Death certificates - finally arrived... now quick question!

martin2345uk

Oh there is a system number yes and it's the same on all of them

This means I have given at least 2 companies the wrong number - good start Martin, good start 

Mojisola

The entry number should be the same on all the certificates - that's the reference to the official record.

MovingForwards

Take a deep breath and stop being so hard on yourself.

Be methodical while working through all the companies. 

I wrote a list of names, numbers of the bereavement teams, or normal teams if no dedicated number, and account / reference numbers. I left enough space to write notes.

When calling the bereavement teams they were better trained at dealing with things. 

The normal teams I'd open the conversation by asking to be transferred to their bereavement team, that meant the person knew it wasn't going to be a normal call.
- I have had to lodge a few complaints due to what people have said, so brace yourself as there are people who don't have the necessary skills to deal with these calls.

I set up a spreadsheet and listed all the companies where I knew refunds / money was coming from. Name, account number, amount and when received.

I set up another section for where there would be debts payable from the estate. Name, account number, amount to pay and date for when paid back (this will be in the future).

For incoming money I opened up a normal savings account with my regular bank, that way companies can transfer money in, or I can pay cheques in. Once everything has been paid out, I can close it. Again it makes things easier.

Doing this kind of legwork will make the probate application a lot easier to fill in, rather than scrambling around for info. I've also kept all the paperwork in a file for ease of locating it.

Make sure you set whole days aside for doing things other than this as you need a break and it's hard mentally to keep repeating the same conversations with all the different companies.

kipsterno1

martin2345uk said:

Oh there is a system number yes and it's the same on all of them

This means I have given at least 2 companies the wrong number - good start Martin, good start 

No you haven't.  Sorry my answer may have confused and worried you. 

All they need is one of the certificate numbers that in your case start BCJ. Be mindful that if they want you to send them the certificate thay will probably expect the one with the number you provided.

This isn't an easy time and it is good that you are reaching out for advice. Take your time and keep a record of everything. 
 

martin2345uk

Thanks guys. I have been quite organised so far. I have done the banks, only Marcus Bank needed a death certificate in the post so I have sent that, recorded delivery...

I have done both water companies, the energy company, her credit card company, Vodafone... I have to say every team I have spoken to so far have been brilliant, really calm helpful and reassuring.

We did the "tell us once" service so I assume I don't have to do things like DVLA, DWP, HMRC etc...?

I am in touch with her private pension people from when she worked at a school, I don't think she had another private pension...

I have a spreadsheet where I am keeping track of what's happening with each one, and I have opened a basic account where her bank balance has now been transferred to...

I think I am "OK" - just about  :'(

SiliconChip

martin2345uk said:

We did the "tell us once" service so I assume I don't have to do things like DVLA, DWP, HMRC etc...?

Glad to hear the death certificates eventually turned up. I'm slightly surprised that you've had to give the numbers to several organisations, my own experience was that the only one that asked for the number was Lloyds where my mum had her only current account (with only a few thousand pounds in it), everyone else has either not needed anything or have required sight of one of the death certificates - and some won't do anything much without seeing the grant of probate.

I did use "tell us once" but if your mum was in receipt of state pension I would recommend contacting DWP directly, they have a good bereavement team. Since first making contact I have had to have further contact with the teams responsible for pension, winter fuel payment and attendance allowance.

You seem to be doing the right things. Much of what MovingForwards says is good advice, the only thing I'd be a bit cautious about is using a savings account for executor purposes, so it's probably good that you've opened a basic account. Using a savings account you'd need to ensure that it allows incoming payments as many only allow payments from a single nominated account, and it may not be a good option for distribution to beneficiaries as outgoing payments are generally not allowed and you wouldn't be able to write cheques should they be needed. I'm using an existing current account that I had but rarely used as it allows much more control over inward and outward payments, and has a debit card that I've used quite a lot, something else that a savings account won't come with.

martin2345uk

Thanks for the advice :-)

The account is called an e-saver but I can receive money into it from anyone and can also pay money from it, though it doesn’t have a debit card. 

Will take your advice about DWP too - will call them Monday morning. 

MovingForwards

@SiliconChip it was only one bank account my mom had, they paid the money in ok, everything else will be cheques payable to me.

It adds another few seconds but I can transfer money to my current account to make payments / write a cheque from my current account. Just means I print off a receipt to show what I've done and add notes in my spreadsheet.

I doubt there will be any of this money left after refunding the DWP and paying the remaining funeral money, lawyer fees etc.

With the tell us once service, the council wrote to my mom's address, even though I provided my details.

I've yet to hear from the DWP, but if they try and make a payment it will get rejected as the bank account is closed. Thanks for the tip about calling them.

Pennylane

MovingForwards said:

@SiliconChip it was only one bank account my mom had, they paid the money in ok, everything else will be cheques payable to me.

It adds another few seconds but I can transfer money to my current account to make payments / write a cheque from my current account. Just means I print off a receipt to show what I've done and add notes in my spreadsheet.

I doubt there will be any of this money left after refunding the DWP and paying the remaining funeral money, lawyer fees etc.

With the tell us once service, the council wrote to my mom's address, even though I provided my details.

I've yet to hear from the DWP, but if they try and make a payment it will get rejected as the bank account is closed. Thanks for the tip about calling them.

Good luck getting through to them on the phone.  I have spent hours and hours hanging on for them on many occasions.  

SiliconChip

Pennylane said:

MovingForwards said:

@SiliconChip it was only one bank account my mom had, they paid the money in ok, everything else will be cheques payable to me.

It adds another few seconds but I can transfer money to my current account to make payments / write a cheque from my current account. Just means I print off a receipt to show what I've done and add notes in my spreadsheet.

I doubt there will be any of this money left after refunding the DWP and paying the remaining funeral money, lawyer fees etc.

With the tell us once service, the council wrote to my mom's address, even though I provided my details.

I've yet to hear from the DWP, but if they try and make a payment it will get rejected as the bank account is closed. Thanks for the tip about calling them.

Good luck getting through to them on the phone.  I have spent hours and hours hanging on for them on many occasions.  

I found getting through to some of the teams more long-winded than others, but the easiest was the state pension bereavement team who always answered after a very short wait.