Dealing with difficult co-administrator of estate

Sea_Shell

leafyll said:

Sea_Shell said:

leafyll said:

Sea_Shell said:

leafyll said:

The co-administrator actually used the deceased’s online banking and debit card to empty the accounts. The accounts were then closed at a later date.

Unfortunately, whilst undoubtedly against the T&C's of the account, it's very difficult to stop this happening within a household.

So they have just helped themselves, before later notifying the bank of the death?   Or did they just use the same logins to close the account, so the bank weren't actually told ?

Otherwise, I wonder what date they gave the bank?   And would they have had to provide a copy of the death certificate?

They notified the bank of the death after the withdrawals were made. The relevant documents were provided to close the account and the account was closed 3 months after death, transferring the remaining small balance to the co-administrators child. The bank was not made aware that the deceased had other children.

So did the bank not pick up on the fact that the deceased's login was used AFTER they had died?

Could you raise a complaint to them, or at least bring it to their attention?

Apparently this is not something the bereavement team look at when closing deceased’s accounts. I’ve raised a complaint regarding this.

I'm genuinely shocked by this!!!    

I would have thought that it would be a big RED FLAG, that paperwork is submitted showing someone died on X date, but that transactions had been made by "the account holder" on any number of days after that date.  

Keep_pedalling

Flugelhorn said:

I’m Keep_pedalling said:

Flugelhorn said:

yes very curious as to why they paid out to current partner before LoA 

Banks have quite high limits they will pay without probate. All they require is proof that the person closing the accounts is who they say they are and that they are entitled to do so. A spouse or child will be able to do it as will someone who is appointed executor of a will. If this wasn’t the cas3 every single estate would have to apply for probate however small.

they do have high limits but the individual who had the money transferred to them was not married to the deceased - maybe that doesn't cause a problem or maybe they were considered to be having the money on the behalf of the deceased's children

If they can present a copy of the will showing they are an executor then 5he banks will pay out, although in this case it seems the money was withdrawn illegally using the testator’s card and PIN.

Spendless

Sea_Shell said:

leafyll said:

Sea_Shell said:

leafyll said:

Sea_Shell said:

leafyll said:

The co-administrator actually used the deceased’s online banking and debit card to empty the accounts. The accounts were then closed at a later date.

Unfortunately, whilst undoubtedly against the T&C's of the account, it's very difficult to stop this happening within a household.

So they have just helped themselves, before later notifying the bank of the death?   Or did they just use the same logins to close the account, so the bank weren't actually told ?

Otherwise, I wonder what date they gave the bank?   And would they have had to provide a copy of the death certificate?

They notified the bank of the death after the withdrawals were made. The relevant documents were provided to close the account and the account was closed 3 months after death, transferring the remaining small balance to the co-administrators child. The bank was not made aware that the deceased had other children.

So did the bank not pick up on the fact that the deceased's login was used AFTER they had died?

Could you raise a complaint to them, or at least bring it to their attention?

Apparently this is not something the bereavement team look at when closing deceased’s accounts. I’ve raised a complaint regarding this.

I'm genuinely shocked by this!!!    

I would have thought that it would be a big RED FLAG, that paperwork is submitted showing someone died on X date, but that transactions had been made by "the account holder" on any number of days after that date.  

I know banks don't look into that level of detail. Last year when my Nan died, Mum had POA (which ceased on Nan's death), Mum unwittingly used Nan's debit card when paying for her wake. She just wasn't thinking about it. A few days later she informed bank of Nan's death with death cert and bank closed her account. The money for the wake (which showed as a payment to a pub) was never queried. Mum was convinced she was going to be contacted about it and worried because the correct procedure was either for Mum to pay for wake out of her own money and then be re-imbursed from Nan's estate or she should have asked Nan's bank to release the money for this cost possibly directly to the pub. 

Alphatauri

@leafyll sadly in this situation taking prompt action via solicitors is the best option. Many people try to do it diplomatically and all that happens is it gets dragged out for years.

What you are finding out is that some people value money more than doing the right thing. Taking legal action is the pragmatic way to proceed. 

I’m sorry you are going through this. 

Robert_McGeddon

Back upthread a compensation payment to the estate was mentioned:

1  Does the organisation involved know about the problematic administrator?  Who might they pay out to?

2  How much is the compensation payment in comparison to cash at bank?  Is there a possible route to use this to pay the rightful beneficiaries?