Wrong mortage advice given when bereaved

halfway1

Just to add my condolences for your loss.


Just to add my experience of Santander following the sudden death of my Dad last June.


Santander are a nightmare to communicate with, having said that they are generally nice and try to help when you do get to speak to the right person.


In my case as executor of the estate (and NoK) initially they said much the same regarding my Dad's IO mortgage, "no rush, no need to continue payments, just let us know your plans as things progress".


I updated Santander regularly enough telling them we couldn't locate a will and would have to apply to the courts for probate which would take time.


Slowly over time though, the tone of the letters started to change subtly from "we're here to help" to this "can't go on forever" (which I accept and understand) to "you need to send us your grant of probate, now" to eventually a field agent pitching up at my door on behalf of the bank.


I had told Santander umpteen times my solicitor would be in touch when the house was sold to obtain the redemption figure and that if they wished to see the original grant of representation they should contact my solicitor and I even provided the details for them to do so.


They tried to charge the estate around £60 for a field agent visiting which I told them they could shove where the sun doesn't shine (ok, maybe I was a bit politer than that)…..


Following that conversation they were very amicable again as I told them I had just accepted an offer for the property and they would be getting their money back in due course.


The experience in fairness isn't awful but they can get a little premature in starting to set their dogs on you at a time (within a year) when the spouse, executor or whoever has lots of other things to deal with at the same time, not least of all grief.

Thrugelmir

halfway1 wrote: »

The experience in fairness isn't awful but they can get a little premature in starting to set their dogs on you at a time (within a year) when the spouse, executor or whoever has lots of other things to deal with at the same time, not least of all grief.

Trouble is human nature is to let matters drift. Time passes quickly. The executor, who ever they are, needs to put their pragmatic hat on. Providing action is being taken then lenders will be relaxed.

halfway1

Thrugelmir, You are so correct!


That executor would be me and having the burden of being one of the bereaved, next of kin and then executor has been hard work and yes at times things "drift".


I've said I will never be an executor again (unless it was a very small estate) as the time required to manage an estate which is any way complex is unbelievable.