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Power of Attorney system is exposing people with mental health problems to financial... MSE News

New research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) shows that many people with mental health problems are struggling to safely gain support from family and friends, because of the complexity and ineffectiveness of tools such as Power of Attorney...
Read the full story:
'Power of Attorney system is exposing people with mental health problems to financial abuse, says new report'
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Comments

  • It's highly offensive to suggest that all Attorneys are a bunch of self-interested fraudsters, which is being implied by the majority here - and Martin's post. I was Attorney to my mother and now I'm Attorney to her third husband, who has advanced Alzheimer's. In both cases, I haven't taken a penny in expenses - and those, if totted up, would easily run to three figures for each of them. I've dealt with everything in an honest and above-board fashion, treating them as I would wish to be treated myself. And I don't ask for anyone else's help, in spite of the burden of running another person's life being quite a heavy one at times. So, please beware of making gross generalisations - there will always be bad people out there, but generally people are good.
  • g8bdy
    g8bdy Posts: 8 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary
    I gained POA for my elderly mother, It was nothing but a nightmare to use
    One water comany accused me of submitting a fake, as it had no wax seal issued by the Office of the Public Guardian
    A senior manager eventually admitted their guidlines to their Customer Service staff, was well out of date and mine was valid
    Numerous others wanted it verified by a Stockbroker/Solicitor or Barrister - to which I have no access
    NS&I accepted the POA and returned it. Thats was the last I heard from them - the request was totally ignored.
    In one instance I was told to get it certified by the Donor, when it was submitted it was rejected because they deemed the Doner mentally incapable of signing the document
    I had to get my mother on the phone, to tell them in no uncertain terms she was certainy not mentally impaired.
    Every single case where I tried to use the POA, I was frustrated with bureaucracy
    If you think having a POA will make life easier to deal with your relatives affairs, from my experience that will not be the case.
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 34,352 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm querying why the report says it's all or nothing.
    If the power of attorney is set up so it doesn't just kick in when someone loses capacity, would that not allow for supported decision making and for the person to have help for some aspects of their finances and not others?
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • colsten
    colsten Posts: 17,597 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 9 August 2023 at 2:23PM
    It's highly offensive to suggest that all Attorneys are a bunch of self-interested fraudsters, which is being implied by the majority here
    Huh? who are the majority here that you are accusing? Can you show where the abuse happened?

    So, please beware of making gross generalisations - there will always be bad people out there, but generally people are good.
    I couldn't have said it better!
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