Probate problems with US bank

After my husband died in 2014, I found some correspondence about an outstanding payment of $637. This he was owed by Wells Fargo Bank in America, following the sale of some shares.

The solicitor dealing with the estate received responses from the bank a year and a half ago, requesting a copy of letters testamentary and grant of probate. During probate I received a statement showing a $50 account fee had been deducted from the amount owing.

Afterwards, when the solicitor returned the papers to me, I wrote to Wells Fargo – just under a year ago now – enclosing grant of probate and a death certificate. Six weeks later, the bank wrote requesting a certified death certificate and enclosing forms to open a new account. I faxed the former and declined the latter.

When I heard nothing after two months I tried telephoning Wells Fargo and was eventually given a number of someone in “estates processing” who sent me a transfer authorisation form and advised me where to fax it, together with a copy of my passport. This I did the following day and I believed a cheque would swiftly follow.

I have heard nothing since, other than to receive a statement showing a further $50 account fee has been deducted. As you will understand, I have found it very difficult to keep revisiting the problem. SR, KENT

This was about a payment that needed to be reissued because your late husband had forgotten to pay in a cheque.

Around that time he had had a heart bypass operation, so may well have had other things on his mind.

I picked up the baton and it proved to be the start of another long haul. Wells Fargo did call you after that but then couldn’t find your husband’s details. It wanted a social security number, which you gave.

My contact phoned again to say she had tracked down someone in “estates processing” who had seen your fax of the previous year with the paperwork. However, they couldn’t find the expired cheque, which you had returned.

You found a copy of the letter returning the cheque, which had a photocopy of the cheque attached.

You faxed it, as asked, but heard nothing more for a while. Then you were asked to produce a foreign affidavit of domicile to proceed.

Meanwhile, I made calls and emails to the US.

As a result of all this you were required to send another fax, but, by the time you did this, the number you had been given did not accept it.

The cheque had actually been issued two and a half weeks after my initial contact – but it was not dispatched to you for another four months.

This was due to the various bureaucratic hoops described here that had to be gone through.

At last, you received the money minus the two $50 charges.

This palaver had also cost you a notary fee of £84 and £28 for postage.

You considered fighting on for these sums but I feel that this has run out of steam.

I think it is now time to move on.