Probate application chase

GaryBC

I'm at the 12 week point tomorrow. 
12 weeks of silence. Three email update requests all ignored.
57 minutes in a phone queue to be told "we've not yet received the IHT421 from HMRC, we'll chase them". 
A further 30+ minutes in a phone queue established HMRC had never received IHT400. 
I sent them a copy.

My gripe in general is that, once you know a form hasn't arrived as expected, why keep it to yourself HMxxx? If I don't know about it I can't fix it! As soon as I knew IHT400 wasn't where it was supposed to be I sent a new one. 

I know of a brewery hosting a drinks party. Anyone want to join me? No need to find a driver! 

Bfh

Gosh your experience sounds very similar to mine 😞 
I’m at the point where I’ve had enough. I don’t know about organising the party in the brewery, but I could certainly do with a few stiff drinks if ever this reaches a satisfactory conclusion!

GaryBC

I'm close to writing to my MP, or Watchdog, or newspapers, or anyone that might listen! 

My daughter is having a very similar time with the passport office so these clearly aren't isolated problems. 

RnK136

I waited 7 weeks to then receive an email asking for further information only to realise they'd cocked it up and not noticed I am in the Will under my maiden name and so said I wasn't an executor when I am.
I've just used webchat today because it's another 7 weeks since I emailed telling them they'd made a mistake and I've heard nothing.
Webchat told me the case is still waiting to be re-examined.
SO FRUSTRATING.

GaryBC

If any of the companies I've worked for in my lifetime had behaved like this towards their customers they'd have been out of business within weeks! 

BooJewels

GaryBC said:

My daughter is having a very similar time with the passport office so these clearly aren't isolated problems. 

I don't think Probate is unique at all - I did mine a little while ago, during an actual lockdown and it was 10 weeks, so it shouldn't really have got any worse since then - but it seems to have.  Then 14+ weeks for my passport application and Capital Gains Tax (sent a paper return - couldn't do it on-line due to not yet getting my passport) is now at 20 weeks+.  They had the audacity last week to send me a letter fining me a £100 penalty for being late with some information they'd asked for in April, which when I rang they admitted was a mistake and removed that need, but didn't do it properly, hence the erroneous penalty.  When I asked how much longer it was likely to be, he said "several months, they do them in strict date-received order and they're not even close to the date of yours".

I tried to gently explain to him that these subjects in particular are very difficult areas as they relate to deceased estates and the delays only make an already difficult situation worse.  This is the last thing I'm outstanding in order to finalise and close this estate and it perpetually hanging over me means that I can't draw a line under it and move on.

And don't even get me started on trying to make a change to a lasting Power of Attorney with the OPG - that's been bubbling along since the end of last August - almost a year!  Not entirely the OPG's fault - to say the solicitors involved have been incompetent would be an understatement - but it doesn't help when every stage at the OPG is in excess of 20+ weeks.

GaryBC

Power of Attorney?! Yeah, got that T shirt too! Took so bloody long my mum died before it got issued! 

Pennylane

I have been waiting for a reply from the Probate Office since January.  

So many organisations are still blaming everything on covid.
Our GP practice is, social services is, our local council is, even the CQC say all their staff are still working from home. 

I can’t see us ever getting back to normal again. 

bunnygo

GaryBC said:

bunnygo said:

this has got lively...

for info I got the email saying 'grant approved' today, 15 weeks after they received the application. Actual grants are in the post, once they turn up (allegedly within 10 days) I can get on.

I got the case 'escalated' and today is 2 working days from the deadline for that.

hope no-one else gets 'stopped' due to a scanning foulup at Harlow, but if you do, I suggest asking for escalation.

Hmmm... I'd be interested to hear how one gets a case escalated. If mine doesn't unstick soon I'd like to do that! 

The escalation was offered to me on the webchat (much the easiest way to contact them and you get a record). That was at the point of five weeks after the original 8 weeks; the application had been stopped due to a scanning mistake. Of course I don't know if chasing it and the escalation actually made any difference, but it is finally done.

perhaps ask them to escalate on your webchat?

GaryBC

bunnygo said:

GaryBC said:

bunnygo said:

this has got lively...

for info I got the email saying 'grant approved' today, 15 weeks after they received the application. Actual grants are in the post, once they turn up (allegedly within 10 days) I can get on.

I got the case 'escalated' and today is 2 working days from the deadline for that.

hope no-one else gets 'stopped' due to a scanning foulup at Harlow, but if you do, I suggest asking for escalation.

Hmmm... I'd be interested to hear how one gets a case escalated. If mine doesn't unstick soon I'd like to do that! 

The escalation was offered to me on the webchat (much the easiest way to contact them and you get a record). That was at the point of five weeks after the original 8 weeks; the application had been stopped due to a scanning mistake. Of course I don't know if chasing it and the escalation actually made any difference, but it is finally done.

perhaps ask them to escalate on your webchat?

It's worth a try, thanks.