Money Talk
SUE’S GUIDE TO Closing Accounts After A Death
Closing down accounts after a family member has died can be overwhelming. However, there are ways to lessen the emotional strain.
Banks, utility companies and insurers have special bereavement helplines listed on their website. It means you needn’t go through the general call centre, and teams are specially trained.
Or you can use the Death Notification Service – a free online service that enables you to contact several banks and building societies in one go. It covers many big names like Nationwide, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, Santander and Barclays. DEATHNOTIFICATIONSERVICE.CO.UK
You’ll usually be asked to send in a death certificate – it can be worth getting a few copies. Some companies may only need the number on it, not the actual certificate.
The Government’s Tell Us Once service is really useful as it passes details to multiple Government departments – state pensions, benefits, HMRC, passports, DVLA (to cancel a driving licence) and even the local council. You can get a reference number to use this service when registering a death. GOV.UK/AFTER-A-DEATH/ ORGANISATIONS-YOU-NEED-TO-CONTACT-AND-TELL-US-ONCE
Co-op Legal Services has launched a free Bereavement Notification and Advice Service which includes advice on closing social media accounts. The service is available to everyone, and no pressure to use Co-op’s legal services. CO-OPLEGALSERVICES.CO.UK/PROBATE-SOLICITORS/ BEREAVEMENT-NOTIFICATION-SERVICE/
SUE’S TIPS:
◆ The Money Advice Service has a helpful practical guide: Whattodowhensomeone dies MONEYADVICESERVICE.ORG.UK
◆ Find policy details or account numbers before calling companies to save time or having to call back.
◆ My personal tip is to start a notebook with a list of companies you contact, who you speak to and when, in case you need to get back in touch with anyone.