Receiving money from solicitor

Helga24

Dear group, just wondered whether any one has any advice for the best way to receive payment from a solicitor following probate. I have known people who have had difficulties where money has been deposited in the wrong account via bacs following an agreed transfer and it becomes very hard to get  the money back. Is a cheque safer? Would appreciate any advice. Many thanks

naedanger

My thought is a cheque is slightly safer.

If the solicitor insists on paying by electronic transfer you could ask for a small test payment to be made, with the main payment to be sent after you have spoken (not emailed/texted etc) to confirm the test payment amount's receipt. 

That said, I think solicitors are generally well aware of the risks so will not take account details by email, and will themselves proceed with care. 

Marcon

Helga24 said:

I have known people who have had difficulties where money has been deposited in the wrong account via bacs following an agreed transfer and it becomes very hard to get  the money back. Is a cheque safer? Would appreciate any advice. Many thanks

I wonder how many you've known and in how many cases the sender was a firm of solicitors? Many solicitors no longer issue cheques - or if they do, only with warnings that if anything goes wrong/astray in the post etc it is at the risk of the recipient. 

BACS transfers now have much better safeguards given the security improvements made last year (notably the requirement to check the name of the payee) and solicitors are well versed in ensuring the account details are correct, so I really wouldn't worry. If it's a large amount and you are still anxious, the 'test run' with a small amount, as suggested above, should set your mind at rest.

TBagpuss

Most solicitors will require written details of where you want the money to be sent - so either a letter from you giving the details or a photocopy of a bank statement showing your details, precisely to avoid any mistakes. (and so that if one is made, it is possible to identify who made it !)

Most won't accept those details by e-mail.

If you are worried, you can ask them to send a small initial payment.

gizmo111

I do a lot of work for multiple law firms, and always when they pay the first invoice by BACS they ring and check account details ar correct.

sammyjammy

I've just received an inheritance cheque from a solicitor and my only choice was CHAPS with a £35 fee or a cheque!

Helga24

Thank you all for your advice, really useful.

parcival

My solicitor insisted on seeing the debit card with account details which I provided when I went to sign paperwork. CHAPS payment then made with no probs. So much better than the faff of having to pay a cheque in somewhere.