ITC Legal Services - Avoid Them

angrygirlie

angryboy wrote: »

Hello angrygirlie.
Just a note to say thanks to you and everyone else for all their posts-you have stopped me from making a terrible mistake.To anyone out there who is thinking of applying for probate themselves please go ahead and do it.I applied for probate 2 weeks ago and so far the process has been very straightforward....i have an interview at the local probate registry office early next week and the whole process should take approx. 5 weeks.NOT 6-9 months that the ITC rep said!Also,it has only cost £95.....not quite the £2100+ i was quoted! I wonder why itc/barclays never pointed out how easy probate is to do....I have now lost both my parents so i can imagine the pain and stress everyone else is feeling.Even though i think ive had a (very)lucky escape i will be doing something to stop these cowboys from preying on others.Thanks again,angryboy.

Excellent news angryboy. I too wish that more bereaved people were advised of how possibly straight forward probate can be. You have truly been saved from any more pain and distress that comes with losing a loved one. And it's good for you to let people know that probate does not have to be a scary and difficult thing to deal with. I was told by the Bereavement Advice Center, (when I called after mothers death) that probate must be done properly and accurately so as nothing fell back on the executor/s, so it was best to give the job to a professional company who specialised in Probate (ITC) so as to be sure all was done correctly and to take the stress away. Ha ha Well what can I say about that?. No further comment!!!

angryboy

Hello angrygirlie.
just a note to let you know that my probate application has been successful.The grant of probate came this morning following my interview at the probate registry early last week.To date the whole thing has taken less than one month-i posted the application on the 25th of october.The staff at the probate registry in Manchester were very helpful and the interview took less than 5 mins,just confirming all the details in the application were correct.All the things that ITC said they would do-obtaining death certificate,stopping direct debits,informing DWP,i have done myself.I would say it has taken approx. 5-6 hours to do all of this and complete the probate application.During the home visit the ITC rep said it would take,ahem,40 to 50 "professional hours" to complete this!!
To anyone reading this who is thinking of applying for probate please understand that it isnt complex and time consuming and can be done without any legal knowledge at all....there definitely is NOT a court appearance involved,as the ITC rep said.
To say that Barclays gave me bad advice is something of an understatement!Thanks again,angryboy.

John_Pierpoint

Well done.

Was there any IHT involved?

Are you now in the process of completing the last income tax return?

MotownFox

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Well done.

Was there any IHT involved?

Are you now in the process of completing the last income tax return?

A bit previous there John about the Income Tax, but it is a good reminder that it needs dealing with and a letter to the tax man asking for a copy of the last tax return and request for the final return, if you haven't got either already, was something I did at an early stage. Not just to get the return to fill in but the previous year's also gave vital information about the assets the deceased held which is needed for the IHT form to make sure that all the assets were included.
And as you mention earlier in this thread unless the deceased died in April or early May there is likely to be a tax refund if the deceased was paying tax on any income, usually pension and/or dividends, so it is well wworth doing.

The trouble is as mentioned earlier in the thread the HMRC are terrible to get hold of to try and sort anything out and they take an age to answer any letters. This applies to both deceased cases, it has got worst year by year, and with "live" clients, such as my daughter for whom I tried to contact the Revenue on her behalf (last month I was kept hanging on for over 15 minutes before I gave up.)

John_Pierpoint

All day pressing "last number redial" - eventually got through first thing next morning to the call centre (in Cumbria?).
Managed to get a call back from someone who knew something about tax two days later.

portlandboy

itc_Legal_Services wrote: »

Hello. We just wanted to remind you that you can call 0800 082 1139 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday) to discuss your issues directly in person. We are ready and willing to help you. Thanks very much,
ITC Customer Relations Team

Since you have managed to post this comment, why don't you post the statistics that show how long your probate cases take, how happy your customers, how many complaints you have had and what the complaints involve I'm sure that the forum readers would love to know the facts from you instead of from us. You don't need to provide personal info so there should be no problem. And, having spoken with your CEO, I know that these figures are recorded by ITC because he has revealed some of them to me.

angrygirlie

portlandboy wrote: »

Since you have managed to post this comment, why don't you post the statistics that show how long your probate cases take, how happy your customers, how many complaints you have had and what the complaints involve I'm sure that the forum readers would love to know the facts from you instead of from us. You don't need to provide personal info so there should be no problem. And, having spoken with your CEO, I know that these figures are recorded by ITC because he has revealed some of them to me.

And as I have recently had some of my posts removed from this forum which were regarding real personal experiences with ITC, I will have to re publish those facts that HAVE happened. I am a statistic.

bakerboy98

I have heard that something about to happen with some kind of venture capitalists called August.

Might be worth getting lots of people to contact them to let themknowwhat getting involved with.

Also I see new series of Rip Off Britain about to come on BBC. Might be worth getting lots of people to contact to make them aware of issues in probate market.

firdol

itc_Legal_Services wrote: »

Hello. We just wanted to remind you that you can call 0800 082 1139 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday) to discuss your issues directly in person. We are ready and willing to help you. Thanks very much,
ITC Customer Relations Team

don't you think it's a little too late?
mouth to mouth promotion already started
(black campaign version of course)

angrygirlie

angrygirlie wrote: »

Over 27,300 views to date. And may it rise daily!

And over 1000 views in a little over 2 weeks since this post.

Rip off Britain will be contacted and please, all continue to contact Watchdog as they will be preparing for the next series.

Regarding my removed post I made after 4th Nov before ITC decided to make their little statement about being willing to listen to anyones issues. I ask myself did my removed posts using the words 'actively lie' and 'they have your money, thats all that matters' hit a sore spot? This was MY EXPERIENCE and there was no exageration to what I had claimed and encountered with ITC.