STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I HAVE deferred my state pension for nearly ten years. How can I find out how much I will receive if I took it now? E. A, via email. To finD out how much your state pension is now worth as a lump sum or a weekly payment, you need to call or visit your closest government Pension Centre and request the information. Call 0345 3000 168 or go to gov.uk/find-pension-centre. IS IT true that when someone dies you don’t need to apply for probate if everything passes to the surviving spouse? D. H., East Barnet, Herts. noT quite. if accounts and property are in joint names, they will pass automatically to the surviving partner without the need for probate. But this is not the case if the assets are in the deceased partner’s name alone. if there is property involved, probate will almost certainly be needed. Banks will usually release some cash without it, but this could be anything from £5,000 to £50,000 depending on the firm. I HAVE a deal with British Gas that includes an annual boiler service. The boiler was serviced in December 2014, December 2015 and then March 2017. I think I should get a £79 refund — the cost of a one-off service — as it was not serviced in 2016, but British Gas won’t pay. P. B., Cold Ash, Berks. BriTiSH gas apologises and confirms your boiler should be serviced within 12 months of the last time. it has offered you £100 as a gesture of goodwill. I HAVE 500 shares in an oil firm called Minmet plc from 2006. When I search for the firm online, it brings up a bingo website. Can you help track it down? M.S., via email. iT’S bad news, i’m afraid. Minmet changed its name to Aventine resources in 2010 and dissolved in 2015 after becoming insolvent. Sadly, it means your shares are worthless.