Nationwide nightmare with bereavement team and inaccurate figures and no support

SiliconChip · 17 October 2025 at 5:33PM

A fixed rate bond is the easiest thing to calculate the interest for, the only real issue is whether the fixed term ended at death or continued to the bond end date. Either way if you can give us the sum invested, the start date, the interest rate, and the two possible end dates, I'm sure we'll be able to work out what the value including interest should have been at maturity.

Aaron3195 · 17 October 2025 at 6:00PM

I'm not surprised, I'm on day 57 of waiting for my father's tax statements from Nationwide. They said they have a 10-30 day back log and I've called twice to chase them up. Hopefully they get it right first time, I need it before I can start probate

Cobbler_tone · 21 October 2025 at 9:54AM

My MIL passed away on NYD, so over 10 months ago. Her affairs weren't dealt with immediately but think the Co-op have been handling the case for 6 months. Horrible trust.
Out of the four banks/building societies where funds are arriving from, Nationwide is the only one we are waiting for and it'll be the smallest balance of the four. Less than £20k. Could be a coincidence but they clearly are last in this race.

hicksmat1976 · 19 May at 3:37PM

I just joined, posted this on another thread, totally appropriate to re-post here:

My mum passed several weeks ago. I am the sole beneficiary and sole executor of mums estate.

Mum banked with Nationwide - just 1 account.

I went into her branch to notify them of her death.

I then was told to wait 2 weeks for letter in the post (why this couldn't all be done in branch I don't know - I had all the paperwork on me such as the will and the death cert).

I've had the letter back now a few weeks later, and it says what I expected which is - go to probate - why could they simply not just say this in branch 2 weeks ago?

I look at their bereavement booklet they have provided, there is a section about help paying for things such as funeral and probate. The booklet claims "you may need to pay for urgent expenses such as grant of probate - to cover these fees fill in a form and send to us - we don't need to see the bill - we will make the cheque out to the court".

This is NOT how it works if you are applying for probate online.

Filling out the probate application online ends with the payment section - which is card only, which means the executor has to pay (not as previously claimed by nationwide in their booklet, the deceased) and then Nationwide will reimburse you after.

I called Nationwide and they have had to log a complaint because a) they agree the bereavement booklet advice looks incorrect, and b) they insist I pay for probate and they will pay me back - which I refuse to do.

Online I also saw this:

"Nationwide allows you to access money from a deceased customer’s account to pay for urgent probate court fees, funeral costs, and Inheritance Tax before the Grant of Representation is officially issued. You can request this assistance by contacting their dedicated bereavement team or filling out specific forms in-branch."

also not true.

reading the stories on here, particularly regarding Nationwide, sound like a horror show, and I'm in one myself now.