oh, the bureaucracy. Can anyone help? POA. lack of photographic ID

[Grinchly]

I feel like I'm losing my own marbles.

Trying to open various new accounts for my aged mother with an EPA, as she has lost capacity, for proceeds of house sale.

Each institution seems to require different proofs of ID, and often what HQ tells me on the phone is different from what is required in branch.

One has just refused an invoice from the home, on headed paper, with her name on it, for her fees, as it doesn't explicitly say she is resident there...others will take tax correspondence, even though it shows her old address. Others won't. Some accept the PoA itself as proof of ID, others won't. It's mad. they all operate in the same regulatory framework, so why isn't there a streamlined system for all institutions?

Also I've been told that the FSCS covers temporary large deposits for 6 months as long as sale of main residence. Not unnaturally I wanted confirmation of this in case there are wrinkles because of POA.
.
Bank referred me to FSCS. FSCS referred me back to the bank. Bank eventually agreed verbally my situation would be covered, but have refused to put anything in writing. Solicitor refuses to give advice and suggests I employ a financial consultant. Does anyone have experience with this temporary large deposit provison in context of POA?

Oh yes, and this same award winning firm lost all my house sale paperwork so I had to fill it all in again.

If I had had the remotest inkling of the amount of hassle POA would all be, instead of meekly agreeing to act as their attorney, I'd have told my parents a firm no, and suggested they employ a solicitor to do it instead.

This could easily be a full time job of its own. I already have one of those, and also have a visceral hatred of form filling and paperwork, and am driving myself along to do this because... well I have to.

Arrrrgggggghhhhh

[thesandwich]

grinchly helloo!!! Sorry it’s so rubbish. DP found LLoyds very good to deal with and set up accounts on line.
Also does your dm have a blue badge with a photo?

[yolofish]

that sounds unnecessarily trying grinch.

One thing I would say with the large deposit, is that you are only protected for up to £85k per account, so if you can spread that money around (in case all goes tits up banking wise) then that would be sensible.

With DM, she gave me authority to use her a/c, which was with Lloyds, and so I set up online banking and did everything. I'm not sure it was strictly legal, but I did tell them and they advised me to keep her a/c open.

Blue badge is a good thought?

[MereDintofPandiculation]

You're having a bad time. I've dealt with half a dozen institutions, with PoA rather than EPA. I've always had to provide id for myself (passport as personal id and driving license as proof of address) and a proof of address for Dad (but not photo id since they're dealing with me not Dad).

I think that may be why the invoice wasn't accepted - they were looking for a proof of address, and didn't feel that an invoice provided that, since it could have been an invoice for care for her husband or some other unspecified relative.

I've only set on one account since my father went into care, and it was soon enough afterwards that it wasn't necessarily a permanent placement (he was expressing an intention to move back home), and in any case his house was his correspondence address (and still is).

I think there's different age limits on the address info you provide, so that utilities bills and bank statement have to be quite recent, but HMRC letters can be up to a year old, I believe.

The only hiccup I had was that, since my father still had capacity, one institution wanted me to drag him into branch and get his signature to the opening of the account. I had to write them a formal letter stating that involving him in the paperwork would cause him undue stress and worry.

Things have got easier over the last 10 years - I wonder if that's your problem? Banks etc are learning to cope with PoAs, but maybe they haven't learnt about EPAs?

[Grinchly]

Morning all

Mum’s blue badge has no photo, sandwich, sadly.

Yolo - I was initially working on the 85k limit per account. But the scheme covers temporary high balances up to £1m for six months as long as it's the main residence. I just wanted that confirmed in writing, because it's PoA. So I could deposit it all in one place before rushing around setting up the other accounts.

Dint, yes tax paperwork has longer shelf life. Yesterday that was declined, I think wrongly, as ID because of course it had her previous address on it. Cooperative Bank - avoid!!!

The issue is one is often dealing with very junior staff in branch who are inexperienced. Despite me always making a specific appointment to discuss PoA.

I think things have tightened up recently. It's much worse now than when I dealt with my father's affairs five years ago. I now have the letter from the home anyway.

It's so frustrating.I hate it all.

[Grinchly]

Hi again Dint, no the invoice clearly mentioned my mother's name, as resident at the home, and made our relationship plain. Anyway, I have another letter now which will hopefully suffice.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

It looks like you're well on top of things! But I understand the need for a rant - it's what we're here for

[Grinchly]

Argh again!!

Just had a further application bounced back, as sent a certified copy of EPA - this institution will only accept a solicitor's certified copy - but will accept simple photocopy ID for me...however, at least they were prompt and helpful on the phone.

[endofthelinefinally]

Age UK are really helpful with this sort of thing. Its worth speaking to them if you haven't already.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Grinchly - it gets better. Once you get everything set up, you won't have nearly as much work to do.

[Grinchly]

Thanks Dint.

I've been investigating something called a Pass Card, which is an HMG approved form of photo ID - for those without passport or driving licence, but even then some institutions might not accept it I guess.

I spoke to them yesterday and they suggested using mother's medical registration certificate from the GP to apply for one. Just heard back from the GP that they don't have this, 'primary care' does. Then there is the faff of trying to get a passport type photo of her.

As you say things will settle once the accounts are in place...

[Mosaic123]

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) don't have the £85k limit.

They guarantee whatever amount you put in so this could be the permanent home for a large amount of money.

We were going to use them when we sold our house and would rent because we couldn't find another one. The 6 month thing was too short. An NS&I instant access account was available.

[Grinchly]

Thanks Mosaic I will look into that.

Things are just getting worse and worse unfortunately. Of the four institUtions I approached i still have managed to open only one account.

Another has refused to accept the EPA as proof of permanent lack of capacity and tells me they need a letter from the Court of Protection. ( This is rubbish but I will try to get letter from her GP)

another has rejected the care home letter as proof of residence as it was a print of a scanned signed letter ( I am not local to care home) and has rejected the solicitor's certified copy of the PoA as it only mentions the firm ( with stamp) not the individual solicitor. I have therefore approached a local solicitor to do this for me for a fee. Oh and I have to resubmit the application ' for audit purposes' as we are approaching 30 days from when they first received the paperwork

And the last one has set up the paperwork and asked me to take originals in to local branch to open it. I have rung them several times to verify what I need to take and fully expect there to be more problems.

I am a woman on the edge, at my wits' end. There is no hope of paying a solicitor to take over PoA without major hassle, and no time to do this anyway.

I have been waiting for over half an hour on the phone to the special advice line at Age U.K., and have just been cut off.

Plus starting to bring any paperwork, photos and valuables back from the house. This is incredibly upsetting and triggering and stirring up a lot of stately homes type issues.

I really feel quite unwell, as coping with meno also. I'm now on beta blockers to suppress palpitations. Just want to go to bed and sleep for a thousand years!

[Grinchly]

Just looking in to NS and I - that may be a good option.

They will accept a sols certified copy of PoA as proof of ID and the care home letter with wet sig, not p pd for address...

[Alonglongway]

Been through some of this - you have my sympathy. I agree with a previous poster about Lloyd’s being really good on dementia and capacity. By chance my parents accounts were with Lloyd’s and Halifax, who are part of the same group, and we’ve had a relatively smooth time dealing with POA matters. There’s a very good team at their head office

[Grinchly]

Thanks Along. That's good to bear in mind also. No accounts with either at mo, but has been a customer of Halifax in past.

I am considering an email to R4s You and Yours when all this is concluded.

I don't mind that they are thorough. I do mind having my time wasted and stress exacerbated through misinformation and poorly trained staff.

[Grinchly]

Just an update.

Account open with bank 1 but only until end November at their better rate.

I have sent off the correctly certified EPA plus signed care home letter to bank number 2 Hoping against hope that will do it.

Taking original docs to bank 3 this week to link with the account which is ready to open

Am waiting to receive docs for TS and I who may actually be my saviour in all this as they have an unlimited guarantee, to open an account with them - thank so much to the pp who suggested this.

And have requested the co op return my cheque to open an account. They are still insisting on further documentation from the court of protection which I know they will not provide . avoid Co op bank at all costs if you have PoA . They are appalling.

In meantime I am looking into some therapy sessions to deal with this. The stress of the paperwork plus the stirring up of lots of childhood stuff I thought I had successfully dealt with is a toxic combination. I am so very tired.

Onwards ...

[thesandwich]

grinchly glad you are making headway!
Coop were crap with ils- Lloyd’s excellent.
Therapy sounds a good plan

[Grinchly]

Thanks the sandwich 🌸🌸🌸