The Planning Crowd - anyone used them ?

0779mike

I have seen this company advertising on IdealWorld TV. They are offering joint wills and "Advance Directive" (which I am hoping is two * Lasting Power Of Attorney) for £159.  Seems remarkably cheap to me.  Before I talk to them, has anyone any experience with them ?
P.S. I couldn't see a better category for this topic.

Zanderman

You could probably get better results by posting on here  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/marriage-relationships-families  or the sub-board here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/deaths-funerals-probate

But an "Advance Directive" is NOT Power of Attorney - it's merely (if I understand it correctly) an expression of wish for medical care.  Not the same thing at all. And remember Lasting Power of Attorney has two types - most people would want both - medical and financial. So a couple wanting LPA would need 4 LPA documents (and two wills).
Tbh I'd never buy this sort of service from any outfit that advertised on tv!

kinger101

Why would you call a company "The Planning Crowd" anyway?  People plan to avoid crowds.  It's a equivalent to calling a fast food chain "Diarrhoea Burgers".

bob_a_builder

LPA's are a simple DIY job   -  £82 each ( 1/2 that if person involved's income less than 12k) - 2 types - a  health one and a financial one 
Instructions here : https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

badmemory

Well to start with £159 won't even pay for 2 POAs let alone 2 wills.  Wouldn't touch them with a disinfected barge pole.

As BOB suggested DIY your POAs, they are quite easy to do.  See a proper solicitor & get the wills done by someone who knows what they are doing not someone who is filling in blanks on a ready prepared document.  You need your will written by someone who asks you all the "what if" questions not a robot following a script.

SoftCentaur

Be aware - the Planning Crowd will prepare  the forms for a LPA on your behalf, for their fee, and send the completed forms to you. However, you will still have to register them yourself with the Office of the Public Guardian at a cost of upto £82 each.

Alternatively, you can complete the forms yourself online for free at the gov.uk website. 
There are step-by-step instructions and you print out the forms and post to their office in Birmingham - together with the required fee.