inheritance/probate agents

tortoise2

I was contacted by an international probate company which specialises in finding beneficiaries for unclaimed inheritances. I signed a contract with them granting them a commission based on the final payout to me. Shortly after signing the agreement, I received a letter direct from the probate administrator based in Austria. The letter had been sent 6 months previously, but had been wrongly addressed.

I was able to make contact with the probate administrator and I have corresponded directly with him since then. I advised the probate company that I could handle matters myself and did not need them to be involved further. I did not grant them power of attorney to act for me with the probate administrator.

The probate company will not renegotiate its commission despite the fact that I have been dealing directly with the probate administrator. I offered them a sum to reflect the initial work they had done. They are now trying to make a legal claim on the inheritance using an Austrian lawyer.

WARNING - Be careful of dealing with such companies before signing up with them. They are after as much of the inheritance as they can grab.

URGENT - Can anyone advise me what I can do next?

Mikeyorks

tortoise2 wrote: »

URGENT - Can anyone advise me what I can do next?

Read the contract you signed! If you can't agree a lower settlement figure - you're stuck with what you agreed to.

Sure sign there's something in the offing when a company like that contacts you?

jonesMUFCforever

I would tell them to take a running jump IF they ask for money upfront.
It will be a scam.

crystalmooniris

try looking at fraser and fraser website they are probate researchers

http://www.fraserandfraser.com/

They are a genuine company and have loads of advice you may find useful

localhero

When you are contacted by these 'heir hunter' type companies you have a simple choice - agree to pay a percentage of your inheritance to them for their work or they will simply decline to tell you who the person was that died.

To sign a contract and then attempt to cut them out is leaving you open to litigation which I believe you are likely to lose.

I would cough up if I were you.