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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Santander fraud team

52 replies

Berry642 · 21/01/2023 08:04

My two siblings and I have inherited some money from a deceased relatives house sale. It is to be split three ways. As the next of kin the money from the house has gone to eldest sibling.

They had phoned the bank and explained that the money had to be transferred to two other accounts. There seemed to be no problem with this.
Santander have now put a hold on the money ,they said it would be 48 hours but that deadline has passed.

They are saying it's to stop fraud,whereas I can understand this to a level it is very clear the money has come from a solicitors ,so I cannot see what is taking so long?
For context you are talking below 40k each so not hundreds of thousands although I appreciate it is still substantial.
I've read lots of horror stories involving this sort of practice at Santander, can anyone tell me their experiences ?

OP posts:
SavoirFlair · 21/01/2023 08:05

YABU.

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 08:17

@SavoirFlair ??? In what way??

OP posts:
Alexandra2001 · 21/01/2023 08:23

They need to know where the money has come from, have you sent them a certified copy of the Will?

ZekeZeke · 21/01/2023 08:25

YABU
They are doing their job.
Good on them!

Cath667 · 21/01/2023 08:26

Is the next of kin the executor of the estate and that's why the money has gone to them?

They need to contact the bank and provide any documentation needed such as a certified copy of the will.

The fraud team are doing their job. Large amounts of money going in and out of bank accounts is what they look out for. What are you worried about?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 21/01/2023 08:28

Not all solicitors are honest.

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitor-jailed-over-money-laundering-links-is-now-struck-off/5104840.article

Tilllly · 21/01/2023 08:28

They have to carry out money laundering checks

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 08:30

@ZekeZeke nobody is questioning the staff . If you read the post it is about the practice? It is something I have never heard of. @Alexandra2001 there isnt one and nor have we been asked for documents. The money has come from the solicitor who handled the sale presumed they would check the electronic footprint ?

OP posts:
TinySaltLick · 21/01/2023 08:31

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 21/01/2023 08:28

Ah yes an isolated example 3 years ago

In answer to the actual question on the fraud team, it is really annoying and I do find the additional checks / confirmations to be mildly irritating. However it is just part of the necessary protections and one day it could save you a lot of money

They should definitely be able to stick to the timescales though, are you sure they aren't waiting for a response on something?

TimeForMeToF1y · 21/01/2023 08:32

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 21/01/2023 08:28

I was going to make rhe same point

Are you in a hurry for the money that means they can't do the proper chrcks

Seems odd to be so angry

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 08:36

@tinysaltlick thank you for your reply. I totally understand the checks so I'm not disagreeing with that. They said that a senior member of fraud team would ring within 24 hours , they didnt so sibling rang again .Then told they only ring back if they had questions and it was with back office staff so would be sorted within the window.
It's the conflicting info and timescale that's concerned me,and that they have frozen siblings account whilst its sorted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 08:41

@TimeForMeToF1y where are you getting I'm angry? Some people on here are really goady and nasty! I have asked about normal practice and peoples experiences with this practice. Never slagged off staff, never slagged of the checks or why they do them. Have read several stories of accounts being frozen for months , and the financial ombudsman being involved. So was asking peoples experiences with inheritance or with this bank.

OP posts:
tara66 · 21/01/2023 08:41

I am paying CGT by end of this month on sale of property to HMRC but using telephone banking I can only transfer £10,000 a day - regulations.

Patineur · 21/01/2023 09:07

Why couldn't the solicitors just send the money to the relevant accounts?

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:09

@Patineur Apparently its next of kin which oldest sibling is.

OP posts:
Cath667 · 21/01/2023 09:15

There is no such thing as next of kin in law. If the solicitor is the executor they have a responsibility to administer the funds from the estate to the beneficiaries. I've never heard of them giving it to one family member to hand out. What if they didn't pass the money on?

I'm sure it's all fine but I can see why the fraud team might be looking at it.

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:29

@Cath667 We were told they pay it into one bank account the executor is oldest sibling. None of us are solicitors, so we just did what we were advised !We can all prove where related if necessary. Another goady post which is uncalled for and unhelpful so cheers for that !

OP posts:
Patineur · 21/01/2023 09:31

Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:09

@Patineur Apparently its next of kin which oldest sibling is.

It really isn't. When my father died, bequests were sent directly to each of the named beneficiaries. How can the solicitors know the next of kin won't disappear with the lot?

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:36

@Patineur I have no idea why I'm getting a load of shit and arguments from people!!!! We are not solicitors , we were advised!!!!!

OP posts:
FetlocksBlowingInTheWind · 21/01/2023 09:38

After my mum's death the money went to my oldest sibling, who was the executor, and they write cheques for the rest of us.

When I went to pay mine in the bank clerk asked me a series of questions about it and logged my answers. I don't know if they followed up on that information but there was clearly a process to follow. The money went straight in though, no issues.

Either Santander is following a specific query about this or they have a very belt and braces approach and it takes the time that it takes.

Sisisimone · 21/01/2023 09:39

I don't think Cath667 post is goady at all. What she is saying is correct. Your solicitor has made an error and due to fraud/money laundering concerns it may take some time to rectify. It is not the banks fault.

tara66 · 21/01/2023 09:40

Agree - you and 2 siblings are all equally ''next of kin'' - would query what solicitor did.

burnoutbabe · 21/01/2023 09:40

If the eldest is executor then they get the money as executor (though normally they'd have a separate bank account for executor monies)

They then pay to the beneficiaries (one of which is them) after paying off any estate debts.
So all seems normal. Hopefully Santander can clear the payments by Monday.

Patineur · 21/01/2023 09:46

Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:36

@Patineur I have no idea why I'm getting a load of shit and arguments from people!!!! We are not solicitors , we were advised!!!!!

People aren't criticising you for this, it's an indicator that you should perhaps be querying things with the solicitors rather than the bank.

Original poster
Berry642 · 21/01/2023 09:47

@burnoutbabe we had to apply for probate. It was agreed eldest would apply for it as other sibling and myself had too many other commitments to do all the documentation etc
We were told because probate was done in their name the initial money goes to them. It would have been easier to of been paid three ways by solicitor but as we were not joint executors it all went to oldest to divide up. She was also relatives named next of kin

OP posts: