HBOS to charge £25 to close my late father in law's account?

Victors_Bruvver

I don't believe it!

My wife has recentlly received a letter from HBOS regarding her deceased father and an account he had with them.

The account has less then £2K in it yet HBOS, we think, are saying "there is a fee of £25 for a transfer to an account held outwith the Halifax bank of Scotland."

Are we interpreting this correctly and can she expect a charge of £25 on a cheque that will finally close the account?

olly300

Sorry can you edit your post so it's clear what is happening.

opinions4u

That sounds like a CHAPS fee.

Ask them to:

a) Transfer it to another Halifax account if you have one - free.
b) Provide a bankers draft (free of charge if the customer is deceased, £20 otherwise).
c) Arrange to collect the cash at a branch - free (but with obvious risks).

datostar

opinions4u wrote: »

That sounds like a CHAPS fee.

Ask them to:

a) Transfer it to another Halifax account if you have one - free.
b) Provide a bankers draft (free of charge if the customer is deceased, £20 otherwise).
c) Arrange to collect the cash at a branch - free (but with obvious risks).

It's not a CHAPS fee. It's an HBOS charge for paying away a deceased's funds outside their own group. Same thing recently happened with my late father's accounts with Halifax. As I happened to have an Halifax Easycash account, I avoided the fee by having funds transferred into that then shifting them straight out again.

opinions4u

It's an HBOS charge for paying away a deceased's funds outside their own group.

Using CHAPS. The alternatives I suggested (which included the one you used) avoid it.

List of fees link.

missile

Seems a bit mean of HBOS.

Just to spite them, I would open an HBOS account transfer the money, then transfer it to your account with a.n.other bank, then close HBOS account.

Mikeyorks

missile wrote: »

Seems a bit mean of HBOS.

Not really. More a total lack of understanding on the part of two posters.

They only need to ask themselves how Halifax could justify such charges ..... when none are levied on those still among us who wish to move their funds? Other than via CHAPS, which is where the £25 originates.

opinions4u

missile wrote: »

Seems a bit mean of HBOS

If it was a charge for being dead, it would be morally repugnant.

But it isn't.

Executors can obtain funds from any HBOS accounts within the estate without charge. They specifically waive the £20 charge for a bankers draft for Executors/administrators/personal representatives of deceased customers.

A CHAPS transfer is not a "normal" banking transaction. It is not an essential part of distributing the estate and, as such, it is not unreasonable to make a charge if the executor wishes to use an enhanced service.

Not a lot to be outraged by here.