More help needed for an old lady

maz2010

My Great Aunt (94 years old) has a major problem. We believe her bank account has been accessed and money taken from it by an unscrupulous family member.
We have tried contacting the bank concerned but they are unable to help without her bank account number. Unfortunately, we cannot find anything with her number on it. :wall:
Does anyone know if it is possible to find bank details somehow?
Any assistance would be much appreciated as this dear old woman has had a rough few years and we want to be able to make sure that any wrong doing will be sufficiently punished.
Many thanks

alanq

I am sure that the bank can identify the accounts of the lady but even if it did it would not discuss matters with you without some authorisation.

What are the grounds for suspicion against the family member? If there is anything concrete then it is a matter the police can investigate.

How do you believe the funds were accessed? Do you think simple fraud was involved? Does the family member have a power of attorney that you believe has been misused? Does anyone else have power of attorney or deputyship over her financial affairs? If so it is they who should be sorting things out.

Perhaps you could discuss your suspicion of "financial abuse" with the Office Of The Public Guardian.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/opg

Update: It seems that this a something that Social Services can take up. For example in East Sussex
http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/worried/report/default.htm

xylophone

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/illness,_injury_and_disability/benefits_and_hospital.aspx

Have you contacted the DWP? Assuming that your mother is next of kin/ has authority to deal with your aunt's affairs, they might be able to help at least with details of the account to which benefits are paid?

innovate

Unless there is a POA in place, I would be shocked if my next of kin could get the DWP to tell them what account my pension gets paid into.

anmarj

the dwp will not in any circumstances disclose any account details, poa or not

innovate

Why would they not disclose details when there's a POA in place? that would be the same as them not disclosing details directly to the person concerned, which would clearly be bizarre

anmarj

innovate wrote: »

Why would they not disclose details when there's a POA in place? that would be the same as them not disclosing details directly to the person concerned, which would clearly be bizarre

not bizarre, would you like your details being disclosed? Same way that national insurance numbers are never disclosed over the phone, all part of keeping your details secure:D

teffers

anmarj wrote: »

not bizarre, would you like your details being disclosed? Same way that national insurance numbers are never disclosed over the phone, all part of keeping your details secure:D

If I required a Power of Attorney to be assigned I would very much like my details to be disclosed, that's why a POA exists, to deal with things the individual can't (for whatever reason)

DWP will deal with a POA as long as they've been authorised by them first:

https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

innovate

anmarj wrote: »

not bizarre, would you like your details being disclosed? Same way that national insurance numbers are never disclosed over the phone, all part of keeping your details secure:D

Who said anything about disclosure over the phone?

There is no question whatsoever, you are entitled to know what information is held about you in the DWP system. Of course you would have to be able to prove that you are who you say you are before any details are being divulged, and anyone acting on your behalf would have to prove they have the legal right to do so, i.e. they would have to present a valid POA, or a Court Order.

pmduk

The DWP regularly discusses my details over the phone. It's why they've set up all of these call centres, so it would be strange if there was a blanket ban on discussing details. Obviously they need to confirm identity as best as possible.

Chrisblue1962

For the DWP to disclose sensitive information by phone, a nominated representitive would be appointed , together with a password set up on the records so nobody else could just telephone and pretend to be authorised to speak on another person's behalf.