Probate application chase

Bfh

GaryBC said:

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. 

Did you have any luck with the online chat GaryBC?
im steeling myself to try it myself tomorrow!

GaryBC

I got through eventually! You have to keep refreshing the screen until you can join the queue though. I seem to recall I was ten minutes or so doing that. 
Once you're in the queue be wary of the "you have 8 minutes and 17 seconds to wait" (or similar). I saw that, went to get a brew, only to find it's absolute b*ll*cks and lost my slot. Second time round I stuck it out, ignored the waiting time (which stayed - unmoving - at about 8 minutes for the duration), and got an operator after about 20 minutes queueing.
The chat was only just helpful though. Yes, they told me that they hadn't yet received the IHT421 from HMRC, but offered no discussion as to why this might have been or what the solution would be. "I'll email them to chase" was the best I could get.
HMRC, on the other hand, fell over themselves to help me unstick the jam. They told me that the reason they'd not sent IHT421 was because they'd not received IHT400. Armed with this I was able to put a copy in the post straight away. Without this knowledge I'd have never known what the holdup was and been forever waiting! 
The one big bonus though is that you get a transcript of the conversation via email. 
Good luck tomorrow. Keep a picnic to hand for the wait and have a pee first! 😂

Bfh

😂 Thanks, that’s really helpful.
slightly worrying also, as I was given the “we’ll email to chase the IHT421” line a few weeks ago and have heard nothing since 😬
Im aware that I sound like a real drama Queen, but the whole process is really taking a toll mentally.
Ah well, I’ll grit my teeth and join the queue tomorrow and hope for the best! 🤞 

GaryBC

Their "we'll email to chase HMRC" didn't fill me with confidence; that's why I phoned HMRC as well. A two-pronged attack, as it were.
And yes, it is extremely wearing! 
Best of luck tomorrow! 

Mrs_Z

Thank you for the update GaryBC - I'm following yours (and others) case with interest as I'm in a similar situation myself.
Probate application submitted mid-March and acknowledged in late April.  Since then I've received couple of (automated?) emails from them saying they can not issue probate as HMRC has not received IHT400.  Now I know this can not be true as when IHT400 was sent back in March, HMRC very quickly returned the original death certificate to me and asked for more details (which I sent them the day after).  I don't know if I'm confused or not, but the Probate also said in their communication that they HMRC could not issue the IHT421 (as they hadn't received the IHT400).  
I then googled IHT421 and from what I can tell, this is a sort of a pre-filled form that needs to go with the IHT400!  That I had not sent with the IHT400 but nobody told me that.  
On chasing the probate application at the beginning on July via the Webchat - I got told that there was no need to submit the IHT400 was the estate was below the inheritance tax threshold and and as such, they'd refer it to a review committee to look at and issue probate.  Another 4 weeks later, and I get yet another (automated) e-mail to say that HMRC has not issued IHT421 as they have not received IHT400.  So we are going round in circles here. Copy of the IHT400 together with IHT421 sent to HMRC on 25/7.
I tried contacting the Probate office via Webchat several times last week... the wait was 1h 65min 17sec or so - interesting - as I make that 2hrs 5 min and 17 seconds
Good to know they are 'open' on Sundays - will try that next weekend if no progress.  I have e-mailed them and also raised a complaint, although not sure if that makes any difference or anyone looks at it.
This is so frustrating as we desperately need the probate to sell the property which will not be an easy one to sell due to short remaining lease and an absentee landlord and I'm aware that every day that passes we have one less day left on the lease!

Valerie1886

My mum died on 18 September 2021. I submitted an IHT400 after being told I needed to do so, even though no Inheritance Tax is payable. Grant of Probate was obtained in April, but my IHT400, which I submitted to HMRC on 23 October 2021 is still showing as "In Review".  I sent a letter on 22 June, asking when I could expect the matter to be concluded but, of course, I've had no reply.  Apart from this, my mother's estate has been dealt with but its worrying that the IHT400 is still in review, almost 10 months after I submitted it. It should be pretty straightforward. What on earth are they looking for? 

Bfh

No luck getting through today - was quoted 2 and a half hours wait time and had to drop out after an hour and a half because I had to go into work.
Ive actually taken tomorrow morning off so I can sit and wait until I get through.
This is a plea for anyone who might be reading this thread and works for the Probate Office to please tell us realistically what the process involves at the other end and what is the actual lead time - because it clearly isn’t anywhere near 8 weeks for most people

JGB1955

Bfh said:

No luck getting through today - was quoted 2 and a half hours wait time and had to drop out after an hour and a half because I had to go into work.
Ive actually taken tomorrow morning off so I can sit and wait until I get through.
This is a plea for anyone who might be reading this thread and works for the Probate Office to please tell us realistically what the process involves at the other end and what is the actual lead time - because it clearly isn’t anywhere near 8 weeks for most people

I fully sympathise with you BUT I'm not sure that it's that clear....  but, just like Tripadvisor... or any other review site...it tends to be the people who are having problems who post.  It may be that 95% of applications are going through with no problem. 

GaryBC

Bfh said:

No luck getting through today - was quoted 2 and a half hours wait time and had to drop out after an hour and a half because I had to go into work.
Ive actually taken tomorrow morning off so I can sit and wait until I get through.
This is a plea for anyone who might be reading this thread and works for the Probate Office to please tell us realistically what the process involves at the other end and what is the actual lead time - because it clearly isn’t anywhere near 8 weeks for most people

Hear hear!!! 

GaryBC

JGB1955 said:

Bfh said:

No luck getting through today - was quoted 2 and a half hours wait time and had to drop out after an hour and a half because I had to go into work.
Ive actually taken tomorrow morning off so I can sit and wait until I get through.
This is a plea for anyone who might be reading this thread and works for the Probate Office to please tell us realistically what the process involves at the other end and what is the actual lead time - because it clearly isn’t anywhere near 8 weeks for most people

I fully sympathise with you BUT I'm not sure that it's that clear....  but, just like Tripadvisor... or any other review site...it tends to be the people who are having problems who post.  It may be that 95% of applications are going through with no problem. 

Thank you for that opinion but a quick Google search returns innumerable articles bemoaning the delays at the moment. 
Here's one I picked at random... 
https://www.hardingevans.com/news/2022/05/26/delays-in-probate-applications-continue-to-cause-headaches-for-bereaved-families/
Which suggests that, in fact, it really is that clear!