Inheritance Query ...

HeCTiC_2

Hi, I have used the site before but never been a poster so exscuse all my taking and no giving. This may also be in the wrong place but one of the mods can tend to that ;-)

I recently recieved a letter from a company here in Northern Ireland - Ingram Garrett & Schofield who say that they have traced a relative of mine that has died in without leaving a will. They are NOT a solicitor and they are NOT dealing with the estate they are simply a company that search for relatives of people who die without leaving a will.

They state that if I sign a form giving them 1/3 + vat of any money I inherit they will give me the details of this person. It all sounds a bit odd to me although 66% of something is better than all of nothing.

I have googled the company and I can find the companys web site, I even called to their office but it was basically just a mail and telephone collection service. All abit suspect.

Has anyone else had anything like this or can anyone give any suggestion of how to look into this futher.

There is another thread on the site here - but as I am a new user I cant post links! It was back in 2007 - at least it existed that far back - but the user is no longer online.

Thanks for anything at all

forgotmyname

I do remember something like this on TV once. No idea what the company was called though.

Start a family tree and see who you can contact. If you dont have any luck then as long as you dont give them any money beforehand then as you say 66% of something is something.

100% of nothing wont go far.

Just beware of giving out bank details and other personal information. Record any calls or write down the questions they ask and the answers you give.

Its amazing how they can extract information during a call and you dont remember later that you told them that.

ROY47

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/515831

that topic ?



seems like these people

Ingram Garrett and Schofield Ltd
Address:
94, University Avenue
Postcode:
BT7 1GY
City/Town:
Belfast (County Antrim)
Main phone:
028 9066 7274

contact details

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9066 7274
Fax: +44 (0) 28 9066 1277
Email: research@igslimited.com



Registrant:
None
20 cowper village
Dublin, Dublin None
IE

Domain name: IGSLIMITED.COM

Administrative Contact:
Quirke, Noel
20 cowper village
Dublin, Dublin None
IE
+353.872417618 Fax: +353.872417618

Technical Contact:
Quirke, Noel
20 cowper village
Dublin, Dublin None
IE
+353.872417618 Fax: +353.872417618

Send them an e mail and ask questions ?

looks pretty good as long as they don't ask you for a fee upfront

1/3 rd of the money is a lot as a fee

e.g you receive £30,000 inheritance unkown to you

but they take £10,000 + vat
nice way to earn a living ?

but then again it could be £20.000 for you as a nice surprise

McKneff

Please remember though, if the estate is £30K you may not be the only heir. If it is a cousing twice removed from your father/mother
there will possibly be lots and lots of other heirs, you could end up with a tenner once its all sorted. They get £10K (from you and everyone else) and you get a tenner. yeah, right.

They are possibly working on people's greed

HeCTiC_2

Thanks for the fast responses.

We have spoken to them on the phone and all seems well. Just different :-! As you say - they get the 10k and everyone else gets to split the money with the other 200 people/ relations!

They have not asked for cash - but they have asked for a signed letter with DOB etc - but I understand that they have to be sure that I am who I say I am as well.

I will keep an eye here for any more info and let you know what happens. We have to give them a letter so I have asked for a face to face meeting.

Could be that that is why they have a call centre in Belfast - as the office is a house in Dublin.

InsideInsurance

HeCTiC wrote: »

As you say - they get the 10k and everyone else gets to split the money with the other 200 people/ relations!

Not exactly because there are a lot of these companies and so they get the 1/3 share of the relatives that they manage to sign up. Other companies will be signing up other relatives (depending on how many of you there are).

Daytime TV always as programs like Heir Hunters on - I am sure you'll find something on BBC iPlayer etc if you want to know how it all works as they explain in most episodes.

They simply get given the list of people who have died intestate with no apparent heirs and no idea of much the estate is worth. Given how geographically mobile people are they must basically be national coverage and given your competitors get the same info at the same time it is very much a race

As others have said, 66% of anything is better off than you were before. The only other option is to sit back and see if any other firms approach you and negotiate over the best rate

Rodders53

33.333% * 1.2 = 40% exactly --- so that's only 60% going to the surviving relatives, 33.333% to the heir hunters and 6.667% to HMG (who otherwise get to keep 100%).

1/3 is presumably their first offer - try saying you'll agree at 1/5, inc vat

hardpressed

Have you any idea who might have died? As a fan of the program Heir Hunters, I now know that there is a list of unclaimed estates on line. You need to look at Bona Vacantia, I think that's how it spelled, and look at the unclaimed estates, then you might see a name that rings a bell, that way it doesn't cost you anything.

kidmugsy

I can remember my father getting a letter like that. He held out for some time until they cut their share; he thought he could drive it down further but eventually relented when other family members said they didn't want to wait any longer.

So: are you in any hurry? Are your family?

wealdroam

HeCTiC wrote: »

I will keep an eye here for any more info and let you know what happens.

So HeCTiC, what happened?