We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Paying for probate in advance

My other half arranged for us to have our wills written. A salesman from Trust Inheritance visited us on Monday. He put a fair bit of pressure on us to pay for probate in advance. So instead of paying £65 for a will we've paid £850 (on credit card). I feel uneasy about this. I've looked at older posts and am getting increasingly worried. Am I right to be? I feel pretty stupid paying for something probably very far in advance (I'm 40). Although the salesman didn't mention a cooling off period, do I have the right to cancel, either £850 or £65?

Comments

  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,272 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Would have thought so...specially as you paid by CC

    FYI Probate down my way (Luton) is 180+vat an hour with no way of knowing how many hours would be required , for even a simple estate , yet only £105 to do it yourself , if simple....
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • Do Something Amazing- Give Blood
  • daska
    daska Posts: 6,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Who's to say they'll even be in business when Probate needs applying for?

    Your executor has the option of employing a solicitor to do the whole job if it's very complicated or they don't have the time or inclination, or just parts of it if there are specific points that need clarifying, or none at all.

    Personally I'd cancel.
    Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants - Michael Pollan
    48 down, 22 to go
    Low carb, low oxalate Primal + dairy
    From size 24 to 16 and now stuck...
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 34,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You can deposit your wills with the probate office for safe keeping and it costs a mere £15.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • madbadrob
    madbadrob Posts: 1,284 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Paying by Credit Card gives you a lot of protection and under the distance selling act you have 7 days to cancel so I would cancel the contract you have with these people and go to a solicitor and have your wills drawn up there. That said if there are no further fees to be paid upon death and assuming that they are still in business by the time this comes to you £850 is not a large amount.

    Having looked at their website and done some digging they do not appear to have as yet had a complaint made against them save for their use of dialers to cold call people. Their website shows them to be members of Step and PALS neither of which have any legal powers. In fact reading the constitution of PALS it would seem that they are in fact not going to be covered by PALS anyway. It would also seem that TI were the ones to set up PALS.

    One question though the cost you have mentioned is that for them to carry out probate or to aid the executors? All other forums where this company is mentioned say it is for help to be given to the executors and therefore it is in my opinion excessive

    Rob
  • I would agree with Madbadrob - cancel these wills and get a solicitor to draft a will for you - then get it checked by someone independent to ensure it does what you want it to do and not something else as well.
    Insist on 'plain english' instead of complicated 'legalise' so your wishes are clearly understood by you and a court.
    Sounds expensive, but it much more expensive trying to pursue it through the courts.
    We 'trust' solicitors and 'will writers' with our last wishes and if they are not followed we have little, to no, protection.
    It's too late to check when you are dead, and your 'consumer rights' don't pass on...
    I have had dealing with a will writer - and their 'society' which is supposed to protect consumers is not as 'independent' as you would think or as 'ethical'.
    The will writer made lots of errors and the 'society' supported the will writer.
    This area of law is Civil so unless you / or whoever you wish to benefit, has a lot of money to pursue any 'errors' made in a civil court after your death, your wishes may not be followed and you will be unable to rectify a 'shoddy' will.
    The Police will not become involved as it is not 'criminal' in law.
  • JohnW
    JohnW Posts: 18 Forumite
    Agree with most of the above.

    I'd cancel this and get a Law Society recommended solicitor to draw up your wills and forget about Probate for now.

    Several years, before my Dad died in 2011, I found out he didn't have a Will and also realised his estate may be well over the Inheritance Tax threshold. I looked up a few local companies who provide Will-writing services and they also advertised financial advice for IHT matters.

    From my contacts with a few of these, I found them mostly very irritating and decided I wouldn't trust them.

    I got a reputable solicitor to Dad's Will for £150.

    And did probate myself after he died. Was easy enough in the end.

    Hope that helps.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.