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Examples of why it is important to seek advice from a reputable Solicitor.

This is an article from the Legal Services Consumer Panel.

We are currently involved in litigation for a client concerning the circumstances of a Will made for a non-English speaker by a Will writing company.
The principal of the company is currently serving a prison sentence for taking funds intended for a charity. Press reports indicated that Wills were made with discretionary trusts appointing him as executor and trustee. However funds were not distributed to the charities chosen by the testators but taken by the executor for his use.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

Mr & Mrs B c/o KW Thankyou for your comments and your email, we will continue to Protect the Elderly and Vulnerable, with the support of the public we hope that regulation is near. and thankyou for allowing us to publish your comments.

Dear KW,

            From one's own experience almost two years ago, we were horrified to read the news article regarding Minster Legal Services. Futhermore to see that Will Writing is not regulated. Regulators should stand in the shoes of consumers and realise the importance of protecting their interests.
everything that you report is factual and you have the support and backing of many readers I'm sure, including that of my husband and I.
They are unprofessional and unscruplous individuals keep up with the work that you are doing.As there are consumers out there who otherwise may be unaware of the actual issues that face them ie: financial disaster for the beneficiaries, but then of course it's too late, your advice informing the consumer to readdress their Wills is highly recommended.

We are Retired Pensioners but if we can be of any assistance in highlighting the issues, please dont hesitate to appproach us, we are involved in many group events

Many thanks.

Mr & Mrs B

Thankyou for reading.

KW

To the poster who impersonates many different people including the admin of WCM in this thread:  all your messages that violated our TOS have been removed. If we notice further violations, we will block your access to this forum.

Another Example of Bad Practice. from the legal service consumer panel

I have come across many cases where the Will writing company has gone out of business and the Will cannot be located. Therefore, the client has incurred additional expenditure in making a new Will.
There have also been examples of clients having the joint tenancy in their houses severed at a cost of £250 plus VAT (as opposed to our fee of £95 plus VAT) when in their Wills, they
have left everything to each other, and then to their children, and the severance was not required.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

To all Readers these examples are warnings to anyone thinking of using a non-professional will writer,
and the consequences of doing so.

We have had numerous instances of a company selling Wills to couples incorporating an interest in possession trust on the first death designed to cover an undivided half share in the family home to reduce the impact of nursing home fees if the survivor needed care. The documentation was ultimately defective in that it did set up a life interest trust but then directed the capital to residue which was expressed as passing to the spouse absolutely.

We made representations to the company about this and at the time the member of the company who replied clearly did not understand why this was a defect and refused to do anything about it. This displayed a clear lack of any basic technical knowledge in terms of drafting trusts in Wills.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

Another Example from the legal service consumer panel.

I have seen, on at least half a dozen occasions in the past eighteen months, Wills prepared by Will Writers in which they deal with the severance of a joint tenancy (I believe they commonly term it a “Protective Property Trust”). The Will leaves a right to occupy in favour of the surviving spouse but the clause fails to dispose of the half share of the property held by the deceased. The result is that the half share falls into the residuary estate which invariably falls to the spouse thereby defeating the original object of the exercise.
Until fairly recently, a particular Will writing site (in their section on legal services) had their terms and conditions relating to Will writing. In the same, they stated that they could not accept responsibility for ascertaining “age, sex or mental capacity” of the person providing the instructions. The terms are, so far as I can see, not now accessible on the site but I presume they remain. How can this be acceptable? If solicitors did the same and the matter came before the Court, solicitors would be punished.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

I was a previous employee of Minster Legal Services and have now left.  

The girls and boys who are trained to make the calls are completely oblivious to the scam which has unfolded and are trained to know as little as possible about the product other than they are told the same as the customers that they are doing the older generation a massive good deed and are not part of the follow up from the sales visit.  

It would seem we were being scammed as employees just as much as the customer and this is why they constantly have a huge staff turnover. I personally am glad I am out of the situation after reading all your comments and the hurt and upset it has caused so many people.

Good luck in stopping them

'wish to have an input' Thankyou for your comments it is very commendable, we do understand by information provided that some of the telephone operatives are oblivious to the situation, (the ones that are only there for a short period of time), but the more experienced of them know exactly what is going on.
We appreciate all additions if you feel that you could be of any further assistance you can email us on wewillgivefreeadvice.co.uk, you may not see the importance but the Authorities may, or alternatively contact the Trading Standards direct on 01522 552409, your identity will not be compromised.
However if you feel that is all you wish to contribute we respect this.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

Apoligies to all readers who's comments have been reported and removed. For anybody that requires the missing information, please e-mail us at wewillgivefreeadvice@hotmail.co.uk and these can be forwarded to you.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

I would just say look to motive and keep spreading the news.
All they are showing is that this campaign IS affecting them, fortunately this is not the only site and other sites are not at all so quick to roll over.
It is imperative that people keep abrerast of this scam whatever their pointless and juvenile efforts to delete the truth result in.
The train is coming down the track.

Maybe i will host the whole original forum from here.
Let them complain to me.

Deepthroat Thankyou for your comments and for your support. We have been to other sites and we will keep spreading the word. Their efforts are futile and as you said, there are numerous other places that are alerting the public.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

We have put the word out up and down the country through many sources, but National Legal Assistance have gone to great lengths to stop us, they have had some of our posts removed and we have had an email to tell us that it was a complaint made by National Legal Assistance, they have even stopped us from running a blog.
Let us reassure you of one thing, you wont stop us!!!!! you are the bad guys and you will get caught!!!!!
It only proves that we are rattling your cage and effecting your business.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

This is very similar to one of the problems with the wills that Minster Legal Services prepared for us as on the death of the first spouse there was absolutely no provision made for the remaining spouse with all the money from cash and investments being divided between children and grandchildren and, of course, theie half share of the house was also left to the children in the PPT, so the remaining spouse would have been left with absolutely nothing.  Fortunately because of the problems we were already having with Minster Legal Services we took our wills to be checked by a Law Advice Centre who straight away noticed this error and said we must not sign the wills.  There were lots of other errors and omissions but this one was the one that could have caused the biggest problem.  Our wills still remain incomplete and unsigned.

'VH Thankyou for your comments and for pointing other readers in the direction of sound advice.
For anyone who has purchased from Minster Legal Services should get it checked out immediately by
http://www.legal-advice-centre.co.uk/ or visit your nearest CAB.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

FACTS post that has been removed. Thankyou for your comments.

The Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman

Established in 2010, this body examines grievances against lawyers and legal services - such as will writers - which are increasingly provided by firms such as banks, small private companies, charities etc.
Wills: http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/stories/case_study05.html

Contacting the Legal Ombudsman:
Complaints Line: 0300 555 0333 or 0121 245 3050
Complaints Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Complaints Letters: PO Box 15870, Birmingham B30 9EB
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Thankyou for reading.

KW

Facts Thankyou for your comments and information, aslo you could report any problems to consumer direct

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizen ... ights/index.htm

Thankyou for reading.

KW

Could it be Heracles 'AKA' Grant Bowles of [removed] = Barton's lap-dog and partner in crime - easily found propping up a local bar talking drunken dribble. This excuse of a man shouldn't get away with masterminding Barton's scams.

Wolfman' Thankyou for your comments if you can give any further infomation regarding Gerald Barton's Partner in crime please email wewillgivefreeadvice@hotmail.co.uk. All additions appreciated.

Thankyou for reading.

KW

To all Readers.It seems Grant can't run a business either or should that be Heracles, Say no more!!!!!

Director Name and Address Details  
Mr G.H. Bowles
2 Ruskin Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 1DN
DOB: 08 Sep 1973 Grant Hamilton
British

Company Name and Registered Office      
TOTAL IT SUPPORT LIMITED
1 Maidment Drive, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 1AL
Incorporated 20 Mar 2000 Resigned 03950999                               **Dissolved 07**
TOTAL IT SUPPORT LIMITED
1 Maidment Drive, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 1AL
Incorporated 20 Mar 2000 Resigned 03950999                                **Dissolved 07**
TOTAL IT SUPPORT LTD
2 Ruskin Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1DN
Incorporated 24 Mar 2003   04708990                                            **Dissolved 04**
TOTAL IT SUPPORT LTD
2 Ruskin Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1DN
Incorporated 24 Mar 2003 Resigned 04708990                                **Dissolved 04**
TOTAL DSL LIMITED
Total House, Long Leys Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN1 1DX
Incorporated 17 Nov 2004 Resigned 05289725                                **Dissolved 06**
HAMILTONS UK LIMITED  
2 Ruskin Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1DN
Incorporated 11 Oct 2006   05963760                                             **Dissolved 08**

Thats why he is on a training scheme at the moment he's probably learning how to survive in business.

Thankyou for reading.

KW