Is Probate necessary

poppystar

BooJewels said:

I'd concur @poppystar - it seems like a perpetual battle getting funds out of them, so I think @Magnolia was especially lucky. 

My Dad tried to get Mum's balance, but gave up after yet another form arrived and they'd lost her DC.  Then when he passed, I decided to sort them both out together.  I sent off many forms they kept sending me, plus both DCs - more than once - without even knowing what the balances were - they really made me jump through hoops.  In the end, I got £2 from Mum, £4 from Dad and 20p from a savings account Dad had had since the 1930 with 4 shillings in - they don't pay interest on amounts under a pound!  I got three separate credits one morning when I logged in to the bank.  I didn't know whether to cry with disappointment or guffaw at the preposterousness of it all.

My sister and I were the only beneficiaries, so we bought an ice cream each on a day out and I instructed her to eat it very slowly as it took a lot of work to get it!

I bet that didn’t even stretch to having a flake in them! Imagine if it was a solicitor doing the chasing, they’d have been the most expensive ice creams ever. 

I didn’t have such a struggle but I was only dealing with NS&I for premium bonds. It went quite smoothly but they definitely wanted probate before they’d consider handing me the money and accumulated prizes.