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[pscocoa]

My father died at the end of March. Already they are writing stupidly to my mother in a nursing home about all kinds of stuff when I am the person named everywhere as Power of Attorney and the person responsible to deal with everything.

The basic errors are unbelievable sorry totally believable.

The utility guys are not too bad part from Npower who after making a big fuss about their specific bereavement service and recorded me as taking over the bills - then proceeded to write to "the Occupier" at an empty house.

I am not up tight or upset about it as I fully expected this to happen despite all the prompt attention to detail that I put in the day after he died.

Social services are just after getting at the house - but I hope my plan works to avoid them getting their hands on it.

We shall see - if it works then many lessons to be learned.

Oh and my father's care home sent me a bill for one day's residency when in fact they owe me a day if we are splitting hairs.

[cleggy]

Stay calm and ignore the barstewards, sort things out in your time not theirs.

Hopefully one day these muppets will get their just deserts

[Varche]

My aunt and uncle both died in March. Last near relatives of my Dad - bless him.

We too are going through the aggro. Life (sic) shouldn't be this hard

Just looking at POA now. Know the process and straightforward enough not to need a solicitor.

I wish you well with sorting things out.

[paul.lovejoy]

we are trying to sort things out for the mum in law to get names changed etc so the state dont take it if things ever get bad, we lost the farther in law some time ago and that was a struggle in every way its like a swarm of vultures, the last thing you want when grieving as well

[pscocoa]

You can now add Dept of Work and Pensions to the list of reprobates - I was on to them just now re my mother's revised state pension (i.e. when do we hear something) - they acknowledge receipt of the Power of Attorney lodged with them in early Feb but "the processing team has a back log so we have not got to it yet and so cannot discuss with you".

On the DWP web site it asks for your post code to identify the right DWP office to speak to - I put in my mother's post code and phoned the resulting number. Immediately I get the office for the area which covers Sandhurst area telephone codes - explained that I had followed instructions and was told ah yes it is just a general number which we match the office to where the call came from - what a waste of time.

[Terbs]

Paul....be very wary of changing names, if its to 'avoid' care home charges. The state can go back 'indefinately' I believe, not just seven years if they think monies have been moved etc, for the previously mentioned reason.

For information to others....as for POA....I have had Enduring Power Of Attorney on my mother for donkey's years. But now she is in a care home and dementia is well in, I now have to register the POA. This is done through the Public Guardians Office. Their website is good and you download the appropriate forms (11 pages)

It is not too complicated, but certain relatives have to be informed on a separate form you download. The only complication is that 3 relatives have to be informed, and in a certain order. In my case, as son, I am first. Then comes her siblings. But its not a case of me sending a form to two sisters....everyone in that group has to be informed.!!!!!! So as mum had 7 brothers and sisters...all have to be notified.

After I have completed all the forms, relatives notified, I then have to send off a cheque for £133 to get the registration accepted. If you make any error, you have to redo it, or registration is not accepted...... your £133 is not returnable.!!!!

Please note....this applies to EPOA, taken out before April 2007, and may not be the same for Lasting Power of Attorney, which followed.

[pscocoa]

The law changed on P of A - you do not have to tell everyone. To avoid arguments I left this to solicitor who met parents independently with an assistant to satisfy himself that my parents had sufficient capacity to appoint me. The notices of appointment were sent to my dad's sister. The charges go up if income over a certain level. Registration took several weeks but everything is so much easier with these in place. I also get solicitor to send copies to relevant organisations for a small charge as he can certify a true copy and they accept this as opposed to it coming from me.

By the way - not a question of changing names - it is splitting property equally between parents and changing wills.  As said will find out more soon enough no doubt.

[Terbs]

Hope all goes ok, matey
Yes POA did change..... on ours, being as mum signed it, it became operational automatically. In other words, it was a signature to say we could take over her accounts as and when. She did not even have to come to the bank with us.
Unfortunately, mum does not have a lot of money. The flat she lived in was left to her 'in trust'. Now she does not live the flat, the  'trustees' (my stepbrothers) have to sell the flat and invest the money, and any dividends pay towards mum's care. No capital can be used. This capital goes to my stepbrothers after mum passes away.
Looking at it logically, mum is 92, and quite frail, so I cannot see any dividends arriving from that source before she leaves this world.

I have now to deal with the utilities, etc....lets hope it pans out.
One point....as she is in a care home, will they speak to me when I try to get the services cut off, or will that be copies of POA needing to be sent ?

[pscocoa]

I have just dealt with all of the services - none required any P of A as I was taking over the bills for the future. They each have a bereavement service that will assist.

Looks like your mum's situation is covered if the quality of care she is getting is what you and she are happy with and that capital has been protected.

[pscocoa]

 Should add about taking all meter readings of course to get final accounts sorted for when you vacate property.

[Varche]

Two types of POA.

Financial. Important on several counts. My uncle had been fleeced for years by the very god fearing Christians he was being cared for by. They got him to buy two cars for them to run him around in AND charged him £200 a week running costs which no doubt covered him being taken to church etc. With a POA  Financial you can limit what pocket money the person has and vet what they give away. More importantly if they are suddenly taken ill and you need to pay bills or buy equipment you can do so using their money. In the event of death you can also pay funeral costs as they come up very quickly and even if you are the executor, the banks won't let you at any money for ages. Some folk would find £3000 hard to find at short notice and distressing too while you are grieving.

Health. That is the more important one to me. With this the hospital can't switch off life support without your permission.   

[Terbs]

Just been reading mum's EPOA, Varche.
In a nutshell she signed over all 'jointly and severally' (which means me and swmbo as attorneys), all her property and affairs, continuing during ill health and mental incapability, under the POA act of 1985