Protection for elderly mother

in_my_wellies

I read that you own your mothers house but just in case the neighbour tries anything I would register here:
https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk
It's quick and easy and they really do alert you very quickly if there is any activity on your house
If the neighbour were to try do anything with the house you would have some evidence.

I know exactly how vulnerable your mother is. My mum lives with me and I still find it hard to believe she has no recollection of transactions made only seconds before. She'll leave the hairdressers and is convinced she hasn't paid before we close the door. We have to go back to check. I could easily let her give someone three or four birthday cards with money inside because she has no memory of writing and giving it two minutes before. Mum lives with me and I can watch her, I feel for you I really do

Saratoga241

In my wellies thank you for that link. Sorry to hear that you are going through similar. It is dad enough to see them decline without the vultures moving in. Sonc having this experience, I've found it so upsetting to hear that it doesn't seem to be an irregular occurrence.

Sea_Shell

Saratoga241 wrote: »

Ms Chocaholic, this is the strange thing too. My mum seems to be doing her shopping and paying for the neighbour's shopping on her card too. In addition to this I can see a lot of cash point withdrawals on my mum's card. My mum lives very frugally, so it just doesn't add up. To make master's worse, we recently found out that none of the neighbour's family talk to her because they accuse her of rewriting her own mother's will and having done off with the total family inheritance when her own mother died. We are a bit worried that she could have taken my mum to a solicitor to do this and there is apparently no legal way of finding out if this is the case. It's all very stressful.

Sorry to hear what you're going through.

From what you've written so far, I too would be very worried about the Will issue, in that if this neighbour has your mum that wrapped around her finger, it would not surprise me that a will has been written in her favour too. It doesn't even need to involve a solicitor!!!, it can be done DIY, with just two witnesses, who don't even need to know your Mum or could even be friends of the neighbour!!!

I would guess the tactic she could use would be saying to your mum "Don't worry about involving your family, and giving them the stress and worry. Leave it all to me and i'll sort it all out and see them right!!!"

At least the house is safe, as you own it, and like others have mentioned, get a notification put on the registry.

Good Luck

onwards&upwards

What bank is it?

It might be worth calling them and telling them your concerns. Most banks are very conscious of this sort of thing at the moment and might flag to the branch staff to ask some additional questions, or not allow the withdrawal if they are concerned.

barbiedoll

You definitely need to make a bigger noise at the bank. If you have access to your mum’s accounts but this woman is using your identity to coerce your mum into going to appointments and setting up bank details, then you need to ensure that the bank set some stricter security measures in place. You can insist that if they are speaking to, or meeting with you, that they ask for a password, for example.

I know you feel a bit helpless, but this woman needs to be stopped. Don’t be fobbed off by the police, say that you want to make a statement and insist that this be recorded as a crime, this woman is stealing from a vulnerable member of society, it’s as bad as stealing your mum’s handbag or breaking into her home.

You really need to take a few days off work and keep a closer eye on your mum, I know it’s very difficult when you have kids and you work, but this scummy neighbour needs someone to stand up to her. What a nasty piece of work, please don’t let your mum be taken advantage of any longer.

bunty109

This is potentially financial abuse and as another poster said, needs raising as a safeguarding concern with the local adult care services (council). Even if your mum isn't entitled to care etc., they can assess her capacity regarding these decisions and potentially involve the police if financial abuse has occurred. If your mother doesn't have capacity they can advise on a course of action. The police will be interested in this IF adult care services take the view that your mother has been a victim of financial abuse. I've had an experience and the police reacted when they knew the matter was deemed a safeguarding incident.

I'd strongly advise contacting them as they will have a lot of experience in this area. Good luck x

Mojisola

If this woman is spending time with your mother in her home, could you set up a recording device in Mum's home to find out what she is saying - like people do when they suspect carers are stealing?

McKneff

Have you confro ted this woman with all this, what is she saying

Have you tld your mother she is stealing from her.
What is sbe saying.

Saratoga241

McNeff, yes we have, but as well as stealing from my mum this woman is also doing things for my mum like posting letters/taking rubbish out etc, etc. My mum can't believe that such a 'kind' woman would be stealing from her. There is a kind of grooming of sorts taking place. It is all very well planned out.

D_M_E

https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/financial-abuse-code-practice

Could be of relevance.