Current Account & Death

KP24

Hi,

My grandfather had a current account with HSBC which was used to pay his bills etc. It was solely in his name.

He passed away without a will present.

When i went into the bank with his death certificate to close the account, open a new one in my gran's name (who had never held an account in her own or joint names) and transfer the direct debits, i was advised that this isn't recommended as my gran has no credit history so the companies we need to transfer the bills from won't accept her.

So we kept things as they are. The account continues to be run in his name and i transfer money regularly to keep it topped up to pay the bills. I obviously can't transfer any money out of it.

Question now is, if my gran passes away, none of those bills need to be paid anymore. So how do i get the money back out of it?!

Hope someone can help!


Thanks

meer53

Whoever you spoke to at HSBC was talking rubbish. Go back and ask to speak to someone in their Bereavement Team. Take your Gran with you.

Chino

KP24 wrote: »

i was advised that this isn't recommended as my gran has no credit history so the companies we need to transfer the bills from won't accept her.

Sounds like you were seriously misadvised by bank staff. Hopefully you can remember the name of the staff member concerned.

xylophone

When i went into the bank with his death certificate to close the account, open a new one in my gran's name (who had never held an account in her own or joint names) and transfer the direct debits, i was advised that this isn't recommended as my gran has no credit history so the companies we need to transfer the bills from won't accept her.

This is quite ridiculous.

Ring the bereavement team

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/help/life-events/bereavement/faqs/

jonesMUFCforever

Has the OP misunderstood I wonder?
I can't believe that HSBC member of staff would advise as typed - BUT I can understand some companies won't grant 'credit' to new customers without a credit check?
Were they trying to advise to leave the BILLS in the deceased name not the bank account/

Ben8282

Has your gran really never had any sort of bank account or credit in her own name or even a joint bank account in this day and age? Are you sure that you have been correctly informed about this? How does she receive her state pension?
The advice given by the bank was very wrong indeed. You cannot continue to operate the account of a deceased person; it must be closed.
As suggested, contact the bereavement team.
I have no wish to be indelicate here, but are you your gran's next of kin? On what basis did you go into the bank with your grandfather's death certificate? Did your gran accompany you? Where is your parent who is her son/daughter? Does your gran have any other children other than your parent? On what basis are you managing her affairs, transferring money into your deceased grandfather's account to pay the household bills? Where is this money coming from? How is her state and any other pension or income that she may have being paid to her? Do you have a POA? Has she made a will leaving her entire estate to you? If not, on what basis are you claiming the money in your grandfather's account should she die?

18cc

If your grandfather passed away without a will, the assets will now belong to his wife. HSBC should easily be able to change the name on the account to her name, with all the DDs staying in place. Currently, as deemed 'executor', she is the only one with legal authority to operate the account still in his name, so she will have to request this.

If she subsequently dies then whoever is executor of her affairs will be able to deal with any assets in her name - they may find difficulty in dealing with assets still in his name eg a bank account.

If HSBC can do it, transfer the name on the account to your grandmother's name, keeping all the DDs in place. A simple name change would be best. As above, contact the berevement team.

EssexExile

Phone the Bereavement Team, don't go into the branch.