Heirs Hunters - am now disillusioned

Atarah · 04-02-2010, 19:26

Whenever I get the opportunity, I just LOVE watching this programme. Its about a firm of probate researchers who have a race on their hands, to try and trace distant relatives of those who have died without leaving a will. These distant, sometimes extremely distant, relatives, arent always aware of the very existence of the person who had died. How sad is this. So some poor soul has ended their life, sad and lonely - then, suddenly, complete "strangers" (in my opinion anyway) suddenly inherit a fortune! BUT .... DO THEY?????

Good Advice - MAKE A WILL!!!!!!!!

According to a national newspaper today, these firms are sometimes charging the newly found relatives up to 40% commission. This is despite the fact, with a little research, you can claim for any inheritance FREE via a Government website. Of course you have to be aware of a relatives death, to be in this position.

Check the Treasury Solicitors Bona Vacantia list, which is published every Thursday morning on its website -
www.bonavacantia.gov.uk. It includes only BASIC information about the deceased, including their full name, where they died and when.
If you believe you are entitled to something, fill out the form on the website, showing, via a simple family tree, how you are related to the deceased. You will then be contacted for further details.

The point of course is, you may not EVEN know some distant relative has died, especially if you have never had contact with them, so if a "bounty hunter" does ever knock on your door, saying you are due to inherit a fortune, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DONT SIGN ANYTHING, until you have gone into it further.

Happy Hunting!

flashy · 04-02-2010, 20:12

i like watching it too Atarah, your certainly not on your own with that one

BERNADETTE · 04-02-2010, 20:24

Great programme love it

garinda · 05-02-2010, 08:30

I think if the Heirhunters come knockin', it's probaly wise to check the Bona Vacantia website yourself.

Good programme, but it sounds like there should be some regulation, if for the same work some companies charge a flat fee, and some are charging a percentage of an estate.

jaysay · 05-02-2010, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I think if the Heirhunters come knockin', it's probaly wise to check the Bona Vacantia website yourself.

Good programme, but it sounds like there should be some regulation, if for the same work some companies charge a flat fee, and some are charging a percentage of an estate.

If Frazer and Frazer knocked on my door, I'd get the info, then say no thanks a do it myself, which on an odd occasion has happened