WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tizer]

Ah well, they won't have me as a viewer then.

[PanBiker]

Received my car insurance renewal today, it's gone up £60 although nothing has changed. I will take advice from the Meerkats, find a lower quote and then hit them with it by phone. It will probably be one of there own as well.

[plaques]

Just renewed my house and contents insurance. it had gone up £60 on the renewal quote. I went internet to the same firm and in spite of me raising the contents covered amount quite substantially it came £20 cheaper than the original quote.

[Big Kev]

Insurance companies are very good at doing that. I always consult the Meerkats and then phone the number on my renewal letter, never fail to get a better deal.

[Stanley]

I need advice. I have had a letter from a firm called Finders International telling me they believe I am a legatee in a will of my mother and father. It looks genuine but before I break cover I want to know more. Have any of you had experience of this? My belief is that these firms take a large 'finder's fee' as part of any settlement. And of course it could be a clever scam.
Any advice gratefully received.

[Tripps]

The website looks kosher, and they have been on Heir Hunters. I'd go with it, but don't send them any advance fees. Yes I think they do charge a commission on anything they connect you to, but that's fair enough isn't it? I'd guess it's at least 25 - 30% may be more, but it's 'found money' .

The situation you describe seems very unlikely, and why wouldn't you be aware of it already? I'd say proceed with caution - but proceed. Don't spend the money yet. . . .

[Stanley]

Thanks. That sums up my impression David. I have looked at their site and also looked at the opinions of Fraser and Fraser on these matters. They are very helpful. I also have a friend who knows about these matters and I have mailed him. I shall wait to see what he has to say as well. I am doing nothing until I have had further advice.
They've found the right bloke. I certainly shan't be spending anything on the off chance!

[Tripps]

I watched Heir Hunters quite a bit once. The latest series was a bit boring. They contact beneficiaries, but don't reveal all the details until they sign up with them. Though they seem to have revealed the source to you already - which I find odd. There's no obligation to use their services. You could do your own research - no change there then - shouldn't be too difficult - and cut out the agent altogether.

Doesn't make sense to me though. They've given you enough to start with. Go for it - I'm intrigued.

[chinatyke]

Tread carefully! Good luck.

[Wendyf]

The heir hunters are usually tracking down family of folk on the Bona Vacantia list which is of people who have died intestate and their money is about to head for the government's coffers. If there is a will that has turned up out of the blue and is in their possession then there isn't much research to be done!
I would go along with it but dont give out your bank details just yet! Could there be money that you didn't know about?

[Tripps]

The heir hunters are usually tracking down family of folk on the Bona Vacantia list

Exactly which is why this case needs to be treated cautiously. Finding a will during the search usually brought the whole thing to a halt. Why not in this case - especially for a man who has published his father's biography.

[Wendyf]

You can only assume that a will has been found somewhere? As Stanley was living with or very close to his parents at the end of their lives he would surely know about any wills they had left. Very strange!
Have your sister and brother also been approached Stanley?

[Wendyf]

A friend of mine was approached by an heir hunting company quite recently regarding the estate of a great aunt. I couldn't resist having a furtle and came up with a previously unheard of cousin in Australia who was a direct heir to said great aunt. Sue lost her chance of an inheritance but gained a cousin!

[PanBiker]

Well the car passed it's MOT OK with an odd advisory and one I knew about but forgot! One of the rear number plate lights is out, it's lost its little plastic cover and I have been trying to source one. Not much point replacing the lamp until it's watertight. Cunning plan, just thought, I have a local amateur radio friend who has a 3D printer. I need to check but I think it has two rear lights with individual covers if that's the case we could be on good' uns.

I was pleased with the emissions tests which it passed with flying colours:

Fast Idle - 2723 rpm

CO - Limits - Max 0.20% - mine - 0.0% PASS
HC - Limits - Max 200 ppm - mine - 5 ppm - PASS

Natural Idle

Engine Speed - Limits - 450-1500 rpm - mine 626 rpm
CO - Limits - Max 0.30% - mine - 0.0% PASS

[Stanley]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I asked a mate who I trust who is an expert on these things. His advice was to contact them by landline phone (they have a Freephone number) give no details and pay no money. He reckons that should be safe. That's what I shall do. The source of any money is a mystery to me too but who knows, a lapsed insurance policy? As David says it's intriguing, I shall follow it up and report.
My brother died recently Wendy, that's the family matter I have been dealing with. As for my sister I don't know, she is virtually incommunicado these days. It will be interesting....
I found THIS site very informative and useful.

[Wendyf]

Sorry to hear about your brother Stanley.

[Stanley]

He had been ill for a while Wendy. Almost expected. Still a life event and leaves a lot of loose ends that have to be addressed. Luckily my nephew is taking most of the load from our side.

[PanBiker]

Condolences Stanley, so sorry to hear about your brother.

[Tizer]

Sorry to hear your brother has died, Stanley. Could that have triggered the will business in some way?

[Big Kev]

I thought I'd seen something on Facebook about your brother, please accept my condolences Stanley.

[Cathy]

My condolences Stanley, maybe your nephew knows what is in the will.
But I imagine you have already enquired with him.

[Tizer]

What attracted our attention yesterday was something on our afternoon walk - an elderly lady at a street corner leaning against a fence teetering on the edge of a metre drop and looking lost. A young couple walked past and looked at her but didn't do anything. She must have walked along the path towards the corner but instead of continuing there she had turned right where the fence turned, across a metre grass verge to the edge of a sunken driveway. She didn't seem able to work out what to do. We went over and asked where she wanted to go but she couldn't tell us until we suggested several places. She wanted the pharmacy. Mrs Tiz took her arm and we slowly guided her back onto the path and then across the road to the pharmacy but it was obvious she was suffering from either dementia or a temporary mental problem. Then she said it wasn't the pharmacy, she wanted the Tesco Metro. There's a bench under a tree so we suggested she sat down and she quickly did that. Mrs Tiz then remembered there is an office nearby for a carers' service. So we went there and told them. They could see the lady from the office and immediately recognised her and took over from us. The lady definitely shouldn't have been out on her own, especially in the present virus situation. When we first encountered her she'd said `If I'd told them I was going out they'd have stopped me.

Of course social distancing had to be abandoned for us to help her but she's unlikely to be carrying the infection. More likely she'd have got into trouble because she didn't have a mask to wear in the shops and she might have caught the virus on her outing.

[Marilyn]

Was it a hot day, Tiz? Older folk often get dehydrated quickly and can become confused. It seems she was known though. Good thing you came across her...

[Stanley]

I have both my father's will and Leslie's.
I rang Finders this morning and it's nothing to do with a will, it's some idle bugger at Lambeth Council getting Finders to do the research for them because they know Leslie is dead but are 'enquiring in to the matter'. No they're not, they've set up Finders to do the work for them. I explained this to the nice lady at Finders and she agrees with me, all they need to do is ask co-owner and be put in touch with the solicitor and the trustees of his estate. The lady asked if she could give my name to the council and I said no, I am not prepared to do their job for them. Margaret is going to tell my nephew Michael who is dealing with everything and he can inform the trustees that Lambeth Council haven't a clue what they are doing and they will probably contact them to speed probate up.

[Tizer]

Was it a hot day, Tiz? Older folk often get dehydrated quickly and can become confused. It seems she was known though. Good thing you came across her...

It was, Maz, and that's another reason we were worried about her. She was wearing a big woolly jumper. The woman we spoke to in the office knew who her carer was and said she would contact her. She was very confused. When we asked where she was going she didn't seem to know but when we suggested nearby places she agreed the pharmacy and we thought perhaps they might know something about her. But as we got there she saw Tesco and said that was where she needed to go. She seemed to know she shouldn't be out on her own.