ITC Probate/Chorus Law/The Bereavemnt Advice Centre - All Rogues Together

portlandboy

novamation wrote: »

My Mum died a couple of weeks ago, I phoned up Barclays/simplify to freeze her accounts and got talked into a visit from these people. I knew something was up, and knew I'd best look them up before the date, I'm so glad I did. Thank you, to everyone who's posted about this.

I'll phone up and cancel tomorrow, I hope I'm not going to get charged for this already am I?

They won't like the fact that you are cancelling, but it's your right to do so, even if the cooling off period has passed. They may try to charge you for work to date but they won't have done much yet and you'll be far better off getting out now.
If they do charge you for work to date, make them send you proof of their axtions before you pay them. You should also make sure that they return ALL the documents they have taken from you. I would suggest that you record all calls and get proof of posting for all communications you have with them too. You never know if you might need it later.

Clachair

I vehemently wish I had discovered this forum and stayed away from Chorus Law; unfortunately a family death took me by surprise and I trusted Barclay's when they recommended them.
I have had a probate case running with Chorus Law for over a year and they have made it incredibility difficult at every turn, and I have still yet to see any result of their efforts at all.
The number of mistakes they have made is incredible
Constant chasing for updates, which when they do come invariably lack any substantial detail, Lack of accountability is a joke.
They attempted to assume an ongoing malpractice lawsuit on my behalf. - naturally they charged me a fee for rectifying their mistake, and then complained to me that the High Court judge and the defendants had objected to the wording of their Deed of Appointment.
They have made a number of time-wasting errors, including requesting GRO documents which they should have known were absolutely unavailable, calling my New York office at 4:00 am because they didn't know what time it was there, telling their associate company Move-with-us to sell my sister's house from under her.
I have complained on a number of occasions to my Case Manager, who incidentally has changed three times, but whenever I complain they seem to think that fobbing me off with a verbal reassurance is all I need
I got the mistaken impression from Simplify that Chorus was a company of lawyers specializing in probate cases; I now wish I had gone with a local lawyer.
I would dearly love to know how to light a fire under their backside to get some positive action.

:mad:

Fuming !!

portlandboy

You might like to join us on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/104268162937758/

We have all been in your position at some point and sometimes just knowing that you're not alone in your fight can help. I'll add you should you decide to ask to join.

Good luck with your case. But unfortunately, by most of Chorus' clients experience, it's now only about half way through

Shelldean

We had them round as they offered us free advice etc, bloke was really nice. But thankfully we didn't sign and won't be signing.

But the company sent by Barclays was called simplify, but from my quick research leads back to ICT and chorus law.

Was my research correct?

portlandboy

Yes. At one time the companies that were in question were ITC and the Bereavement Advice Centre. They are fading in to the backgroung and being replaced by Chorus Law and Simplify.
All of the company names are owned and run by the same management team under the Chorus Group. All provide the same terrible service.

Shelldean

Thanks Portland boy we won't be using them even more so since reading your epic warning thread x

Dev11

From a different angle, I had the pleasure of working for Chorus Law some time ago. I regard myself as an honest, decent and professional person, but let me just say that working for this bunch was the most excrutiatingly painful experience of my life!

This mob are all about sales, sales and sales again. The phone centre will attempt to persuade you to accept an appointment from a Simplify adviser for 'free and impartial advice'. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Probate Advisers are sent to see you for one reason and one reason only, and that is to close the deal on their full administration service.

The Advisers are placed under immense pressure to sell this service whether it is appropriate or not; the only commissions they earn are for selling that service and nothing else. If they fail to sell that service they face negative sanctions.

There are many good reputable probate service companies out there, one of which i now work for, but please believe me, Chorus Law is certainly not one of them.

portlandboy

Dev11 wrote: »

From a different angle, I had the pleasure of working for Chorus Law some time ago. I regard myself as an honest, decent and professional person, but let me just say that working for this bunch was the most excrutiatingly painful experience of my life!

This mob are all about sales, sales and sales again. The phone centre will attempt to persuade you to accept an appointment from a Simplify adviser for 'free and impartial advice'. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Probate Advisers are sent to see you for one reason and one reason only, and that is to close the deal on their full administration service.

The Advisers are placed under immense pressure to sell this service whether it is appropriate or not; the only commissions they earn are for selling that service and nothing else. If they fail to sell that service they face negative sanctions.

There are many good reputable probate service companies out there, one of which i now work for, but please believe me, Chorus Law is certainly not one of them.

This may well be written from a different angle, but it certainly rings true with many people's experiences as clients. Thanks, this is very interesting.

Miss_Zee

Re: ITC

We are currently dealing with these people now as I type and its been a non stop headache and stress ever since we decided to get them involved. Nothing is ever simple with them. Theres no communication...AT ALL (Unless we make the call), non-stop stalling tactics, incompetencies, mistakes galore. A total nightmare!

They were recommended through Barclays Bank and when we had the home visit the polished sales pitch sounded like silk to our ears, as they were numerous parties involved in relation to my fathers estate and we wanted to complete everything with as much ease as possible. Of course, we now realise through hindsight, that we weren't in the best state of minds to make an educated decision as the home visit was just over a week after my father died of cancer.

It was, and still is the worst decision we ever made!

I could go on and on listing the details but I'm so sick of it all. All I can do from this point onwards is strongly advise anyone against using their services (ha! what services?) and either use a solicitor which is will be regulated....or manage the probate yourself.

I'm about to yet again, make another call to these people and can guarantee that I will feel the way I always do after speaking to them - upset, stressed out, suckered and completely out of control.

portlandboy

Sorry to hear from yet another unfortunate victim who has been preyed upon while at a very vulnerable point in the grieving process.
You really are not alone. There are many of us who have been or are still going through the same experiences as you are at the moment
.
We have a Facebook group that you may find useful:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/104268162937758/
We can offer some helpful advice and, if nothing else, the knowledge that you are not on your own in this mess.

If you'd like to join us, you will be very welcome.