Deceased persons bank account

[PoloPrincess]

What do I do if I know someone is using a deceased persons bank account to hide money?
Who do I report it to as it has already been reported to the bank and they've chosen to ignore my concerns and have kept the account open.
This isn't right is it? Is it legal? It's definately morally wrong though surely.

Is it a joint account? Are they an executor?

I can't believe the bank have ignored your concerns.

With the strict regulations about money I doubt the bank have ignored anything, tbh. It is more likely that the OP doesn't agree with the way the estate is being dealt with.

Depends how long they’ve been passed for. If it’s a matter of selling things from the estate and they are putting money in or out then actually I think that’s wise especially if money needs to be split.

If it’s being used long term it’s fraud.

Why is it bothering you so much? You've done all you can. There's plenty of ways people can hide money & this is a risky way. Presumably they were close to the deceased so likely to get caught. Unless there's a real urgent reason not to, leave them to it & don't worry about it if it isn't harming you directly

Who is the executor for the deceased? The bank should be contacted by them and a copy of the death certificate needs to be provided and then any dealings with the money is part of the will

Who is dealing with that side? Is there a solicitor involved? A bank would not ignore the misuse of funds from an account where the holder has died - what do you think is happening, exactly?

If you think something is wrong you could report to the financial ombudsman but banks take these situations very seriously

Its regarding my STBXH using his mother's bank account. She died in 6 years ago.
It concerns me because I have my suspicions that he is working and he's claiming benefits at the same time.

Report him for benefit fraud?

Has probate been sorted yet? That might be why her account is still active

Cotswoldstrife there is no estate to deal with, the account was virtually empty when she passed, there wasn't enough to cover the cost of the funeral anyway.

The bank will do nothing unless you send them a death certificate.

Order a death certificate and send it in.

The bank admitted that they had no clue how to deal with this and I think they've swept it under the carpet. Probably low level fraud so haven't got time to deal with it.
I don't know what to do, perhaps DWP is the way to go.

So have you sent the bank a death certificate?
Nothing can be done by anybody until the bank has the death certificate.

endof the line and random

Good idea. Thank you.

It's a bit of a mess, obviously, but we weren't next of kin and didn't have the death certs. I wonder if i could order one myself.

Yes you can order one but you will have to pay for it.

Who is next of kin?

Of course it should bother the OP. It is highly irregular to say the least. I'd report it to the police and the banking ombudsman.

The police and the banking ombudsman will require a death certificate.

Neither of us were next of kin. STBXH dealt with her money, benifits and bank because we lived closer to her than the rest of the family.

I'm sure the bank will take it seriously, but just can't tell a third party

Everybody has a next of kin unless there are no living relatives.
Someone must have registered the death?
That person would have collected the certificates and would be responsible for notifying DWP, bank, etc.
Unless she died in secret and nobody else knew?
Did anyone arrange a funeral?

Thank you everyone for your advice. My plan is now: obtain death cert then report to bank, police, dwp, ombudsman. Then it's out of my hands.