Prudential looking for deceased relative?

xylophone

I have a string suspicion this is far from over and get the overwhelming feeling that this process is purposefully made so complicated to avoid paying monies out as by their own admission they would not be breaking any laws to provide this information its just not their internal policy

Q. How long must I wait for confirmation of the amount due?

A. How long is a piece of string.........

The Pru do need to be sure that they are complying with all  legal  requirements.

However, it does seem to me that they are going over the top.

You and the elderly lady are joint exors, obtained probate as joint exors, and your mother's will  clearly states that you are the sole residuary legatee.

As joint exors, you both have  equal rights to information about the payment and indeed a legal obligation to obtain it.

It is of course to be expected that the Pru would wish to confirm the identity of the other exor, and should expect her to provide evidence in the normal way.

There seems no reason at all why the Pru should not confirm to you that they have contacted her or confirm to her that they have contacted you and are awaiting whatever documentary proof is required.

That said, I am sure that there is no sinister reason involving wanting to hang on to monies rightfully due payable!

OldBeanz

xylophone said:

I have a string suspicion this is far from over and get the overwhelming feeling that this process is purposefully made so complicated to avoid paying monies out as by their own admission they would not be breaking any laws to provide this information its just not their internal policy

Q. How long must I wait for confirmation of the amount due?

A. How long is a piece of string.........

The Pru do need to be sure that they are complying with all  legal  requirements.

However, it does seem to me that they are going over the top.

You and the elderly lady are joint exors, obtained probate as joint exors, and your mother's will  clearly states that you are the sole residuary legatee.

As joint exors, you both have  equal rights to information about the payment and indeed a legal obligation to obtain it.

It is of course to be expected that the Pru would wish to confirm the identity of the other exor, and should expect her to provide evidence in the normal way.

There seems no reason at all why the Pru should not confirm to you that they have contacted her or confirm to her that they have contacted you and are awaiting whatever documentary proof is required.

That said, I am sure that there is no sinister reason involving wanting to hang on to monies rightfully due payable!

You haven't been a twin executor then. My parents lived with me for their final years and my elder brother and I were joint executors for both. He was named first as you would expect but I did all the work as the papers along with the first survivor and beneficiary lived with me while he lived 200 miles away. Some but not all, would reply to my brother alone and not me which caused, let's put it this way, more aggravation than was needed at the time. When the second death occurred my brother signed over authorisation to me - far simpler.

xylophone

When the second death occurred my brother signed over authorisation to me - far simpler.

Indeed - but in this particular case, the OP and the elderly person were joint exors and obtained probate over twenty years ago!

And the Pru had required the OP to track down her co exor with whom she had completely lost touch.

She did track her down enabling the Pru to make contact - all this secret squirrel lark does seem rather unnecessary?

OldBeanz

xylophone said:

When the second death occurred my brother signed over authorisation to me - far simpler.

Indeed - but in this particular case, the OP and the elderly person were joint exors and obtained probate over twenty years ago!

And the Pru had required the OP to track down her co exor with whom she had completely lost touch.

She did track her down enabling the Pru to make contact - all this secret squirrel lark does seem rather unnecessary?

The Prudential are trying to trace the joint executor of the OP's mother's will from 7/8 years before so not over 20. Asking the OP would be the best place for them to start to find the other executor and his incentive was that a substantial sum was involved. While people lose touch with each other they usually have a starting point "...amazingly I found her in the phone book!" So not exactly rocket science or difficult for the OP although finding a phone book was probably the most difficult part. Don't really know what you expected the Prudential to do as everyone would expect them to dot the'i's' and cross the 't's'.
The point I was making was that if anyone else is a joint executor then they should chose one person to fulfil the requirements as it is troublesome even in the short term never mind if something else comes up 7/8 years later.

xylophone

The Prudential are trying to trace the joint executor of the OP's mother's will from 7/8 years before so not over 20.

The OP said https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6152324/prudential-looking-for-deceased-relative#latest

So bit of an update, I have been corresponding with the Pru and they have a pension in my dads name, its complicated as he died, then my mum died all 20 years ago so lots of paperwork and tings being exchanged and a potential curve ball that I may have to find the other executor of my mums will (I was the other) and haven't seen her for 7/8 years and have no current contact details or way to contact her. 

It appears that mother died over twenty years ago so presumably probate was obtained at that time.

The OP hadn't had any contact with the other exor for 7/8 years.

Don't really know what you expected the Prudential to do as everyone would expect them to dot the'i's' and cross the 't's'.

I didn't disagree that the Pru should show due diligence.

The point I was making was that if anyone else is a joint executor then they should chose one person to fulfil the requirements 

I didn't disagree and indeed on the two occasions I have been an exor, the other party took "power reserved".

OldBeanz

xylophone said:

The Prudential are trying to trace the joint executor of the OP's mother's will from 7/8 years before so not over 20.

The OP said https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6152324/prudential-looking-for-deceased-relative#latest

So bit of an update, I have been corresponding with the Pru and they have a pension in my dads name, its complicated as he died, then my mum died all 20 years ago so lots of paperwork and tings being exchanged and a potential curve ball that I may have to find the other executor of my mums will (I was the other) and haven't seen her for 7/8 years and have no current contact details or way to contact her. 

It appears that mother died over twenty years ago so presumably probate was obtained at that time.

The OP hadn't had any contact with the other exor for 7/8 years.

Don't really know what you expected the Prudential to do as everyone would expect them to dot the'i's' and cross the 't's'.

I didn't disagree that the Pru should show due diligence.

The point I was making was that if anyone else is a joint executor then they should chose one person to fulfil the requirements 

I didn't disagree and indeed on the two occasions I have been an exor, the other party took "power reserved".

We are all agreed then that the OP was asked to contact someone he hadn't seen for 7/8 years and had to look up a phone book - hardy an onerous task.
I still don't see the point of your original post about my post, the point of mine being to anyone in general that one person should take responsibility for being the executor even if 2 or more are designated in the will.

Accountant_Kerry

Hi All, 
The Pru are being over onerous as they themselves admitted there is no law they are breaking if these divulge information as data protection laws lapse in this regard 10 years after a death. 
My mother and father died 20 years ago and I last bumped into the other executor on the street about 8 years ago before that it would have been 10 years so we haven't really been in contact for some time. 
My main issue with the Pru is this cloak and dagger approach, who writes to an old lady asking for their bank details and personal information apart from fraudsters and the Pru?? Why would they even need her bank details....?

xylophone

It would be perfectly reasonable for the Pru to ask your co  exor for proof of her identity and address.

This could surely be in the usual form, passport/driving licence/ current bank statement ( if no other identity document available) / current statement from HMRC/DWP etc. 

What makes all this especially over the top is that you have probate of the will,  the terms of which make you sole residual beneficiary.

Accountant_Kerry

xylophone said:

It would be perfectly reasonable for the Pru to ask your co  exor for proof of her identity and address.

This could surely be in the usual form, passport/driving licence/ current bank statement ( if no other identity document available) / current statement from HMRC/DWP etc. 

What makes all this especially over the top is that you have probate of the will,  the terms of which make you sole residual beneficiary.

agreed, if they explained what it was for, but they specifically asked for her bank details without explaining why not copies of statements or identify verification docs.

Accountant_Kerry

so quick update, I raised a complaint with the Pru and they admitted to a catalogue of errors including asking the other executor for their bank details, which was actually a claim form which should not have been sent to her was their admission, the generally poor nature of their communication process and the unnecessary cloak and dagger approach. They have assured me that thay have now sent the correct letter to the other executor and all they need her to do is sign to say its ok to pay out to me, and they have offered compensation for their mistakes.