UPDATE - I'm so flipping angry at the Probate Office

Icey77

I am so ANGRY at the Probate Office, they have put my applicate on on hold since 18th March waiting for the IHT421 which was sent to them in February!
They have sat on my application for 8 weeks and not told me on 2 occasions that they're waiting for documents! 
They havent' contacted me at about the stop and when I called 4 weeks ago to chase they didn't mention it then either. 8 weeks wasted!!!
I just spoke to HMRC and they will send the IHT421 over again today and I will chase HMCTS tomorrow but I'm worried it will just be added to the "Stop" pile - they are currently working on applications from 18th Jan    I will express my dismay at their ineptitude and request that since they have failed to do their job properly perhaps they can make good by reviewing my application immediately but I won't hold my breath!
Oooooh, so Angry!

Alter_ego

Don't express anger to them, maybe an official complaint saying how disappointed you are

Icey77

Alter_ego said:

Don't express anger to them, maybe an official complaint saying how disappointed you are

I was sobbing with fury all through the call with them, the representative I was talking to said they would escalate it but I certainly don't have any faith in them to do their job properly any more!
I will be calling back tomorrow to ensure they have received the IHT421 again

Alter_ego

I often find it helps to ask the name of the representative, and then ask how they spell it. It indicates that you may personalise a complaint.

Angry ranting is usually ignored or worse.

Icey77

Alter_ego said:

I often find it helps to ask the name of the representative, and then ask how they spell it. It indicates that you may personalise a complaint.

Angry ranting is usually ignored or worse.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't ranting or shrieking at them. I was very upset and justifiably so I think. I remained professional (because I am one!) and didn't make any personal attacks on the person on the call. 
I like your comment on asking for spelling of names, I will adopt that in future instead of just asking for their name.

I'm simply infuriated at their incompetence and I wonder how long my application would have sat on the stop pile if I hadn't been on the ball to chase it! 

Icey77

UPDATE - I called again this morning at 8.45am and HMCTS had received the IHT 421 from HMRC (again!) and said it would be reviewed urgently by a specific team member but could take up to a week assuming no queries came up on the review ... Lo and behold at 9.45am I had an email saying my application had been approved!
Hurrah!!! Now off to finalise the selling of my Oma's bungalow and settling the rest of her estate. She would have been appalled at this

SevenOfNine

Allowances must be made for covid working restrictions, staff being ill themselves or obliged to isolate due to possible contact with colleagues who caught covid, & sheer backlog volume in relation to the number of deaths over the past 14 months.  Granted, they may  have been less than forthcoming with 'on hold' information, but in reality they've been pretty prompt with your application, upset & angry will have made little to no difference. 8 weeks with 2 lots of 'chasing' IMO is a lot of chasing!

Helly18

Feel your pain. IHT paid 31 December, informed solicitor, grant shouldn't be long, roll on 8th April pushed solicitor again only to find out probate office have not received  the form and hmrc adamant it's been sent. New form sent and still waiting, my mother passed June 20 and it just so upsetting ☹