Trust Inheritance Will Writing Service

StiffeeSpamhead

Alas.. it's our friends and founders of the Fellowship of Professional Willwriters and Probate Practioners again...:(

sloughflint

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

Alas.. it's our friends and founders of the Fellowship of Professional Willwriters and Probate Practioners again...:(

In that case, read this thread.
Trading standards like another poster?

StiffeeSpamhead

Well.. I'm hoping that cancelling the credit card and stopping any direct debit they choose to set-up (plus obviously cancelling the contract with them).. will do the trick for me and the wife.. I am VERY concerned that this company has all our personal details though!

I've been talking to the rest of my family who don't seem to understand the issue.. they believed that the £1600 they had paid was the only fees due from the estate and aren't going to follow this up.. EDIT: after speaking to my folks again I'm not sure they just didn't get their wires crossed with this so this!!

As I'm expecting an addition to the family in a few weeks I'm not sure I have the energy to fight on their behalf

StiffeeSpamhead

I feel after my rants I should add some balance.. I have had dealings with this company today and I have to say I found them very helpful and happy to discuss the issues I had.. they were concerned at the level of service I had received and at no point put any pressure on me to revise my decision to cancel - they have in fact asked me to include a cover letter with my cancellation forms so they can investigate the conduct of the staff who visited..

If they continue to act with this level of customer care with regards to resolving my issues then I really will have little to complain about.. I will keep peeps updated!

What I will say is that I'm sure these schemes do offer value for money in a number of cases but I'm implore anybody to do a little bit of research prior to agreeing to anything rather than feeling pressured into signing something like I did..

I've edited some of my other posts as there were some issues I raised that I have since received clarification on - I don't want people to confuse this with me backing down in any way - I just a clear picture of what happened to be included here!

sloughflint

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

I have had dealings with this company today and I have to say I found them very helpful and happy to discuss the issues I had..

That's good news for you.
But the cynic in me speculates that in view of their wish to become regulators, they will want to keep those who have seen the light, quiet.

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

they were concerned at the level of service I had received

Isn't it strange that you received exactly the same treatment/level of service as the under cover journalist?
Also, you will now know from the replies to your thread what rubbish you were being told. They should be more than a bit concerned in view of:

All of our Consultants are highly trained and explain in plain English the process of creating your Will.

Unlike other Willwriting companies, Estate Protection Services are proud to say, that all our Will Consultants are working towards the national accredited BTEC qualifications from EDEXCEL and joining the Fellowship of Professional Willwriters and Probate Practitioners is a condition of working for Estate Protection Services Ltd. The FPWPP are a totally independent organisation that set the standards that EPS work to.

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

What I will say is that I'm sure these schemes do offer value for money in a number of cases

Really? I wonder if the firm will still exist (or by that name ) by the time your relatives die?

Jeadra

Hi this is my first post. I have read all the threads for the last couple of years! I know of a couple that have paid out to a will writing company 12 days ago. They did not have anything given to them in writing at all - not even a receipt for the £1300 cash that they paid! The company was contacted within a week asking that they return the money and cancel the service as presumably there should be a 7 day 'cooling off' period. They spoke to someone who was going to ask the advisor to return the call - they haven't. The firm had asked the people to sign a document to enable them to proceed without having to wait 7 days. (I assume this would be a waiver!). As they left no paperwork then it is difficult to ascertain. Another document they signed was a Power of Attorney - which is very worrying.

Anyone got any advice about how they can get their money back? I read a similar question a few pages ago but could not see a reply.
Thanks

sloughflint

Jeadra wrote: »

They did not have anything given to them in writing at all - not even a receipt for the £1300 cash that they paid!

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm

Advice and Guidance




Consumer Direct offers national telephone advice on 08454 04 05 06. Online help is also available through your local trading standards service website for both consumers and business. Use the post code search to find your local office.

This was quite a good link on another thread:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=5001133944&type=ONEOFFPAGE&site=210

StiffeeSpamhead

Well.. to complete my story.. I received my documentation back by return of post as requested with an apology.. I had no problems using the 7 day cooling off period etc.. so, apart from the initial consultation, I got pretty good service from them..

I wish I had been more savvy when first dealing with them as I suspect I could have avoided a lot of hassle!!

sloughflint

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

apart from the initial consultation,

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

they can investigate the conduct of the staff who visited.

I think we can guess why you got the same heavy sales treatment as the under cover journalist. Take a look at their advert.

StiffeeSpamhead wrote: »

I got pretty good service from them.

Well they seem to have done a superb job of pacifying you. In fact, I do get the impression that these types of firms are very adept at talking the talk to:

• Worm their way out of trouble.
• Fool charities or other generally trusted organisations to increase their market.

If that fails, then they just seem to change their name and carry on with business as usual.

To recap, the main names mentioned in this thread that are still operating:

Trust Inheritance (formerly PEP) - linked with the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust.
ITC legal Services- linked with Barclays and Bereavement Advice Centre.
Will Drafters- being taken to Court by Final Duties.
EPS ( formerly SPS) -not so independent members of the fellowship of professional willwriters who are looking to become regulators :eek:

John_Pierpoint

Don't talk to me about people who pretend to be Barclays employees on the bereavement front.:eek:
My thread is here, it explains that Barclays has been moving the "bereaved" round the kingdom. (funny thing the tax man has been doing the same thing).
They are now outsourced to a firm in Warwick.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=28835271&highlight=immaculate#post28835271
The Independent reports this:
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/barclays-accused-over-obscene-fees-for-customers-wills-1797477.html
Even the Solicitors trade union gets upset here:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/probate-services-company-itc-signs-deal-barclays
Mega ongoing thread here about ITC the outsourced firm handling your account when you die with Barclays:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1935955
What is the legal position if you appoint a corporation as you executor and find the work had been hived off to some other company with American roots?
I would have though that you could leave that executor out of the equation - perhaps that is why they pretend to be "Barclays".