Urgent help pls. How can elderly housebound man withdraw cash from bank?

whitewing

Wouldn't it be better to speak to the relatives and get their input into how to resolve the situation?

Dumyat

archieboy wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. It was power of attorney the bank said would be the best way to go but that was when they said he'd need to come into the branch to set this up and that is impossible.

I will contact Age Concern for their advice as well as trying to contact someone higher up in the bank.

I have opened and managed accounts for my mother. I have power of attorney, and at no time has she ever had to go to the bank.

I think you need to speak with his family or next of kin, you could leave yourself open to accusations if this is not handled correctly.

elsien

Given that the next of kin don't seem to falling over themselves to offer any help or check that the person is ok, if the gentleman can prove he has capacity, then the next of kin don't need to be involved.

whitewing

Maybe the next of kin aren't being given the chance to know that assistance is required.

OP will potentially have to deal with unhappy next of kin at some point, if he delays getting them involved now.

archieboy

Thank you for all your replies so far.

I did deposit one of my friends cheques, made out to me, at my bank on Tuesday after I had spoken to his bank and really got nowhere. Just waiting to see if the money is deposited ok into my account. I have already withdrawn the cash to give him in this cash emergency he has just now.

I don't have any contact details for his family but yes, I would prefer they knew all about this problem. There is a brother and nephew but I don't think my friend will let me contact them as he is annoyed that they haven't been keeping in touch more.

I'm really not happy about using his debit card so will try to convince him to let me arrange for a solicitor to visit him and get something legal set up for the longer term.

rochja

Coming at this from a different direction, what about something like the Nat West mobile banking app? You can use a mobile phone to authorise payments directly into contacts' bank accounts so you can pay for a service as you receive it. Given the disability mentioned you might have to shop for a user friendly phone or tablet with 3G. No cash. Immediate payment. I dont know if any other banks offer a service that is similar but perhaps the bank in question is NatWest?

Dumyat

I know you are dealing with the problem with cash at present. My mum has parkinsons and as you are finding out, writing and speaking on phones becomes a real issue as the disease progresses. For example, in my experience, none of the utility companies she had would speak to me with out the power of attorney. The call handlers quote endlessly "data protection"
I think your friend has to realise you cannot help him without some kind legal document. He could make you his power of attorney, but that may cause problems with his family.

troubleinparadise

Dear Archieboy,

whitewing wrote: »

Maybe the next of kin aren't being given the chance to know that assistance is required.

OP will potentially have to deal with unhappy next of kin at some point, if he delays getting them involved now.

I'd really echo Whitewing's post - and agree that you think it would be wise to involve a solicitor with regard to possible power of attorney issues.

Whilst it's not very MSE in terms of additional cost, it does cover both yourself and your friend with regard to being involved financially with a vulnerable person.

Your friend has every right to make his own decisions and exercise his autonomy, but you need also to protect yourself against any possible question that your motivations are less than altruistic.

davenport151

Age Concern is now called AgeUk. I work in a care home and occasionally we have residents who use their services. Its free as well.

Gers

GwylimT wrote: »

Banks can issue separate cards, for example if someone is disabled and unable to use the bank without assistance a second card can be issued for a third party to be used, this is enables the account holder to be covered in cases of fraud as well, where as giving someone else your card can lead to a bank refusing a fraud claim payment.

I have a third party mandate on one of my mother's accounts - gives me a cheque book which has '*my name* as 3rd party mandate for *mothers' name*' written above the place where the signature goes. And I have a cash card to withdraw from machines.

It probably does entail a visit to the bank to sign the forms and I can't see a way around this which is acceptable to the bank which has a duty to protect the customer from possible fraud.