Wills and Probate services: Rip off Britain

Today’s BBC programme “Rip Off Britain” (9th December 2011) highlighted problems with using a certain probate company called ITC which charged very high fees to act as executor and to deal with probate. After some complaints they reduced their fees for the particular person featured on the show to a more acceptable level.

This highlights some important issues about using certain will writing companies who act as professional executors or who offer such services.

Always beware of anyone putting themselves forward as professional executors in any forceful way. It may be a service someone might regret you taking up.

Firstly, find out exactly how much the professional executor much they are going to charge and secondly never appoint a professional executor who will not give an undertaking to vacate their executor ship if asked by beneficiaries. This is a safeguard against fees being ramped up at a later date.

There are the unscrupulous companies and the expensive ones out there but by asking the right questions they can be avoided.

On a similar subject it is not a good idea to pay for probate in advance. You never know if you will need them when the time comes and even if the company offering the service will be around to deliver.

So with probate services it is a case of buyer beware and some.