Bereaved families are facing long delays and costly administration errors when wrapping up their loved ones’ finances during the pandemic.
Four in ten people say it has taken more than three months to close all their accounts, a report from consumer group Which? reveals.
Money Mail has been campaigning for the bereaved to receive a more consistent service for six years.
Four in ten people trying to wrap up their deceased loved ones’ finances say it has taken more than three months to close all their accounts
Major banks pledged to make their processes quicker and easier, but customers are still reporting difficulties.
One in six people said it was very difficult to contact providers, up from just 3 per cent before lockdown, Which? says.
One in ten was also dissatisfied with the skill demonstrated by bank staff, while dozens said death certificates had gone missing.
Barclays and HSBC had the lowest levels of overall satisfaction.
One grieving daughter had to fork out £4,000 in funeral fees herself after HSBC lost her late father’s death certificate.
And a Barclays customer told Which? that his bank set up an executor’s account that couldn’t be managed online.
Jenny Ross, Which? money editor, says: ‘Our research has exposed unacceptable mistakes by banks cropping up again and again during the probate process.’
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