worried that Will has gone missing on the way to Harlow. was sent tracked delivery

Fairplayguy

Hello, hoping for some reassurance/advice. Got probate code and applied online about 2 weeks ago. Sent Will in via 24 hour tracked delivery well over a week ago.  Tracking show it arrived at Harlow DO for delivery 7 days ago, but no update on the Royal Mail since then and no acknowledgement of receipt on the probate website. 
Called Royal Mail they said call probate. Called probate and they said call back in 12 weeks. 

hoping to be reassured that not seeing a "delivery received" notification does not mean it's been lost.  thanks

AP3

Unfortunately it is possible. You have to give them 12 weeks before you can apply for compensation, which will probably just be a refund of costs to sent it.

I ordered something online that was sent Tracked 24. It arrived at Home Counties North MC on the 8th February, and apparently it's still there...

Information on what you'll need to do if it really lost here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-will-is-lost-to-support-a-probate-application

Fairplayguy

thanks, I've got a terrible sense of foreboding about this. 

kipperman

AP3 said:

Unfortunately it is possible. You have to give them 12 weeks before you can apply for compensation, which will probably just be a refund of costs to sent it.

I ordered something online that was sent Tracked 24. It arrived at Home Counties North MC on the 8th February, and apparently it's still there...

Information on what you'll need to do if it really lost here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-will-is-lost-to-support-a-probate-application

Equally I have had deliveries allegedly stuck in a sorting office that arrived in perfectly good time. So all is not lost.

Fairplayguy

thanks kipperman, I shall keep everything crossed. Estate had IHT and the probate code seemed to take lot longer than the promised 20 days to arrive ( probably about 5 weeks so maybe just over 20 working days). There's nothing like an IHT400 and probate application to frazzle the nerves. 

p00hsticks

I've just posted one yesterday so will let you know of the outcome. I'm wondering if the fact that it's a PO box address makes any difference.
With the last one I had to send a few years back I didn't get an e-mail acknowledgement from the Probate Office to say they'd received it until tow minutes before they sent one saying probate had been granted (about ten days after Royal Mail indicated it had been received) so I'm not holding my breath about hearing from them. 

kipperman

It is one instance of where the Scottish system of dealing with confirmation through local courts has its advantages - you can turn up in person and know absolutely that the will and documentation has been delivered. Beyond the main city sheriff courts, the more provincial ones seem to be pretty quick as well. No help to you OP though.

Fairplayguy

and breathe..... 

The Royal Mail tracking app never updated, still showing "out for delivery" rather than "your item has been delivered" 

but the probate website thankfully showing "documents received". as of just now 
Phew.

so tracked delivery not always up-to date it seems.  

pleeeese lets have a nice quick non-stopped probate application. Will is  a d.i.y. simple one sided document. One executor me, the main beneficiary, and five other beneficiaries. 

Fairplayguy

well i've gone from worrying that will was lost to "grant issued" in less than 24 hours!.  

so that's two weeks from probate application to grant issued.  

Robert142

I sent a probate application off together with the original will last Tuesday 1st April to the Harlow office.  It was sent deliver by 1300 tracked and sign for.  Still says at Chelmsford sorting office awaiting delivery.  Should I be worried?  I see some people say they never sign for anything.  Is there any on line site I can check on this?  Or is a matter of waiting 12 weeks before I can contact them?  There was a cheque with it so it would be nice to see it cashed which it has not been.
i am very worried as I am not the executor but have been helping someone with this and feel responsible.  Thank you

Fairplayguy

my experience above should give you some hope. no need to panic just yet. I think if you made a paper application then you can't check online as to its progress. Give it a few days and if the cheque isn't cashed then call the probate people and ignore the recorded message that says "hang up if you applied less than 12 weeks ago".