Do you keep details of your accounts anywhere (in the event of you dying for example)

mgarl10024

Kim_13 wrote: »

Haven't written down any logins and don't intend to. Isn't someone else using your login when you're dead illegal anyway? The death certificate would prove that someone else had been making transactions.

I've just had to deal with a family member's estate, and one which wasn't discussed before hand. I was also digging through old records, and with a large switch to paperless this was made very difficult.

Three thoughts:
1) I'm not sure it is illegal to use their IDs, but certainly against the T&Cs. I chose not to use them, and applied to the banks through the correct procedures. It took longer, but I felt that if the bank saw the logins had been used after the date of death it could raise suspicions and this was not something I wanted.
2) The variance of companies was astonishing. I found an old statement dated 2012 and one company wouldn't even confirm whether he was a customer - I didn't want any details, just to know whether I should send a Death Cert or not, and they refused to do even that so I had to send one speculatively. Another company on being told of the Death said "Data protection doesn't apply as he is dead - what would you like to know" and without proof proceedeed to tell me all about the accounts.
3) I used https://www.mylostaccount.org.uk. I almost did not bother, so convinced was I that we would find nothing - and they found an old account from 30years ago, at a different address, with a bank which had been taken over twice. Well worth doing. I feel reassured that should anything happen to be, my executors could still run one of these searches and find all the accounts, whether I leave them a list or not.

Keep_pedalling

Doshwaster wrote: »

As for myself, my filing is pretty good (one thing I didn't inherit from my dad) but I don't have a list of all of the accounts in one single place. Maybe I should do that but since I'm single I'm not sure who I would trust with the information.

The same person or persons you trust to be your executor perhaps, assuming that is you have made a will.

Doshwaster

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

The same person or persons you trust to be your executor perhaps, assuming that is you have made a will.

I don't have a will. I know I should but it's one of those "grown up" things that I've never got around to doing.

Gurberly

We recently sorted out my mother’s estate and she was very organised, with everything filed away in individual folders, but then she did not use the internet and everything had a paper trail.

As virtually all our stuff is paperless and online, we use a password protected spreadsheet, held on an encrypted memory kept in a safe. Backup copies of the files are held on a second encrypted memory stick kept offsite. The files don’t touch PC hard disks or go anywhere in the cloud.

I do make my partner do trial runs occasionally, e.g. logging in as me on certain p2p sites to sell a bit of loan to ensure she is familiar with the process of getting the relevant data from file, and how to sell and withdraw money.

Also do try and get the power of attorneys sorted if you haven’t, as it’s not just “after you’ve gone” that someone may need to access the accounts.

paparossco

I use SecureSafe https://www.securesafe.com/en/ which has a password section with links to all accounts etc as well as a document safe. It is free and can be accessed on mobile as well as computer.

spenderdave

Excel spreadsheet with all the account details (account number and amount) but not passwords, printed out now and again. Passwords and online access is in any case not needed as when someone dies the executor needs to contact them by phone or letter, the last thing you want is them going into your personal bank account on line and doing things.

Keep_pedalling

Doshwaster wrote: »

I don't have a will. I know I should but it's one of those "grown up" things that I've never got around to doing.

That should be a priority along with getting a lasting power of attorney in place.

N1AK

newuser78 wrote: »

After a recent event, it made me think of my own affairs so I am on the same boat looking for the best solution. The requirements are:
- Secure
- Easy to use
- Anyone in family can access it

Research lead me to apps like YNAB, Banktivity, and aggregators like Mint.com (which looks great but no support for UK account holders).

It all depends on how complex you want the solution to be. My wife and I can both access all our accounts (we use Lastpass for password management and Moneydance for our finances).

We have wills and keep a list of all notable holdings with them. It doesn't include access details but the executor can sort that out if/when required.

Doshwaster

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

That should be a priority along with getting a lasting power of attorney in place.

I suppose the one thing which is stopping me (other than having to contemplate my own mortality) is that I have no dependants so it has never seemed to be an urgent matter. Apart from not wanting the government to its gets my hands on my assets I'm not sure where I'd want it all to go.

I'm planning on sorting out a lasting power of attorney for my mum as she may have her faculties now but you never know how long that is going to last.

Keep_pedalling

Doshwaster wrote: »

I suppose the one thing which is stopping me (other than having to contemplate my own mortality) is that I have no dependants so it has never seemed to be an urgent matter. Apart from not wanting the government to its gets my hands on my assets I'm not sure where I'd want it all to go.

I'm planning on sorting out a lasting power of attorney for my mum as she may have her faculties now but you never know how long that is going to last.

If you got run over bus tomorrow, then it would all go to your mum, and it would be her that would be left sorting your estate out, which is something I doubt you would want to happen.