£1000 Will

SC4K

Hi folks, not sure where to go with this so thought I'd start here.

I've just been informed my elderly inlaws engaged a private financial advisor to make some changes to their Will. Small changes, changing my wife's surname to her married name, adding me somewhere, a quick google search told me they would simply need a Codicil?

Anyway they were told they would need myself and my wife to attend to sign, but he was insisting we attend during the day on specific days and we both work full time and were finding it difficult to make the arrangements. They were also told they needed to independant counter signatories which also proved a struggle as they really keep themselves to themselves.

Today my wife learned they decided to cancel the whole process, but this was after they've already written this person a cheque for just under £1000 for his services!! The Bank even contacted them to verify the cheque was to be paid and they said yes (I can't believe this as I'm typing it). Anyway they asked the FA for their money back but he told them because the Will has been written he won't be refunding them.

Admittedly I may not have all the information here, I've only just got this from my wife who is trying to piece it together from phone calls with her mother. I can't for one second believe this FA guy can justify taking £1000 off them. He seems a legit FA as my father in law knew him from when he worked at his bank before leaving to start his own business.

Anyone able to offer any direction here? My first thought was Citizens Advice.

user1977

Had they agreed to any particular terms of business (in particular, setting out what would be due if they didn't go ahead)?

It's not necessarily unfeasible that they were getting £1000 worth of advice (and even if they think they are "cancelling the whole process", they might already have had the benefit of much of the advice).

Mojisola

SC4K said:

I've just been informed my elderly inlaws engaged a private financial advisor to make some changes to their Will. Small changes, changing my wife's surname to her married name, adding me somewhere, a quick google search told me they would simply need a Codicil?

Anyway they were told they would need myself and my wife to attend to sign

Their wills would have to be signed by the in-laws and witnesses. 

What were you going to sign?

Keep_pedalling

I wonder if as well as wills he was drawing up LPAs for them, I can’t see any other reason you would be needed to sign anything (a beneficiary cannot witness a will) 

powerful_Rogue

My parents were quoted £800 to make some small changes to their will recently. This was the same company they went to x amount of years ago.

I did a lot of research and managed to get them done via a solicitoronline for £100.

So £1000 doesn't seem too much of a stretch for a joint will, espeically if the solicitor has already produced them.

user1977

powerful_Rogue said:

My parents were quoted £800 to make some small changes to their will recently. This was the same company they went to x amount of years ago.

I did a lot of research and managed to get them done via a solicitoronline for £100.

So £1000 doesn't seem too much of a stretch for a joint will, espeically if the solicitor has already produced them.

And we don't know that the extent of the work really was merely "please make these minor changes to our Wills", even if that ended up being the only deeds produced. It could have included reviewing their current estates and Wills, advising on inheritance tax, discussing POAs, etc.

mattyprice4004

It sounds like a fair amount of work was done which they then decided to cancel - so only fair the FA is paid regardless. 

sheramber

As you say  a FA and not a solicitor was there any financial advice given?

ssparks2003

SC4K said:

Today my wife learned they decided to cancel the whole process, but this was after they've already written this person a cheque for just under £1000 for his services!! The Bank even contacted them to verify the cheque was to be paid and they said yes (I can't believe this as I'm typing it). Anyway they asked the FA for their money back but he told them because the Will has been written he won't be refunding them.

So, he was asked by them to make some changes to their wills, which he gave them a price to do. They were content with the quoted price and gave him a cheque. He has subsequently completed the work as requested and you are surprised that he is not prepared to refund the money for the work he's done. Do you know many people who do work for free?