy

datostar wrote: »

It does look as if Barclays have offloaded all their responsibilities for deceased clients to ITC and the whole operation seems to be angled towards using their 'services'. That's terrible.

The thing that bothers me with Barclays and ITC is the fact that Barclays seem to think it is acceptable to hand personal and private details of the deceased to ITC without consulting the executors. They state that the Data Protection Act does not cover deceased people. Well legally they may well be correct, but morally...?

datostar

portlandboy wrote: »

The thing that bothers me with Barclays and ITC is the fact that Barclays seem to think it is acceptable to hand personal and private details of the deceased to ITC without consulting the executors. They state that the Data Protection Act does not cover deceased people. Well legally they may well be correct, but morally...?

Even more of concern to me is the fact that even after having been supplied with death certificate, will, and personal ID, I was told that I could not be given any account details. They even accessed my own Barclays accounts while I sat there, no doubt to confirm that I was good for ITC fees in the event of the estate not being so. This seems to be deliberately designed to force me to use the ITC service which I am determined not to do. Obviously, ITC would be given these details as a matter of course. I have submitted the first complaint against them which will be far from the last. I am having to deal with other banks too, the latest being A&L. As with Halifax, absolutely no problems. I have banked with these swine for over 40 years, my later father for even more. I am utterly disgusted with them.

Liz_Atkin

Hi, I need help please, we signed up for ITC in March purely because we haven't got the werewithall to meet the costs for doing Probate ourselves, we are in June and nothing is happening. I wish we could get out of this mess but can't see how we can? It's causing us hardship and frayed tempers which we don't need right now, one problem is that we are in Devon and the property is in Birmingham, Oh woe is me, will our nightmare ever end?

angrygirlie

Liz_Atkin wrote: »

Hi, I need help please, we signed up for ITC in March purely because we haven't got the werewithall to meet the costs for doing Probate ourselves, we are in June and nothing is happening. I wish we could get out of this mess but can't see how we can? It's causing us hardship and frayed tempers which we don't need right now, one problem is that we are in Devon and the property is in Birmingham, Oh woe is me, will our nightmare ever end?

Hello Liz.
Ring ITC on their freephone 0800 082 1139 and let them know that you are on this forum after reading the horror stories (and by golly they are!!) Stay on their case and depending what stage they are on, stamp your feet. Insist on speaking to the customer relations manager NOW and if you are told not available, then ask for the CEO Martin Trees. Kick up a fuss which I know is the last thing a bereaved folk wants to do, but you have to let this **** unprofessional company knowthat you will not accept the service you are receiving and you mean business.

angrygirlie

And more bad publicity for ITC and Barclays bank in the Daily Mail. Thank you to the jorno who has written this (and also the last piece about ITC overcharging/links to bereavement advice centre



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1286890/SPECIAL-INVESTIGATION-How-writers-banks-ruthlessly-cash-death.html