My daft as a brush Nan

james1_2

Not sure if this is the best place to discuss this but you all seem to offer good advice so here goes. I've moved away from home and started a family and I don't get to visit the old folks as often as I'd like. My Nan is getting on a bit and is starting to become very gullible. Last year she lent some money to a friend of hers (she hardly knows this bloke) £1000 after a friendly visit from myself he is paying her back in installements (so she says) and eventually she will get it back. I had to stop her lending £500 to some other git who thought he could slime his way into her bank account, after she asked me what I thought I obviously stopped her. If I lived near by I could keep an eye on her, Now I have found a huge pile of letters that she has kept telling her she's won the lottery and before she can claim her prize she must send money blah blah blah. She insists she has only ever sent £5 but I seriously doubt that and I think she's given them more money. Don't get me wrong she's not barking at the moon just yet I just find that she's is very easily taken in and now these buggers have a scent of blood they'll be round to bleed her dry. I try to keep calm when asking her about what she’s been doing but she is a proud woman and probably a bit embarrassed so she doesn’t always give me the entire story. I try to get her to spend the money on herself i.e. buy a new kitchen, go on holiday etc but she won't. WHAT CAN I DO????

Spendless

Hi James
Only thing i can think of at moment is there's a mailing preference service that your nan can register with that should stop junk mail coming through the door. Haven't got any more details but suresomeone will find them for you.
If I think of anything else I'll post back

16011996

mail preference service and telephone preference service

Hi,

above are links for the mail and also telephone preference services.

i am a bit stuck for what else to say to help. Is there a friend near by who could pop in and keep and eye on her between your visits, or something like that?

take care and good luck,

160.

macchicken

As for the guys she's lent money to. Let it be known around where u live whos granny she is!
i have a mother in law who is just as gullible, unfortunately u have to be crule to be kind! Tell her that there are bad people out there who will try to rip her off, but if shes not sure about something its ok to ask.
Also if you havn't entered a competition then u havn't won one!
good luck

Yoga_Girl

She must be quite a worry for you.

Would she take any advice about transferring her money into a savings account where she couldn't have easy access to it? I'm sure there are other Money Savers who can give better advice about these savings accounts but it might be an idea to help her not feel so tempted to "give" her money away.

Is her bank account with a local friendly branch who know her ? I know an old lady who keeps her money in a local building society and only ever sees the same assistant when she goes in - she has mental health problems and this assistant "looks out" for her and gives her a bit more advice and guidance than the regular customers. Wondered if you could talk to the branch as well, though I'm not sure there's much they can do.

And yes, get her registered with the mail preference service and the tps!

Might be worth telling her you're becoming a Money Saving Expert and suggesting she checks any money issues out with you 1st as you'll "get her the best deal", that might help with the pride thing.

sce37

Taking the worst case scenario I know of a case where an elderly gentleman was caught for about £30,000. His daughter had to obtain a power of attorney authority in order to protect her father's interest. She is suing on her father's behalf.

If you think the problem is worse than she is admitting to this may be an option to consider to protect her.

stressedoutmother

Get BT to stop all incoming caller withheld numbers too. These unscrupulous companies also pester by telephone and we can all get taken in by them. Unsolicited callers never call from identifiable numbers so you can remove the risk altogether by doing this -though (typical of BT) it carries a small monthly charge.

pdoff

stressedoutmother wrote:

Get BT to stop all incoming caller withheld numbers too. These unscrupulous companies also pester by telephone and we can all get taken in by them. Unsolicited callers never call from identifiable numbers so you can remove the risk altogether by doing this -though (typical of BT) it carries a small monthly charge.

telephone preference service will stop them for free.

Cariad_3

Maybe have a chat with your nan and see if she agrees for someone to help her with the finances each week, this means that she doesn't pay any bills or write any cheques or withdraw money until she has discussed it with her "financial advocate" first.
Alternatively could someone else's name be put on the bank account as a signatory so 2 signatures would be needed to withdraw any money, not quite sure how this works but could be worth exploring. I think your nan really needs someone to help her, if she agrees, there are many people just waiting to take advantage of a vulnerable person.
Good luck!

Gingham_Ribbon

I'm sorry your nan is having a hard time. Why do you think she's so keen to give people her money? Do you think she's bored or lonely and looking for friendship by being overly generous? What kind of social life does she have? Maybe an improvement in that area might help.

Although she sounds like she is being very rash with her money, you haven't suggested she has other problems. Is she becoming forgetful or confused regarding anything else? Is it possible that she knows the people she loaned the money to better than you realise and is fully aware of what she's doing?

I hope it works out. I hate to see anyone being taken for a ride.

mrbadexample

Can you get her to call you before she parts with any cash to anyone for any reason? Tell her you're concerned, and just want to make sure she's not being ripped off - I'm sure she'd understand.