I have absolutely HAD IT with Santander!

cymruchris

Although not instant - if he's of sound mind - you could still get the power of attorney drawn up. I had one for my dad that was registered, and then put in a back drawer. When he had a stroke, and was taken into hospital, I went to the government portal and activated it, and with that I was able to connect to all of my dad's accounts. To be fair, out of Barclays, Natwest and Santander - Santander were the quickest to complete getting me access, providing me with cards/pin numbers/online banking access (with all my own details)  - the whole process with them was about two weeks from sending off the POA documentation and filling out an online form. (Natwest were still processing it over a month later when he passed away). 

It takes a couple of weeks to get a POA lodged - so although nobody knows how long is a piece of string - do you have the gut feeling that he'll be around for a little while yet?

The POA will let you gain access to all of his accounts through the proper channels - so fingers crossed there's enough time to set it up, so that you can then help him complete his wishes as he wants. 

Santander is doing the right thing - although it doesn't feel like it from where you're standing. If POA isn't an option, then a further conversation will be needed with them as outlined above. Hopefully you'll make progress!

unkle

JP2019 said:

colsten said:

I completely understand why Santander won't just let you withdraw your grandfather's money. Anyone could pose as the next of kin of a terminally ill person. Unfortunately, as you don't appear to have Power Of Attorney, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to get at his money. Your grandfather could try to speak to the Supported Banking team and ask them for advice : https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/supported-banking

Read it again. Grandad has spoken with them himself and they are still not budging

"We signed him up for online banking..........

we opened a Current account in online banking..........

we contacted Santander who told us that their was a dormancy block on the account..........

We sent in his ID and proof of address and also his wife’s death certificate........

........we got an acknowledgment letter that said they are now making the account a sole account and offer their condolences......"

Quite rightly the bank have seen that someone other than the person himself is in control of what is happening (on the assumption they do not have POA/LPOA etc) which should be ringing every single alarm bell at the bank, someone other than the person is opening bank accounts and wishing to move large sums of money around.

Santander have done the correct thing, far too often in the past it has transpired that certain family members or others have raided bank accounts who had no authority to do so. I'm not suggesting that the OP's intention is anything other than honourable, but imagine if they went to do this and found out A N Other family member/person had already moved the cash away and hot footed it to Timbuktu. I'm sure they would be giving Santander both barrels quite rightly.

They are probably also questioning why a savings account that it appears he has had for many years also suddenly needs the funds transferring to a current account. If he needs access to the money for his care or otherwise they would 100% pay that.

It is very difficult when this happens, but the banks have a duty (that they far too often fail with) to protect the account holder. Without a POA there should be very limited things that can be done by A N Other party, whoever they are. The fact, sadly, the account holder is gravely ill doesn't suddenly change the situation.

It is why we have things like POA, you can make an urgent emergency application to the court of protection, I have only had to do that once, it took 3 days and there was no fee. I needed this to pay my grandmothers care home fee's as the bank refused (this was some years back) and the home were threatening to throw her out - thankfully in general the banks are more accommodating now, if you presented an invoice they would pay it (after first verifying with the care home etc).

If there isn't a reason like this to be moving £110k then absolutely Santander have acted appropriately.

JP2019

cymruchris said:

Although not instant - if he's of sound mind - you could still get the power of attorney drawn up. I had one for my dad that was registered, and then put in a back drawer. When he had a stroke, and was taken into hospital, I went to the government portal and activated it, and with that I was able to connect to all of my dad's accounts. To be fair, out of Barclays, Natwest and Santander - Santander were the quickest to complete getting me access, providing me with cards/pin numbers/online banking access (with all my own details)  - the whole process with them was about two weeks from sending off the POA documentation and filling out an online form. (Natwest were still processing it over a month later when he passed away). 

It takes a couple of weeks to get a POA lodged - so although nobody knows how long is a piece of string - do you have the gut feeling that he'll be around for a little while yet?

The POA will let you gain access to all of his accounts through the proper channels - so fingers crossed there's enough time to set it up, so that you can then help him complete his wishes as he wants. 

Santander is doing the right thing - although it doesn't feel like it from where you're standing. If POA isn't an option, then a further conversation will be needed with them as outlined above. Hopefully you'll make progress!

Thanks I’ll do this.

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