ITC Legal Services - Avoid Them

portlandboy

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?

Don't fret too much over the cost of obtaining the grant of probate yourself, or through a genuine solicitor. Their is a way of getting remission from payment if you suffer financial hardship but the current charges, as printed on the directgov website, are:
The cost of a grant

There's no fee to pay if the amount left in the deceased person's sole name after funeral expenses and debt payment (the 'net estate') is £5,000 or less. If the net estate is over £5,000 the fee is £90. Extra copies of the grant cost £1 each if ordered at the time of application.
If payment will cause you financial hardship, you can ask for 'remission' from payment. Ask the Probate Registry staff for forms EX160 and EX160a, or download them using the links below.

Here's the link to that page:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/governmentcitizensandrights/death/preparation/dg_10029716

A point to note here is that if you use a solicitor they will check that the estate has the funds to pay for their bill. It does sound a bit mercinary, I know, but you can be sure that ITC have already checked that out before even starting to apply for probate.
To add to "angrygirlie"s post, be sure to follow up your phone call to ITC with a recorded delivery letter telling them to quit so that you have proof of your actions.
Remember, if you use ITC the eventual costs will be much greater than that of most solicitors (not just the financial costs, but your sanity too). Local solicitors will often charge by the hour, but may also "cap" the costs so you know upfront the top price you may have to pay. ITC will, without doubt charge you far more than you imagine.
So good luck, and if in doubt a post here will certainly get a reply with some support and guidance.

John_Pierpoint

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?

Hi Liz,

If you can post a bit more about the nature of the estate, the will (if there is one), the named executors (if there is a will) and the net value of the estate, then people on this forum can give you some more advice.

In theory, sorting out an estate below the Inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate limit of 325K, should be a cheap, simple DIY job - I've been involved in 5 estates - however some nasty muddle tends to crop up, because you come up against an incompetent organisations, run by semi trained muppets - so you need to know your rights.

You also need the time, but as you are discovering, you can employ a dog and still have to do a huge amount of barking yourself.

Good luck,

John

portlandboy

A fortune cookie told me on Monday this week "Good news cometh from an unknown bearer". A little vague, I know, but actually may be paticularly relevant here. Keep hope (and heads) high...:)

ljo

new prog on BBC "RIP OFF BRITAIN" introduced by Angela Rippon. The prog investigates rip off companies, 20 progs in a month. they are asking for the public to contact them with complaints they can investigate. i can think of one can you!!!!!!!!! ljo

John_Pierpoint

Back in the Autumn but it seems they have "done" Barclays last year.
Anyone see the programme?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/09/rip-off.shtml

angrygirlie

AND WE ALL JOIN TOGETHER.

Oh yes itc, what comes around goes around and David will champion over Goliath

datostar

portlandboy wrote: »

A point to note here is that if you use a solicitor they will check that the estate has the funds to pay for their bill. It does sound a bit mercinary, I know, but you can be sure that ITC have already checked that out before even starting to apply for probate.

Barclays automatically notify ITC of the account details of deceased clients as soon as they are aware of the death. When I went in to notify the death of my father, as part of the procedure I was handed a PinSentry machine to enter my own Connect card and PIN number so the 'Personal Banker' could check my own Barclays accounts. £15000 or so on the overall balance so I got a 'Mmm'. Shortly after, I was handed the phone to speak to the 'Bereavement Unit' then came the ITC hard sell. Might it be that if both deceased and executor are Barclays customers and the estate assets are insufficient to pay the exorbitant fees, that the £250 initial 'Power of Attorney' contract enables them to come after the executor should he/she also be a Barclays customer? Heaven forbid but I wouldn't be too surprised.

Richard_Webster

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?

Why couldn't you use a local solicitor?

Also, to be fair, if the estate is near or over the IHT threshold details of all the assets have to be collected before a grant or probate can be applied for so it is not that surprising that 3 months have gone by already.

John_Pierpoint

Presumably Liz Atkin has signed some sort of contract with our friends ITC.

[Wealth warning: not all solicitors, employees of HMRC, or bankers are competent in probate matters]

Now if someone could give me/point me at the successor to :

Relief under ITTOIA/S669

I would be most grateful. A worked example would be ideal.

[I think I know what is wanted BUT with several beneficiaries pushed into additional rate (40%) income tax by 18 month's of estate income, reporting to semi trained HMRC income tax operatives, I don't want to add to the chaos in the self assessment system:eek:].

portlandboy

Richard_Webster wrote: »

Why couldn't you use a local solicitor?

Also, to be fair, if the estate is near or over the IHT threshold details of all the assets have to be collected before a grant or probate can be applied for so it is not that surprising that 3 months have gone by already.

Although they say nothing is happening, this may not be so. ITC never once told me that they had obtained the Grant of Probate, even when I asked that question directly. They then "held on" to the estate assets for nearly 18 months before someone finally told me that probate had been granted 8 months previously!!
I don't suppose they benefitted from that in any way, did they???