STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
MY mother recently died. What will happen to her bank account? A. J., email. WHeN someone dies, banks and building societies typically freeze their accounts until the person in charge of dealing with their will — the executor — has applied for a grant of probate. In the meantime, the executor will usually only be able to access money to pay for the funeral.
If there is only a small sum in the account, many banks will allow bereaved family members to close it with just a death certificate. each organisation has its own limit for how much they will release without probate, but it typically ranges from £5,000 to £50,000. IN MAY I decided to have my roof space insulated with the company HomeSense and gave them £440 by cheque as a deposit. Two days later workers arrived, but their equipment failed, so they left before they could even start. That afternoon I decided to cancel. I was told by the chief executive I would be refunded. Yet despite many calls and letters, I still have not received my money back. G. B., Cornwall. I raNg HomeSense for you and was told that the chief executive you spoke to is no longer with the company. However, the new chief executive was very apologetic your requests had been ignored. Part of the delay was down to the company having the wrong sort code for you, which meant the transfer was declined. The money should now be back in your account. EACH month a sum of £138.24 is listed on my BT account as unpaid. I do not owe this money and BT have accepted this. Yet despite calling the firm weekly for months, this amount still appears. D. R., Cheshire BT has now identified the original bill where this amount was applied —– back in 2016. It has now corrected your account so the supposed debt should not appear on your next bill. I READ an article about dividing a property into two halves by becoming tenants in common. Is this arrangement possible between a parent and their offspring? S.P., London aNyoNe can be tenants in common regardless of their relationship, even friends or business partners. you are each named as part owners of the property. and unlike when you are joint tenants, you have the right to leave your share of the property to any beneficiary you choose upon your death.