Bona Vanctia requesting payment

Cookietree

Short story, I found out last May my dad had died in January 2013.

His estate went to Bona Vacantia and I was tracked down through a heir hunter company.

I subsequently found the details out my father's death and set about claiming his estate from the government myself.

After my claim was deemed that I was the beneficiary I claimed the money from the relevant bodies.

The estate totalled approx £800, which I split between me and my sister. I have now received a note regarding their costs and disbursement if £600.

They are asking for payment. I have looked at their website and can't find any reference for them to send me a bill.

Do I need to pay it?
Thanks for any replies x

Keep_pedalling

Did you sign anything?

dzug1

Who are 'they'?? HM Treasury or the heir hunting company?

konark

They (the heir hunters I assume) are wanting a hefty chunk of the estate, as the estate was small see if you can haggle them down.

When all is said and done you are still £200 better off than if they hadn't contacted you.

Keep_pedalling

konark wrote: »

They (the heir hunters I assume) are wanting a hefty chunk of the estate, as the estate was small see if you can haggle them down.

When all is said and done you are still £200 better off than if they hadn't contacted you.

No the OP gave £400 to their sister, so would be down £200

POPPYOSCAR

konark wrote: »

They (the heir hunters I assume) are wanting a hefty chunk of the estate, as the estate was small see if you can haggle them down.

When all is said and done you are still £200 better off than if they hadn't contacted you.

They cannot claim a fee unless he signed instructing them and if he did that why would he then claim it from the government himself and not leave it to them to do?

Cookietree

Thanks for all your replies.

I left the paperwork at work so couldn't reply straight away.

I didn't sign anything, but the letter states 'the treasury solicitor has incurred costs In connection with work done for the benefit of the estate and would welcome a contribution to these as set out in our enclosed note. Cost £547.40.

The chase up letter from them is 'whether your in a position to consider the note of our costs and disbursements.

Shall I send them something?

Thanks

Cookietree

Just to clarify, the heir hunter company found my mum who then told me.

They sent all the details they had on my fathers death. From there I rang the funeral directors, in turn to the council and that I was his daughter. He died without a will and advised everyone he had no next of kin. The council advised the estate had gone to Bona Vancantia. After 18 months the site details all those who have died leaving money but no known relatives.

What got me was the heir hunter company found my mum within 4 hours, of advertisement but I had to wait 18 months to find out he had died.

Claiming the estate from Bona Vanctia is really easy. You only to prove you are the next of kin.

G6JNS

Cookietree wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

I left the paperwork at work so couldn't reply straight away.

I didn't sign anything, but the letter states 'the treasury solicitor has incurred costs In connection with work done for the benefit of the estate and would welcome a contribution to these as set out in our enclosed note. Cost £547.40.

The chase up letter from them is 'whether your in a position to consider the note of our costs and disbursements.

Shall I send them something?

Thanks

You probably do have to pay but I am surprised they did not deduct this from the amount they paid you.

dzug1

It sounds like the Treasury Solicitors are the ones who actually want paying


Perhaps OP should have got Letters of Administration rather than just claiming the money from 'the relevant bodies', whoever they were


It all sounds a bit of a mess