Trust Inheritance Will Writing Service

sloughflint

SWW wrote: »

The Society of Will Writers (SWW) has watched this string develop over a period of time and feels that we should make a statement as to our views on these practices.
There is no need for any person to pay in advance for advice on probate for their appointed executors or to secure what is perceived to be low cost estate administration.
We have seen a growth in the number of companies that offer these services, many costing thousands of pounds, over recent years. It is a practice that the SWW has for many years, outlawed.
Any member company or individual who offers such a service and cannot show that these advance fees are in some way ‘ring fenced’ for the future has their membership revoked.

I thought I'd look up this post and sure enough the words 'member company' were used here in post #51.

I watched the recent Panorama programme in which a SWW spokesperson attempted to squirm his way out of a tight spot when a member company's poor practice was outlined.

His feeble excuse was that since only individuals could ever be members, he had no control over non member employees of companies. :T

mephisto2

Just to warn you that the SWW has no audit line or real training, all the people in the panorama show were members and their members have been sellling "protective property trusts" costing thousands of pounds with defective wording for years in the full knowledge of the SWW.

The problem with Will Writers is that their mistakes do not arise until someones death when the company have already gone out of business, it is the consumer that always suffers.

alidix

My mum had the misfortune to deal with a SWW member for a Trust which cost £3662 and turned out to be invalid, they will not respond the society have done nothing for all their so called complaints procedure and so we are out of pocket.

Perhaps the man on panorama could not stop them as well, he does not seem to have a handle on his members, it all seems like a big money making scheme.:mad:

Buckingham19

I have read this post for the first time tonight and I must say in many cases I am appalled.
I am a sole trading will writer and have over a number of years taken instruction for over 7000 wills. I carry full Professional Indemnity Insurance (which I have never used) and I am a member of the SWW. There are many good honest professional people out there doing the same job as me. I do not get involved in pre paid probate but I do deliver the Wills back to the executors and give them help free. I store 99% 0f the Wills I do and keep my customers up to date with a 3 year review and all documents are changed free of charge. Fees are annual by standing order. Will a solicitor give you that.

The majority of people should spend about £ 320 on their documents including a Will, Lasting Power of Attorney Property and Lasting Power of Attorney Welfare. Older people should look at trusts in their Wills and registering the Lasting Powers of Attorney. This could give a bill in the region of £1400 per couple. Compare this with the prices from a solicitor.

The future problems are not going to be as much from rogue traders which every industry seems to have problems with but from an industry that convinces the public that a simple will is good enough for their needs.

DIY Will Kits, Online Wills and telephone Wills do not go into sufficient depth to help most clients protect their estates from potential re-marriage, family problems or care home costs and are certainly open to major fraud.

These are important documents and you should spend the time getting them done properly with who ever you feel comfortable with but remember we are all in business and we are not going to take this responsibility without due reward.

As a footnote the Panorama programme was misleading it talked about will writers but was really about probate practices.

localhero

Buckingham19 wrote:

As a footnote the Panorama programme was misleading it talked about will writers but was really about probate practices.

Not only that, but the reporter said that only solicitors have professional indemnity insurance which is nonsense.

He also neglected the fact that members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters' abide by a Code of Practice which is endorsed by the Office of Fair Trading - the only will writing organisation within the entire entire legal profession who offer such high levels of consumer protection.

Buckingham, perhaps you might like to take the entrance exam with a view to joining if you aspire to provide such an ethical and professional service to your clients?

PhiltheBear

localhero wrote: »

He also neglected the fact that members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters' abide by a Code of Practice which is endorsed by the Office of Fair Trading - the only will writing organisation within the entire entire legal profession who offer such high levels of consumer protection.

Now doesn't that look like the OFT are behind the IPW? What a load of bo**ocks. The IPW offer you no more protection than anyone else. It is simply a collection of people who pay a fee, take a concocted 'exam' to become members and then supposedly have a code of conduct to abide by.

But, the reality is that it's a toothless nonentity. I could set up a "Professional Will Writers and Probate Executors" body and promise all those things. The FACT is that it's totally worthless - as are all similar bodies.

Baggysdad

Another victim of Trust Inheritance - on the tele

Looks like the victim is a reader of this forum - see the screenshot when she is sat in front of a computer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wlllr/Rip_Off_Britain_Series_2_Episode_12/

View from 6 mins 45 onwards.

localhero

PhiltheBear wrote: »

Now doesn't that look like the OFT are behind the IPW? What a load of bo**ocks. The IPW offer you no more protection than anyone else. It is simply a collection of people who pay a fee, take a concocted 'exam' to become members and then supposedly have a code of conduct to abide by.

But, the reality is that it's a toothless nonentity. I could set up a "Professional Will Writers and Probate Executors" body and promise all those things. The FACT is that it's totally worthless - as are all similar bodies.

Unfortunately you are partly correct insofar as anyone can set themselves up as a will writer or in fact as a so-called `professional body` - which is why the Institute of Professional Willwriters has supported compulsory regulation for many years so that the incompetent and unscrupulous are weeded out.

It is not so easy however to put together a code of practice, comply with it and then demostrate to the OFT to their satifaction that it is being complied with and monitored effectively.

If it was, then other will writing organisations would have done likewise.

Any organisation that has a code of practice endorsed by the Office of Fair Trading offers a lot more protection that an organisation that isn't endorsed.

Take a look at the OFT and see for yourself.

http://http://oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/ccas/

expertlinguist

Baggysdad wrote: »

Another victim of Trust Inheritance - on the tele

Looks like the victim is a reader of this forum - see the screenshot when she is sat in front of a computer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wlllr/Rip_Off_Britain_Series_2_Episode_12/

View from 6 mins 45 onwards.

As if the Beeb was totally unbiassed/factual/non-sensetionalistic.:rotfl:

expertlinguist

Any how......one can not regulate will writing as long as it is possible for any individual to write their own will, which if the testator's signature is properly witnessed is as valid as one written by a University Professor teaching Will Writing.....if also duly witnessed.

The issue is with Estate Administration Charges.....see: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1286888/Exposed-Banks-prey-bereaved.html

And the sharp practices of most Banks, a fair amount of Solicitors and some Will Writers to nominate themselves as executors or co-executors without informing the client of the possible cost before one signs on the dotted line.