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"Free" wills for key workers - legit?

I saw an advert recently for a free will making service for key workers, and as both myself and my partner are keyworkers (NHS and DWP respectively), I am interested in this. I contacted them, and they confirmed that they are indeed doing free wills for key workers and I have an appointment in a couple of weeks. However, I am feeling more and more that this might be dodgy in some way, but I don't know how to find out?
The company is called Accord Legal Services, and their website seems genuine enough, and the email footers all seems to have what you would expect in the way of nice coloured footers etc. This was the advert https://twitter.com/AccordWills/status/1250044547721310208
However after arranging a time and date for the appointment via email with Accord, I have had an email through from a different company (Four Seasons) but this is where it looks strange, as this email is in very plain text, no fancy footers or anything, and the name of the sender is missing any capital letters. 
I have never had anything to do with wills or legal services before, but this is raising red flags for me. 
Should I avoid ?

Comments

  • naedanger
    naedanger Posts: 3,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I would be wary of a catch too. For example:
    1) They will only do basic wills for free and they will recommend something more complicated for yourselves or perhaps recommend you arrange power of attorneys (at cost) or
    2) They will make themselves or an associated company the executor and hope to profit when those services are ultimately needed (in hopefully the very distant future).

    Then again, especially if they are a big company, it may be genuine. (They could get a lot of bad publicity if it isn't.) Are either of you in a union? If so you could perhaps ask the union what they think.

  • Dicegirly
    Dicegirly Posts: 30 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I am not but my other half is in a union. 
    We only really need basic wills - no property, children or anything complicated. They have asked me to have ready names and address of beneficiaries, executors and legacies, and approx values of any property, cars. etc. 
    I suppose my concern is - are they genuine or are they just trying to lure in suckers into handing over their private details.
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,158 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    "Being a Will Consultant is a rewarding and unique career."

    So not a solicitor or STEP qualified person, not even a paralegal or CILEx, just a will writing company.

    Not one I would touch.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Your partner can probably get a similar service for free through their union. Again, it will be through a will writing company rather than through 'proper' solicitors but you'd hope for a degree of competence which you can't guarantee through the random contact  / advert
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • I had a Will done by them, as did my husband, who is also a key worker, and they were very knowledgeable. They did try and get me to do a Power of Attorney, but I already have one. The only problem I had was that they’d spelt a name wrong on the Will, but they changed it willingly. The Will came through and is professional. It’s basic, but does/says what I need it to. 
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